Ted Strickland Stops 1,500 Jobs From Entering Ohio

One only has to read Monday's Toledo Blade article on solar power in Ohio to see that Ted Strickland is not the "Green" Governor he positions himself to be.

According to the article:

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Norm Johnson,, chairman of the nonprofit group Ohio Advanced Energy, vice chairman of Germany's Calyxo GmbH, and chief executive of its North American subsidiary, said Mr. Strickland is to blame for Ohioans not having thousands more jobs in the solar industry right now.

He said the governor hasn't moved quickly enough to create a market for solar panels in Ohio and has left the door open for German and Chinese companies to sell their products here once more customers begin buying solar panels.

"While our industry has received excellent help from [U.S. Rep.] Marcy Kaptur, we've received mediocre help from Ted Strickland," Mr. Johnston said.

His primary complaint is the Strickland administration's rejection of his $750 million proposal to build 30 solar fields - each capable of producing at least 10 megawatts of electricity - on cleaned-up industrial sites throughout the state.

The plan, put forth by Ohio Advanced Energy, included an estimate of 1,500 jobs immediately and called for the project to be funded by federal stimulus dollars, state-issued bonds, and other methods

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While Ted Strickland won't help solar companies with funding, but Ted will bend over backwards to help Nuke and Dirty Coal Plants get funding in Ohio. That's why Ohio has only created 8,000 solar jobs in Ohio, while states like Michigan and New Jersey have created some 13, 000 and 16, 000 respectively!TEd Strickland is not a "Green Energy" Governor!

It's time we elect a Green Party Governor to get Solar Power untracked here in the Buckeye State!

Dennis Spisak-Green Party candidate for Ohio Governor!

Upset the setup! Vote Green in the May 4th Ohio Primary!

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

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Ted Strickland is on record saying he wants more Nuclear Plants for Ohio.

Can we and our children afford to have unsafe nuclear plants be the goal of any future governor? I oppose building any new Nuclear Plants in Ohio.

Ted Strickland doesn't. Who is looking out for your children and family?

Dennis Spisak-Green Party candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

Vote in the Ohio Green Party Primary on May 4th!

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

It's time for Ohio to just say no to Ted Strickland and his nuclear energy program. Ted Strickland and the nuclear lobby thinks that the public has forgotten about Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. And it doesn't want you to hear about the recent incident in Vermont, where radioactive tritium -- a cancer-causing carcinogen -- leaked from a reactor and polluted groundwater.

The nuclear danger is real for all Americans -- even those of us who don't live near a reactor. Dealing with nuclear waste means transporting it by train across the country. One derailment in a heavily populated area could have catastrophic consequences. It's our job to remind the public about these risks and why we've had a 30-year moratorium on new reactors.


Ted Strickland and the corporations angling to profit from new reactors are some of the wealthiest in the country. So why are they asking for our tax money? Because Wall Street banks won't risk investing in new reactors unless the government backs them up with a pre-emptive bailout. It's no wonder. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the risk of default on new nuclear loans is "well above 50 percent." If Wall Street doesn't want to take the risk, why should taxpayers?

It's time for Ted Strickland to stop selling Nuclear Power to the people of Ohio. It's time for Ohio to stop Ted Strickland from ever placing another Nuke Plant in Ohio. It's time for Ohio to Move Foward and Remove Ted Strickland from the Governor's office in November!

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

Vote in the Green Party Primary in Ohio on May 4th!

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info: contact 330-503-1407.

Ted Strickland want to build more Nuclear plants for Ohio. What does that mean? If the costly new nuclear plants aren't finished, then taxpayers cover the huge financial loss.

If they are built, then we're stuck with power plants that generate overpriced electricity and create deadly radioactive waste that will remain toxic for thousands of years.

Either way, the nuclear industry wins, and we lose.


Nuclear power creates deadly radioactive waste, from the mining process onwards.   It's got a scary history: think Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.

Just recently, a nuclear plant in Vermont was ordered shut down after radioactive tritium, which is linked to cancer, leaked from the plant into local water supplies.

Nuclear power is so financially risky that even Wall Street won't bet on it.  It's a public health and financial disaster waiting to happen.

Instead, our government should promote energy efficiency and a decentralized power system based on safe, clean, renewable energy.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party candidate for Ohio Governor!

Vote in the Green Party Primary on May 4th!

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

As Green Party Governor of Ohio, I would advocate smaller high speed rail plans for Ohio than Ted Strickland's monsterous 3-C project. By doing smaller projects such as a Cleveland-Youngstown-Pittsburgh and a Columbus-Pittsburgh model, we could test the benefits of high speed rail before committing to a huge cross-state project.

High Speed Rail would be more attractive than more highways because:

1. Less use of land space.
2. Cost of a mass rail transit system would cost ¼ of what it would be to build another 4-lane highway.
3. Faster travel.
4. Less maintenance costs (no orange barrels out every 6 months)
5. Less cars on the road. Less pollution in the air.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

Ted Strickland and Jean Schmidt: Kissing Cousins when it comes to Nuclear Power Plants

Last June, WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reported on the story of state and federal officials gathering in Piketon, Ohio to support a nuclear plant site there. Ted Strickland was holding hands with GOP queen Jean Schmidt praising nuclear power:

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Officials made a step forward Thursday concerning the future of energy production in the Buckeye state.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Congresswoman Jean Schmidt were among the leaders who gathered in Piketon, Ohio to announce plans to explore the option of a nuclear power plant there.

Piketon is about 100 miles east of Cincinnati.
 
The announcement took place at 10 a.m. at the former uranium enrichment plant which is the site possibly intended for the new energy plant. It has the necessary infrastructure for a nuclear plant.
 
The plant would take 10 years to build. It would employ about 4,000 people during construction and about 800 people when the plant is complete.

Duke Energy would reportedly be a partner in the plant along with a French firm. As of now, officials have not decided to move forward with the nuclear plant.  They have only announced a group to explore the possibility of a plant in Piketon.

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Now we know why Duke Energy is a huge contributor in financial donations to the Strickland Campaign: They have a Nuke Plant puppet in Ted Strickland!

Is this the type of Governor you want running Ohio for your children's safety? Do you want a glowing Nuke plant in your backyard? You may get one if Ted Strickland is re-elected Governor of Ohio! How progressive is Ted Strickland if he cuddles up to Mean Jean Schmidt when it comes to Nuke Plants?

Dennis Spisak_Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

Ask for a Green Party Ballot and Vote in the Ohio Green Party Primary on May 4th!

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

For more info: contact 330-503-1407

While Ted Strickland like to portray himself as the "Green Renewable Power" Governor, He is in reality the number one supporter of dirty coal and nuke power plants in Ohio.

His campaign contributions are heavy in pro dirty coal and nuke power backers, the UMW, Duke Energy, and Dayton Power and Light.

Plus, Ted Strickland comes right out and tell the press he supports dirty coal. When the AMP Plant fell through in Meigs County, TEd Strickland released the following press statement to the Pomeroy newspaper:

"Gov. Ted Strickland, a supporter of the project, released the following statement through spokesperson Allison Kolodziaj, “Creating jobs and producing homegrown energy was a hallmark of this project. While we’re very disappointed to learn of this news, we respect the decision of the member communities to look at other options for the site in Meigs County. The Strickland administration continues to work with AMP through these next steps.”

Ohio needs clean,renewable, and alternative energy in the 21st Century.

That's why Ohio needs Green Party Candidate Dennis Spisak as Governor in 2010!

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor

Ask for and vote in the Ohio Green Party Primary on May 4th!

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

How to Create Green Energy Jobs for Ohio

From the Apollo Alliance:

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Amid growing concerns about the U.S. losing clean energy manufacturing jobs to other countries, a new report released this week by Policy Matters Ohio, the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) and the Apollo Alliance documents how one clean energy investment proposal, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act, would help create and retain clean energy manufacturing jobs in Ohio.

The Impact of IMPACT: Creating Jobs in Ohio finds that the IMPACT Act, which is contained in the proposed Senate clean energy and climate bill, would create between 41,063 and 52,214 new jobs across Ohio.

The IMPACT Act would establish a two-year $30 billion revolving loan fund to assist small- and medium-sized manufacturers retool to produce clean energy component parts and become more energy efficient. It would also increase long-term funding for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program to help manufacturers access clean energy markets and adopt innovative, energy-efficient manufacturing technologies. Provisions that are nearly identical to those in IMPACT were included in the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2009.

“PERI’s analysis finds that investing in the retooling and conversion of small and medium-sized manufacturing firms in Ohio would create a robust engine of job growth for the state,” said Heidi Garrett-Peltier, the economist who conducted the analysis. “We find that the investments from IMPACT would not only retain current jobs, but they would also create new jobs that utilize the skills of the workers of Ohio. These investments are a potentially powerful way to revitalize the manufacturing sector in the state.”

The findings of the report are relevant to other manufacturing states and to anyone who wants to ensure that comprehensive federal clean energy and climate measures create the economic benefits that American workers are expecting. To read the report, visit the Policy Matters Ohio website.

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I will work to see that Green Jobs are the number one priority in my administration, not coal and nuke plants like Ted Strickland supports!

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

Pick up a ballot and vote in the Green Primary on May 4th!

for mroe info: contact 330-503-1407.

With unemployment so high, it's time for a Green New Deal to tackle economic and ecological problems at the same time.

We should put Americans back to work with living-wage green jobs: retrofitting homes for energy efficiency, building modern mass transit systems, installing renewable energy technology, and conserving our irreplaceable ecosystems.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

Ask for a Green ballot and Vote in the Green Party Primary on May 4th!

Http://www.votespisask.org/governor/

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info contact 330-503-1407

As the father of two sons with autism, and since my wife teaches pre-school multihandicapped children, I am well aware of the financial problems facing social services. Funding of social services would be for me a priority in funding, right up their with public education. Neither of these programs can stand anymore bud...get cutting. By returning Ohio to the Pre-Bob taft tax cuts, we could raise enough revenue to fund both social services and public education at the proper levels.

As a school board President and the Green Party Candidate for Governor, I am the only candidate that is wiling to address that Ohio -- along with all its local governments and school districts -- might have to make severe budget cuts or raise taxes or some combination of both to balance budgets beyond 2011.

Governor Strickland's plan to "Turnaround Ohio" has failed when it comes to public education-
school programs continue to be cuts because he has failed to offer leadership and address the serious school funding issue. John Kasich's plan to cut more taxes will "Turnback Ohio" and make problems for public schools even greater.

As a school board President, I am the only candidate who will make sure the funding of public schools a priority and will make sure public education is spared from anymore
budget cuts.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Vote Green in the Ohio Primary-May 4th!

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

The AP ran a story last week on the State Bank of North Dakota....

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(AP) The Bank of North Dakota - the nation's only state-owned bank - might seem to be a relic.

But now officials in other states are wondering if it is helping North Dakota sail through the national recession.

The Bank of North Dakota serves as an economic development agency and "banker's bank" that lessens the loan risks of private banks and helps them finance larger projects. It offers cheap loans to farmers, students and businesses.

The bank had almost $4 billion in assets and a $2.67 billion loan portfolio at the end of last year, according to its most recent quarterly financial report. It made $58.1 million in profits in 2009, setting a record for the sixth straight year. During the last decade, the bank funneled almost $300 million in profits to North Dakota's treasury.

The bank has the advantage of being the repository for most state funds, which can be used for loans and occasional relief for private banks that need a jolt of cash during sluggish credit markets.

The state earns roughly 0.25 percent less interest than state agencies would get from a commercial institution. The bank also pays no state or federal taxes and has no deposit insurance; North Dakota taxpayers are on the hook for any losses.

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Why not a state bank for Ohio? With a state bank like North Dakota's we could fund new businesses and restore our crumbling infrastructure.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor

Vote in the May 4th Ohio Green Party Primary!

