Thinking Green, Speaking Green

To Fix Ohio's Budget, Tax Loopholes Must Go

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0500

Last month, the nonprofit Center for Community Solutions called for a three-pronged approach of cuts, tax increases and eliminating tax breaks to fix the budget.

"Closing any loophole is difficult because each has a particular rationale and specific interest group that will rise to its defense," the Cleveland-based group said. "Often, supporters of these exemptions justify them on the grounds of economic development and job creation. Equally often, the rationales are long on theory and short on measurable evidence."

I am the only candidate for Governor who agrees with the Center and calls for such tax loopholes to be studied and eventually elimintating some tax breaks to fix the budget.

A three-pronged approach is the most logical way to fix Ohio's 8 billion dollar budget shortfall. Ted Strickland and John Kasich will tell you cuts alone can save the budget. Ted Strickland and John Kasich are wrong.

Dennis S. Spisak-Green Partry of Ohio Nominee for Ohio Governor

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

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info, contat 330-503-1407

Let's Use A Green Agenda To Turn Ohio Foward

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0500

It's time we use a Green Agenda to fix Ohio after 2010. Ted Strickland's Turn Around Ohio plan has failed. John Kasich's plan to will Turn Ohio Backwards. Let's Turn Ohio Forward using a state-wide Green Agenda.

To Fix Ohio's 8 billion dollar budget shortfall, I call for an income tax increase and business tax increase. I believe we should pairs these tax proposals with plans for an audit of the state budget to identify and cut wasteful programs, practices and positions – and ending pork-barrel spending. We must take these actions first before we commit to cutting another 10% in the state budget that would hurt
Human Services and Public Education.

I believe in raising the minimum wage to a “living wage,” making college free for qualified residents and expanding public sector employment with more, higher-paying social service jobs.

I believe in a state-run bank – similar to one created by North Dakota – which would collect all state revenues to invest both surplus funds and private deposits in projects that would benefit the state.

I also want to promote green energy by implementing a “fee and dividend” system, which would collect fees from greenhouse gas producers and nuclear power companies. Part of the proceeds would be used to pay the state’s bills, while the rest would be redistributed to among Ohio residents, with low-income residents receiving the largest shares.

This Green Agenda will help Turn Ohio forward. Ted Strickland and John Kasich's plans won't.

Dennis S. Spisak-Green Party of Ohio Nominee for Governor

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

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

For more information, contact 330-503-1407

Time For A New Green Deal For Ohio

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0500

It's time for a Green New Deal for Ohio.

Here are the eight policies endorsed by the Green New Deal Coalition:

• Create millions of green union jobs through massive public investment in renewable energy, mass transit and conservation;

• Set ambitious, science-based greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and enact a revenue-neutral carbon tax to meet them;

• Establish single-payer “Medicare for all” health care;

• Provide tuition-free public higher education;

• Change trade agreements to improve labor, environmental, consumer, health and safety standards;

• Enact tough limits on credit interest and lending rates, progressive tax reform and strict financial regulation;

• Amend the U.S. Constitution to abolish corporate personhood; and

• Pass sweeping electoral, campaign finance and anti-corruption reforms.

Let's Turn Ohio Green! Let's remove Red and Blue Politicians from Ohio!

Dennis S. Spisak-Green Party of Ohio Nominee for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info, contact 330-503-1407

Why Not Ohio? Colorado Passes 16 Green Energy Bills

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0500

Green Energy: It was a big year for Gov. Ritter's "New Energy Economy" - in a year when renewable energy legislation was stagnating at the federal level, both houses passed 16 bills to promote clean energy within the state. Highlights include:

