The following is an excerpt from the Dayton Daily News’s article endorsing Tom Brinkman in the GOP primary over Jean Schmidt. Click HERE to read the full article.

Rep. Jean Schmidt’s close calls in two elections are not the only reason Republicans in her district are well-advised to see if they can find a better candidate.

She has been known to speak favorably of having nuclear waste from around the world stored in Pike County. (That could bring jobs, but not the sort that would do the most for the county.)

When the scandal broke about wounded war veterans getting poor treatment at the outpatient facility at the Walter Reed complex in Washington, she said the whole thing was overblown in the media. (In time, though, President Bush decided heads needed to roll.)

She has circulated newspaper columns under her name that were not written by her or even her staff, but by a central Republican office.

And a state board ruled that she had exaggerated her education and falsely claimed two endorsements.

Add these embarrassments to the episode in which she publicly scolded decorated former Marine John Murtha, a congressman, that “cowards cut and run; Marines never do.”

The 2nd District and Ohio need to be represented by somebody whose reputation is not connected to such bush-league mistakes.

As this year approached, there was much ferment within Republican circles about Rep. Schmidt’s seat. Several names were mentioned as possible opponents. Now, however, the race is down to the incumbent and state Rep. Tom Brinkman, of Cincinnati.

(Young newcomer Nathan Bailey is running a low-profile “Internet-based” race, saying he could unite the party, because he carries less political baggage than the others.)

Like the incumbent, Rep. Brinkman (who was one of the people she beat in 2005) is very intensely conservative. He is distressingly big into hot-button social issues such as abortion and gun control. He sued Miami University over its awarding of benefits to same-sex partners.

However, in four terms in Columbus, Rep. Brinkman has earned an improving reputation. He likes to point to a magazine poll that labeled him the Statehouse’s “most principled” legislator.

He supported moderate Jim Petro over right-winger J. Kenneth Blackwell for governor, saying, among other things, that Mr. Blackwell’s anti-tax plan would have hurt local governments. (Some people say personal animosities were at play involving Cincinnati politics.)

Rep. Brinkman does show at least one sign of moderation. He says that when he ran for the legislature eight years ago, the main thing he wanted to do was cut taxes. He says he has since learned that there’s a more important consideration in building an economy: improving the quality of education.

That’s a sacrilege in his political circles. But he argues that places that are thriving more than Ohio — he notes Chicago and New York — don’t have lower taxes, just a better work force.

Rep. Brinkman could represent the district better than the incumbent and probably be a stronger candidate in November.

Tom Brinkman today blasted Jean Schmidt for her vote in favor of sending tax rebates to “resident aliens” who, under the bill, aren’t required to prove they are legal residents of the United States in order to receive the rebate.

“This is just one more example of Jean Schmidt’s inability to recognize a bad piece of legislation. Fortunately the Senate was a little more cautious,” said Brinkman. “First she votes to bring a nuclear waste dump to our district and now this. We need to restore effective leadership for the citizens of Southern Ohio.”

Congressman Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican known for his sharp stance against illegal immigration, had sharp words for the bill, too.

“This package will stimulate one thing for certain: more illegal immigration,” said Tancredo. “It’s just the latest unfortunate example of American workers footing the bill for illegal aliens. Worse, a large portion of this money will just be sent back to the home countries of illegal aliens,” concluded Tancredo. “So it might stimulate someone’s economy – just not ours.”

FOX News has more details here.

Jean Schmidt’s vote to give tax rebates to illegals can be viewed here.

For your convenience, we have just added a new page on the Brinkman for Congress website to help you request an absentee or early voting ballot.

Visit our “Vote Now!” page, select the county you are registered to vote in, and follow the instructions to apply for an early voting ballot.

Be sure to clearly mark “Tom Brinkman” as your choice for the 2nd Congressional District.

Washington, D.C. - Tom Brinkman, a Republican vying for Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District seat, recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). The Pledge commits signers to “oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.”

ATR has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal office since 1987. To date, President George W. Bush, 41 U.S. senators, and 194 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, seven Governors and over 1,200 state legislators have signed the Pledge.

“Americans, now more than ever, need leaders committed to fiscal responsibility and pro-growth economic policies,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR.

