Thanks to a SCB participant, we have learned of a plan that truly is beyond comprehension. According to the article “State’s nonprofit entities plan is bad”By Dennis J. Willard of the Beacon Journal Columbus Bureau
Our Ohio legislature “gave the Strickland administration the legal authority to use taxpayer-paid employees and resources to create and run nonprofit corporations as a sub-unit of a state governmental department. It was one of dozens of policy and spending proposals contained in a 796-page omnibus amendment that suddenly appeared and was enacted by Democrats on the House Finance & Appropriations Committee…These nonprofit companies would be used, and I quote, to ‘’solicit financial contributions or in-kind contributions of goods to support the fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities” of state government. So we will have mini-fund-raising entities operating within the walls of government with public employees actively soliciting contributions.”
As an example:
The Ohio Department of Health would have a sub-group of employees, still on the state payroll, who would raise money through fund raising, to help fund the department. So…
“Hello, is Mr. Taxpayer home?”
“Yes, this is Mr. Taxpayer.”
“Well my name is Ohio Government Employee for the sub entity the Ohio Department of Health Wants Your Money Right Now Because This is the Crazy Plan the Ohio Legislature Concocted or ODHWYMRNBTCPLC.”
“Pardon?”
“Look, I know this sounds nuts, but here is the deal. I am calling to ask you to donate money to ODHWYMRNBTCPLC. When you donate to the ODHWYMRNBTCPLC, you will help support the Ohio Department of Health.”
“But don’t tax dollars support the department?”
“Yes, but we need more.”
“But you are employed by the state of Ohio, right?”
“So they can afford to pay you?”
“Yes.”
“And they can afford to create the ODHWYMRNBTCPLC ?”
“But they want me to donate? Is this a prank? I bet this is some crazy show where you call folks and make fools out of them on tv or radio, isn’t it? Is Ashton Kutcher there? Are you guys doing some new comedy show? Hey, my wife is calling, so I have to go. Call me back when this is going to air, ok?”
We urge you to read the entire article, State’s nonprofit entities plan is bad and then comment. We have never heard of such a ridiculous idea and I for one, am planning on writing Columbus among others, to ask them what in the world were you thinking.
Where are the Marx Brothers when you need them?
Filed under: Uncategorized
Columbus Dispatch had an article on this yesterday too referring to it as an idea that is probably doomed and that Strickland does not intend to fight over it. I noted that Republican Senate President Harris think it may be something to consider outside of the budget.
Richard Marx or Karl Marx? Richard just performed at the Ritz in March…
Groucho
No, Groucho is Cheney…
PLEASE! Don’t defame Groucho in such fashion!
Hello ! Anybody home out there or did this blog die a natural death ?
Nah.. we just held a temporary truce with stupidity during the recent spectacular weather. Bitching will resume shortly as usual.
not to worry, I’ll get another post up today.
I got an idea for a thread, Scout.
All I hear about local government these days is that there ain’t enough money to go around. Cops and firemen are gettin’ cut. Library is cuttin’ back on hours. Municipal Court is shuttin’ down a half hour early now. Y’all have heard this stuff. But, I also have it on good authority that the County Auditor has an employee makin’ 60 bucks an hour! I’m not much for droppin’ names, so I won’t, but his first name starts with “J-E-F” and his last name ends with “O-C-K-N-E-R.”
I guess it wouldn’t be such a big deal, but a good chunk of his time there has been spent on handlin’ dog licenses! I guess that there is some skilled labor or somethin.’ I know that employee (who remains nameless) has a law license, but ain’t that why we have a county prosecutor?
If you think I’m pullin’ yer leg on this, look it up at the Auditor’s office. Or better yet, ask the Auditor her own self. If yer an out-of-work cop or firefighter, maybe you could offer yer services to the Auditor for $45 or $50 an hour and save the county some money! That’s what Reagan woulda done!
When times are tough some are forced to sacrifice others choose to sacrifice and some see it as an opportunity to profit at others expanse.If a lawyer can not make a living as a lawyer he should not be paid like one for selling dog tags.
As in any other profession, some lawyers have the capacity to labor within their own field. Others fake it along the way. The also-rans claim to be teachers, they sell dog tags for ill-principled Auditors, they even do other weird-wild-childish things that are more characteristic of teenagers. Not all lawyers are created equally, and not all lawyers perform properly. Some are not even memorialized in granite!
Joe, say it ain’t so. Surely you can’t be referring to a certain former assistant prosecutor working for the auditor’s office and making an obscene amout of money for selling dog tags. It can’t be him because he claimed that he now is a full time professor at TU. How could he have time to work part time at the auditors with full benefits. I remember his bio also claimed he ran his own practice. I wonder if he still does.
Seriously, how do they justify paying someone that rate when the county is dropping staff. I’m sure if he really wanted to practice law, he would get on the court appointed list and make only $50 an hour.
Give credit to his former boss, at least he got a real job.
Is it true that the ‘former boss” has been seen there — emptying waste baskets and pushing a broom? [for $75/hr - with benefits?]
Leggs, What is his former boss job?
Leggs was kidding about the former prosecutor