An Open Letter To Kevin DeWine and Steve Austria

Kevin/Steve,

As my State Rep and State Senator, I would be very interested in your perspectives on the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle’s practice of including DISCOVER and CHASE promotional materials in annual vehicle registration notifications. From my perspective, I don’t think taxpayers should be footing the bill for private corporation direct mail marketing campaigns, and frankly, I’m disappointed that you haven’t done a better job of overseeing the Ohio BMV.

Article 8, Section 4 of the Ohio Constitution reads, “The credit of the state shall not in any manner, be given or loaned to, or in aid of, any individual, association or corporation whatever, nor shall the state ever hereafter become a joint owner, or stockholder, in a company or association in this state, or elsewhere, formed for any purpose whatever.”

Do you agree or disagree that it is inappropriate for state government to use taxpayer dollars to aid private corporations in this manner? If you agree, what do you plan to do about it?

Otherwise would you be so kind as to explain how this practice fits into state government’s roles and responsibilities as outlined in the Ohio Constitution?

- John Mitchel, Beavercreek, OH
www.patriotpressohio.com