"Harry Hope" <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
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From The Toldeo Blade, 6/9/05:

Kaptur alerts colleagues of unfolding scandal

Brown says illegalities put presidential election in question

By STEVE EDER
BLADE STAFF WRITER


WASHINGTON -

As the word spread Tuesday night that the Ohio Bureau of Workers'
Compensation had lost $215 million in a high-risk investment, U.S.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur alerted her colleagues to the mounting concerns in
her home state.

Miss Kaptur, during a statement on the floor of the U.S. House of
Representatives on Tuesday night, said "there is a major political
scandal that is unfolding in the state of Ohio."

"The governor of our state has permitted millions and millions of
dollars of workers' money from the Ohio Worker's Compensation Fund to
be invested in high-risk investments," Miss Kaptur said in a statement
that was placed on the congressional record.

Her accusations came just hours after the bureau acknowledged that it
lost $215 million in a high-risk fund run by Pittsburgh businessman
Mark D. Lay, who has contributed to Gov. Bob Taft's campaign, and
other candidates, including some Democrats.

The governor's office was notified of the loss last October, but a
spokesman for Mr. Taft said yesterday he was not made aware of the
concerns.

The $215 million loss - coupled with a failed $50 million rare-coin
investment with Tom Noe, a prominent Republican campaign contributor -
have given Democrats political ammunition against the GOP, which has
dominated state government for years.

Democrats such as Miss Kaptur and U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown of Lorain
say the latest scandals mirror problems in Washington and even call
into question the results of the 2004 presidential election.

"Shame on the governor of Ohio," said Miss Kaptur, who put The Blade's
Tuesday online story breaking the news of the $215 million loss into
the Congressional record.

"Shame on the state officials of the State of Ohio. What a tragedy
they have perpetrated on the people of our state."

Mr. Brown said state government leaders have been "inept" and
"incompetent" for a decade and the "depth of corruption in Ohio might
set national records."

Mr. Brown called out Governor Taft, as well as GOP gubernatorial
candidates Attorney General Jim Petro, State Auditor Betty Montgomery,
and Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell.

"The governor's cronies have been losing money, and the attorney
general, the auditor, and the secretary of state seem to hear no evil
and see no evil," he said.

In this case, it appears "the people who are supposed to be the
watchdog of state's government have all contributed to the
corruption."

Mr. Brown, a former Ohio secretary of state, said the situation in
Ohio mirrors problems in Washington.

"I've watched up close the arrogance of [Republican House Majority
Leader] Tom DeLay," he said, "and I see the way Taft, and Blackwell,
and Petro -- and those folks run the state government."

Dan Allen, a spokesman for Mr. DeLay, responded yesterday:

"The Democrats would like nothing more than to focus on these partisan
attacks and ignore the fact that they have become the party of no
ideas, no solutions, and no agenda."

lol Worst... republican... EXCUSE... EVER.