Raga's thoughts, and a dig from Issue 27 backers

Here's what State Rep Tom Raga, who is Ohio Chapter Chairman of Americans for Prosperity, had to say about the group's jump onto the anti-jail tax campaign.

"AFP is going ot send out a first run of 15,000 mailers to voters in Hamilton County to educate them on what we believe is just an eggregious raid on taxpayer pocketbooks: An unvoted tax increase that the commissioners have decided to put on the backs of Hamilton County taxpayers. We think this is the right time to get this out. People are starting to pay attention. There's been good work done by our partners, including COAST on that process. We’re essentially brining assistance of a national organization to help."

And here's what Citizens for Safe Communities released today, poking fun of the national group's jump onto the bandwagan.

Note: The city crime rate they refer to is for the DC headquarters.

Here's the press release:



Breaking News? Out-of-Town Group from City with High Crime Opposes Local Public Safety Plan
39 “Home Grown” Hamilton County Groups and Leaders Endorse Issue 27
(October 18, 2007) -- Apparently, they want company at the top. A group from a city with one of the highest murder rates in the country announced today it will donate to defeat an effort to reduce violent crime in Hamilton County.

Local proponents of Issue 27 brushed off the outsider influence.

“The benefits of a safer community should be obvious even to outside political interests that don’t understand Hamilton County’s needs,” said Sen. Bill Seitz, a Republican leader who studied both sides of the issue as part of his work on the Republican Party policy committee that recommended endorsing Issue 27.

“Comprehensive public safety can’t be had for free. The cost for not acting will likely exceed the cost for acting. This modest temporary cost is outweighed by the benefits of a safer community,” Seitz said.

It should be noted that the so-called “grassroots” organization, Americans for Prosperity, operates from Washington, D.C. and is led by Kansas business titan David Koch who is the 33rd richest man in the world according to Forbes Magazine. His company Koch Industries has $90 billion in annual revenues.

This contrasts with the overwhelming support for the county-wide safety plan from key leadership within the County, including: all three major political parties, elected officials from across the county, law enforcement, business groups, labor, civic groups and prominent community leaders. For a complete list, go to http://www.safercommunity.org/ - click the Endorsements link.
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