Ohio: Budget

Thu, 12/11/2008 - 08:52

Voters on budget fix: Cut spending, don't raise taxes

Ohio voters want to cut spending and keep taxes at the same rate to balance the state's budget, according to a new poll released by the Quinnipiac University's Polling Institute on Thursday.

The state's budget faces a $640 million deficit for 2009 and at least $4 billion for the biennial budget covering 2010 and 2011.

Ohio voters said they agreed with Gov. Ted Strickland's promise not to raise taxes to balance the budget: 64 to 33 percent.

Wed, 12/03/2008 - 10:26

Even Supreme Court feels budget crunch

The Ohio Supreme Court and state judiciary's operating budget represents less than 0.5 percent of the total budget, but even this branch of government is feeling the squeeze.

With the 2009 budget year facing a $640 million shortfall, Chief Justice Thomas Moyer promised to tighten the judiciary's belt after doing so in previous years.

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Tue, 12/02/2008 - 07:52

DeWine reacts to Strickland's budget announcement

The Ohio Republican Party reacted to Gov. Ted Strickland's announcement of looming budget defecits with a mix of credit and blame.

"It's good to see the governor finally got off the campaign trail and started paying attention to Ohio's economic challenges," Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine said in a statement.  "Unfortunately, he spent much of his first term blaming everyone else for the spilled milk rather than finding a way to clean it up."

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Mon, 12/01/2008 - 13:44

Strickland: recession wrecking budget

COLUMBUS – The national economy’s collapse into recession has blown a $640 million-dollar hole in Ohio’s budget for 2009, Gov. Ted Strickland said Monday. The damage is expected to grow to a multibillion dollar deficit for the next biennial budget that will be drafted in early 2009.

While he didn’t announce more budget cuts during the press conference at the Statehouse, Strickland said his cabinet is preparing to consider cuts and that he will meet with legislative leaders to talk about what to cut and what to spare.

Tue, 11/25/2008 - 11:45

Strickland considering tour of Ohio to talk about economy

Gov. Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon) is considering a tour of Ohio to talk to residents about how bad the economy is getting in the state and what his plans might be for the state's biennial budget, which will be introduced to Ohio's 128th General Assembly in the new year.

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Wed, 11/19/2008 - 09:21

Senate majority leader says GOP won't be obstructionist

COLUMBUS -- With Democrats controlling the governor’s office and the state House, Republicans will have to rely on their majority in the state Senate to keep the GOP from getting rolled over on key decisions.

Newly-elected Senate Republican majority leader Keith Faber said despite pressure from Democrats, his caucus will stand up for its ideals but won’t be obstructionist.

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Mon, 11/17/2008 - 15:50

Cafaro looking forward to fresh changes as minority leader

Last Wednesday, Ohio Senate Democrats convened to vote in a leadership team for Ohio's 128th General Assembly after current state Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller (D-Columbus) announced that he would not seek re-election to his leadership position.

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Wed, 09/10/2008 - 13:38

GOP Senate president backs Strickland on budget as party knocks gov.

While the Ohio Republican Party mocked Gov. Ted Strickland's announcement that the state's budget is in defecit and requires hundreds of millions in cuts, the party's top man in the state Senate praised Strickland.

Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) said he supported Strickland's budget orders.

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Wed, 09/10/2008 - 13:06

Strickland's words turned against him after budget event

Gov. Ted Strickland drew large applause at the Democratic convention when he made fun of President Bush and his economic record by saying the president "came into office on third base, and then he stole second." 

After Strickland announced millions in budget cuts due to a defecit, the Ohio Republican Party is using Strickland's joke against him.

Ohio Republican Party deputy chair Kevin DeWine said Strickland inherited budget surpluses from the Taft administration but squandered them.

Wed, 09/10/2008 - 10:44

Strickland: national economy to blame for state budget cuts

COLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland said the national economy's performance has put Ohio's budget into deficit and called on President Bush and Congress to stimulate the economy.

Strickland said the national economy has slowed and taken Ohio down with it, reducing tax revenue and creating a $540 million budget shortfall for the final year of the state's biennial budget.

"Certainly the best long-term solution is to get the national and Ohio economies moving again," he said.