Call Governor Taft and tell him to step down!!!

Take action by Thursday, September 15, 2005

Contact:

Tom Betti

Friends,

I just called the governor's office and left a message that he should step down for the good of the state. The receptionist was rude and said, "I will rely the message, but I want to tell you that 99% of the calls he receives are in support of him staying." I wonder if she got her drugs from Rush Limbaugh.

Call the Governor at 614-466-3555 and tell him to step down. He demanded resignations of people under him for the same violations he is charged with. He preached about good ethics and he failed to follow what he preached. It is time for accountability to return to Ohio!

Thanks,

Tom Betti

GOVERNOR TAFT DUE IN COURT THURSDAY TO ANSWER FOUR MISDEMEANOR ETHICS VIOLATIONS; FIRST SITTING GOVERNOR TO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES

Governor Bob Taft, heir to a previously unblemished Republican legacy that includes a U.S. President, was slated to make an historic court appearance Thursday to answer four, first-degree misdemeanor ethics law violations.

Mr. Taft on Wednesday became the first sitting governor in Ohio to be charged with a criminal offense.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ronald O'Brien and Columbus City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer, acting on evidence the Ohio Ethics Commission referred to them, announced filing of the unprecedented complaints against the governor at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

Governor Taft was accused of failing to include on disclosure forms filed for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 a total of 52 gifts-47 of them golf outings-valued at $5,800 for which he did not pay. Prosecutors said the remaining items represented meals and tickets to watch the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Mr. O'Brien said he expected Governor Taft and his attorney, William Meeks, to appear before Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Mark Froehlich at 11 a.m. Thursday. A first-degree misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.

Governor Taft had no comment Wednesday. Spokesman Mark Rickel said the governor would make a "public address" Thursday. Details on the time and location of that event were not immediately announced.

A source speaking on condition of anonymity said Mr. Taft telephoned other top elected state officials late Wednesday telling them he would enter a plea to the charges and issue an apology.

Mr. Meeks said in a written statement the governor had self-reported the omissions on his annual financial disclosure forms, and pledged total cooperation with the commission in its investigation.

Mr. Meeks released details supplied to the commission covering the previously undisclosed golf outings and social events. Included was a March 20, 2003 entry described as dinner and a Blue Jackets game with Jerry and Patty Jurgenson. Mr. Taft has since reimbursed $360.28 to Mr. Jurgenson, a top Nationwide Insurance official.

"The governor has reimbursed all appropriate individuals and has provided verification of these reimbursements to the Ethics Commission," Mr. Meeks said.

Reaction to the charges was swift. Chairman Robert Bennett of the Ohio Republican Party characterized the omissions as "a paperwork oversight," not the kind of offenses that lead to impeachment or resignation. Chairman Dennis White of the Ohio Democratic Party called it "a sad day for all Ohioans." (See separate story).

Mr. Taft had used a similar phrase about three months ago when he accepted "with real sadness" the resignation of Administrator James Conrad of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation over his role in a soured rare coin investment through a Republican contributor.

A multi-agency investigation into activities of former fund manager Thomas Noe of Maumee continues. Prosecutor O'Brien indicated Wednesday investigators "were looking at some serious felony crimes" involving public corruption and public employees.

Mr. Pfeiffer, a former legislator, said he could not compare the current ethics climate at the General Assembly with what took place during his tenure. "Prior to my assuming the role of city attorney I was a judge for eleven years, so I've been away from the General Assembly for about 14 years," he said. "I'm not sure I can compare, quite frankly, what the tenor is up there other than what we're seeing as we get referrals from the Ethics Commission."

Governor Taft is the highest-ranking state official to face a court appearance on ethics charges since February 1996. Senate President Stanley Aronoff (R-Cincinnati), former House Speaker Vernal G. Riffe (D-Wheelersburg), and Sen. Eugene Watts (R-Galloway) were indicted on misdemeanor charges for failing to report individually payments of $500 or more that each received as honoraria for speeches or appearances.

Despite Mr. Taft's receipt of 52 previously unreported gifts, only four charges were filed because only one disclosure form must be submitted annually. In addition, no events were pursued that occurred prior to May 2001 when the Ethics Commission first issued an advisory opinion requiring the reporting of golf outings.

"I think the law contemplates that someone has to know that they're doing something," Mr. O'Brien said. "A public official filing a form before that date may not be on notice that those should be included. Even though the forms are filed for those years if there was a golf outing that was omitted they're not acting in what's called a culpable mental state in the law to intentionally violate the law."

PARTISANS 'DISAPPOINTED,' 'SADDENED' BY CHARGES AGAINST TAFT; NO IMMEDIATE CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OR OUSTER FROM OFFICE

The announcement that Governor Bob Taft has been charged with four misdemeanor counts of failing to file accurate financial disclosure statements drew comments from scores of political leaders Wednesday, but all stopped short of immediately calling for his resignation or removal from office.