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

For more info, contact 330-503-1407

The Blue-Green Alliance reported the following:

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The Baltimore Sun newspaer reported the following earlier this month:

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Yesterday we the pleasure of submitting over 1,100 petition signatures for the Ohio's Governor Race for 2010.

I would like to thank my army of volunteers who went across the state to gather our signatures. We had widespread support for our candidacy from Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Youngstown, Toledo, and throughout the Buckeye State.

The people of Ohio are tired of government controlled by just the Democrats and Republicans. They no longer want the corporate politics of the two major parties. They want straight talk and straight answers to the problems facing Ohio, more blue-green jobs and greater employment opportunities, better funding of public schools, a cleaner environment, and single payer health care for all Ohioans.

These are issues the Democrats and Republicans fail to address and fail to offer any meaningful solutions too. Our campaign for Governor will address these issues, and will work towards finding 21 century solutions to these 21st century problems.

We are in this race to stay and win in November.

We are ready to crash Ted's and John's party.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info: contact 330-503-1407.

Why Not Ohio? Florida's Feed-In Tariff is Lowering Energy Costs

Florida is another state which is pursuing feed-in tariffs based on European models. Why not Ohio?

Another reason Single_Payer Health Care Can't Wait-Rural Ohio
 On Wednesday, February 10, 2010, the Center for Rural Affairs released a policy report entitled - Why Health Care Reform Can't Wait: The Benefits of Health Reform for Rural America - which examines the  health care reform proposals and their potential impact on rural families, businesses and communities as well as the rural consequences of inaction.
Crucial Findings:

• Rural Americans stand to obtain greater rates of health insurance coverage and reverse the long-time trend of being more likely to be uninsured than urban residents.
• The benefits of health insurance coverage are enormous for all uninsured, but particularly for rural people who receive less preventive care and have higher rates of all chronic diseases.  Fewer rural people will die needlessly simply because they lack health insurance.  And rural communities and the already insured in them will benefit from more people being covered.
• Many barriers that prevent rural residents from obtaining health insurance coverage will be removed.  The generally poorer health of rural people will no longer determine whether health insurance is a possibility.

This is just another report stating why the Health Care for All Ohioans Act must be passed in the Buckeye State. Universal health care must reach our rural citizens-they need it!

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

For more info: contact 330-503-1407

According to a story written by  Paul Gipe last month, Washington State is the latest in the nation to introuduce a feed-in tariff bill in the state house.

Why Not Ohio?

An Act Creating Standard Offer Contracts was introduced into the Washington State House of Representatives January 5, 2010 and was heard by the Committee on Technology, Energy, and Communication on January 11th.

HB 2536 was introduced by Representatives John McCoy (D-38th), Maralyn Chase (D-32nd), and Jeff Morris (D-40th). McCoy is Chair of the Committee on Technology, Energy, and Communication. Chase is Vice Chair of the Committee on Environmental Health. And Morris is Speaker Pro Tempore.

The bill contains provisions reported previously, see Washington State House Committee Chair Outlines FIT Bill.

HB 2536, like many similar bills introduced across the US in the past two years seems focused solely on solar PV by severely limiting project size. HB 2536 limits project size to no more than 2 MW. Though the bill includes all renewable technologies, it is likely that no wind, geothermal, or biomass plants will be built under its overly restrictive provisions. Such provisions primarily benefit solar PV at the expense of other technologies.

Ontario has no limit on project size except for solar PV, which is limited to 10 MW. There are no project size limits in Germany. Spain limits project size to 50 MW.

Among its provisions, HB 2536 directs the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to calculate the average cost of generation plus a 10% rate of return from

• Installed capital costs;
• Fixed and variable operation and management expenses;
• Fuel costs;
• Cost of financing;
• Land costs or leases;
• Insurance;
• Transmission and interconnection costs;
• Net capacity factors; and
• Estimated project life and projected generation degradation.

The bill also directs the UTC to set tariffs that are "reasonable and fair" to the generator, the ratepayer, and the utilities.

In a significant improvement over California's AB 1106 and Vermont's feed-in tariff program, chairman McCoy's bill creates separate tariffs for each of three size classes or "tiers"

• <10 kW,
• >10 kW<300 kW, and
• >300 kW<2,000 kW.

California's AB 1106 sets one tier for projects from 1 MW to 5 MW. All projects less than 1 MW receive the 1 MW tariff. Recently passed SB 32 directs California's PUC to set tariffs based on the "value" of the electricity to the system for projects up to 5 MW.

The bill includes both investor-owned utilities and "consumer-owned utilities". The latter are typically Public Utility Districts in rural areas of the state. Rural utilities complained at the hearing that they would be unfairly burdened by the presumed cost of the program. Though HB 2536 spreads costs of the program across all ratepayer classes within a utility, there is no equalization or balancing provision among utilities as in Germany.

A workshop is scheduled to discuss this and other issues.

Again, why not Ohio? Why does Ohio not begin investigation into Feed-In Tariffs? Is it because Ted Strickland still believes heavyly in using dirty coal and Nuke options? It's starting to seem that way.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for mroe info contact 330-503-1407

As Green Party Candidate for Governor, I am calling on Ted Strickland to stop his support of coal burning as a continued major source of power for Ohio's future. Ohio must switch to clean energy instead of dirty coal or clean coal technology as soon as possible.

Burning coal-to-liquid fuel is arguably the dirtiest, most expensive energy gamble we could take. The truth is that liquid coal is plagued with economic and environmental downsides from the time the coal is mined until long after the liquid is removed from the coal.

I believe in building an energy corridor based upon renewable energy companies and manufacturers who will build and produce green jobs such as solar and wind component plants. Blue-collar jobs - to put our people back to work.

It will accelerate the development of the nation's vast clean energy resources and move us toward energy security, climate stability and economic prosperity. And it will transform Ohio into the global leader of the new green economy.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party candidate for Ohio Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

Where John Kasich's Tax Cuts Will Take Ohio

Where will John Kasich's Tax Cuts Take Ohio? 

David Sirota's description of what's happening to that conservative stronghold should serve as a cautionary tale.

Thanks to the city’s rejection of tax increases—and, thus, depleted municipal revenues—The Denver Post reports that “more than a third of the streetlights in Colorado Springs will go dark; the city is dumping firefighting jobs, a vice team, burglary investigators, beat cops; water cutbacks mean most parks will be dead ... recreation centers, indoor and outdoor pools [and] museums will close for good; buses no longer run on evenings and weekends; [and] the city won’t pay for any street paving.”

Meanwhile, even with the Colorado Springs Gazette uncovering tent ghettos of newly homeless residents, the city’s social services are being reduced—all as fat cats aim to punish what remains of a middle class. As just one example, rather than initiating a tax discussion, the CEO of The Springs’ most lavish luxury hotel is pushing city leaders to cut public employee salaries to the $24,000-a-year level he pays his own workforce—a level approaching Colorado’s official poverty line for a family of four.

This is what Reaganites have always meant when they’ve talked of a “shining city on a hill.” They envision a dystopia whose anti-tax fires incinerate social fabric faster than James Dobson can say “family values”—a place like Colorado Springs that is starting to reek of economic death.
Well, maybe it isn't a function of government to provide streetlights, municipal water, parks, swimmingpools, fire department, police protection, and paved roads. Or it won't be, anymore. Someday, we'll have to pave our own roads. Scratch that. We'll be free to pave our own roads and hire our own police, etc.

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John Kasich's tax cuts will Turn Ohio Backwards!

Dennis Spisak-Green Party candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

As Green Party candidate for Governor, I support the Ohioans for Humane Farms ballot proposal. The Ohioans for Humane Farms is spearheading a new, citizen-backed ballot initiative to prevent some of the cruelest factory farming practices in Ohio. The measure will require the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to adopt certain minimum standards that will prevent animal cruelty, improve health and food safety, support family farms and safeguard the environment throughout the state of Ohio.

The Green Party of Ohio endorses, supports and seeks to implement an
Agriculture Policy in the State of Ohio that follows basic Green
principles that will insure a healthy food supply in Ohio.
We remain concerned about the Constitutional Amendment approved in
November 2009 creating an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, largely
appointed by the Governor,for establishing standards governing the care
and well-being of livestock and poultry in this state; the concern is
that this board could put the economic interests of factory farms ahead
of the welfare of farm animals and prevent certain animal care reform
proposed by national animal rights organizations.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

As Governor of Ohio, I would work with the Ohio Environmental Council and put a stop to dumping of construction material into Ohio's groundwater.

From the OEC: 

Waste from construction and demolition sites are routinely dumped into Ohio's landfills. The construction and demolition debris (CDD) industry has long contended that this waste is inert and poses no risk to groundwater or the environment.

Yet last year, Ohio EPA released study results on Ohio's CDD landfills, concluding that liquid waste from CDD landfills "poses a threat to public health and the environment if released to groundwater or surface water." 

New reports released by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) have resulted in a combined effort across the state involving many environmental organizations and Ohio citizens to urge Governor Strickland to issue a moratorium regarding Construction & Demolition Debris (C&DD) landfill facilities.  The moratorium would halt additional construction and expansion of C&DD facilities until the Ohio Revised Code and Administrative Rules can be altered in order to provide protection from the reported dangers of C&DD landfill toxins to underground bodies of water.

Many other states require the same safety regulations for C&DD facilities as for Solid Municipal Waste (SMW) facilities.  Ohio's requirements for C&DD are vastly inferior to SMW requirements resulting in hazard to Ohio's environment and to the health of Ohio's citizens.  The OEPA reports document the need for more protection in Ohio.

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I urge Ted Strickland  to issue a statewide moratorium on dumping construction and demolition waste in Ohio's CDD landfills.Our health, and the health of my community, depend on it!

Ted Strickland won't because he is not a "green Governor", but I will!

Dennis Spisak-Green Party candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

In a Progressive States Network Report last week:

Corporations should also be paying their fair share in taxes.  They benefit from state investments in education, infrastructure, and public safety, but unfortunately, corporations have repeatedly and excessively exploited the tax system.

• Corporate income tax revenue as a share of all taxes has fallen dramatically.  In 1979, the corporate income tax accounted for 10.2 percent of total state tax revenue. In 2005, the figure fell to 6.5 percent. 
• The Iowa Fiscal Partnership reported that approximately half of Iowa corporations with at least $1 million of sales in state pay no corporate income tax. 
• Similarly, the Oklahoma Tax Commission revealed that only 35 percent of corporations filing tax returns in 2000 reported positive taxable income- almost an anomaly considering the economy experienced substantial gains that year.
• The problems are similar at the federal level. A Government Accountability Office report, Comparison of the Reported Tax Liabilities of Foreign- and U.S.-Controlled Corporations, 1998-2005, found almost two-thirds of all corporations reported no tax liability from 1998 to 2005.

Accordingly, there are a variety of corporate taxation policy options legislators can pursue to ensure businesses are contributing adequately to a state.

• Close Tax Loopholes:  Ending some of the egregious corporate tax loopholes that businesses abuse should be a top priority for lawmakers.  States lose billions of dollars each year as a result of these loopholes.  For instance, states should opt out of the "domestic production deduction" tax break that was passed by the federal government in 2004 and subsequently incorporated into the tax code in several states.  Currently, 25 states allow the deduction, which by 2011, will cost states $500 million annually and favors large corporations over small businesses.  States can also eliminate Net Operating Loss "Carryback" Deductions, reform the "cancellation of debt income" (CODI) provision, and reform the tax treatment of S-Corporations and Limited Liability Companies.
• Combined Reporting:  23 states have implemented combined reporting, which requires multi-state corporations to report profits from all entities, including subsidiaries, for tax purposes.  Combined reporting is a key policy to restrict tax avoidance.  The policy makes the tax system fairer, brings in greater revenue, and does not impede economic growth.  In fact, CBPP finds, "combined reporting states are well-represented among the most economically-successful states in the country."

