I'll tell you why. He has an "R" (for Republican) next to his name, and you see his name on that little pink ballot the Republican Party often hands out at the polls. If his name were Mr. Donald Duck (or even Mr. Duck Yu), many people would still vote for him over the Democrat (that would be me).

That is your right as a voter. But I would recommend that you not cast your vote for my incumbent opponent until after you read this page.

You SHOULD know who your State Senator is. He has been in public office for 25 years. He spent 14 years as a Deer Park City Councilman and Sycamore Township Trustee. He was an Ohio State Representative from 1993 through 2000, representing parts of Hamilton and Warren Counties. In 2002, you elected him your Ohio State Senator. I ask you... why is it that almost no one I speak with can tell me who he is - or even recognizes his name after I tell them?

How is it that someone spends so long in public service, yet leaves no impression on the people he serves? Are you surprised that his initials are B.S.? You won't be after I tell you where he gets his campaign money and what legislation he has sponsored.

B.S.'s Campaign Contributions - Is "Pay to Play" Alive and Well?

I have categorized all of B.S.'s contributions based on the industry of the PAC or donor's employer. I started with the data found on www.followthemoney.org, and filled in the missing information based on his campaign filings. From 2002 through April 2006 (his Senate campaign and term), this is how his contributions break down. If you would like the complete spreadsheet outlining how I categorized these contributions, please use the Contact Rick link at the bottom of this page.



Energy & Utilities
As you can see, his largest contributor was the Energy & Utility industry. Are you surprised that B.S. is Chairman of the Senate Energy & Utility Committee? Now, I have worked in the Utility Industry - Utility Regulation is one of the most complicated things man has ever created. B.S. is a Real Estate Appraiser by profession. Your stomach will churn a bit more when you see that the industry really didn't know B.S. existed until his run for the Senate (when it became likely he would be chairing the committee).



I forgot to tell you that B.S. has been a good friend of the industry:

On April 26, 2005, B.S. introduced Senate Bill 134 (SB134), which passed as House Bill 218. This bill lossened a lot of regulations for the telephone industry. It allows telephone companies to increase the cost of basic telephone service by 20% a year (the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio just limited the increases to 4% for the next 2 years). It also limits the PUCO's ability to promote competition through regulation of how telephone companies open up their networks to competitors. Now, I used to work for Cincinnati Bell Telephone. I understand these issues and sympathize with the company's positions. It is possible that these are good bills, but campaign money talks.



On January 5, 2005, B.S. introduced SB247, which is a piece of sweeping energy legislation. This legislation does some good things, like directing the State to encourage renewable energy sources. However, it also allows utilities to build certain gas pipeline, electric power lines, and power generation facilities with less regulation. This is fine, so long as it is NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard).

I feel that it is ethically "challenged" to accept contributions from any industry for which you have direct oversight responsibility. Please read my Campaign Pledge to read how I will handle these potential conflicts of interest.

Builders & Related Services
B.S. is from the Real Estate industry, so it is not surprising that he has some contributions from this industry. However, over the last 11 years, he has received over $100,000 from this industry, otherwise known as the Builder's Lobby. When he was in the State House, 1 of every 4 dollars came from this industry. The Builder's Lobby includes builder associations, mortgage companies and local banks, real estate brokers, architects, appraisers, building managers, and public works construction companies.

If you live in Warren County, you should worry about B.S. being in the pocket of the Builder's Lobby. Warren County is the 2nd-fastest growing county in Ohio. Local townships and cities need to have the tools to control and manage that growth. The Builder's Lobby is against these local government powers. If you are concerned about the growth in Warren County, and the strain it places on your roads and schools, B.S. is NOT your friend.

Merchants of Death (MOD)
For those of you who have seen the movie or read the Christopher Buckley book titled "Thank You For Smoking", you will be familiar with the "Merchants of Death" industry. The industries Mr. Buckley included in this industry were the Tobacco, Alcohol, and Gun Lobby. I have included other industries with questionable affects on society: Payday/Title Loans and Gambling interests. B.S. just LOVES these industries. Over the past 11 years, he has received nearly $45,000 from the Merchants of Death. Let's review the legislation:





On October 15, 1999, B.S. introduced HB467, which tightened regulations on Pawn Brokers, which are the Payday/Title Loan companies' biggest competitors (they are also a quick source of cash). On Monday May 22, 2000, a fundraising event was held, where B.S. received $2,500 in contributions from CNG and from Check Into Cash Inc. So what?



The other big "PayDay" for B.S. was on October 17, 2002, when a fundraiser was held among not just two, but four, Payday/Title Loan companies (the other two were Cashland and Advance America). B.S. got $5,175. Was this payback for HB467, which was signed by the Governor in 2001, or was it in anticipation of some new favorable legislation?

I think the Merchants of Death have gotten their $45,000 worth.

What About the Rest of B.S.'s Legislation?
You know, I could almost forgive everything above, if B.S. were tackling the really important issues facing the citizens of Ohio…you know, like the issues I talk about on this site. Unfortunately, this is not the case. In the past 8 years B.S. has been in the legislature, he has been the primary sponsor of 43 bills. 8 of these are discussed above. The remaining bills include:

• 2 bills to allow Ohio to issue "Pets" license plates, to raise money for education about neutering and spaying pets.
• 1 bill to change the name of the office of "township clerk" to the "township fiscal officer".
• 3 bills to allow elderly and disabled citizens to defer property tax payments.
• 2 bills concerning regulation of cemeteries and pre-need cemetery merchandise and services contracts.
• 2 bills protecting communications between and individual and a Critical Incident Stress Management team member or an Employee Assistance Program professional.
• 13 bills concerning various property laws, such as: 1) allowing counties to remove or trim trees, shrubs, and other vegetation in or encroaching on road rights-of-way, and 2) requiring that a state or a state agency must specify the agency for whose use and benefit real property is acquired.
• 1 bill that establishes requirements for the temporary "registration" rather than the issuance of temporary "certificates" or "licenses" to real estate appraisers from other states. Places additional restrictions on appraisers from other states. I would be interested to hear from other appraisers about whether this bill would help or hurt B.S.'s real estate appraiser competitors.

Some of these bills are good - but they don't address our key concerns. Our State Senator should do more than just keep a seat warm and take contributions. For a complete list of B.S.'s bills, please use the Contact Rick link below.

Ohio, you deserve better ! You deserve someone who will not rest until our schools are properly funded, until health care is available to everyone, or until we get serious about reducing the number of unintended pregnancies in this state.