Posts Tagged Gov. Strickland

Ohio is Sinking, Where are You Gov. Strickland?

Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Politicians on July 9, 2009

July 09, 2009… No wonder President Barack Obama’s and Governor Ted Strickland’s popularity in Ohio is sinking like a lead weight in water. New job figures for the start of July stink. Again.

George Zeller, research analyst, reports today on the economic outlook and he’s quite blunt. Alarmingly bad, he reports again.

The new data, writes Zeller, “…are important since they will be the first indication that is available when the ongoing Ohio recession finally ends. That did not happen in the new data. INSTEAD, THE RATE OF LAYOFFS IN OHIO CONTINUES TO INCREASE VERY SHARPLY AT AN ALARMING RATE THROUGH EARLY JULY 2009.” (My emphasis.)

He goes on: “The new data indicate that Ohio is still rapidly losing jobs, not gaining them, even during the first week of July. This makes it highly unlikely that there will be a rebound in the tax revenue collections of the state of Ohio during the forthcoming 2009 months.

At this time of year, Zeller reports, the number of weekly claims in Cuyahoga County, for example, should be fewer than 1,000. However, he reports them at 2,225, “a level more than double the normal 1,000 rule of thumb that measures a recession” here.

Further, “It also exceeded last year’s very high figure by 79 percent.”

Ohio had 21,435 new unemployment claims for the first week of July, 170 percent higher level for this time. Our seven-county region is at 178 percent higher than the pre-recession 1999 level and triple what is should be at this time of year, reports Zeller.

Here is his data report: http://www.nacs.net/~georgez/newclaims070409.pdf

This all means the state revenue will continue to be a serious problem. What’s the answer?

Gov. Strickland proposes slots. Our Cuyahoga leaders want to spend a billion on a convention center. Does that give you confidence? No?

Dems are afraid of raising taxes on the rich even though Republicans rewarded our most wealthy extra tax relief on the national and state level.

It’s making it very hard to be a Democrat these days.

Remember that old saying: “Pray for Cleveland.”

Start again if you ever stopped.

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Ted Strickland – A Deep Disappointment and Maybe a 1-Term Governor

Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Politicians on July 2, 2009

July 02, 2009…  Governor Disappointment should get off his ass and start working for the people who put him in the State House.

Gov. Ted Strickland apparently feels that if he proposes a tax that everyone with even a half mind knows is necessary for Ohio, he’ll get voted out of office.

That isn’t the worse thing in the world.

That’s the only reason I can come up with to explain his reluctance to stop all the nonsense in Columbus – from cutting libraries, to say nothing of people’s dire needs – to proposing slots. My God man, don’t you have any real values?

Even losing office would be a cheap price to pay for getting Ohio moving. And it’s more likely that people will recognize political courage when they see it and reward it.

I quote from Zach Schiller’s fine op-ed piece in The Plain Dealer…

“Four years ago, the Ohio General Assembly approved the biggest overhaul of Ohio’s tax system in a generation. The income tax and business taxes were slashed in overall tax cuts worth more than $2 billion a year. The idea was to spur investment and jobs. (Me: Ha). As legislators meet in Columbus to decide how to balance the state budget, it’s a good time to ask: Has reform worked?”

Just look at the unemployment figures for Ohio and you know IT HAS NOT!

“Ohio should reverse course and increase taxes, based on ability to pay,” writes Schiller, research director of Policy Matters Ohio, a think tank. Schiller is a friend. Schiller’s full piece can be found here: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/othercolumns/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1246005119133780.xml&coll=2

How tired are we getting with timid Democrats unable to show some spine when people are suffering and hurting so badly?

I see Democrats giving away financial resources to the same companies that are sending jobs overseas. Bending over backward for every developer who pops a head up.

You have to blame Ohioans too, for not demanding that both Democrats and Republicans start representing their interests and not those whose only passion in life is not paying taxes. A pox on them.

But raise a tax on those with riches? Can’t do that. Well, why not?

Even Bob Taft showed more spine than this guy.

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