Comments on: Konop on Warren County stimulus funds…Warren County Commissioner Kilburn responds…

By: Surprise

Surprise — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:08:42 +0000

It’s quite obvious that none of you know much about Warren County. It’s also obvious that you don’t know the commissioner in question lives in a 4000 square foot house paying incredibly low property taxes.

I don’t know how you can support someone who wants to deny transportation assistance to the elderly and disables because he’s “tired of paying for people who don’t have…”

The school systems in Warren county are suffering horribly due to levy failures and growing sprawl outside of city limits.

By: Not Again

Not Again — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:28:28 +0000

No the the TX and SC Governors declined the federal intrusions in certain areas as well. King obama wants to make subjects of us.

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:09:41 +0000

Nor is Kilburn’s idea unique – Jindal, Palin, Sanford, Milwaukee, etc. Just sayin’

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:16:14 +0000

Didn’t Arnold Schwarzenegger offer to take stimulus money that some states were refusing? It’s not like Ben’s idea was a new one.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:10:41 +0000

Warren County refused stimulus money – otherwise known as pork – for unnecessary pet projects. I don’t recall seeing any other Ohio county make a principled stand for responsible spending. Instead, a greedy politician by the name of Ben Konop crawled out to demand even more pork.

No one ever claimed that Warren County refused all federal dollars. That’s a sneaky attempt to switch the focus of the story. Warren County rejected pork it didn’t ask for and didn’t need.

Fiscal responsibility by county government is one of the reasons why Warren County continues to grow, add new residents, and flourish in a tough economy. The Lucas County commissars could learn a lot from the Conservatives in Warren County government.

By: Not Again

Not Again — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:54:04 +0000

Yes ma’am.

By: LisaRenee

LisaRenee — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:44:28 +0000

He does not say anywhere in that letter that he is in support of accepting stimulus funding, and the commentary as well as some of the reporting has made this appear as if Warren County is against all not some stimulus funding.

Which is why I think it’s important to point out it is not all stimulus funding they are returning. What significance is placed on it, depends on the reader.

By: Not Again

Not Again — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:34:37 +0000

LisaRenee wrote:

It doesn’t say that anywhere in his letter Not Again,…

Yes it did, here is where he is talking about not wasting money on stuff they don’t need. I bet Ben would buy buses just so he could say he did.

“Secondly, the Warren County Transit Service was being offered funding for the replacement of three vehicles which did not need to be replaced. They were also offering to “give” us funding for new computers and a software program that the grant would fund for the first year but would cost $2400 per month to our taxpayers thereafter. The software that we utilize now works just fine and doesn’t cost us $2400 per month.”

By: LisaRenee

LisaRenee — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:24:37 +0000

I don’t suck up to anybody…most times it’s the opposite.

It’s relevant to the topic and provides more information for people to decide for themselves.

By: LisaRenee

LisaRenee — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:21:30 +0000

It doesn’t say that anywhere in his letter Not Again, and it’s not muddying the water, it’s making sure that both sides of the issue are pointed out.

He specifically states how he feels about the stimulus money:

I want our portion of the funding to be utilized to reduce the national debt and to send a message to Washington D.C. that says enough is enough. Stop spending money you don’t have and start being accountable to the taxpayers.

People can read the Middletown Journal and make up their own minds, but it should be pointed out that not all of the federal stimulus money is going to be refused. Which doesn’t mean they can’t be credited for returning what they don’t feel they need, but it is different than taking a total stance against the federal stimulus dollars, as some have suggested has happened.