Democrats generally said the court action shows that Mr. Taft's Republican party, which has had a stranglehold on state government control for more than a decade, has succumbed to corruption that comes with uninterrupted power.

Republicans expressed disappointment in the governor's lapses, but the party's top official said Mr. Taft should continue to lead the state.

Senate Minority Leader C.J. Prentiss (D-Cleveland) said Wednesday marked a sad day in Ohio and Taft family history and a low-point for the Republican party.

"The governor's ethics violations are just the tip of the pay-to-play iceberg in state government," she said. "The next step should be a positive one. Governor Taft should do the right thing: cooperate with prosecutors and help them get to the bottom of the corruption in state government."

Sen. Prentiss added that Mr. Taft has the opportunity to help clean up a government she said is infused with corruption. "With just over a year left in office, Taft has the opportunity to be the reformer his state and party so desperately need...Governor Taft owes it to every taxpayer in this state and to his own family's legacy to root out the rampant corruption that plagues his party and Ohio's political system. By doing so, Taft can restore honor to Ohio."

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett said he, too, was disappointed to hear of the charges, but described the issue as a "paperwork oversight."

"There is no excuse for this oversight, but these are reporting errors, plain and simple," Mr. Bennett said. "The bipartisan team of prosecutors assigned to this investigation found no evidence of anything more than a paperwork oversight. Gov. Taft discovered these omissions on his own and took the initiative to correct them. These are not offenses that lead to impeachment or resignation."

House Speaker Jon Husted (R-Kettering) said it is his view that Ohioans want Mr. Taft to own up to his mistakes, take responsibility and apologize. After that, he said Ohioans want him to continue addressing key issues such as education and the economy.

The speaker also indicated that lawmakers aren't likely to undertake any official proceedings regarding the governor's status. He said "the public embarrassment" that Mr. Taft and his family have endured "far outweighs" any act the legislature can take. "In politics, you have good days and bad days, and for Republicans, this is a bad day," he said.

Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) said he wasn't surprised by the filing of charges, but said he's looking forward to putting the issue behind him. "You know, we need to get all this stuff behind us so we can move forward," he said. "The governor's got to move forward himself. As a result of that, I think the legislature will come forward and do what we have to do to continue the work at the Statehouse.

House Minority Leader Chris Redfern (D-Catawba Island) said Ohioans need to keep their eye on bigger issues, like a continuing review of the operations at the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, particularly investments managed by Thomas Noe. "Close to $1 billion have been lost and thousands of injured workers and small businesses across Ohio have been hurt by this scandal," he said. "This is the real tragedy, yet we still don't fully understand what has happened."

Mr. Redfern continued said a panel co-chaired by a Democrat and a Republican should be created to investigate pertinent issues and get uncover the basis for "this pay-to-play culture."

Sen. Marc Dann (D-Niles) said Wednesday was a "tragic" day in state history. "The only possible silver lining would be if Governor Taft would accept responsibility for his crimes, and cooperate with authorities investigating crimes related to the pay-to-play contract steering that has been at work in his administration and with his party," he said. "I invite Governor Taft to make the best of this tragic turn of events."

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Dennis White said the legal system should be allowed to follow its regular course. "This is the first time a sitting governor in Ohio has been charged with an ethics crime," he said. "The culture of corruption has even cast a shadow over the Taft name."

2006 Gubernatorial Candidates: Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, one of three Republicans seeking his party's nomination in 2006, said: "I am thoroughly disappointed with the governor's alleged inability to handle simple paperwork. It appears that he is paying a price for it."

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, a Democrat, argued that the issue goes further than Mr. Taft's failure to file accurate reports. "Taft, Jim Petro, Betty Montgomery, Ken Blackwell and those leading our state have created and fostered a culture of corruption in state government that is harmful to all Ohioans," he said.

"Since the beginning of these revelations about Taft and Noe, I have called on the governor and the others in state office to fully disclose their relationships with state contractors and their known associates," the mayor added. "This needs to happen regardless of whether the governor takes responsibility for failing to report golf outings and gifts he received."

U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, also seeking the Democratic nomination, said he viewed the event with "great sadness. This is what the arrogance of one-party rule brings."

"What we are witnessing is the unraveling of what appears to be the majority party's statewide corruption apparatus," Mr. Strickland said. "What we don't know is what else is out there. More than ever, I'm convinced the only way to restore trust in our government is to establish a truly bipartisan commission to investigate and hold public hearings on this growing scandal. Everything needs to be put out into the open and those responsible must be held accountable."

State Auditor Betty Montgomery said she was "particularly saddened" with the developments because personal integrity has been "a hallmark" of the Taft family and the governor's public service career. "Moving Ohio forward requires strong and focused leadership," she said. "Only Governor Taft can determine whether he is capable of providing that at this time."

Mark Anthony, a spokesman for Attorney General Jim Petro said the Mr. Petro feels "this is a very unfortunate situation. He also believes it is time to move past this and get back to governing the state"