The Film Tax Credit as Case Study of Corporate Giveaways:  Several states are dealing with ineffective expenditures, a notorious recent example being the proliferation of film tax credits.  In 2002, only three states offered incentives to the film industry.  Currently, of the 44 states that offer some type of movie production incentive, 28 provide tax credits.  The Tax Foundation provides a graphic that depicts states with incentives and the year in which they were approved.

Following an explosive scandal involving members of the Department of Economic Development and abuse of the film tax credit, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver ordered a review of credits the state provides.  In early January, Iowa released the Tax Credit Review Report that recommended the state:

• Provide greater transparency of tax credits;
• Develop an effective return on investment calculation for all tax credits;
• Establish a five-year sunset for all tax credits;
• Cap all currently uncapped tax credits;
• And eliminate certain tax credits.

Reports by many other advocacy organizations and government bodies, including the Oregon Center for Public Policy, Connecticut Voices for Children, New Mexico Fiscal Policy Project, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, indicate that offering these tax credits are ineffective and provide little to no economic benefit to a state or its residents.  The Tax Foundation writes that states are greatly overestimating the impact of providing film tax credits and basing decisions "on fanciful estimates of economic activity and tax revenue (leading to) small returns and unnecessary risks with taxpayer dollars."

Other states have taken tangible steps to address these problems:

• Connecticut:  Gov. M. Jodi Rell estimated that a $25 million cap for film tax credits would save the state $70 million in the next two years.
• Massachusetts:  Rep. Steven D'Amico introduced legislation, HB 3854, to limit state spending on incentives for the film industry.
• Michigan:  Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm proposed reducing the 42% refundable tax credit to approximately 37%.
• Wisconsin:  Gov. Jim Doyle offered a plan to completely eliminate the state's 25% film tax credit and replace it with a two-year, $1 million grant program to create permanent film industry jobs
• New Mexico:  Rep. Dennis Kintigh has sponsored HB52 to limit the state's spending on film tax credits.

Discontinue Excessive Corporate Subsidies:  Even as states confront massive gaps, many are still doling out huge subsidies to corporations.  Many times, these subsidies do not produce long-term growth and may even result in lost revenue.  In North Carolina, for instance, a Dell plant closed just a few years after it received a promise of up to $300 million in grants, an amount more than twice the cost of building the plant.  As Good Jobs First explains, states waste money competing for firms to locate within their borders by providing extremely costly and ineffective incentives, rather than on fostering entrepreneurship and new jobs.  The report details:

[T]ax reductions, exemptions or credits exert a very small marginal influence on corporate investment decisions... For the vast majority of companies, tax breaks are windfalls, not determinants, and are therefore wasted.

As government officials look to eliminate wasteful spending, they should also rethink allocating enormous and often inefficient business tax breaks as a better option than cutting programs for their most vulnerable residents.  The public money squandered through tax credits and corporate subsidies demonstrates that blind giveaways are not a sustainable model for economic growth and a more transparent budget process is needed in the future.

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As Governor of Ohio, Corporations will pay their fare share of taxes.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

In a Progressive States Network report last week:

 As 48 states confront monetary shortfalls this fiscal year, the budget will undoubtedly be the predominant focus of lawmakers.  In fact, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) estimates that states will face cumulative deficits of approximately $350 billion in 2010 and 2011.  The downturn has also taken an enormous toll on tax revenue.  Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody's Economy.com, reports that state and local tax revenues have dropped 9 percent from last year, "the largest decline on record going back to just after World War II."  

During an economic downturn, progressive revenue generation is far preferable to deep cuts, as it allows states to provide funding for essential programs, pump money into the economy, and protect working families in this time of hardship.  A budget that relies too heavily on cuts will not only force layoffs of state employees, but will also cut off funding in the state for crucial services, thereby reducing spending pumping dollars in the private sector. 

Peter Orszag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Nobel prize winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz confirm:

[T]ax increases on higher-income families are the least damaging mechanism for closing state fiscal deficits in the short run.  Reductions in government spending on goods and services, or reductions in transfer payments to lower-income families, are likely to be more damaging to the economy in the short run than tax increases focused on higher-income families.

As a recent report by the Economic Opportunity Institute denotes, "every dollar of state spending generates $1.41 of economic activity.  Much of that spending - 62%, or 88 cents - boosts the private sector.  Cutting state spending means fewer purchases from suppliers, reduced contracts with service providers, less money from public and private employee paychecks circulating through local businesses - and of course, fewer public services."

Also, spending on programs that assist low and middle-income families is smart economic policy.  By assisting working families, who will more readily spend their funds on basic necessities, the government is boosting short-run demand and fostering market activity.  For instance, Zandi finds that increasing food stamps spending creates $1.73 in demand for each dollar spent by the federal government. 

• 28 states instituted cuts that will limit low-income children's access to health care
• 24 states have slashed services for the elderly and disabled
• 36 states have reduced funding for higher education
• 42 states implemented cuts that affect state employees, including 26 that have hiring freezes, 14 that have announced layoffs and 26 that have decreased wages

If new revenues are not generated, further cuts will continue a cycle of job layoffs by states, lower spending on crucial programs, diminished economic growth, and deep budget cuts.  The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) provides the following chart illustrating the danger of state budget cuts as they ripple through the economy; teachers, nurses and police are laid off, state funds supporting private sector activity are reduced, and individuals receiving state support stop spending in their local communities.

Working and Middle Class Families Have the Highest Tax Burdens On Average:  A common misconception about state and local taxes is the idea that the wealthy have incredibly high tax burdens.  The reality is the richest taxpayers have not been contributing their fair share for years.  When you factor in sales and excise, property, and income taxes, states tax working families far more heavily than richer individuals, according to Who Pays?, a report from ITEP.  As the graph below highlights, the lowest 20 percent of earners pay about 11 percent of their income in state and local taxes while the top 1 percent pay a little over 6 percent of their income to state and local governments.  

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We need to raise revenues in ohio to avoid loss of services. Somebody tell

Ted Strickland that. He cuts programs as bad as a Republican!

Dennis Spisak-Green Party candidate for Governor

One reason states are readily raising revenue as an alternative to more cuts is that they can turn to a wealth of examples to debunk the rhetoric that raising taxes to fund services in a state is harmful to the economy. 

Taxes Do Not Undermine State Economic Growth:  As we've highlighted in previous Dispatches, research consistently show that, contrary to right-wing rhetoric, there is no link between tax increases and job loss.

• States with higher personal income tax rates experienced significant job growth in the past decade, as the Fiscal Policy Institute and Center for Working Families point out in their report, Back on Track and as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found in a similar report.
• Moreover, according to a 2008 Information Technology & Innovation Foundation analysis, states with some of the higher marginal income tax rates, including New York and Maryland, have more innovative new economy industries.  Likely as a result of larger investments in infrastructure, education, and technology, these states are better suited to foster economic growth that is sustainable and well-paying in an increasingly fierce global competition for jobs.
• This builds on analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) detailing that states the collect the highest percentage of personal income in taxes actually sustain higher income growth.
• Similarly, an older study by the California Budget Project (CBP) analyzed state economies and concludes, "[s]tates that enacted large tax cuts between 1994 and 2001 - reducing revenue by at least 7 percent - subsequently experienced weaker growth in jobs and personal income and larger increases in the unemployment rate, on average, than other states."

Progressive Taxes Don't Cause Out-Migration of Wealthy Residents:  Opponents of progressive income tax reform like to argue that tax increases cause wealthy residents to leave a state.  In fact, states that have increased the top rate in recent years have not experienced any significant out-migration of wealthy residents:

• California:  The California Budget Project found that there was a significant growth in millionaire households after California passed higher PIT rates in the 1990s and again in 2004.  In fact, the number of California millionaires increased by 37.8 percent between 2004 and 2006.
• New Jersey:  A Princeton University report discovered that the passage of a higher top rate in 2002 had "little effect on migration patterns among half-millionaire households."
• New York:  After the state temporarily raised income taxes on the wealthy from 2003 to 2005, the number of high income tax returns grew 30 percent, from 250,000 to 325,000.

A New York Times article, entitled "Taxes Not Seen as Making the Rich Flee New York" succinctly articulates:

[T]here is surprisingly little evidence to support the proposition that rich New Yorkers would bolt if forced to pay higher income taxes.  Though tracking the movement of wealthy taxpayers from state to state is difficult, experts on public finance and migration say they have yet to document a substantial 'rich drain' in states that have raised income taxes in recent years.

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Don't believe everything John Kasich tells you about tax cuts. They don't work!

Dennis Spisak -Green Party candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

• Just last November, voters in Maine and Washington rejected anti-tax initiatives , including so-called "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" (TABOR) initiatives meant to impose a rigid strait jacket on revenue options for state legislatures.
• In 2008, similar measures were defeated overwhelmingly in Massachusetts, North Dakota and Oregon.  In all three states, proposed initiatives that would have slashed or, in the case of Massachusetts, completely eliminated the income tax, were rejected at the polls.
• In 2006, voters in Maine, Nebraska and Oregon each rejected TABOR ballot initiatives.  This came on top of judges and other officials rejecting TABOR initiatives in Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma and Missouri due to fraud and manipulation by anti-tax campaigns.
• In 2005, voters in Colorado--the only state ever to approve a TABOR initiative--decided by initiative to significantly weaken the TABOR rules.  This followed years of declining education and health standards due to the state's as a result of the implementation of the TABOR.

State Legislatures Reject Anti-Tax Rhetoric as Well:  The string of failures of the anti-tax movement at the ballot box is paralleled by state legislatures passing revenue increases across the country.  In 2009 alone, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin instituted either a permanent or temporary reform of personal income taxes.  Another 11 states considered or enacted business tax increases to help deal with budget deficits and even more states raised other taxes or fees to address the fiscal crisis in state across the country.

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) notes that out of the 28 attempts by the right-wing to introduce TABOR legislatively, Colorado is the only state that has adopted this disastrous policy.  State lawmakers have watched as Colorado's experience with TABOR has led to an increase in the number of adults and children without health insurance and a severe decline in education funding.

Empty Threats by the Anti-Tax Right:  While right-wing leaders like Grover Norquist and his Americans for Tax Reform like to make threats of punishing legislators who raise taxes, anti-tax forces have largely revealed themselves to be weak paper tigers.  After New Jersey increased taxes on the wealthy in 2004, the Democratic House majority increased to its largest size in three decades the following year, while progressives in Maryland and Minnesota continued to maintain and grow strong legislative majorities in the wake of approving increased taxes on high-income earners in 2008 and 2007.

In 2009, BISC found that "[t]he Grover Norquist, Club for Growth, Glenn Beck, Tea Party crowd tried to use the bleak budget picture as an opportunity to ratchet down even harder as states look to find the revenue necessary to protect priorities, create jobs, and get their economies going-- but voters rejected that failed approach."

Even many conservative politicians have rejected these type of policies.  For instance, Tom Slade, the former head of the Florida Republican party, dismisses Norquist's ideas and finds his anti-tax pledge to be illogical and dangerous.  Slade states, "[y]ou don't know how wide or deep the river's going to get.  Saying I'm never going to use a life boat seemed foolish to me."  After a Republican State Senator from Virginia, Robert Hurt, voted for a $1.4 billion tax increase, Norquist vowed to back a primary challenge against him.  Despite this, the Senator won re-election and is now favored to win the party's nomination for Congress.

Public Opinion Supports Funding Public Investments:  Polling shows that 79% of the public believes "[g]overnment investments in education, infrastructure, and science are necessary to ensure America's long-term economic growth."  Accordingly, during an economic downturn when so many working families are struggling, voters are likely to support policies to raise revenue, strengthen public programs, and provide safeguards to those who have been hurt by the recession.

