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Ted Strickland won't raise taxes, no matter the disadvantaged or the evidence about a fair and effective response to the recession
Published on Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009
The governor argued: ''Some say a tax increase during a recession would help kick start the economy. I believe that tax increases during this recession would only kick Ohioans when they are down, undermining the recovery that we need.''
Kick Ohioans when they are down? The governor has proposed a budget ''framework'' that calls for $2.4 billion in spending cuts (on top of $2 billion already applied). The burden of those reductions would fall on the needy and vulnerable. Put another way, Strickland proposes his own kicking of Ohioans. He praised Ohio House hearings examining the impact of failing to generate state revenue from electronic slots at horse racetracks, the entire shortfall then covered by spending cuts. What must be added is that many witnesses described the devastating effect of the reductions the governor already seeks.
They cited, among other things, the prospect of reduced resources for foodbanks, child care and mental health services.
Closing a huge budget shortfall requires tough choices by the governor and lawmakers. A critical part of the task is striking the right balance. The governor wants to rely more heavily on the disadvantaged, those in need of state services for the essentials in their lives. He has asked practically nothing of the most fortunate Ohioans, who stand in the strongest position to weather the recession.
Many wealthier Ohioans have enjoyed a string of tax reductions, first under George W. Bush, then under Gov. Bob Taft and finally, through the expanded homestead exemption of Ted Strickland. Restore the top individual state income tax rate to its level in 2004, and most Ohio households still would pay taxes at a lower rate than five years ago.
That's not acceptable to the governor, the rigidity of his stance echoing Ken Blackwell. The governor praised the leadership of President Obama in making available federal stimulus dollars. The feds are running big deficits to cushion the hard decisions as states balance their budgets. More, Peter Orszag, the president's budget director, joined Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, in an analysis that revealed tax increases on wealthier households rate among the more effective steps in a recession, keeping services available for the disadvantage yet having a limited dampening effect on the economy.
Unfortunately, a governor with his eye firmly on re-election doesn't want to get it.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 07:23 AM, 07/08/2009
He's term limited himself....to one term.
Stow, OH
Posted 11:51 AM, 07/08/2009
Governor Strickland disapoints.
Clinton, OH
Posted 03:37 PM, 07/08/2009
Please act like a real Dem, Ted.
