Voinovich Update

By Matt Hurley | 12/17/08

Three items in the Voinovich Update... Homeland Security Grant for Driver's Licenses:U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH), a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today announced that more than $1 million is expected for the state of Ohio as part of the Department of Homeland Security's Fiscal Year 2009 Driver's License Security Grant Program. The program is intended to prevent terrorism, reduce... read more »

There's Something About Jan

By Matt Hurley | 12/16/08

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of IIllinois has been a name frequently associated with the Blagojevich story and is said to have thrown her hat into the ring for President-Elect Barack Obama's now-vacated US Senate seat. Who is this woman and what do we know about her?  Click READ MORE...   Perhaps the chief concern  raised about her running for the Senate seat is that her husband, Robert Creamer, went to prison for... read more »

Reviewing Campaign Finance Strategy in Butler County

By Matt Hurley | 12/15/08

Wow. Ohio Democrats either had money to burn or thought they had a chance against Roger Reynolds. Either way, they wasted some cash on a seat they had very little chance of winning. Over at the Western Star, our favorite intrepid reporter broke down the numbers so I don't have to! (How thoughtful of him!) Jack Zettler's bid for Butler County auditor was backed with more than $67,000 from the Ohio Democratic Party, according to campaign... read more »

TIB All Stars - 121308 - Live Blog

By Matt Hurley | 12/13/08

  The TIB All Stars (Minus One) are back on the air tonight!   Please join Tom Blumer of BizzyBlog and Matt Hurley of WMD & RedCounty/Butler at 8PM Eastern as they discuss issues of the day...   Click READ MORE for access to the live blog and information on how to tune in to the show.       Please tune in shortly before 8PM eastern for the start of the live-blog coverage of tonight's TIB All Stars internet... read more »

Boehner Column: Don't Become a Victim of Identity Theft

By Matt Hurley | 12/12/08

In this week's column, Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner -- talks about an issue that we should all be thinking about as the holiday shopping season grows nearer...identity theft. As you shop for gifts this holiday season, you should be aware that unscrupulous people are doing another kind of shopping - for your identity. Since 1998, identity theft - or identity fraud - has been a federal crime and the... read more »

"Voinovich's View": In the Season of Giving, Give of Yourself

By Matt Hurley | 12/12/08

Every now and then, our senior senator pens an editorial. This one covers volunteering as we look towards the holiday season. As Janet and I prepare for Christmas with our family, we find much to be thankful for, even in these difficult economic times. We are grateful for our family, our health, our country and all of the opportunities and freedoms with which we are blessed. We are deeply aware, however, of the uncertainty that looms over... read more »

Sheriff Ignores Eviction Notices

By Matt Hurley | 12/10/08

Butler County is blessed with our own version of Sheriff Joe Arpaio.  His name is Richard Jones and he is larger than life.  He's made illegal immigration his key issue and he made headlines when he criticized John McCain for his position on amnesty. But has he gone too far this time?  He's ordered his deputies to ignore court ordered evictions because it is winter time and that would be a "heartless" thing to do.  That is... read more »

Is Sen. Voinovich Vulnerable?

By Matt Hurley | 12/10/08

We've been seeing all kinds of stories out there about Senator George Voinovich lately and it is time to sort through them and separate the wheat from the chaff.  Is George Voinovich vulnerable going in to 2010?   Let's start with the stories that suggest that Senate Democrats don't need 60 members to prevent a filibuster.  Many of these stories suggest that Senator Voinovich is among a group of Republicans whom the Democrats can... read more »

"Regional Diversity" a Factor in RNC Chair Race

By Matt Hurley | 12/07/08

In the battleground state of Ohio, I have something of a reputation as being the guy who tries to keep our guys honest.  The "insiders" don't quite frame it that way, of course, but I have always thought of myself as something of a sentinel when it comes to my focus on Republicans. So when I see Republicans talking about regional diversity being a factor in the race for RNC Chair, I start asking questions. Don't get me wrong: I think it is... read more »

Auto Bailout Survey

By Matt Hurley | 12/05/08

We are currently conducting a two-question survey on the proposed auto bailout and would appreciate your participation. NOTE: If you are unable to see the survey (it is a pop-up that should appear when you enter RC-BC), please feel free to take the survey over in the sidebar at WMD (it is the same questions with the same responses). read more »