“By signing the Pledge, Tom Brinkman demonstrates his allegiance to hard-working taxpayers nationwide, as well as dedication to taxpayers in Ohio. I applaud him for his leadership and dedication to the ideals of limited government.”

“I strongly encourage every candidate for federal and state elective office to sign the Pledge,”Norquist continued.

Copies of the Pledge are available at www.atr.org or by calling (202) 785-0266.

Representative Tom Brinkman supports efforts to make government spending and contract decisions available online and easily visible to taxpayers, rather than requiring in-person checks.

Tom testified this week in support of HB 420, and his audio testimony is available via podcast by clicking this link to The Buckeye Institute.

The Columbus Dispatch blog has the story, it is also reprinted below:

Brinkman: Click and check on state $$$

State Rep. Tom Brinkman Jr. gets it. Let’s hope his colleagues do, as well.

The Cincinnati Republican testified this week in support of House Bill 420, his proposed “taxpayer transparency and accountability bill.”

The legislation would require the state to set up a free, easily searched database detailing state grants, contracts and spending by Jan. 1, 2009. The bill is modeled after the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.

The federal act led to the creation of usaspending.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to check federal spending. The site, however, still needs to be made much more user friendly.

Brinkman realizes in-person, paper record searches are an antiquated, and inconvenient, means of obtaining information on government spending.

“In today’s digital society, information that is not available online is only nominally public,” he testified.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mr. Heimlich’s departure from the race this morning has radically altered the election-day landscape, giving Tom Brinkman more volunteers, more money, and more attention - in short, all of the things a campaign needs to win. If Republicans in the 2nd District want a candidate who will control spending, limit government, and take a stand for life and liberty, Tom Brinkman is the clear choice, and his record proves it.

“The news today doesn’t change the fact that I am still the challenger in this race,” Brinkman said, “but my record, after having twice earned the “Most Principled Legislator” title in Ohio gives me a clear advantage, and I will work tirelessly to earn that same title in Washington.”

Tom Brinkman was twice given the honor of “Most Principled Legislator” by fellow legislators, members of the media, and government staff, and is making that honor the centerpiece of his campaign.

Tom Brinkman will release a statement this afternoon reacting to Phil Heimlich’s withdrawal from the race. Check back here for updates.

State Representative Tom Brinkman filed the required petitions today at 11:00a.m. at the Hamilton County Board of Elections seeking to become the Republican nominee for the 2nd District Congressional Seat. Tom used the opportunity to make a statement to the media as to why he is the right choice to represent the people of our district.

“The Second District is dangerously close to being lost to the Democrats”, Brinkman said, “We need a candidate that can bring out the Republican voters to ensure a win in that district as well as help for the Presidential election. I am that candidate.” Brinkman continued, “Republicans consistently come out to support me because I have consistently supported the values and principles of the Party. I have stood firm on lower taxes and limited government and kept my promises.”

Mr. Brinkman handed out a flyer with the percentage of vote totals from the 2006 election that clearly showed he is the candidate in this race that brings out the Republican vote.

State Representative Tom Brinkman today filed a notice with the Federal Election Commission that he is a candidate for Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District.

In his seven-year career as a State Representative, Brinkman was twice voted “Most Principled” legislator by members of the media, the Governor’s staff, and his own colleagues in the House.

“It will be my goal to earn the same honor in Washington D.C.,” Brinkman said.

Brinkman’s record also includes winning the Family First “Champion” Award for his leadership on pro-family issues, including legislation promoting adoption and other pro-life causes, his efforts to make higher education more affordable for families, and his work defending the institution of marriage.

But perhaps his most well-known achievement, even among Democrats and environmentalists, was his leadership in eliminating the highly unpopular “E-Check” program.

“I promised to eliminate E-Check, and when I got to Columbus, I delivered on that promise. I will represent Ohioans in Washington as I have for eight years in Ohio, by pushing for common sense in government.”

Brinkman takes his job as a representative of the people, and his promises to his constituents very seriously. Over the span of his seven-year career as a State Representative, he has maintained an active presence within the community and has never voted for a tax increase.Tom Brinkman, age 50, a lifelong resident of Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District, resides in Mt. Lookout with his wife and six children. He is currently serving his fourth term in the Ohio House of Representatives.