What Would You Do if Your Budget Increased 10x?
According to an article in today’s Plain Dealer, the first stimulus money to begin reaching Ohio poses an interesting dilemma for the state’s community action agencies – how do you effectively spend it all?
… Ohio is concerned that local, nonprofit community action agencies – where the $267 million will end up – will not have the capacity to spend such an enormous amount of money over the next two years.
Before the federal stimulus package, Ohio would have received about $21 million for this program, said Mark Shanahan, energy adviser to Gov. Ted Strickland.
“We are looking at what the new federal rules are and whether we can use up to 20 percent of the money for job training,” he said. …
The $267 million being talked about is Ohio’s amount from the U.S. Dept. of Energy to do energy efficiency upgrades in the homes of the elderly, low and middle income earners.
More Inane Commentary from Columbus Tea Party Organizer
Filed under: Economic Stimuls, Gov Strickland, Ohio Economy, Recession, U.S. Economy, U.S. Financial Crisis
Justin Huggins Displays His Posse Comitatus Membership Card
Meet Justin Higgins, a 19 year-old Ohio State University college Republican who’s got things all figured out. I mean if it weren’t for Constitutional provisions against one so young holding the nation’s highest office, we could put young Justin there in the White House, hold him in high esteem like a young Dalai Llama and he could point us all along the path to political and economic enlightenment.
For now, though, we’ll have to settle for Saturday, March 14 at the Statehouse in Columbus where Higgins will be the master of ceremonies for The Columbus Tea Party. The party begins at 11 a.m. and is sponsored by College Republicans and Americans for Prosperity. (Do you know any Americans who are not for prosperity?)
Higgins and others are wigging out over the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, aka the Stimulus Bill. The notion that the need for this bill rests in part on the unregulated economic behavior of most of the world’s major banks, investment houses and insurers is completely lost on them. While Justin no doubt luxuriates in his college boy lifestyle subsidized by Mom and Dad, he’s got the time for contemplation to say stupid things like this on 610-WTVN radio today:
We’re going to protest and basically tell Governor Strickland that we don’t want him taking this stimulus money because the last thing we need is more unfunded mandates and more ridiculous spending on the state level.
When these funds run out, we have to pay for it.
Allow me to get right to the point with young master Higgins: What the hell are you talking about?
Ohio Sunday Papers – Ill winds beginning to blow on Cap Square
Filed under: Economic Stimuls, Gov Strickland, Health Care, Jennifer Brunner, Lee Fisher, Ohio Economy, Politics, State of Ohio Budget, State of Ohio Govt, ohio politics
- Governor’s doubters grow – Columbus Dispatch
- Foreclosure crisis everywhere in Cleveland – The Plain Dealer
- 1933 eviction riots in Cleveland bear similarities to today – The Plain Dealer
- Plummeting stock prices rock four venerable Toledo firms – The Toledo Blade
- Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Brunner v. Fisher could be Dem nightmare – Columbus Dispatch
- Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Ohio legislators divided and evasive – Akron Beacon Journal
- Op-Ed, Aaron Marshall: Ohio House Republicans ready to fight – The Plain Dealer
- Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Voinovich far from being lame duck – Columbus Dispatch
- Editorial: Ohio Auditor has waited long enough for data – The Plain Dealer
- Editorial: Stimulus should focus on fixing what’s broken – Columbus Dispatch
- Editorial: Passenger rail – waiting at the station – Akron Beacon Journal
- Some Lucas County agency heads get raises – The Toledo Blade
- Use of furloughs for workers on the rise – The Plain Dealer
- Personal bailouts sought on Ohio site – Akron Beacon Journal
- Where will the local stimulus dollars go? – Akron Beacon Journal
- Ohio stimulus proposals point out crumbling infrastructure – The Plain Dealer
- Fragile mental health safety net – Columbus Dispatch
- Ohio mental health facts – Columbus Dispatch
- Traficant could be back in Ohio soon – Youngstown Vindicator
- Dettelbach rises to top of U.S. Atty list – The Plain Dealer
The Daily Graphic: Stimulus Money – Cash for Transportation
From the New York Times. Read the accompanying story.
Ohio Sunday Papers – Waiting to be Stimulated
Filed under: Economic Stimuls, Education Funding in Ohio, Gov Strickland, Jennifer Brunner, Ohio Economy, ohio politics
- Experienced lobbyists have advantage due to changes in Ohio legislature – The Plain Dealer
- Editorial: Lt. Gov. Fisher could get chance to keep pledge – Youngstown Vindicator
- Editorial: Assault on Education (Charter Schools) – Columbus Dispatch
- Editorial: Brunner should sidestep the conflict – Columbus Dispatch
- Editorial: Triage for a sick economy – Toledo Blade
- Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: The bumps in Strickland’s road – The Plain Dealer
- Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Legislators need some backbone – Akron Beacon Journal
- Donations v. Impartiality on docket – Columbus Dispatch
- School funding formula criticized – Associated Press
- Strickland plan would slash online school funding – Columbus Dispatch
- Stimulus requests rolling in to state government – Dayton Daily News
- How Clevelanders would spend stimulus – The Plain Dealer
- Path to stimulus money hazy – Columbus Dispatch
- Ohioans tuned into state’s history – Columbus Dispatch
- Hospitals object to fees for Medicaid – Columbus Dispatch
Whacky Ohio Stimulus Project of the Evening
This comes from the latest file of stimulus proposals being made to state of Ohio government:
Project Name: Broader Bands
Project Description: The Columbus Dispatch Co. should begin to use broader rubber bands to secure the newspapers which are delivered to homes across Franklin and the surrounding counties – the skinny ones break. The larger rubber bands will require an additional person to help stretch the bands so that they fit over the rolled-up newspaper.