HB 1001 raises the standard from 20% to 30% for the amount of electricity that large utility companies must derive from renewable sources by 2020. The new Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is one of the most aggressive renewable-energy goals in the country.
HB 1365, The Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act, places new standards on coal-fired power requiring Xcel Energy to cut its nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80% by the end of 2017. Toward this end, Xcel is converting three of its coal-burning power plants to natural gas, an effort that will involve retiring or retrofitting 900 megawatts of coal-fired capacity. This is the first legislation of its kind in the country.
Under SB 100, counties and municipalities can join together to finance renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects.
The Smart Grid Task Force, created by S 180, will study the state's infrastructure and develop policy recommendations to make the transition to Smart Grid.
New special districts can borrow money to fund renewable energy or energy efficiency projects for residents under HB 1328.
HB 1333 creates the Green Jobs Colorado Training Pilot Program, a two-year pilot program that expands job training programs by offering grants to community colleges and other training providers to develop programs for jobs in wind, solar, energy efficiency, and other renewable energy industries.
HB 1342 allows apartment dwellers and others who can't utilize solar technology on their own roofs to join together to purchase shared panels in community locations.
Colorado state parks must increase the use of solar and other renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies to achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2020 under HB 1349.

Why Not Ohio? Because Ohio is led by Old King Dirty Coal Ted Strickland who would rather fire up new dirty coal and nuke plants in Ohio instead of leading the charge to pass massive Green Energy Bills.

Dennis S. Spisak-Green Party of Ohio Nominee for Governor

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

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

For more info, contact 330-503-1407

More Ways To Save Human Services From More Strickland Cuts

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0500

Ohio needs real ways to help save Human Services from more of Ted Strickland's budget cuts.

Cost pressures from Medicaid, criminal justice, and other programs will continue to squeeze human services unless fundamental reforms take place.

in Medicaid, this means rebalancing long-term care for the elderly to ensure access to less expensive home and community-based care options.

In crimminal justice, the state should redirect nonviolent offenders to more appropriate settings and invest in programs to reduce recidivism.

Dennis S. Spisak-Green Party of Ohio Nominee for Governor

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

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info, contact 330-503-1407

Let's Redesign Ohio's Tax System To Save Human Services

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0500

To save Human Services from more cuts of Ted Strickland's budget-cutting sword, it's time to reverse some negative trends.

First, Ohio's state and local taxes have become more burdensome on low-income people over time and more favorably for the wealthy.

Second, the business share of state and local taxes has declined, leaving individuals to pay a greater share of the table.

As Governor, I would call for tax changes needed to balance the state budget. I would restore 2004 income tax rates on the wealthiest atxpayers, closing tax loopholes, and increasing the rate of the new commercial activity tax so that it returns a sufficient amount of revenue to the state's general fund.

Dennis S. Spisak-Green PArty of Ohio Nominee for Governor

Http://www.votespisak.org/governor

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info, contact 330-503-1407

Ted Strickland:Hurting Human Services In Ohio

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:35:44 -0500

Tax cuts under the Ted Strickland administration have reduced the state's revenues by more than $2 billion per year. When combined with revenue losses from the recession, the state cannot meet current obligations to provide basic programs such as mental health, adult and child protective services, and emergency assistance for families in need.

The next budget will be even worse for health and social services if revenues are not increased. Ted Strickland's current budget relies heavily on federal stimulus funds and one-time state funds, creating a budget deficit of $ 6 Billion to $8 Billion by fiscal year 2012.

Ted Strickland has no plan to raise revenues. Ted Strickland continues to talk about making drastic cuts to the state budget if re-elected.

Can Human Services continue to take massive cuts from Ted Strickland's budget cutting knife? I say no.

It's time save Human Services in Ohio. It's time to remove Ted Strickland as Governor.

Dennis S. Spisak-Green Party Nominee for Ohio Governor

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

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

For more info, contact 330-503-1407

Let's Get Ohio University Truely Green and White, Not Brown And Black

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0500

As the Green Party Nominee for Ohio Governor, I support the efforts of the Ohio University Beyond Coal student group and their effort to get Ohio University on the fast track to cleaner energy sources.

As a 1981 graduate of Ohio University. I support Beyond Coal's efforts to create an OU Athens campus that is at least 50 percent carbon neutral by 2025.

The Lausche Power Plant on campus received 31,164 tons of coal which produced around 1.4 million tons of Sulfer Dioxide in 2007. Sulfer Dioxide is dangerous to breathe in and over long periods of time and can be harmful to health and the environment.

Ted Strickland sees nothing wrong with the continued burning of coal in Ohio. In fact, Ted Strickland lobbied for an additional coal plant to be built in Meigs County.

It's time for Ohio students and residents to have a truely Green governor who supports the efforts to reduce coal use in the Buckeye State. We need to improve the health and environment of our state. I will do that.

