Girl Scouts and puppies on the politics blog

Amy Saunders reports:

When Jean Scott took her Girl Scout troop to volunteer at the Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton, she said she couldn’t believe the state of the 54-year-old shelter.

"Butler County is one of the richest counties in Ohio and there are deplorable conditions there," said Scott, 36, of West Chester Township.

Scott voted "yes" on Issue 12, a one-time tax levy that, if passed, would generate $3.8 million for the construction of a new facility.

Dorothy Duchamp, 78, of West Chester, also voted for the levy because, she said, "It’s a short-term situation and there’s an end in sight."

But West Chester resident Michelle Powers, 45, voted "no" on Issue 12, even though she voted "yes" on Issue 11, Butler County’s mental health tax levy.

"There’s only so much money," Powers said. "I’m sorry for the poor dogs, but I think that people are more important."