Glass City Jungle

Here’s how this story played out. First it was reported by several media sources, Cincinnati Enquirer as one example, that:

After investing $5.5 million in major renovations to the Golden Lamb Restaurant over the last two years, owners are looking for some financial help from the city.

Then this media release was sent out via e-mail from the Ohio Democratic Party:

Rob Portman Asking For Taxpayer Funds For His Private Business

Actions Continue Pattern Of GOP Hypocrisy On Tax Issues

COLUMBUS – As Ohio taxpayers struggle to make ends meet, one of the state’s wealthiest politicians is asking them to fund renovations to his personal business. U.S. Senate candidate and architect of the Bush economy Rob Portman is asking the Lebanon City Council for taxpayer funds to help his business.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern responded, “As mom-and-pop restaurant owners across the state are struggling to keep their doors open as a result of the Bush-Portman economy, Rob Portman is asking for taxpayer funds for his personal business. It would seem that a guy who makes over $800,000 a year and has a net worth of up to $17 million could afford to make those investments himself.”

The property, co-owned by Rob Portman, has already received more than $10,000 from the city in the form of a building permit fee waiver and other assistance. The owners are currently preparing to lobby the Lebanon City Council for additional tax breaks or funding. According to Portman’s most recent financial disclosure report, he has a net worth of up to $17 million and earned a salary of $800,000 last year.

In June, Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Lehman Brothers Managing Director John Kasich announced his candidacy from Everal Barn and Homestead, a site his policies might have eliminated. The site has been a beneficiary of taxpayer-funded state grants. Kasich has advocated eliminating the state income tax, which would reduce state revenue by nearly 40%, dismantling education, health care, economic development and perhaps the Everal Barn and Homestead.

Now it’s being reported that the request has been withdrawn, Dayton Daily News article as an example that was sent out in a second media release from the Ohio Democratic Party. From the news article:

A day after requesting economic aid from the city of Lebanon, the operator of the Golden Lamb has retracted his request.

In a release, the historical restaurant and inn operator Steve Mullinger said, “…(G)iven the economy and the fiscal pressures on the city, the Golden Lamb has determined it will not be seeking any economic development incentives at this time. We have asked the topic not be on the agenda at the Aug. 4 Lebanon City Council meeting.”

Mullinger appeared before council Monday, July 20 to “ask what kind of help could be available to (his) business.”

“We’re a small business that operates with unusual and above normal expenses,” Mullinger said.

Mullinger said the appearance was the continuation of talks he had been having with the city for two years regarding seeking historic tax credits.

The Golden Lamb is owned by the family of Rob Portman, who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2010. After news of Mullinger’s request became public, Portman was blasted on local radio shows and in an e-mail from the Ohio Democratic Party.

Caroline Joseph, spokeswoman for the Golden Lamb, said the retraction of Mullinger’s request had nothing to do with any public outcry. Mullinger was not available for comment.