Ted Strickland won't.

Dennis S. Spisak-Green Party Nominee for Ohio Governor

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

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

For more info, contact 330-503-1407

Why Not Ohio? Let's Bring Jobs To Ohio Using Solar Power

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0500

Ohio may not be first state that comes to mind when people think about solar power. But solar panels utilize the sunlight that allows us to see, not necessarily the sunlight that makes us hot. Therefore, Ohio’s weather is more than adequate to make solar power viable.

The world’s largest solar markets are in Germany and Japan—neither nearly as sunny as Ohio. Within the U.S., states with the largest amount of solar installations are also not known for their sunny weather. New Jersey has the second-largest amount of solar installations, and New York and Connecticut also rank in the top ten. The primary driver of these solar markets is the policies enacted in these states and countries, not their solar energy potential.

Why Not Ohio? Solar power has the potential to be a significant part of Ohio’s energy future, and Ohio is already home to more than 115 companies and research institutions involved in the solar energy industry.

The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has proven to be a bright spot in the global economy. For the past 15 years, the industry has experienced annual growth rates of 30 to 40 percent. Global solar PV installations grew from 125 MW in 1999 to 4,500 MW in 2008, resulting in a compound annual growth rate of 47 percent for the last 10 years. Looking ahead, most industry observers expect continued 20+% annual growth in the PV markets for many years to come.

Employment sectors that would increase in demand with an investment in solar power include, but are not limited to, the following:

•    Carpenters
•    Materials suppliers including glass, plastic, metal, chemicals, sealants, etc.
•    Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers
•    Electricians
•    HVAC mechanics and installers
•    Inspectors, testers, and sorters
•    Machinists
•    Sheet metal workers
•    Business operations specialists
•    Chemical technicians
•    Civil engineers
•    Computer and IT managers
•    Computer programmers
•    Environmental engineers
•    Mechanical engineers
•    Payroll and timekeeping clerks
•    Purchasing agents
•    Sales representatives
•    Surveyors
•    Training and development specialists
•    Tool and die makers
•    Shipping and receiving clerk

If we have a truely Green Governor who commits to solar power instead of Ted Strickland who is committed to bringing more and more dirty coal power to Ohio, we will bring more jobs to Ohio. We will Move Ohio Forward.

Dennis S. Spisak-Green Party Nominee for Ohio Governor

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

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

For more info, contact 330-503-1407

Why Not Ohio? Ontario To Use Wind Power To Boost Manufacturing

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0500

A $1.1-billion wind farm development slated for Southwestern Ontario would be the largest of its type in the province and cement the region’s reputation as a wind energy centre.

Next Era Energy, North America’s largest energy company, is proposing to build three wind farm projects in Lambton and Huron counties. Combined, they’d dwarf other farms — adding up to 300 wind turbines to the landscape and generating 490 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 144,000 homes.

The developments would also bring manufacturing jobs, since Next Era will buy either General Electric or Siemens turbines and has made it clear it wants to buy local — pressing the manufacturers to open plants here.

Over the next six years about 1,000 MW of wind power are expected to be added to the power grid each year.

Murray Stewart, president of the Energy Council of Canada, agreed, saying Next Era’s “is a big development and there are a lot more on the horizon.”

He also credited Ontario’s Green Energy Act and its feed-in tariff program — it pays a fixed amount to businesses providing energy to the grid, and the rates for sustainable energy ensure a profit — with spurring development.

“There is no question the FIT makes it easier for suppliers and developers to come here — they get a good, long-term contract and a good market,” he said.

What a difference government can make. In Ontario you have a government pushing Feed-In Tariffs and wind energy, while Ted Strickland pushes dirty coal and nuke power for Ohio. How many new manufacturing jobs are your new dirty coal plants bringing into Ohio, Ted? Zilch, Zero, None.

Ohio is already at the bottom of the list of states currently using renewable energy at producing only 1% of renewable energy. Do we really see this number going any higher with Ted Strickland remaining in office for another 4 years? I don't think so.

Dennis S. Spisak-Green Party of Ohio Nominee for Governor

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

Http://www.dennisspisak.com

for more info, contact 330-503-1407