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As the Green Party candidate for Governor, I say Ohio must return to a progressive tax structure to balance our state budget.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party of Ohio candidate for Governor

The green-collar jobs movement just got another major boost: a groundbreaking new report underscores how the growing green economy can provide high quality jobs for those who need them most. The author, Professor Raquel Rivera Pinderhughes of San Francisco State University, is a leading national expert on green-collar jobs. This report deepens our understanding of how to harness green business growth to build pathways out of poverty. Prof. Pinderhughes' research provides us with critical guidance as we develop the Oakland Green Jobs Corps, the nation's first attempt to carry out the model that Professor Pinderhughes describes in her report. Professor Pinderhughes is a key partner in our Green-Collar Jobs Campaign. She is on the steering committee of the Oakland Apollo Alliance, and is a senior advisor to the Ella Baker Center and Green For All. Some highlights: Green businesses need workers, offer training, and pay well.  Of the Berkeley green businesses surveyed by Professor Pinderhughes: 86 percent hire workers without previous direct experience or training for green-collar jobs. 94 percent provide on-the-job training for workers in entry level positions. 90 percent pay the full cost of insuring their workers. 73 percent of businesses stated that there was a shortage of qualified green-collar workers for their sector, with the greatest needs in energy, green building, mechanics and bike repair. The average hourly wage for green-collar work in Berkeley is $15.80 plus benefits. This is $4.00 higher an hour than Berkeley's current minimum "living wage," which is the highest in the nation. Workers with barriers to employment want green-collar jobs.  Analysis of men and women in Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco with barriers to employment revealed that: 89 percent wanted to learn more about green-collar jobs. 61 percent expressed interest in being contacted in the future so they could receive training to work in a green-collar job. Prof. Pinderhughes summarizes the report: Poverty, unemployment and racial inequality are significant problems in the United States, and there is an urgent need for a new source of living wage jobs for low income residents with barriers to employment. Where can these jobs come from? This research project shows that an important part of the answer is the deliberate cultivation of "green-collar" jobs.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

Ohio Needs SPAN

There are now well over 45 million American citizens with no health insurance. The majority of these are employed adults—many at several part time jobs. With Ohio spending $70 billion a year on health care, which includes $11 billion on administrative costs, there is a way to cost-shift and cover everyone in Ohio with no co-pays and no-deductibles. This means that payment would be received for every person medically served. A single-payer plan that maintains our private doctors, hospitals, and health care providers is a solution to our current health care crisis.

This is a fundamental test of our democracy: government should be accountable on the leading issue of our time (right up there with the export of jobs). The Health Care For All Ohioans Act, which would bring universal/single-payer health care to Ohio would be funded in a way that would cost most people less what they’re paying now, would cost good companies with benefits less than what they pay now, make the Wal-Marts pay their fair share, and would protect displaced insurance and provider personnel. Find out more at: www.SPANOhio.org (SPAN – Single-Payer Action Network). Sign the petition, legislators, and help put Ohio on the cutting edge of health care reform. Help save America!

While Ohio Needs SPAN, Ted Strickland takes $10,000 in Corporate Donations from Medical Mutual, to make sure SPAN does never exists in Ohio.

It's time Ohio elects a Green Party candidate for Governor who SUPPORTS
SPAN!

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

Public Options and Universal Coverage:  In Iowa, SB 2092 would establish the Iowa Choice Exchange -- a form of the public option -- to serve as an information clearinghouse where businesses and consumers could compare health insurance policies.  This would be combined with IowaCare Plus, which would subsidize health care for working families fully up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) with help up to 400 percent of FPL for buying more restricted health insurance.  Sen. Jack Hatch (Des Moines) emphasized the reality that "We cannot do this without a fair and appropriate partnership with the federal government."

Connecticut, building on the enactment of their comprehensive health care reform plan SustiNet in July 2009, will be moving forward to phase it in by 2016.  By 2014, it is estimated that 98 percent of Connecticut residents will be insured with a comprehensive benefits package.  Sustinet will give every patient a medical home, ratings will not be based on age, gender or health status, and coverage will be guaranteed for chronic or pre-existing conditions.  Other new coverage and insurance reforms include:

• Vermont's HB 510 would establish "Green Mountain Care," creating a public health coverage option with sliding scale premiums and cost sharing.
• Missouri's Universal Health Assurance Program (HB 1641), which would provide for a publicly financed, statewide insurance program, was introduced on January 13th.  If passed, the program would provide timely access to health services for all residents, adequate funding for health care, and lower health care spending through streamlined administration and uniform payments.
• California's Universal Health Care Act (S.810) -- approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this week - would enact a single-payer health care system for the state and create a commission to decide how to pay for the plan and then submit the funding plan to voters through a ballot initiative.
• Maine's LD 1620 would eliminate annual and lifetime benefit caps from private insurance policies.

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Why not Ohio? Why does Ted Strickland not push the Health Care for all Ohioans Act? Is it because he took a $10,000 campaign Contribution from Medical Mutual? I think so.

Dennis Spisak for Governor-Ohio Green Party

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info contact 330-503-1407.

According to a report released last week by Green Options:

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A study by Smart Growth America found that every billion dollars spent on public transportation projects created over 16,000 months of employment, almost twice as much work as those created by simple highway expansion and renewal projects.

• found that a billion dollars spent on fixing or expanding highways created an average of 8,781 months of job. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act spent over $27 billion on “shovel ready” highway projects, many of which that have yet to get underway. Of the $15 billion thus far spent on highway projects, approximately 138,831 full time job-months have been created, or sustained. These projects are as simple as repaving roads to updating our sorely dated bridges and rural roads. There is no doubt that the money spent here was sorely needed as America’s highway system gets more crowded and out outdated.

But the study found that public transportation projects employ almost twice as many people for the common sense reasoning that public transportation requires employees to operate buses, trains, subways, and other infrastructure. The stimulus invested just $8.4 billion in public transit projects, (and another $9.3 billion in high-speed train projects and expanding passenger train capacities, which wasn’t counted in the study.) Public transportation definitely got the shaft. The SGA study figures that of the $4.4 billion spent on those public transportation projects, 72,328 full time job-months have been created or sustained.

If the study is accurate, the government created 368,935 months of employment. If the numbers were reversed, and $27 billion was spent on public transit, and just $8 billion spent on highways, the government could have created 515,235 months of employment, or 40% more jobs spending the same amount of money.

What’s more, other studies have suggested you can save over $9,000 a year by using public transportation as opposed to driving a car. The House of Representatives also recently passed a $154 billion “mini-stimulus” for Main Street that includes another $27 billion for highways and just $8.4 for public transportation. If you’re keeping tally at home, that is $17 billion for public transportation ($26 billion if you count money towards trains) and over $52 billion for highway projects.

Again, common sense dictates that, while our highways definitely need fixing and improving, the best way to knock down unemployment is to permanently employ people, save them money on transportation, and reduce our dependency on cars. Public transportation also requires less land to acquire, more vehicles to purchase, more people to run and maintain those vehicles, and reduces congestion on roads.

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It's time Ohio has a Governor who will put public transportation at the top of his agenda for all cities in Ohio to help put people back to work.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info contact 330-503-1407

Green Party candidate for Ohio Governor Dennis Spisak cites a recent Green Options report which states the Ontario will be giving the green light to receive 16,000 jobs thanks to their energy legistlation which is allowing a 6.6 billion dollar wind and solar power deal to fall their way:

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 In one of the biggest renewable energy deals in the history of the world, a Korean consortium led by Samsung has agreed to build 2,500 megawatts of wind and solar power capacity in the Canadian province of Ontario.

According to a report from the Progeressive States Network:

Building a green economy is one of the largest areas of entrepreneurial energy these days and states are designing a wide range of programs to encourage firms in their states to become leaders.  Since energy savings are an inherent source of potential revenue, the opportunities are large, but the need for technical, regulatory and financial assistance are also clear.  The following are a few of the programs states are promoting in this area, although the Apollo Alliance extensively tracks clean energy programs in the manufacturing sector:

• New York:  Green Jobs/Green Homes NY:  The passage of Green Jobs/Green Homes NY produced a job creation program that will foster energy savings and revitalization of distressed areas. The program will create an estimated 14,000 jobs and reduce energy costs for about 1 million homes and businesses across the state.  Using an innovative revolving loan fund, the program will "provide up to $13,000 for residential homes and $26,000 for businesses to retrofit for increased energy efficiency."
• Pennsylvania:  Building on the state's industry partnerships discussed above, this program will concentrate on upgrading workforce skills by developing industry-recognized credentials, participating in curriculum development at all levels, and helping workers respond to changing industry needs.  This will involve multiple partnerships, including a 3 Rivers Clean Energy Partnership, which helps train workers for jobs in the clean energy industry and the Electronics Manufacturing Partnership, which helps firms become more environmentally conscious.
• Washington:  Lean and Green Assistance Program:  Last year, the Washington Department of Ecology proposed a Lean and Green Assistance Program aimed at improving the environmental performance and provide technical assistance to companies across the state.  From 2007 to 2008, three Lean and Environmental pilot project were undertaken, effectively saving businesses over $1.5 million and reducing pollution by more than 800,000 pounds according to the EPA.
• Kansas SB 108 provides for $150 million in bonds to be issued by the state's development finance authority to fund manufacturing projects through long-term loans to eligible wind and solar energy businesses in amounts not exceeding $5 million per project.  Companies' tax withholdings will be placed in a specially-created state economic revitalization fund during the period of the loan to pay off the principal and interest of the loans.
• Michigan Manufacturing Diversification Program is a loan program backed by the state to help parts of the auto supply chain retool to join the clean energy supply chain, from helping companies eliminate chemicals from processes that clean steel for manufacturing to funding re-purposed factory conveyor belts for solar panel manufacturers.
• Wisconsin:  The Clean Energy Business Loan Program uses $55 million in ARRA State Energy Program to fund low-interest loans to businesses that promote major renewable energy production projects, the manufacture of clean energy products, advanced manufacturing of clean energy components, retooled supply chains, and energy efficiency programs at firms.
• --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Why not Ohio? Why do we continue to support Ted Strickland and his administration of no leadership in the area of supporting clean industrial energy? Ted Stricklasnd is a nuke and coal governor, and that fact will never change.
• Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

           Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

           for more info: contact 330-503-1407

As the  Green Party Candidate for Governor, I believe it’s time to call for a Renewable Energy initiative for our state.  Over the past century we have created a world dependent on oil.

There are many ways to create energy. True, at this time there is nothing to date that equals the power of oil but there are new advancements in solar, wind, and geothermal technologies that are pushing the envelope on the potential or renewable energy. There will be a solution to the decline of oil only when state legislative leaders like myself and the general public make the decision to be part of the solution.

I am proposing that Ohio organize a renewable energy initiative to encourage energy conservation, energy efficiency practices, and to promote the use of renewable energy in homes businesses, and industry.

My initiative would have four goals:

1. Reduce barriers to the use of renewable energy by providing education and assistance to help citizens plan their energy futures.
2. Reduce the costs of renewable energy and energy efficiency products by negotiating with manufacturers, retailers, and trades people.
3. Reduce the installation costs of renewable energy by using a neighbor helping neighbor approach and by participating with local trades people.
4. Help citizens practice energy conservation by forming an energy assessment and action planning process.

As an Green Party Candidate, I can work to help to bring renewable energy to the valley because I will not accept lobbyists or corporate PACS from the oil,coal, and nuclear industries like current Governor Ted Strickland does.

Dennis Spisak-Green party candidate for Governor

http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info contact 330-503-1407

Investing to Re-Energize Ohio

According to a report from the groups Policy Matters Ohio and the Apollo Alliance,

As theGreen Party Candidate for Governor, I will support the recommendations for an expanded advanced energy fund. Since I will not accept lobbyists or PACS contributions who represent out of state energy resources such as coal, oil and gas companies, I will not allow big money to influence my votes in Columbus like the current Democrats and Republicans have.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info contact: 330-503-1407

Green Party candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak cites another news report where now Minnesota is planning to begin work on a comprehensive rail plan:

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Green Party Candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak cites an AP story last week that reports Appalachian states would be wise to look to more renewable green energies in the future instead of looking for coal to continue to be the answer for an energy source.

