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Governor stokes rebound, pokes foes during visit
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - March 17, 2010)
Governor stokes rebound, pokes foes during visit
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Gov. Ted Strickland said Sunday that the "free fall" is over, and Ohioans can begin to rebuild the economy. The Democrat called on Republicans to join him in that effort.
Speaking to a crowd of about 80 people, Mr. Strickland said the country has gone through the "most challenging time since the Great Depression" but now is ready to move forward in bringing jobs back to Ohio. "We are now at a place where we can start rebuilding the economy and putting people back to work," he said.
Mr. Strickland was invited to the official opening of the Geauga County Democratic headquarters at 12420 Kinsman Road (Route 87) in Newbury.
Mr. Strickland said the country and state are going through one of the most challenging times in history, a fact that some media outlets seem to have forgotten.
Indicating that many of the problems facing the country were the result of a situation that preceded many of today's officeholders, Mr. Strickland said the Democratic Party has worked to bring the economy back from the edge of a "cliff."
He said the country lost 750,000 jobs during the first month President Barack Obama took office. He said the situation was avoidable and was the result of failed leadership for a "long, long time" and an unchecked Wall Street.
He said much criticism was given to the social programs instituted in the country, but they have been able to keep America's hopes alive with unemployment benefits, Social Security and food stamps.
"Where would we be without these social programs to help people through these difficult times?" Mr. Strickland said.
Since Democrats swept into office over the past four years, he said, they have worked to put the country back together.
He said the state, however, continue to suffer from the programs of previous administrations. State tax revenues in 2010 are the same as they were seven years ago, he said.
Despite that handicap, he said, Ohio has done more to constrain the costs of higher education. He said officials froze tuition for the next two years after seeing 9 percent hikes in each of the last 10 years.
He said college education remains a high priority with 56,000 more students entering college now than three years ago.
Funding for grades kindergarten through 12th grade also has been increased by 5.5 percent at a time when 22 states have cut funding for kindergarten to 12th grade.
He also touted the advances the state has made in creating jobs for workers. He said one company is breaking ground on a $650 million plant in Youngstown, while U.S. Steel has plans to open new steel plants, including one in Lorain. General Motors also is planning a third shift at its Lordstown plant that will add 1,200 new jobs.
He said the solution to the country's economic problems starts with the congressional health-care bill. "It's crunch time," he said. "We are about to witness the most historic piece of legislation since LBJ," he said.
Once the bill is passed, he said, the president and Congress can focus on job creation.
He said the "just say no" Republicans are not coming up with the answers to the country's problems but just seem to be the party of opposition at this time. "They should be joining us and working together to solve these problems," he said.
Warning the crowd he was about to turn political, he turned to his Republican opponent in the next election, John Kasich, although he did not mention him by name.
Mr. Strickland said Mr. Kasich served as managing director for Lehman Brothers, an investment firm that caused the largest bankruptcy in the history of the country. "They nearly took the entire economy off a cliff," he said.
He said his opponent has proposed the elimination of the state income tax, which may sound good to some people on the surface, until any thought is put into it.
He said 46 percent of all the state's operating revenues come from state income tax. "It's a wacky idea, but it could have an appeal to certain people," he said.
But he said such a move would "decimate" the state and set it back by decades. He said the proposal is nothing more than "political rhetoric."
He also took time to thank those who were responsible for the new party headquarters, especially Janet and Terry Carson, whom he called a "special couple." Mrs. Carson is Geauga County Democratic Party chairwoman.
"I want to thank you, because someone had to put all this together," he said.
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