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A Call To Action –
The Ohio Christian Alliance is Urging
All Ohioans To Contact Their State Representatives and State
Senators and Governor Strickland’s Office To Demand A Thorough and
Open Investigation Into the Misuse of State Government Databases to
Investigate Private Citizen Joe Wurzelbacher, known as “Joe the
Plumber”.
 The
highly publicized case in which an Ohio resident asked Presidential
Candidate Barack Obama a question concerning taxation on his small
business, and what took place in the aftermath of “Joe the
Plumber” is of great concern to this organization and its
membership. We are a voter education organization, committed to
providing nonpartisan educational voter guides, scorecards, and
candidate forums, and encouraging voter registration and
participation in the electoral process.
This issue is not simply a partisan battle. It is, however, a direct
threat to individual freedoms of every American to participate,
engage, and question candidates and office holders on a variety of
subjects. The issue simply stated is, "Does the state government
have the right to investigate private citizens simply because they
ask questions of candidates and/or office holders?"
When it came to light that the Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the Ohio Department of
Taxation all initiated investigations on Mr. Joe Wurzelbacher (Joe
the Plumber) for no apparent reason other than that the partisans
within those agencies were seeking to discredit this private
citizen, it was obvious that this was an
abuse of power and an overreach by state governmental authorities.
This is simply an outrage.
Governor Strickland, to date, has been slow to move on this matter.
His actions as of the writing of this letter were simply to place
the director Job and Family Services, Helen Jones-Kelley on paid
administrative leave. And only after today’s report from the
Inspector General’s office which stated that the ODJFS Director
Helen Jones-Kelley improperly authorized searches on Samuel
Wurzelbacher, the northwest Ohio resident who became known as “Joe
the Plumber,” did the Governor place Ms. Jones-Kelley on a one-month
unpaid administrative leave. The Governor obviously is not taking
this matter seriously enough, and needs to hear from you.
Please take time to use the contact information below to notify
Governor Strickland and your State Representative and State Senator
regarding your concerns on this matter. If this goes unchecked, it
will have a chilling effect in future elections and on possible
advocacy work of private citizens who will worry whether their
letter, phone call or questions of any political candidate or office
holder will prompt an investigation by state agencies.
We will not let Mr. Wurzelbacher stand alone. This concerns each
and every one of us.
Ohio House of Representatives:
http://www.house.state.oh.us/index.php?option=com_displaymembers&Itemid=57
Ohio Senate:
http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/by_name.html
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
General Info: (614) 466-3555
Fax: (614) 466-9354
Contact the Governor
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Sign the petition of Call to Action concerning
the unlawful
investigation of Joe the Plumber |
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