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Why Not Ohio? Michigan to Repower Detroit with Solar Roofs for as Low as $6,000

By electing Green Party candidate Dennis Spisak as Ohio Governor we would see Ohio move forward in reducing economic inequality by first reversing the Taft tax cuts of the early 2000's. High income Ohioans are much less taxed today then they used to be. Raising taxes on the top 1% back to historical levels can pay for part of a stronger safety net that limits economic inequality.

By eliminating this tax inequality, we could provide health care for all Ohioans. We also need to close tax loopholes that lets corporations, drug companies, shift profits to low-tax jurisdictions overseas which cost billions more in lost taxes.

Http://votespisak.org/governor/

for more info: contact 330-503-1407

Ohio Green Party candidate Dennis Spisak calls for raising the Commercial Activity Tax. the tax is currently too low to reimburse schools and local governments. By Raising the CAT, revenues would allow for paying schedule reimbursements as well as add money to the General Revenue Fund. The Cat could raise at least $50 million for the state.

Ohio should also retain some of the income tax portion of the corporate franchise tax. Retaining at least 1/5 of it's former rate would give the state at least $200 million per year.

Ohio should also scale back the Homestead Property Tax Credit from it's 2008-2009 modifications. Returning to it's former level would save the state $257 million per year.

Http://votespisak.org/governor/

For more info contact 330-503-1407

How would a Green Party Ohio Governor fix Ohio's budget problems?

Green Party Candidate Dennis Spisak would restructure the 2005 tax changes that lowered income taxes for wealthy taxpapers. The Office of Budget and Manaagement says reversing just one year of the income tax cuts would bring in $422 million dollars. To help low-income households,raise the amount households can make before owing an income tax. Implement an Ohio Earned Income Tax Credit system like the Federal EITC. Currently, 24 states and the District of Columbia have this credit in place which would bring low-income familes out of poverty.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info, contact 330-503-1407

Green Party candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak cites a report last week written by Paul Gipe that now Indiana has joined Wisconsin in having a feed-in tariff bill introduced in their legislative body. Why not Ohio?

 Why is Ohio not pushing for the same action? Is it because Ted Strickland is not the Green Power Alternative Renewable Energy leader that he claims to be? Why is every other Midwest state now looking at Feed-In tariff bills while Ted Strickland looks a $1,000 a plate rubber chicken fund raising dinners with Bill Clinton?

According to the report, Representative Matt Pierce (D-61st, Bloomington) introduced AB 1190 into the Indiana General Assembly January 7, 2010. The bill is the first comprehensive proposal for a system of feed-in tariffs in the current legislative sessions that have begun in states across the US.

The bill to create a system of what Representative Pierce calls Advanced Renewable Energy Contracts was referred to the Assembly Committee on Commerce, Energy, Technology and Utilities. Representative Pierce is vice chair of the committee.

Representative Pierce had introduced a previous bill on feed-in tariffs in the 2009 session. AB 1190 has been extensively rewritten and has incorporated the feed-in tariffs, or renewable energy rates as they will be called in Indiana, recently introduced in the Canadian province of Ontario.

The proposed rates in AB 1190 have been adapted to the Indiana context by incorporating two tracks: one track with US federal subsidies, one track without. Unlike Ontario, where there are no federal subsidies for renewable energy, some Indiana projects could qualify for US federal subsidies. However, not all potential renewable energy generators in Indiana may be able to use the federal subsidies. For those who may not be able to use the federal subsidies, Representative Pierce has proposed the second track where the feed-in rates are proportionally higher.

Republican Governor Mitch Daniels and the legislature have liked to characterize Indiana as a potential renewable energy hub of the Midwest.

AB 1190 tries to go Ontario one better as competition for renewable energy heats up in North America's heartland. Representative Pierce has proposed a sophisticated system of rates for wind energy that is based on the intensity of the wind resource. Both Germany and France successfully use a similar policy and the concept has been raised frequently in Ontario. However, the Canadian province has yet to adopt such a program.

Differentiating the rates for wind energy based on the wind resource is used by Germany and France both to spread development opportunity to more farmers and rural landowners than one, single rate for wind energy, but also to avoid the concentration of wind turbines in only the windiest regions. Such a proposal in Indiana would give farmers in central Indiana as much opportunity to develop their wind resource as farmers in northern Indiana where it is windier.

And in another departure from Ontario, Representative Pierce has proposed specific tariffs for small wind turbines like those that would be used by individual households. While AB 1190's proposed rates for small wind turbines are less than those that will likely go into effect this April in Great Britain, they are the first of their kind in North America.

In other provisions, the bill requires the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to review the renewable energy rates paid to new generators beginning in 2012. AB 1190 directs the IURC's review to ensure the rates are sufficient for the rapid development of renewable energy without resulting in excessive profits for generators or excessive costs to ratepayers.

The bill establishes an equalization program to spread the costs of the policy across all ratepayers so that no one utility or its ratepayers absorb more than their fair share of the costs of the program.

AB 1190 creates a statewide registry of generators and requires the IURC to issue annual reports on the robustness of the program in meeting the bill's objective of encouraging the rapid and sustainable development of renewable energy in Indiana.

A Republican Governor wants to make Indiana the Region's Renewable Energy Hub?

Why not Ohio? Why Ted, WHY?

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor Dennis Spisak asks why Ohio is not doing more to bring wind energy to rural parts of the Buckeye State. The Center for Rural Affairs released an analysis on the economic potential of wind energy development entitled, Renewable Energy and Economic Potential in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. The report examines economic impact, job creation and wind resources in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Expanding production of renewable electricity to 20% of the nation's electrical generation has the potential to create a large number of new jobs in the rural Midwest and Great Plains, according to unpublished analyses from the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The analysis projects that Kansas would gain nearly 3,100 long-term jobs in operations and maintenance of wind farms, Nebraska over 3,500 jobs, South Dakota over 3,900 jobs and Iowa over 9,000 jobs. An even higher number of medium-term jobs, averaging one year in duration, would be created - jobs related to manufacturing, site preparation and turbine construction.

Nationally, the analysis projects that reaching 20% of electrical generation from wind would result in 1.75 million full-time jobs during wind turbine construction and 1.6 million new, permanent operational (post-construction) jobs created.

Why isn't wind power on the forefront of Ted Strickland's re-election platform? Is it because he still wants Ohio to supply 75% of it's power from dirty coal and nuke plants? Is it because he is the puppet to dirty coal and nuke lobbyists? Only The Governor can answer these questions, and his actions, supporting the nuclear site in Piketon, supporting the Coal plant in Meigs County,  speak louder than his words.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

For more info contact 330-503-1407

Ever seen the Green Party announced their candidate for Governor, Dennis Spisak, who immediately went after Ted Strickland's  record of never seeing a nuke or dirty coal plant he didn't like, some of Teddy's Blogger Boys have been quick ever since to roll out every new Green Idea the Governor has.

This will be the same all throughout this 2010 campaign. Ted Strickland will try to portray himself as the liberal populist Governor before the election, and then revert back to his right-leaning way of governing IF he is re-elected.

That's why Progressives need to stay strong and vote Green this November. Ted Strickland will lie to you to get your vote. When Ted Strickland speaks out against Nukes and dirty coal plants then he can call himself a progressive. Until then, He is a conservative in liberal clothing.

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

For more info: contact 330-503-1407

Ohio Green Party Candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak cites an AP report last week that Indiana is receiving an electric car plant. Why not Ohio?

Every midwestern state is beating Ohio and bringing new jobs to help curb their high unemployment numbers, except Ohio.  These are the new blue-green jobs Ohio needs for the 21st century.

According to the AP,  An electric car maker plans to open a factory in a northern Indiana plant that once made parts for recreational vehicles.

State and local officials planned to join executives from Think North America for an official announcement last Tuesday. The plant in Elkhart will be Think North America's first in the U.S. and provide much-needed jobs in a city that has been struggling since the RV industry collapsed during the recession.

Think North America, a subsidiary of Norwegian-based Think Global, projects its new factory could have 415 full-time jobs by 2013. Think Global currently makes its compact, two-door electric passenger cars at a plant in Finland.

The company began looking in Elkhart after negotiations broke down last week with the owner of a property in the nearby town of Middlebury, said Tom Kemeny, Think North America's chief financial officer.

The Elkhart City Council gave initial approval Monday night to a 10-year tax abatement plan for the company.

Gov. Mitch Daniels was to take part in the formal announcement Tuesday afternoon at the former facility for Philips Products, which made doors and windows for the RV industry. That plant, which had about 250 workers, closed last summer.

Barkley Garrett, the city's economic development director, said city officials worked through the weekend to complete the deal with the company after it ended talks for the Middlebury site.

"We're not poaching other communities' projects," Garrett said. "We knew our site was a backup site. We were not involved in negotiations until they contacted us."

Two other companies are working on plans to make electric vehicles in nearby Wakarusa.

Navistar International Corp. plans to build all-electric delivery trucks this year with a $39 million federal grant. Startup Electric Motors Corp. (OOTC:EMCO) intends to make electric-hybrid drive trains to be installed in various vehicles, starting with a joint venture with Gulf Stream that would make light-duty electric trucks.

Elkhart County's unemployment rate peaked in March at 18.9 percent but has fallen steadily since, hitting 14.5 percent in November.

"I don't think it makes any difference who gets this company or where they go as long as they go in Elkhart County," County Council President John Leatherman said. "What we're trying to build here is an electric car cluster, which is really a new diversification for this economy."

 Why not Ohio?

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

for more info contact 330-503-1407

Green Party candidate for Ohio Governor Dennis Spisak would seek more federal aid to help put people back to work in Ohio.

As federal aid to states has a very high economic multiplier effect or "bang for the buck," states are some of the most effective vehicles for job creation.  Moody's Analytics finds that every federal dollar spent on extending unemployment insurance benefits fosters $1.61 in economic activity.  Similarly, a federal dollar spent on:

• Temporarily increasing food stamps creates $1.74 in economic activity
• Aiding state governments creates $1.41 in economic activity
• Investing in infrastructure creates $1.57 in economic activity

On the other hand, tax cuts and credits generally do not produce similar economic benefits as assisting families or state governments.  For instance, a dollar spent on cutting the corporate income tax only results in $0.32 of economic activity.  As a result, direct relief to states and a concerted effort to create and sustain jobs for Americans on Main Street is the most prudent course of action.On the flip side, The Economic Policy Institute states the unique danger of state budget cuts, which can ripple through the economy as teachers, nurses and police are laid off, state funds supporting private sector activity are reduced, and individuals receiving state support stop spending in their local communities.

for more info contact: 330-503-1407

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Green Party Candidate for Ohio Governor Dennis Spisak is calling for Ohio to adopt the SEIA Solar Bill of Rights to help get solar energy quicker and faster to Ohio families and to boost Ohio employment through the growth of solar power jobs, manufacturing companies, and research and development facilities.

By "adopting" this Solar Bill of Rights, we can more Ohio to the forefront of solar usage and job creation, a lot faster than Ted Strickland's proposed 25% plan by year 2025.

Solar Bill of Rights©

We declare these rights not on behalf of our companies, but on behalf of our customers and our country.  We seek no more than the freedom to compete on equal terms and no more than the liberty for consumers to choose the energy source they think best. 

1.      Americans have the right to put solar on their homes or businesses.

Millions of Americans want to put solar on the roof of their home or business, but many are prevented from doing so by local restrictions. Some homeowners associations have prevented residents from going solar through neighborhood covenants, which allow for the association to veto any changes to a property’s aesthetics. Some utilities and municipalities have also made it prohibitively time-consuming and/or expensive to have a system permitted or inspected.

