From the News-Herald:
Visiting Lake County for the first time since taking office, Gov. Ted Strickland hammered home his key proposals for the state budget Thursday at a fund-raiser for state Rep. Lorraine M. Fende, D-Willowick, at LaMalfa Party Center at Holiday Inn in Mentor. Strickland's proposals included a hit list of four basic items: Affordable health care for Ohioans under 21, a constitutional resolution to school funding, more affordable college tuition and economic opportunity that will create jobs and provide living wages.
The state's economic situation sounded bleak as Strickland said Ohio leads the nation in foreclosures. The funding package he inherited from former Gov. Bob Taft left him with $1 billion-$1.5 billion less than the former administration said he would have, he said. Budgets for the next two years will have the least growth, at 2.2 percent, of any for the past 42 years, he said.
"How do you balance a budget like that and also do new things? I asked the cabinet to scrutinize their departments for every savings possibility," he told the estimated 300 in attendance.
Strickland said he is committed to living within the state's means and concentrating on what really matters. He said if Republican leaders support his proposals, he will make affordable health care available to every child in the state under age 21. His public school education initiative includes increasing the state's share of funding to 54 percent by 2011, thereby reducing property owners' share. College costs were also one of the governor's concerns.
"Since 1996, we've seen an average of 9 percent increase each year in the cost of college tuition in Ohio," he said. "Ohio is 47 percent above the national average in college tuition costs to our young people. In this budget, we are calling for a significant investment in Ohio's education system. I've asked our colleges for zero tuition increase for next year."
Additionally, Strickland proposed:
- That the state's $5 billion tobacco settlement funds be used to expedite school construction projects that are already on the books
- Providing for a smoker cessation program
- Deferring bond debt for the next three years, saving $257 million annually in interest to be used to provide tax cuts to seniors and the disabled.
Although Ohio has lost a significant amount of manufacturing in the past decades, it continues to be the nation's third-greatest manufacturer and is fourth in production of durable goods, he said. The manufacturing base requires energy and Strickland proposed to spend $250 million annually to help fund development of alternative energy sources including wind, bio-diesel, ethanol and liquefied coal.
"We must invest in the things that will break us free from the past and help move an aggressive agenda forward," he said.
Strickland urged the audience to support Fende as she runs for re-election in 2008. He said she has been a good friend and supporter of his agenda in Columbus.
"I think we now have the political will and vision to move forward," he said.
After the event, Fende said the state of Ohio is lucky to have Strickland as their governor.
"He represents working families, cares for seniors and supports a strong educational program," she said. "He is committed to making a positive difference in the state."
Representative Fende is serving in her second term and is the Ranking Democrat on the Alternative Energy Committee.
