JKB's legislative influence

Blackwell's influence is showing in his poll gains but also in his getting laws passed, and only as a candidate for governor.

Jim Siegel reported in the Wedneday May 24, 2006 edition of the Columbus Dispatch, page A1, about how JKB influenced the the Ohi0 House, Senate and Governor's mansion to craft modified TEL legislation (more here and here). Siegel writes

The tension and rapid-fire movement finalized a deal between Blackwell and Republican legislative leaders. Blackwell will ask the petition committee to remove his TEL amendment from the ballot -- and the committee assured Gov. Bob Taft yesterday that would happen -- in exchange for lawmakers passing a less-restrictive bill.
In less than 26 hours, the House and Senate approved a Tax and Expenditure Limitation plan that would cap state government spending at 3.5 percent per year, or the combined rate of inflation plus population growth, whichever is greater.
It took only seven hours from start to Taft's signature for a bill giving the petition committee the power to pull the TEL amendment off the November ballot.
Taft had to sign the latter bill quickly because the petition committee must act to pull the TEL amendment off the ballot at least 60 days before the Nov. 7 election -- and the bill does not go into effect for 90 days.

The people were supporting this bill enmasse and the politicos heard the voices. This is political victory for Blackwell, because he also heard the dissenting voices who moaned and complained that they would have millions and billions less funding dollars today than if Blackwel's bill had gone into effect some 15 - 20 years ago. Blackwell got his victory, and in a small sense so did the opponents.

Of course had the bill gone into effect, the tax burden on Ohioans would be a lot less today leaving them more money with which they could grow the economy and thus put more dollars into the coffers. Those complaining and opposing viewed the whole transaction through the Keynesian economics rather than market principles.

Another thing to note is how the newspaper editorialists, i.e, those on the editorial boards have made public their opposition to this bill. Since they run the boards and have some form of influence on the rest of the newspaper production, do not be surprised if the papers continue to come out against Blackwell.

So far, Ohio's opinion leaders oppose JKB. Yet the voters have elected JKB to be (R) candidate, the legislature has approved a candidate's legislation, and the polls are showing some sort of JKB gain. Hmm, we sense a trend.

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