[NV Greens] Fwd: Let's Clean Up Ohio

[Paul Etxeberri]

>
>The state of Ohio was in the national spotlight in the last election 
>for problems ranging from long lines, misinformation on Election 
>Day, and faulty voting machines.  Since November 2nd, we have been 
>working hard in Ohio1 in all aspects of electoral reform - from 
>participating in the recount efforts to lobbying for more 
>voter-oriented election laws.
>
>Unfortunately, I am writing today about another political scandal, 
>popularly known as "Coingate," rocking the Buckeye State's one-party 
>ruling establishment, which apparently has failed to properly manage 
>a major state fund and keep it free from corrupting political 
>influence.  We need you to take action today demanding that Governor 
>Bob Taft (R) clean up this mess:
>
><http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M69426546524439715710465> 
>http://www.commoncause.org/InvestigateCoingate
>
>The story begins with Thomas Noe,2 a rare-coin dealer and Republican 
>financial backer, who has been a player in Ohio politics for years. 
>Noe is at the center of a major scandal and is under investigation 
>for the loss of up to $12 million worth of rare coins that were part 
>of a dubious $50 million investment by the state workers' 
>compensation fund he was responsible for managing.3
>
>While Noe cannot account for millions of Ohio taxpayers' dollars, he 
>has contributed thousands to the campaigns of President Bush and 
>state Republican leaders, including Governor Bob Taft (R), Secretary 
>of State Kenneth Blackwell (R) and Attorney General Jim Petro (R).4
>
>Even the state Supreme Court has been affected by the Noe scandal. 
>Recently, 5 of the 7 justices recused themselves from cases 
>involving Noe because they had received contributions from him.5
>
>And the fallout from the "Coingate" scandal has reached beyond Ohio. 
>Noe is a focus of a federal investigation in his role as a Pioneer 
>for President Bush's 2004 reelection campaign, responsible for 
>raising at least $100,000 for the President.6  He is accused of 
>violating federal campaign finance law by reimbursing donors who 
>gave to the President's campaign committee.
>
>While Noe's beneficiaries are falling over backwards to disassociate 
>themselves from him, Ohioans are waiting answers as to how their tax 
>dollars fell through the cracks.
>
>Given the wide swath of Noe's influence in a state dominated by the 
>Republican party in all branches of government, the only way that we 
>can get to the truth is to enlist an independent investigator to 
>thoroughly examine these allegations.
>
>Please sign our petition today asking Governor Taft to appoint an 
>independent investigator to get answers to these serious questions:
>
><http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M69426566524439715710465>http://www.commoncause.org/InvestigateCoingate
>
>There is a saying that "as Ohio goes, so goes the nation."  This 
>scandal may have originated in Columbus State House, but it has 
>affected the entire nation.  The stories from last two weeks have 
>shown that this scandal has connections and national implications, 
>reverberating from the White House in Washington D.C. to the 
>Governor's mansion in Sacramento, California.6  So, please sign our 
>petition today, and after you have signed it, make sure to pass it 
>on to everyone you know:
>
><http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M69426576524439715710465>http://www.commoncause.org/InvestigateCoingate
>
>Thank you again for all you do to hold power accountable.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Chellie Pingree
>President & CEO, Common Cause
>
>1 
><http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M69426586524439715710465>http://www.commoncause.org/ohio
>2 
><http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M69426596524439715710465>http://www.commonblog.com/story/2005/6/10/163328/014
>3 
><http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050605/NEWS24/506050379>http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050605/NEWS24/506050379
>4 
><http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M69426606524439715710465>http://www.commonblog.com/story/2005/6/12/125555/898
>5 
><http://salon.com/news/feature/2005/06/10/coingate/index_np.html>http://salon.com/news/feature/2005/06/10/coingate/index_np.html
>6 
><http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-noe12jun12,1,7064407.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-nation>http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-noe12jun12,1,7064407.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-nation
>
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-- 
Paul Etxeberri

"Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow"   ---Chateaubriand
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