April 24,2013

The Honorable Robert T. Bennett
The Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee
Ohio Republican Party County Chairs
2 1 1 South Fifth Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

RE: Ohio Republican Party Chairmanship

Dear Chairman Bennett, Central Committee Members & County Chairs:

At last night's meeting the Cuyahoga Valley Republicans (CVR) unanimously endorsed
Tom Zawistowski to be the next Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party.

As you are aware CVR members were instrumental in the 2010 elections which returned
control of the state government to Republicans. In the 2012 elections the efforts of
hundreds of CVR volunteers delivered positive, decisive results in key geographic areas
during an otherwise disastrous campaign season. CVR members understand the
mechanics of winning elections at the local level. As they continue the hard work of
community activists they want party leadership that will support their efforts and can be
depended on to advance and defend conservative principles.

Mr. Chairman, the GOP's continued relevance will be determined by the support
provided by grass roots Republicans. Business as usual and top down party management
are not acceptable options to those individuals. Our nation has too much at stake.

At this important juncture CVR members believe that Tom Zawistowksi is best prepared
to inspire and organize the party in advance of the all-important 2014 and 2016 elections.
And therefore we urge his election as the next Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party.

Respectfully,

Dom Sciria

President, The Cuyahoga Valley Republicans

cc: Mrs. Sally Becker, Secretary, The Cuyahoga Valley Republicans, The Honorable
Jerry Hruby, the Board of Trustees, The Cuyahoga Valley Republicans

With a rousing and energized speech to a crowded room, Tom Z. delivered a powerful message of values, inclusion and grassroots involvement to the Conservative faithful at the April 23rd 2013 meeting of the Cuyahoga Valley Republicans Tuesday evening in Brecksville.

He followed a message from Phyliss Mosely of the Ohio Black Republicans about the importance of listening, communicating, and helping as part of a strategy for including more African Americans, Latinos, Asians and youth in the Conservative movement, which was well received by the enthisiastic crowd.  She committed to the crowd her support for more meaningful engagement with other area African American Conservatives.

Tom Z. faces an uphill battle to gain votes and support from the Ohio GOP Central Committee in his bid to upset the offically endorsed candidate Matt Borges in a vote this week.

“The Republican Party hasn’t given us anything, and we don’t need ’em and we will not come back if they don’t stay true to their values,” Zawistowski told public television’s Karen Kasler earlier this week. “We will find another path, and if that results in Democrats winning elections, that’s (Republicans’) choice, not ours.”  He repeated that message Tuesday in Brecksville.

Please take the time to contact the Central Committee members below to urge them to vote for Tom Z. at this critical time for the Ohio Republican Party.  Watch the video here.

Ohio GOP Central Committee Members

Our Right to Bear Arms

by Senator Rob Portman

The United States Senate is likely to take up gun control legislation later this month in response to the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

Unfortunately, the majority of the proposals that have surfaced would do nothing to prevent these types of horrific acts of violence from happening in the future. They would, however, infringe on Second Amendment rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

I am a gun owner and avid hunter. Whether for protection, recreation, competition, or to ensure our freedoms granted by the Founders, I continue to support “the right of the people to keep and bear arms…” Both sides of the gun control debate agree that we should work to reduce gun violence through better enforcement of current gun laws, enhancing school security, and ensuring that those who suffer from mental illness—a common thread in these attacks—receive proper care.

There is also a growing recognition of the need to address the root causes of violence in our society. There is more to be done in each of these areas. However, many of the proposals for additional gun control laws are misguided. For example, banning certain types of weapons based on cosmetic characteristics does not reduce gun violence. The “assault weapons ban” that was in place between 1994 and 2004 had no measurable impact on gun violence. In fact, the number of homicides committed with guns today is lower than when the ban was in effect. I opposed the ban. I opposed extending it in 2004. And I continue to oppose it today.

Requiring universal background checks on all firearm sales—called for by President Obama and other gun control advocates—is similarly flawed. Such a law may sound attractive at first, but a closer look reveals its flaws. First, we know that most criminals obtain their firearms illegally. Studies show that over 70% of guns used in crimes were acquired through illegal activities like theft or straw purchases. Second, people who currently make false statements on a background check in an attempt to purchase a firearm are rarely prosecuted. In 2010, there were 72,659 cases where the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) denied a person the right to purchase a firearm, many based on a past felony conviction. Of these cases, only 13 actually led to a conviction. Third, reporting on mental health information to the NICS is not adequate or consistent, making background checks unreliable. For example, 23 states have submitted less than 100 mental health records and four states haven’t submitted any. There is also discussion of a new, national gun registry connected with universal background checks.

