Ohio poised to join reform movement

The Washington Times ^ | March 18, 2011 | Frank Donatelli

[Scanian]

While the national spotlight has been on Wisconsin’s efforts to downsize state government and get structural deficits under control, Ohio also has been moving to rationalize its state government in an era of high unemployment and static state revenue.

The Buckeye State will soon consider the budget proposals of newly elected Republican Gov. John Kasich, which would close Ohio’s $8 billion, two-year budget deficit by, among other things, reducing payments to localities, restructuring Medicaid and selling five state prisons. As in similar reform efforts in Wisconsin, Florida, Indiana and other states with Republican governors, no tax increases are proposed.

Earlier, the governor supported separate legislation to give state and local governments more control over program costs and how localities can best deliver vital public services. That bill would allow government workers to continue to bargain collectively over wages, hours and terms of employment. Elected local officials would gain more power over work rules. Supporters argue that local officials representing taxpayers would be better able to control costs by seeking innovative and creative ways to provide necessary public services such as education. That bill has passed the Ohio Senate and is awaiting action in the House.

A key player to enacting this ambitious agenda is House Speaker William G. Batchelder, a conservative stalwart and defender of limited constitutional government for nearly four decades. His record reveals a consistent champion of job creation, economic development and educational choice. He was a major state leader for Ronald Reagan in 1976 and 1980, and President Reagan appointed his wife, Alice, to the federal bench. He was elected speaker by the Republican caucus in January. Mr. Batchelder is determined not to let this opportunity for real reform to slip away.

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

They are going to sell 5 state prisons. Maybe Obama will buy those with our tax money just like he did with the Illinois prison? He assured us it would be refitted and used to house Gitmo prisoners. Funny how, once the money went to the Illinois coffers, we heard no more about it. You would think some curious journalist would keep an eye on it and let us know what is going on. Oh, I forgot, there aren’t any curious journalists any more!

[Mr. K]

ALSO CONTACT OHIO SPEAKER BOEHNER AND TELL HIM TO TAKE OF THE DAM DRESS AND BALANCE THE BUDGET

http://www.speaker.gov/Contact/

[Daisyjane69]

I left my beloved Ohio because of oppressive property taxes & oppressive utility rates. It was just too much for me. It’s no accident that states like Ohio & Wisconsin are DEPOPULATING themselves, if you note that they keep losing seats in Congress.

Godspeed to Governor Kasich.

[Venturer]

among other things, reducing payments to localities.
...........................................................
Which means the localities will have to raise their taxes.

It only turns the problem over to the local politicians to do their dirty work for them.

It’s a tax increase all right.

Been there done that.

[ez]

To whom does one sell a prison?

[relictele]

Hehe....it’s got to burn the collective backsides of the left to see their treasured term ‘reform’ being used for conservative causes.

[Scanian]

Yes...and while we are at it, maybe we should co-opt “progressive” too.

[johniegrad]

Which means the localities will have to raise their taxes. It only turns the problem over to the local politicians to do their dirty work for them. It’s a tax increase all right. Been there done that.

The federal government is less accountable than the state government is less accountable than the local government. I know where the locals live, they are more accessible to me, and they have to look me in the eye. I would much rather that than try to figure out how to influence a faceless enemy. Tax shifting, perhaps. But I like my chances much more on the local level. We have defeated 2 school board referenda in the past three years.

[Huebolt]

Hehe....it’s got to burn the collective backsides of the left to see their treasured term ‘reform’ being used for conservative causes

It actually KILLS them to have their favorite socialist bolshevik term "REVOLUTION" used against them.

They know they don't have a prayer when it is a tax-payer versus tax-eater REVOLUTION...

[jnsun]

The federal government is less accountable than the state government is less accountable than the local government.

Thank You, Thank You.

Worth repeating over and over and over - dismantle the ugly centralized corrupt mess of the federal government at least forty percent, to basically its Constitutional mandates. A perfect example is the US Dept of Education which simply did not exist before 1985(?).

One of Richard Nixon's insightful accomplishments was "block grants" where federal money went to jurisdictions with NO strings attached, to use it as it saw fit; unlike directed federal "stimulus" programming.

Local politics may still be corrupt but cannot be spun like the journalistically abstracted leviathan. Of course the Media has always been the enemy here.

[Peter W. Kessler]

Bookmarked.

Thanks for this link.

I’m going to have to calm down a bit before I compose a message.

It could take a few days.

[Whenifhow]

FYI

[Las Vegas Dave]

Ohio Pings!

To be added to the Ohio Ping List, please freepmail (works best),
LasVegasDave.