2.      Americans have the right to connect their solar energy system to the grid with uniform national standards.

Currently, each state (in some cases, each utility) has a unique process for connecting solar systems to the local electricity grid. National interconnection standards will create a uniform process and paperwork, creating a simple process for the homeowner and a standardized physical connection for manufacturers. Connecting a home solar system shouldn’t be any more complicated for the homeowner than setting up an Internet connection.

3.      Americans have the right to Net Meter and be compensated at the very least with full retail electricity rates.

Residential solar systems generate excess electricity in the middle of the day, when the owners aren’t usually at home. Net metering requires the utility company to credit any excess generation to the customer at full retail rates at a minimum – effectively running the electricity meter backwards when the system is generating more electricity than the occupants of the house are using. Allowing customers to net meter is critical to making solar an economically viable option for most homeowners.  

4.      The solar industry has the right to a fair competitive environment.

The highly profitable fossil fuel industries have received tens of billions of dollars in subsidies from the federal government for decades. In addition, fossil fuel industries are protected from bearing the full social costs of the pollution they produce. The solar energy industry and the public expect a fair playing field, with all energy sources evaluated based on their full, life-cycle costs and benefits to society.  Therefore it is critical that solar energy receive the same level of support, for the same duration, as the fossil fuel industry.

5.      The solar industry has the right to equal access to public lands.

America has some of the best solar resources in the world, which are often on public lands overseen by the federal government.  But even though oil and gas industries have been granted access to 45 million acres of public lands, the federal government has yet to approve a single solar project application for development.  Solar is a clean, renewable American resource and access to public lands is a critical component of any national strategy to expand our use of renewable energy.

6.      The solar industry has the right to sell its power across a new, 21^st century transmission grid.

Over the last 100 years, the transmission grid in the United States has been built as a patchwork of local systems, designed and planned to meet local needs.  As the needs of customers have changed, so has the way the electric industry does business.  What haven’t changed are the rules crafted in an era of coal-fired power plants. What is needed now is an investment in infrastructure to connect areas rich in solar resources with major population centers. 

7.      Americans have the right to buy solar electricity from their utility. 

Many utility companies have never considered offering their customers the option to purchase clean solar energy, rather than dirty energy from coal or other fossil fuels. Nation-wide over 90% of people support increased use of solar energy, and over three-quarters believe it should be a major priority of the federal government. Despite this, only around 25% of utility customers in the US have the ability to actually purchase clean, renewable power from their utility, and only a fraction of those programs offer solar energy.  Utilities should be required to offer the electricity source that their customers want.

8.      Americans have the right to – and should expect – the highest ethical treatment from the solar industry.

Solar energy systems are an investment as much as a physical product. Consumers deserve top-quality information and treatment from solar energy providers and installers. Consumers should expect the solar industry to minimize its environmental impact through panel recycling and other programs, and communicate information about available incentives in a clear, accurate and accessible manner. Finally, consumers should expect that solar systems will work better than advertised, and that companies will make every good faith effort to support solar owners over the life of their systems.

This Solar Bill of Rights is why we need a Green Party Governor to lead Ohio past 2010!

For more info contact (330) 503-1407

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

By electing Dennis Spisak, the Ohio Green Party candidate for Governor this year, Ohio would begin moving in a progressive manner providing progressive changes to help the poor and working class bring themselves out of the 21st Century Great Recession.

What kind of progressive changes could Ohio accomplish?, fellow Green Party Member Howdie Hawkins wrote the following this past week:

It could have been different. When the Democrats swept into power, they had a mandate for bold progressive change. They could have enacted, with broad Center-to-Left popular support, a Green New Deal to address the interrelated crises of energy, climate, and economic depression. Instead of bailing out the big banks and automakers, they could have nationalized them on the cheap when they were insolvent. Public banks could have then restructured millions of mortgages on affordable, long-term, fixed-rate terms for homeowners facing foreclosure. The automakers could have been retrofitted to produce electric cars, mass transit, wind turbines, and solar panels just as the federal government had them make tanks, trucks, and airplanes for World War II. With investments from public banks and federal infrastructure spending guaranteeing a market for a green reconstruction of the nation's energy and transportation systems, US manufacturing, jobs, and the whole economy could have been renewed on a sustainable basis.

It could have been different. But what to do now?

Green Party candidate for Ohio Governor Dennis Spisak wants more blue-green jobs to enter Ohio. Current Governor Ted Strickland is stopping such jobs at our state borders because he is a slave to nuke and dirty coal lobbyists, who continue to push for moer and more nuke and coal plants to be built in Ohio.

Blue Green jobs can save Ohio's economy and put people back to work.

From the organization Repower America, Studies show that comprehensive clean energy and climate policies can generate a net increase of 1.7 million new American jobs — jobs that can’t be outsourced and that use the skills of today’s workers. Repowering America with clean energy would also revitalize our manufacturing sector, providing a needed boost to the U.S. automotive industry and to states that are struggling from the loss of factories and mills during the recent economic downturn.

Repowering America with a clean energy economy will also put more of our hard-earned money back into the pockets of working families. With new comprehensive clean energy policies, American households could start seeing savings within just a few years, and these savings could reach an average of $900 per household per year by 2030. Shifting to clean renewable energy sources available here in the U.S. — like the sun and the wind — will also help release us from the grip of volatile energy prices. Coupled with energy efficiency measures, Americans could start to see immediate savings.

Right now, the world’s leading economies and companies are engaged in a race to develop new 21st century technologies to support a global clean energy future. If we want to remain competitive in the global economy, the United States needs to lead this effort — but we are currently lagging behind. Other countries are sharpening their competitive edge already: General Motors uses a Korean company to supply the battery cells for the new electric Chevrolet Volt vehicle – because the most advanced technology of this kind comes from Korean manufacturers — not American manufacturers. With an eye towards the future, China has adopted the most aggressive energy efficiency program in the world, providing incentives and support to rapidly grow their own domestic clean energy economy. America is founded on a spirit of ingenuity, innovation, and hard work. Americans should be leading the transition to a global clean energy future. It’s time to Repower America.

It's time to repower Ohio with more and new Blue-Green jobs, not dirty coal or nuke plants. Is Ted Strickland listening to us? No. Is he listening to Nuke and Dirty Coal Lobbyists? The Answer is a Definite YES!

for more info: contact (330) 503-1407

The $240 million, 115.5 MW wind farm was begun in August and completed a mere four months later; three and a half hours before midnight on the last night of 2009. GE supplied the 77 1.5 MW turbines.

North Dakota’s Basin Electric is a rural electricity cooperative that generates and transmits electricity to 136 member rural electric systems in nine states: indirectly serving about 2.8 million consumers in nine states.

By the end of 2010 the cooperative hopes that it will produce 20% of its electricity from wind power for its 2.8 million rural consumers in parts of rural Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Achieving that lofty goal will be quite a leap. In 2005 Basin Electric got 94% of its electricity from coal and less than 1% from wind.

But if any organization can do it, it would be one that can build a 115 MW wind farm in four months. One that got the preliminary environmental reviews and permitting done in just one Spring during which they:

• Completed an Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act
• Communicated with the county and townships, seeking input/approval on project development, construction and operation
• Conducted landowner meetings seeking input to identify farming needs in relation to site layout
• Coordinated and received input from multiple state and federal agencies
• Developed a site layout that avoids wetlands, cultural resources, residences, roads and transmission lines
• Received a Certificate of Site Compatibility from the North Dakota Public Service Commission

Though the Prairie Winds 1 farm is spread out across 30,000 acres (the larger a wind farm is; the more it helps in evening out wind intermittency, as its always blowing somewhere), each turbine actually requires less than one acre of land, and farming can take place around the turbines.

Cooperatives have no taxes, as they make no profits. Margins must be used to improve or maintain operations, set aside in reserves, or distributed to the membership. As a result, they are not eligible for the 30% production tax credits that can make financing new renewable energy projects easier.

But, to make up for that, of about $2 billion in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds that have been made available by the Department of Energy for non-profits like schools and churches to build renewable energy, about $460 million went to rural electricity cooperatives.

But maybe that proportion should be looked at again, for three reasons.

1. Rural empty states are where the wind is.
2. Rural empty states are where electricity cooperatives are.
3. Rural empty state’s cooperatives are beating national averages in bringing the most renewable energy online the fastest.

Renewable capacity among rural electricity cooperatives grew 65% in 2008. The rest of us: 25%.

Why can't Ohio develop this type of leadership to bring such wind power to Ohio? Is it because Governor Ted Strickland is a fan of dirty coal and refuses to work fast and hard enough to bring Wind power to Ohio before 2025? Is it because Ted Strickland is a pawn to dirty coal lobbyists in Ohio?

Actions speak louder than words, Ted. And your actions or in-actions, speak volumes.

Dennis Spisak-Ohio Green Party Candidate for Governor

(330) 503-1407

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Secretary of State recognizes Ohio Green Party as an official minor party.

Dennis Spisak, the Green Party Candidate For Ohio Governor believes more should be done to bring blue-green jobs to Ohio.

While Ted Strickland still believes in Nukes and Dirty Coal plants for fuel, Dennis believes we need to commit to blue-green jobs at a faster clip.

The Apollo Alliance and the clean energy, good jobs economy we are working so hard to help build represents hope made real and visible. As Apollo Chairman Phil Angelides wrote this week on our blog and in an op-ed we are circulating across the nation: "Clean energy isn't a mirage. It's the fastest growing industrial sector in the United States. It is already generating $25 billion a year in sales and revenue, is growing at 30 percent a year."

He added: "Imagine the growth in jobs, technology, equipment, suppliers, and productivity if the United States actually treated the development of clean energy as a national economic priority. And consider just as seriously the remarkable benefits to America's security, environment, economic stability, and communities that would be realized by keeping at home the nearly $400 billion that we send each year to foreign nations, many hostile to our interests, to import their oil. It's time for America to quit bailing and to start building."

As the Apollo Alliance has noted on its Web site, in our public events, in reports, and in the just completed six-state roll out of The New Apollo Program, there is no time to spare. The old economy is sinking. A new one, gradually emerging, needs to dramatically gain speed and influence.

By electing Dennis Spisak, Green Party candidate for Governor, the following Green Party principles would be applied to Ohio's Agricultural system:

The Green Party of Ohio endorses, supports and seeks to implement an Agriculture Policy in the State of Ohio that follows basic Green principles that will insure a healthy food supply in Ohio:
A. Factory farms ("industrial farming") threatens to further erode the family farms and the general quality of life in our rural areas. Family farms are the basis of community-based economics and essential to rural development and a healthy, diverse economy.
B. The Green Party stands in opposition to a genetically engineered foods future as delivered by unaccountable transnational corporations. Ralph Nader has called for consumer revolts. The time has come! We are united in our opposition to foods that are presented unlabeled when genetically changed. U.S. biotech firms needs to be shown for what they do, food production for profit, not health.
C. Genetically modified "Terminator" seeds that are more about "intellectual property rights" and corporate profit than they are about sustainable agricultural practices, Third-world economic independence, and health, should be banned. Labeling should fully disclose where genetically engineered (and/or irradiated) food is being supplied. Consumer choice needs to be based on full and complete disclosure. Whether it is Bt corn, genetically modified maize, or GM oilseed that finds its way into a menu of other products, the consumer needs to know and choose.
In addition to these general policy directions, we promote for Ohio:

1. We support the development of incentives for the conversion to organic farming methods and increased enforcement of the State's existing organic certification program and direct Ohio's extension services to enhance their support for organic food production methods.
   
2. Programs to encourage development of a processing industry that is based in Ohio and supports Ohio's small farmers. That lack of local processing plants limits the markets to which farmers can sell their produce and is inconsistent with a bioregional approach to agriculture.
   
