Ohio 6th among states in fallen soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan

December 2, 2:11 AMColumbus Government ExaminerJohn Michael Spinelli

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The gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery are
graced by U.S. flags each Memorial Day
(Photo/Wikipedia).

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- While West Point cadets listened with rapt attention Tuesday evening to President Barack Obama as he outlined his plan to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan as the key element in his way forward there and in Pakistan, let us not forget that 208 Ohioans have already died serving their country in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and that that number may rise in the months and years to come.

Ohio 6th among states in faces of the fallen

Ohio, still the 7th largest state in the nation, ranks 6th among states in the number of its citizens who have given their life to serve their country in a time of war. Statistics compiled on the faces of the fallen by the Washington Post show California leading all states with 554 deaths, followed by Texas with 463, Florida with 242 and Pennsylvania and New York with 233.

"I do not make this decision lightly," President Obama said in a solemn but determined manner. He said he opposed the war in Iraq precisely because he believes the U.S. "must exercise restraint in the use of military force, and always consider the long-term consequences of our actions."

Among Ohio's many cities, the largest number (13) of the 208 fallen soldiers to date called Cincinnati and Columbus home, while nine hailed from Cleveland and five from Canton.

President Obama said he understands the toll the nation's two wars have taken on America's families. "As President, I have signed a letter of condolence to the family of each American who gives their life in these wars. I have read the letters from the parents and spouses of those who deployed. I visited our courageous wounded warriors at Walter Reed. I've traveled to Dover to meet the flag-draped caskets of 18 Americans returning home to their final resting place. I see firsthand the terrible wages of war. If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow."

No doubt many of the family and friends of Ohio's 208 fallen soldiers would rather have their loved ones back in their homes and hearts than have a letter of condolence from America's Commander in Chief extolling their dedication and courage.

Ohio senators Voinovich and Brown comment on Obama's plan

U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, said, “Our strategic plan must include all instruments of American power — humanitarian, diplomatic and military. Military force alone cannot do it all in Afghanistan, but we can help create a secure environment in which the Afghan people can work to achieve a stable government and viable economy.”

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said that while he was encouraged that the president laid out clear goals and a responsible timeline for completion, “I remain skeptical about a commitment of 30,000 of our service men and women. I do not want a long commitment of troops in the region and I am concerned with the dramatic costs to human life and to military families.”

Let us all hope and pray that the way forward is kinder to Ohio servicemen than the way to this day has been.

Follow me on Twitter @ohionewsbureau. Read more stories on Ohio people, politics and government here.

Ohio's faces of the fallen

Obama remarks on way forward

Morgan's Raiders ride out 10 bills Ohio House Republicans challenged Democrats to discuss, act on

November 17, 8:03 PMColumbus Government ExaminerJohn Michael Spinelli

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Seth Morgan, an Ohio House Republican from Huber
Heights near Dayton, leads discussion today on GOP good
government bills. (Photo/Ohio House)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The quartet of mostly rookie Republican House members, led by Seth Morgan (R-Huber Heights), convened in a meeting room in the Ohio Statehouse the GOP has not seen the inside of for about 15 years because it controlled the House during themto trot out a stable of 10 good government bills they said deserve discussion and action now, but which they know will not be welcomed, let alone acted on by ruling Democrats.

The impact of the 10-bill package is to spur government, streamline efficiency, strengthen accountability and transparency in state government, while simultaneously working to reduce the economic turmoil suffered by Ohio families who have been hard hit by the national economic maelstrom.

Hard hit in both loss of jobs -- 641,800 according to information provided to reporters by House communication staff -- and an economy that can no longer produce the amount of revenue to sustain state government at its current, albeit reduced level of government. Ohio lawmakers need to fill a biennial budget hole of about $900 million.

But finding a consensus solution is still over the horizon. Republicans and Democrats, in the House and Senate, are staking their claim on how to build a vehicle that not only withstand the hit from filling the gapping budget pothole in front of it but will be engineered to withstand greater shocks from even larger, more distant potholes that await the state as soon as 2011, when the biennial budget train again chugs around the bend.