CVR members exchanged ideas with a key member of Congress, then made their voices heard and made a big difference on an important matter impacting Ohio at the March 26^th meeting.

First members heard from US Congressman Dave Joyce (R-14), who gave an update on his efforts to cut spending and the size of the federal government. Congressman Joyce gave CVR members news about the status of the sequester, the continuing budget resolution and his experiences to date as a freshman representative on the House Appropriations Committee. The Congressman explained that he sees the sequester as a small, but important first step to cut the federal debt. Congressman Joyce went on to say that he feels that Republicans in Congress need to move their constituents agenda forward by using the same “three yards and a cloud of dust” strategy employed by a famous Ohio State coach.

The Congressman took several questions & suggestions from members.  In response to a comments from a CVR member, Congressman Joyce stated that he intends to look into the Obama administration’s plans to advance Agenda 21 in NE Ohio. In closing he noted that his favorite view of Washington DC is from the window of a plane when he’s leaving the capital for home in Ohio.

Also at the meeting CVR member Melanie Swarthout presented a power point presentation prepared by Melanie and fellow CVR members Georgia Maresh and Terri Shawhan about Governor Kasich’s proposal to expand Medicaid in Ohio. (The power point is available on the Library Page of the website.) To view a video of the power point click on this link http://youtu.be/XtJTNZE4i5Y 

Afterward CVR President Dom Sciria read a letter forwarded to the CVR from State Treasurer Josh Mandel opposing the governor’s proposal and letters from Cuyahoga County Republican Ward Leaders Chair Val Emmert and US Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-11) in support of the governor’s proposal.  After a lengthy discussion, members voted to establish the CVR’s formal position on the governor’s proposal.  The results were as follows:

Those in Favor of Expanding Medicaid in Ohio      8%

Those Opposed to Expanding Medicaid in Ohio  87%

Those in Favor of Remaining Neutral                     5%

As a result of the membership’s endorsement vote, on April 6th the letter that appears below on this webpage was delivered to the Republican leadership of the state legislature, the chair and members of the Ohio House Finance & Appropriations Committee and each of the Ohio House & Senate members serving in CVR members’ districts, several of whom sit on the Finance & Appropriations Committee. 

Footnote: On Tuesday, April 9^th the Ohio House Finance & Appropriations Committee voted to cut the governor’s proposal to expand Medicaid from the state’s budget.

April 6,2013

The Honorable John Kasich
Riffe Center, 3ofh Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 4321 5-61 17

Re: Medicaid Expansion

Dear Governor Kasich:

On behalf of the members of the Cuyahoga Valley Republicans (CVR) I am writing to urge you to
withdraw your proposal to expand Medicaid in Ohio.

The moral arguments being made by left wing Barack Obama surrogates masquerading as charitable
organizations are disingenuous and misleading. The motives of those groups are politically suspect, and
self-serving. The financial reasons given for expanding Medicaid are similarly flawed. Hospitals that
would be punished by Obamacare, if Medicaid is not expanded, should complain publicly to Congress.
Growing a program that causes physicians to lose money on every patient served is not the answer.

Annexing Ohio's middle class into a public healthcare system intended to serve the poorest of the poor
will lift no one out of poverty and only foster greater dependency on big government. Burdening Ohio's
taxpayers further with an expanded welfare program guaranteed by a federal government already deeply
in debt is a recipe for disaster. Claims by your advisors that Ohio can opt out of the program at a later
date are unsubstantiated by language in the Supreme Court's recent ruling and politically naive.

CVR members understand that the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) was structured to both entice
and coerce well-meaning public servants into expanding Medicaid. Nonetheless, Republican leaders
who claim to oppose Obamacare should be doing nothing to help advance such a major component of
this onerous bill. Instead, they should be doing everything possible to prevent its implementation.

The CVR opposes the proposed expansion of Medicaid in Ohio and strongly urges all Republican
legislators in the Ohio General Assembly to vote against such an expansion.

Respectfully,

Dom Scina

President,

The Cuyahoga Valley Republicans

www.cv-gop.com