3. Encourage homeowners to produce their own food through organic practices.
   
4. Support community gardens in local communities.
   
5. Develop and implement legislation that will make growers and patent holders of genetically modified organisms liable for cross contamination with other farmers' crops. Penalties should be severe enough to discourage this from happening.
   
6. Provide support for direct marketing efforts of Ohio's farmers to Ohio's consumers.
   
7. Target government food procurement (such as school lunch money or university cafeteria purchases) towards small, local farms. Make the preservation of Ohio family farms a priority especially among low income farmers.
   
8. Develop a system for US DA food stamps to be used at Ohio farmer's markets easily, just as WIC (Women, Infants and Children) vouchers are used currently.
   
9. Restore large farms' oversight to the Ohio EPA, reversing the law that transferred this authority to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
   
10. Protect productive farmland from sprawl.
    
11. The Green Party of Ohio calls for the immediate legalization of industrial Grade hemp for agricultural and industrial purposes. The Plant's versatility cannot go unnoticed for its environmental and economical potential to the people of Ohio. It is a perfect revenue crop for farmers and workers of Ohio. Hemp is non psychoactive and can yield numerous products including organic food, Clothing, Paper, Building materials, fuels, and biomass energy without cutting down more trees and using pesticides. It will further help end the reliance on "dirty" and foreign energy sources.
    

for more information: contact (330) 503-1407

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

By electing Dennis Spisak, the Green Party candidate for Governor in Ohio in 2010, Ohio would see the following improvements in labor and employment:

Labor is the activity of sustaining our future and ourselves. We recognize the individual responsibility of work and support freedom of association in the work place.

1. The Green Party of Ohio endorses legal right to organize and join unions with democratically elected leadership. In Ohio's Public sector, Greens are concerned with an employee's right to join a union, and with associated collective bargaining rights.
   
2. We encourage the use of mediation as a tool for resolving disputes in the workplace. If the state of Ohio strengthened this tool our productivity and desirability as a work site would be greatly enhanced.
   
3. The Green Party of Ohio recognizes that all Ohioans who work need to make a living wage. Corporations receiving public subsidies and contracting for public work must provide livable wage jobs, and observe basic workers rights.
   
4. Forcing welfare recipients to accept jobs that pay wages below a livable income ("a living wage") drives wages down and exploits workers for private profit at public expense. We reject "workfare" as a form of slave labor for the private or public enterprise.

For more information contact: (330) 503-1407

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

For More Information contact (330) 503-1407 

Green Party Candidate for Ohio governor Dennis Spisak is calling for the building of Solar power plants so they can compete for Public Utility Contracts, thus lessening Ohio's dependence on coal plants.

According to a report last week from Green Options, Major power companies in Florida and New Mexico announced this week that they would start buying large amounts of energy from certain solar power producers soon.

In New Mexico, Southwestern Public Service Company (SPSC), a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, said that it would buy 50 MW of solar power from SunEdison. From the solar panels being installed on five 10-MW sites, the electricity generated will be able to power 10,000 homes.

In Florida, at practically the same time, Tampa Electric Company received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission to purchase solar power from Energy 5.0’s planned 25-MW plant in Polk County.

These solar power plants will be two of the biggest in the nation when completed. They are expected to offset carbon emissions by millions of tons.

"Ohio needs to begin the same process." said Spisak. "We have more sunshine per year then Germany, and they are the most solar active country in the world, using the same solar power plant utility contracts set up here in the states. Ohio can become a major solar player in the world once we put a Green Governor in office who won't bow to the pressures of big dirty coal lobbyists. Ted Strickland already bows to big dirty coal and that is hampering Ohio's progress in the Solar industry." Spisak concluded.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

For more information contact (330) 503-1407 

Green Party Candidates do not accept donations from Lobbyists or Political Action Committees!

Now is the time to show your support for public funding of political campaigns and help Dennis Spisak win the 2010 election for Ohio Governor! 

A key component of Dennis' s strategy to win is the grassroots funding available to statewide candidates in Ohio. By taking advantage of the Ohio Income Tax Credit for Campaign Contributions, we can prove the viability of publicly funded campaigns and help bring an end to corporate and special interest control of our elections.

This is not a check-off contribution to a common fund but a full tax credit for campaign contributions to a specific candidate of up to $50 per individual or $100 for couples filing jointly. This is not a deduction. It is a full tax credit. You will be reimbursed with a credit towards the taxes you are assessed by the State of Ohio when you file your 2009 return. This is a great way to promote the new priorities that need to be enacted if we are to move beyond the failed policies of our present corporate funded leadership.

By donating now, you will help Dennis raise funds to run a winning campaign and direct our government to spend your tax dollars in support of the issues that are important to you and your family.

Please make your check payable to:

Spisak for Governor

548 Poland Ave.

Struthers,Ohio 44471

Donate the full amount and receive the full tax credit. Remember to file this donation with your 2009 Ohio Income Tax to receive the 2009 credit. Act now. Don’t let these funds go unused!

Ohio law mandates that your check must have your full name and address on it - PO boxes are not allowed. Contributions over $100 must include your employer’s name.

Green Party Candidate Dennis Spisak said today he supports the findings from the Prosperity America Annual Report on health care in America.

"I support the Health Care for All Ohioans Act to improve and better health care for all Ohioans." said Spisak. Ted Strickland supports the President's plan which does nothing more than support the current health insurance companies and their lobbyists" Spisak added.

Spisak supports the following Prosperity Agenda Findings on a single payer health plan for Ohio:

A single payer system would remove the private insurance industry which puts profits before the needs of patients. This would accomplish a number of objectives. First, such a system would give people the greatest security and control over their lives. People would have greater security because health care would no longer be tied to employment. People would have access to health care as a birthright. People would have more control over their lives because they would no longer be limited to the approved insurance list of doctors, health providers, hospitals, and treatments but could choose whomever they preferred. The real death panels, insurance industry reviewers who deny health care recommended by doctors, would be put out of business.

Second, an improved single payer system would be good for the American economy. Unlike the bills being considered in Congress, such a system would control costs, allow group negotiation of prices, and provide more predictable health care expenses for consumers, business, and government. A single-payer national health care plan would be a job creator rather than a drag on the economy. A study published this year found that such a system would create 2.8 million jobs, netting 2.2 million new jobs when insurance industry job losses were subtracted. This means hundreds of billions in new economic activity and tax revenues. And, a unified single-payer system would allow for the opportunity to capture hundreds of billions of dollars formerly lost to waste, fraud, and abuse.

When we looked at what Congress and the White House were doing we saw single-payer, the most cost-effective and popular reform among American voters, off the table and not being considered. When President Obama held a White House summit on health care he did not invite any single-payer advocates to attend. After emails, phone calls and faxes the Obama administration invited one single-payer advocate, Dr. Oliver Fein, along with Rep. John Conyers to attend. Neither was allowed to talk at the event, but the insurance industry was the first and last speaker at the summit. From the White House summit the writing was on the wall - this "reform" was going to protect the profits of the private insurance industry. This is what Ted Strickland supports!

For more information: Contact (330) 503-1407

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor

Information Contact: (330) 503-1407 

Green Party candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak and the Green Party would look to reform Ohio education beginning in 2011 in the following ways:

The State of Ohio must ensure that its citizens receive appropriate education opportunities in order to eradicate poverty, reduce crime, and assure proper medical care. We call for a comprehensive and holistic approach to insuring the equitable, quality education programs in Ohio. Ohio needs to the educate all of Ohio's children to sustain the well being of the entire state. The Ohio state constitution article 6 says we " will secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state" The Ohio Green Party stands behind this article of the Ohio Constitution.

1. The Ohio Green Party supports equitable funding of all Ohio school districts, and we support the following three goals of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding:
   Goal 1: Develop a comprehensive needs assessment of current facilities.
   Goal 2: Develop standards that clearly define high quality education for Ohioans; establish a "per-pupil funding level" required to meet these standards; create a new system of funding which will assure each district adequate funds to meet these "per-pupil" standards and which will diverge from "excessive reliance on property tax as a funding source."
   Goal 3: Provide immediate relief to districts operating without the funds necessary to meet the new standards, based on need as opposed to the budget-based emergency assistance of the "School Solvency Assistance Program" or further reliance on property taxes.
   
2. Meaningful civic education should be mandatory for Ohio's secondary school curriculum. Students should be involved in programs that teach them the power of democracy and the responsibility of citizenship at an early age. Programs such as student government, peer mediation and peer counseling should be used to address the ever-growing trend of emotional and psychological abuse among students that has shown in recent years to lead to violence. In this way, students should be encouraged to be part of the solution.
   
3. The GPO recognizes that 20% of the adults in Ohio function at the lowest levels of literacy and that only 85% of the adults over 25 have a high school or equivalency diploma and calls for the end of the marginalization of adult literacy programs. We support funding of programs that offer adult literacy education, vocational training, and family literacy as a means to break the cycle of illiteracy and poverty.

Current Governor Ted Strickland and the Democrats and Republicans have put education funding reform on the backburner. It's time to make funding education a number one priority in Ohio. Dennis Spisak, with his 25 years experience in public education and currently a sitting school board member, will make sure education is held in high esteem in future state budgets.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

The time is now to clean up Ohio's water and air. The time is now to elect Dennis Spisak for Governor.  Don't give Ted Strickland anymore time to dirty Ohio's air, streams, and rivers with dirty coal emissions.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Information contact: (330) 503-1407 

Governor Ted Strickland did not get his lumps of coal liked he wanted this Christmas morning. Thanks to the The Ohio Environmental Council, American Municipal Power-Ohio (AMP-Ohio)cancelled plans to construct a proposed 1,000-megawatt coal-fired power plant on the Ohio River in Meigs County. Ever-growing costs doomed the plant, as cost projections grew from $2.5 billion just two years ago to close to $4 billion, today.

"Green Governor" Ted wanted this coal plant badly. He opening proposed and sought to build this plant. A coal plant that would have been the one of the most dirty air pollutioning plants in the state.

"Ted Strickland is not a green governor," said Dennis Spisak, Ohio Green Party candidate for Ohio Governor in 2010. "Ted Strickland talks a good green game plan, but his actions speak louder than words. Ted Strickland wants to continue to poison the air and water Ohioans use by building bigger and bigger dirty coal plants." Spisak added. "There is no such thing as clean coal, but the almighty coal lobbyists tell Ted a different and wrong story. We need to clean up Ohio's air and water by next Christmas, and we can only do that by electing myself as governor and sending Ted Strickland and his dirty coal plants to the sidelines." Spisak concluded.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Green Party candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak said today Ohio must seek more green energy tax credits from the federal government in order to be a leader in the renewable energy growth in the years to come.

According to a report from Green Options,

In the midst of the Copenhagen negotiations last week, the White House announced a proposal to give a huge increase in tax breaks to manufacturers who produce wind, solar, geothermal, or other clean energy technologies. The goal of the tax breaks is to stimulate more job growth and promote clean energy technology more in the US.

With clean energy technology poised to become the third largest sales sector in the world, Obama and Biden realize that they must stimulate this field in the US a bit more to get the jobs that go with that growth.

In the proposal set forth by the White House on Thursday, new or expanded factories making clean energy technology (i.e. electric vehicles, solar panels, high-speed trains, and wind turbines) can get a 30% tax credit. This raises the current cap on these tax credits from $2.3 billion to $7.3 billion.

In addition to the tax credit, Obama’s proposed ‘jobs plan’ includes “increased investment in public works, small business tax cuts and incentives for homeowners who retrofit their houses to be more energy efficient.”

"Ohio needs to jump on these tax credits as soon as possible", said Spisak. "If we want to creat jobs and stimulate the economy for the poor, working class of Ohio citizens who are currently laid off, these grants will help Ohio grow jobs in the renewable energy market", Spisak concluded.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Get a Tax Credit for Christmas!

