Interesting, if divisive, days for the Ohio GOP

Random thoughts on national, state and local Republican politics

(National)

Conservative Second District Rep. Brad Wenstrup and erstwhile conservative Sen. Rob Portman disagree over the legislative behemoth otherwise known as the 1,000-page, $1 trillion Farm Bill.

Congressman Wenstrup, who represents Highland County in his southern Ohio district, said about the monstrosity: "It’s unfortunate that Washington has transformed a needed farm bill into a bloated spending bill that goes far beyond the focus of our agricultural community."

It sure is.

Wenstrup and other conservatives have pointed out that about 80 percent of the funding in the bill goes toward the food stamp program or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

In his latest column – posted on our website – U.S. Sen. Mike Lee said: "This 1,000-page, trillion-dollar mess is less a compromise between House Republicans and Senate Democrats than it is collusion between both parties against the American people, to benefit the special interests at the expense of the national interest. This was the year the farm bill was supposed to be different. This was supposed to be the year when we would finally split the bill into its logical, component pieces, and reform them one at a time.

"This was the year we might have strengthened the Food Stamps program with work requirements. This was the year we might have made sure wealthy Americans were no longer eligible for food stamps. But those reforms aren’t in the bill we passed."

Of course, they aren't.

For Ohio Republicans, the fact that lawmakers like Wenstrup and Portman are in different camps on such a huge spending bill brings more than an observation or two. Not the least of which is this: They both can't be right, can they? (Let the spin cycle begin.)

In a recent Plain Dealer story, headlined "Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman help pass major farm bill," Brown said: “One out of seven jobs in Ohio is connected to agriculture. This farm bill is really important for the state.”

Pardon me for Observation No. 2. Perhaps it would be more accurate if Brown had offered that “One out of seven jobs in Ohio is connected to government." (Not counting the government jobs, of course.)

Once upon a time, Rob Portman would have thought the same thing. Instead, he echoed Brown's statements that the bill will help Ohioans who work in agriculture.

In addition, it "helps restore the integrity of the SNAP entitlement program, which is riddled with loopholes that have allowed the program to grow faster than economic conditions would have otherwise allowed," Portman said.

If he's referring to the meager 1-percent reduction in the food stamp program, let's recall what his colleague, Sen. Lee said: "Many of the few improvements the House and Senate initially tried to include (in the bill) were removed during the secret conference committee process. The farm bill continues a troubling trend in Washington: using raw political power to twist public policy against the American people, to profit political and corporate insiders."

According to Sen. Portman's office, the senator said the bill “is far from perfect” but “it provides much-needed certainty to Ohio’s farmers and makes some important and responsible improvements to farm programs that I support.”

"Farmers deserve to know what the rules of the game are, and gridlock in D.C. just keeps letting them down," Portman said. "More needs to be done."

So far, Wenstrup continues to reflect his conservative roots and backing that led to his upset of GOP incumbent Jean Schmidt. Let's hope southern Ohio continues to have at least one conservative voice in Washington. It's a lonely camp, these days, to be sure.

* * *

(State)

Another bit of political dissension has surfaced in Ohio's 91st House District, which includes Highland County.

Apparently, Hillsboro conservative Republican Barb Cole has the audacity (how dare her!) to file petitions to run in a May 6 GOP primary against the youthful incumbent Cliff Rosenberger.

Granted, the election board meeting to certify valid petitions hasn't happened. That, too, could be both interesting and potentially divisive. We'll see.

As I recall in years past, the NLGOP (No Longer Grand Old Party) was able to stave off these nasty primary elections by circling the wagons and instructing those few rowdy Republicans that it "isn't their turn."

One Hillsboro public official and former Highland County Republican of the Year recipient had expressed interest in the House seat, but backed off. So did a prominent Clinton County contractor a few years back.

The message was clear, if subtle: Don't rock the proverbial boat.

Barb Cole is a boat-rocker. I like boat-rockers.

During a recent interview with Matt Lucas of the Waverly News Watchman, Cole said: “When any elected official puts personal, political ambition in front of the people he serves, they need to be replaced, and that is absolutely as direct and candid as I possibly can be.”

Cole has said similar things in my office. And more. She is an independent thinker and, thus far, does not appear to be swayed by the political machinations. That's a good thing.

I read recently in National Review that "popularity, power and truth have a difficult relationship."

And as Charles Cooke points out: "Sometimes one has to risk the first two in order to advance the third."

Not for a second do I believe that Barb Cole, at this point in her life, is all that concerned with popularity and power. I think truth means much more to her.

Again, 91st House District Republicans will have contrasting choices should Cole withstand the inevitable scrutiny and reach the primary ballot. On the one hand is an establishment rank-and-file politician. On the other is a conservative Republican.

Barb Cole most likely cannot defeat a Republican incumbent. She understands. But at least she gives conservative voters a clear choice in this race. Good for her.

And rest assured, the 91st District is owned by the Republican Party, so the May 6 primary is, in all likelihood, the ball game.

* * *

(Local)

Judging by the volume of anonymous online postings (the vast majority of which have not been posted for public consumption) that we have received, it doesn't take a smart man to figure out that the May 6 Republican primary for Highland County sheriff is yet another potentially divisive issue for the local GOP.

The two candidates – Don Barrera and Richard Warner – both have good law enforcement credentials and ample experience with the sheriff's office. This time, the boat-rocker is Donnie Barrera.

Not only are many well-known local Republicans in different camps on this campaign, so too, are a number of high school basketball fans, judging from Saturday's game between the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs and the Hillsboro Indians.

Warner is a graduate of Lynchburg-Clay. Barrera is a graduate of Hillsboro High School.

Each had his respective supporters wearing campaign T-shirts. Nothing wrong with that.

For those who continue to ask, no, I have not signed either candidate's petition. Nor would it be of any help if I did.

My first memories of Richard Warner go back to the 1992-93 Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs championship basketball team when he played for Coach Joe Wills.

My first memories of Donnie Barrera go back about 20 years further, when he and I were baseball teammates for Kelley Ferguson's Pony League team in the early 1970s.

Understandably, I have known and respected Donnie for much longer. That said, I cannot say a negative word about either candidate for sheriff.

What I can say is this: Both political camps would be wise to tone down the rhetoric and focus more on their candidate of choice's accomplishments.

Lastly, it also would be most professional if the local GOP would refrain from political endorsements in the May 6 primary. After all, as everyone knows, your candidates of choice already have a leg up, don't they?

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.