Leader of the pack

The leader of the GOP pack today was House Policy Committee Chairman Seth Morgan, the youngest person to be elected to Huber Heights City Council. The first-term member and MBA, told reporters that Ohio is facing real problems, and that The Future of Ohio - Government Reform package presented today represents a real solution to those problems. Morgan said the GOP package of bills represents "an effective, sustained effort to streamline government, reduce waste, and improve services for a brighter future for Ohio.”

Making up Morgan's Raiders were were Representatives from A to Z, literally. John Adams (R-Sidney), Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster), Peter Beck (R-Mason), Terry Blair (R-Washington Township) and Jim Zehringer (R- Fort Recovery), stood close by, no doubt as they did last evening when the group conducted a town hall forum in Blue Ash, a city north of Cincinnati, where the themes interwoven throughout the group's legislative strategy range from efficiency and accountability to state spending --

Rep. Beck, who represents the suburban community north of Blue Ash called Mason, is so new to the House that its Web site offers no picture or biography.

Morgan's Raiders said they will work to see that government is operating as transparently, effectively and economically as possible. All this good government will be propelled by the business management tactic of scrutinizing every tax dollar in order to reduce waste. But to fill Ohio’s nearly $900 million yawning budget deficit, the committee did not stray from their core message that long-term, sustainable solutions are needed now to address Ohio’s urgent economic needs.

“Tough fiscal times present opportunities,” said Amstutz, the only member of the group to serve in the Senate. “Our citizens are very supportive of making government more efficient as a cost savings tool."

Expressing their collective frustration with what they said has been "inaction and partisanship from House Democrats" over the last 11 months, the Republican Caucus established the Ohio House Policy Committee to explore sustainable solutions to the economic crisis. According to a media release, they believe that Ohio’s families, not political games, should be the focus of the Legislature. And to circumvent House partisanship, Morgan's raiders are taking their ideas from the floor of the House to the streets of their districts. They want feedback from the public to confirm their proposed agenda or to find other lasting improvements for Ohio’s families and small businesses.

John Adams of Sydney in west central Ohio, challenged the label affixed to them by House Democrats, that they are the "party of no." Adams, who finally had a sponsor hearing last week on his bill to radically consolidate state government, said Democrats are really talking about themselves. "They (Democrats) refuse to discuss the viable alternatives Republicans have offered and we are not content by returning to our resident taxpayers without ensuring state government is operating as efficiently as possible," the former Navy Seal said. "Instead of focusing on partisan games, it is time for the Ohio House to start a cooperative conversation that will get the economy moving again.”

House Republicans assembled the Policy Committee in light of the recent imbalance of education funding to have open discussions with the people of Ohio regarding the state’s future. Contained in the proposals discussed by the House Policy Committee are plans that would restructure state government by streamlining of the executive branch; examination of Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse; requiring conference committee reports to be publicly available for 48 hours prior to being considered by the House or Senate; reestablishing the Legislative Budget Office to provide nonpartisan financial oversight; and identifying other areas of wasteful, inefficient spending. The group echoed the theme that Republicans have offered these proposals as bills in the Ohio House as well as amendments to the budget, but that many ideas have been silenced or ignored by majority party Democrats.

Rookies to the rescue

Had the legislative rookies assembled today been members of the House when their party was the majority party, as recently as last year, they would have been on the receiving end of a fuselage of arrows of outrage of the same make they are now flying toward Democrats, who recaptured control of the House in last year's General Elections. These House Republicans, who are not speaking out of school but reflect the will of their caucus, said they hope that by discussing their long-term plans with the public, the Democrat controlled House will take heed of their legislative ideas, ones Morgan's Raiders said would help create jobs and grow Ohio’s economy.

“Our residents want less government and lower taxes,” Beck, a CPA and former councilman and mayor of Mason, said. “It is time for us to look at and act on ways to not only spend less taxpayer money, but make government more effective, efficient and leaner. We need to do more with less!"

Follow me on Twitter @ohionewsbureau. Read more stories on people, politics and government in Ohio here.