Green Party Candidates do not accept donations from Lobbyists or Political Action Committees!

Now is the time to show your support for public funding of political campaigns and help Dennis Spisak win the 2010 election for Ohio Governor! 

A key component of Dennis' s strategy to win is the grassroots funding available to statewide candidates in Ohio. By taking advantage of the Ohio Income Tax Credit for Campaign Contributions, we can prove the viability of publicly funded campaigns and help bring an end to corporate and special interest control of our elections.

This is not a check-off contribution to a common fund but a full tax credit for campaign contributions to a specific candidate of up to $50 per individual or $100 for couples filing jointly. This is not a deduction. It is a full tax credit. You will be reimbursed with a credit towards the taxes you are assessed by the State of Ohio when you file your 2009 return. This is a great way to promote the new priorities that need to be enacted if we are to move beyond the failed policies of our present corporate funded leadership.

By donating now, you will help Dennis raise funds to run a winning campaign and direct our government to spend your tax dollars in support of the issues that are important to you and your family.

Please make your check payable to:

Spisak for Governor

548 Poland Ave.

Struthers,Ohio 44471

Donate the full amount and receive the full tax credit. Remember to file this donation with your 2009 Ohio Income Tax to receive the 2009 credit. Act now. Don’t let these funds go unused!

Ohio law mandates that your check must have your full name and address on it - PO boxes are not allowed. Contributions over $100 must include your employer’s name.

Why Not Ohio? Huge Response to Ontario's Feed-in Tariff Launch

Huge Response to Ontario's Feed-in Tariff Launch

Green Party candidate for Ohio Governor cites a report by Paul Gipe last week about Ontario's Feed-in tariff program becoming a huge success.

"This is the type of government invlivement that is needed to make a successful committment to renewable energy programs and to get them off the ground."said Spisak. "This type of program in Ohio would help people save money and begin the drive to a cleaner and greener Ohio in terms of renewable energies" he concluded.

According to the report, Ontario's new feed-in tariff program got off to an attention-grabbing start December 16, 2009 when the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) announced that it had awarded 700 contracts for renewable energy to homeowners under its expedited microFIT program.

Altogether, OPA received 8,000 MW of applications for wind and solar energy contracts under the province's precedent-setting, feed-in tariff policy.

OPA's remarkable press release was well timed to send a signal, if any was intended, to the Canadian delegation in Copenhagen where Canada was singled out as "Fossil of the Year" by climate change activists for its refusal to limit greenhouse gases.

Ontario is acting independently of Canada's federal government and plans to close all its coal-fired power plants by 2014. The province, Canada's most populous, is also aggressively developing its renewable energy industry. OPA's announcement was the first concrete indication of how fast the Ontario market may grow.

OPA estimates that the feed-in tariff program will stimulate more than $5 billion (Canadian) in new manufacturing, design, construction, and engineering investment in the province.

But the news that generated the most media buzz in Canada and elsewhere was the microFIT contracts. Saying the program "literally brings power to the people," Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Gerry Phillips sounded like a 1960s radical. He went on to add that the MicroFIT program "allows homeowners, farmers, schools and mom and pop businesses" to generate their own power "and get paid for it".

Under Ontario's microFIT program, homeowners generating their own electricity from solar PV will be paid $0.80 CAD/kWh ($0.76 USD/kWh) for a period of 20 years.

Indeed, it does sound radical, a program enabling citizens to profit from the renewable energy that falls on their rooftops. And Phillips wasn't alone in embracing the province's accomplishment-or sounding revolutionary.

Colin Anderson, OPA's chief executive, proudly noted that "We've cut the red tape and made it simpler for ordinary Ontarians to become electricity producers."

For Anderson and the OPA this wasn't idle boasting. They delivered North America's most aggressive renewable energy program in record-breaking time.

OPA said it was continuing to process another 500 micoFIT applications. When awarded, OPA will have issued a total 8.6 MW of contracts--nearly all for rooftop solar PV--to generators with projects less than 10 kW. These residential solar systems will generate nearly nine million kilowatt-hours per year under Ontario conditions.

Ontario's microFIT contracts alone will put Ontario close to one of the top ten markets for solar PV in North America. Yet the microFIT contracts represent just the tip of the iceberg.

Of the 8,000 MW of applications for feed-in tariffs, nearly 1,300 MW were for solar PV, and 6,300 MW were for wind energy.

Unfortunately, there is only 2,500 MW of grid capacity available in the first phase of OPA's feed-in tariff program. Another 1,500 MW of grid expansion is currently under construction.

In the meantime, OPA is giving preference to projects that are "shovel-ready" to get as much renewable energy in the ground as quickly as possible.

Within three to five years there could be as much as 4,000 MW of new renewable capacity in Ontario. Under Ontario conditions this would be roughly 3% to 5% of the province's electricity consumption. If achieved, this would be the most rapid growth of renewable energy in North America outside Texas.

For comparison, California--the one-time renewable energy leader in North America--currently generates only slightly more than 2% of its electricity consumption from new renewables.

Ontario has clearly put itself on the renewable energy map. This time next year we can judge the province by what really counts: not by the contracts awarded, but by the hardware installed.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

The Ohio Green Party and the candidate for Governor, Dennis Spisak, supports the Health Care for all Ohioans Act that would provide coverage for the full range of inpatient and outpatient hospital care, preventive care, mental health,vision,hearing, prescription drugs,dental,emergency services,rehabilitation services, hospice care, home care, healthy maitenance care, medical devices, and all other necessary medical services as determined by any state licensed, certified, or registered health care provider. It provides timely emergency health care services in each county, including hospital care and trage, and necessary transportation in each county to access covered health care services.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

While some "progressive" blogs are hailing Governor Ted Strickland as the Green Power Governor because of his commiyment to 25% of renewable energy sources powering Ohio by 2025, Green Party Candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak announced today that Ted is still a friend and lover of DIRTY COAL.

"Ted Strickland's energy policy thus calls for the remaining 75% of energy needs to come form nuke plants or building bigger and dirtier coal plants" said Spisak. "Environment Ohio executive director Erin Bower notes that 87 percent of the state’s electricity comes from burning coal, compared with a national average of 53 percent. Ohio is ranked fourth nationally in its contributions to the country’s carbon dioxide emissions problem, Ohio ranks second nationally in the amount of those emissions coming from coal-fired power plants." said Spisak. "Bower has also commented that “The important thing is that the Legislature and our governor really listen to Ohioans across the state who are clamoring for alternatives to being so dependent on fossil fuels, which are putting Ohio at the top of the list for mercury pollution and smog and soot pollution,” she said.

 "The facts are Ted Strickland will never move fast enough or massive enough on clean renewable energies" said Spisak. "He is powered and manipulated by nuke and coal lobbyists and will continue to be if elected to a second term as Governor." Spisak concluded.

12/18/09

Ohio needs more Geothermal Systems on Ohio Campuses

Green Party Candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak is calling for more geothermal power systems to heat and cool Ohio college campuses. Spisak cites an AP story this week that states "While solar and wind power get most of the headlines, geothermal power is quietly being placed on college campuses where energy costs can take millions of dolalrs each year from the school budgets."

The article points out that 46 colleges and universities across the country are divvying up millions in federal stimulus dollars to advance technology that uses the temperature of the Earth, rather than coal-fired power plants, to heat and cool buildings. So far this year, the Department of Energy has announced $400 million in grants to advance these geothermal projects.

By going to geothermal power, colleges rely less on coal fired plants to heat their campuses. This cuts down on dirty emissions as well as costs to the schools" said Spisak. "Thus, colleges switching to geothermal heating can eventually keep tuition costs down as well as clean up their enivronments at the same time. Ohio should become a leader in this type of program and require all college campuses to follow this lead and make Ohio college campuses air friendly while passing the savings on to students through lower tuition rates." Spisak concluded.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Green Party Candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak cites an AP Story last week that reports  Indiana regulators have ordered the state's largest electric companies to offer uniform low-income weatherization and other energy-efficiency programs aimed at conserving 2 percent of the utilities' power output within 10 years.

"Once again we see another state moving ahead of Ohio in helping it's citizens lower there utility costs and conserve power output." said Spisak. 

According to the AP story, The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which issued the order last week, said the steps ordered by the panel would push Indiana past Ohio and Michigan for energy savings and allow it to challenge Illinois as a regional leader.

The Utility Regulatory Commission's order also will extend the low-income weatherization expansion that will upgrade about 30,000 Indiana homes over three years under federal stimulus spending, Menzer said.

"Once again we see another state moving ahead of Ohio in helping their citizens." said Spisak. "When will the current administration put people ahead of utility lobbyists?" He concluded.

The costs of generating solar power will be on par with the costs of power made from fossil fuels like natural gas and coal within a decade, according to clean-tech research and publishing firm Clean Edge and green-economy nonprofit Co-op America. The two groups collaborated on a report, the Utility Solar Assessment (USA) Study, to provide a roadmap for utilities, solar companies, and regulators to work together so the nation can derive 10 percent or more of its power from the sun by 2025.

In related news, the Financial Times reported that the U.S. is set to overtake Germany as the world’s largest wind market in 2009. American wind energy is riding the wave of an investment boom accounting for a 45 percent jump in capacity last year alone.

As the Green Party Candidate for Governor, I will work in Columbus to help continue to cut renewable energy costs so it can be made more affordable to the poor, working, and middle class. Now is a pivotal moment for renewable energy in the United States. There is a real opportunity here for companies to stake a major claim in the market because there has been a pent-up demand.

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor/

Ohio Green Party Candidate for Governor Dennis Spisak announced today that in New Jersey, solar power is cheaper for home owners than electricity. "According to reports from Green Options, residents of New Jersey can now get solar power installed in their homes which is cheaper than buying electricty from the power company." Spisak said. "Once again, we see another progressive state other than Ohio trying to find ways to lower costs to consumers through new renewable energies like solar power."

"As a candidate for Governor, I would see such comapnies and programs to locate here in Ohio to provide the same type of advantages for all Ohioans." said Spisak.

According to the report, you don’t have to get a credit check to buy electricity from a utility.  You don’t need one to buy your very own solar power supply either. A company in New Jersey is offering a solar PPA to homeowners to buy cheap power off their roof with no credit check.

Not only does this put paying a solar bill on an even playing field with paying an electric bill, but Sunergy is offering this arrangement for 25% of utility rates in the state. After a small down payment, their residential solar power purchase agreement enables homeowners to buy their electricity for $0.05 per kilowatt-hour in a state where utility electricity costs $0.20 per kilowatt-hour.

How can they do that? Isn’t solar more expensive than utility electricity? Well, no, actually, solar is cheaper.

One of the little known facts is that solar is already far, far cheaper than utility energy. If you compare apples to apples: twenty five years to twenty five years.

It already truly does only cost 25% or less of what utility electricity costs… If you were to pay for all 25 years at once for utility electricity. Of course, you don’t. You pay monthly, and so you simply have no idea that you are paying more money over that time.

In New Jersey utility electricity rates have been going up about 6.5% annually. Say last year’s monthly bills averaged $100, this years will average to $106.50.  But, with the seasonal ups and downs of electric bills you really never notice this sort of creeping inflation - yet it can really add up. 

Someone who will spend about $100,000 on utility electricity for 25 years, typically needs about a $20,000 solar roof to replace their utility kilowatt-hours a month. Sunergy has leveraged this fact to be able to offer homeowners a PPA that reflects that saving. A PPA is a power purchase agreement - like you have with your utility.  The difference is: the power plant is on your roof. Just big enough for you. Like your utility, Sunergy owns the solar power plant, and sells you the power.

 This company is the first to really demonstrate that solar is already cheaper.

“We all want to save the environment,” said US Solargy CEO David Wei, “and our company provides a way for everyone to participate in that important goal.”

Solar electricity is not just clean, sensible, climate-friendly electricity, but it is cheaper too.