Project cost and stimulus created is listed as $300.
Obama Making Good on Quick Stimulus – Tells Governors Medicaid Help On The Way
President Obama talks to governors earlier today - AP Photo
$15 Billion in Medicaid Budget Relief for states will arrive on Wednesday
Ohio’s Take Over $500 million
Gov. Ted Strickland and the nation’s other governors were told today by President Barack Obama that by the time they get home from their meeting in Washington, D.C., Medicaid relief funds will be available to their states.
Obama said that $15 billion in Medicaid funds will be available to help ease state budgets by Wednesday. Ohio’s amount of relief comes to $500,169,636, according to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Medicaid relief was part of the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the so-called economic stimulus bill.
Republicans have said that money to stabilize state budgets, such as Medicaid relief, is not stimulus. However, in many states the largest portion of the budget is related to programs like Medicaid. Small hospitals, doctors and community service providers rely on Medicaid funds in order to provide services. Without Medicaid funding relief, many working poor would have only emergency rooms as a health care option. This is the most expensive care and a deluge of charity cases could break some health care providers. Medicaid relief keeps services viable and ensures hospitals, doctors and community service providers will not have to cut staff.
In part, Obama told the governors today:
By the time most of you get home; money will be waiting to help 20 million vulnerable Americans in your states keep their health care coverage,” he told a gathering of the nation’s governors in the State Dining Room of the White House. “Children with asthma will be able to breathe easier, seniors won’t need to fear losing their doctors, and pregnant women with limited means won’t have to worry about the health of their babies.
Video: Gov. Ted Strickland on Face the Nation with Daniels, Corzine
Filed under: Gov Strickland, Ohio Economy, Recession, U.S. Economy
Ohio Sunday Papers – It’s the Economy and Education with a smattering of Fisher, Brunner
Filed under: Big Three Automakers, Economic Stimuls, Education, Education Funding in Ohio, Environment, Gov Strickland, Jennifer Brunner, Lee Fisher, Ohio Economy, Recession, ohio politics
- Editorial: Lawmakers must stop Strickland from killing charter schools – The Plain Dealer
- Editorial: Governor needs to tweek how he pays for education reform – Akron Beacon Journal
- Editorial: No Stimulus for Teardown – Toledo Blade
- Op-Ed, William Hershey: Ohio Dems Face Likely ‘Family Fued’ – Dayton Daily News
- Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Will Ohio House Dems Hold Together on Budget? – The Plain Dealer
- Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Governor Sinned a Bit in Securing Manna from Washington – Columbus Dispatch
- Welfare rolls soaring in Ohio – Columbus Dispatch
- Toledo aid agencies fear what’s over horizon – Toledo Blade
- Late bill payments cost state – Columbus Dispatch
- Big repairs needed for U.S. automakers – Toledo Blade
- How would you spend $500 million taxpayer dollars? – The Plain Dealer
- Dems’ fight a cost of success – Cincinnati Enquirer
- Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Race crucial for Fisher, Brunner – Akron Beacon Journal
- Brunner: Senate bid not a conflict – Columubus Dispatch
- Ohio tries to clean up payday lending one more time – The Plain Dealer
- Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Obama’s economic plans leave some edgy, angry – Columbus Dispatch
- Development board’s City Center planning only quasi-public – Columbus Dispatch
- Farmland disappearing – Columbus Dispatch
- Preservationists hope to see some stimulus – Columbus Dispatch
- Ohio businesses must file sales taxes electronically for first time this year – The Plain Dealer
- Ohio officials OK new workers compensation program – Dayton Daily News\
- KELLY PAVLIK COVERAGE – The Youngstown Vindicator
Ohioans Have Submitted Nearly 7,500 Project Ideas to State’s Stimulus Site
Filed under: Economic Stimuls, Gov Strickland, Ohio Economy
After only a couple of weeks, Ohioans are responding to Governor Ted Strickland’s call for stimulus project ideas in a big way.
According to the state’s stimulus website, as of Friday 7,495 proposed projects had been catalogued. For now, the state is using the website to share stimulus information and collect data from organizations, counties, cities and the like regarding their “stimulus-ready” project proposals. The information being collected is not an application for stimulus dollars, but rather a first step for the state in getting a big picture inventory of proposals. Project proposers meeting stimulus requirements will be contacted about the formal application process.
Once stimulus dollars are being spent, the state’s site will be a place to check up on progress and see how our money is being spent.
Go here to see the site’s FAQ.
Video: President Obama’s Weekly Address – Stimulus & Foreclosures – February 21
Text: President Obama’s Weekly Address – Stimulus and Foreclosure Prevention – February 21
Filed under: Barack Obama, Economic Stimuls, Recession, U.S. Economy
(Source: White House Press Office)
THE PRESIDENT: Earlier this week, I signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — the most sweeping economic recovery plan in history. Because of this plan, 3.5 million Americans will now go to work doing the work that America needs done.
I’m grateful to Congress, governors and mayors across the country, and to all of you whose support made this critical step possible.
Because of what we did together, there will now be shovels in the ground, cranes in the air, and workers rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, and repairing our faulty levees and dams.
The Daily Graphic: States Sized According to How Many Jobs the Stimulus Bill Will “Create”
This one comes to us from SHOW USA, part of Mappingworlds.com. This is a cool site you should go check out. You might lose a little of your day with these interactive maps. The data the map below is based on came from the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus bill. Click the graphic for a larger view.
Strickland Says Ohio’s Stimulus Haul Will Be Around $8.2 Billion
Filed under: Economic Stimuls, Gov Strickland, State of Ohio Budget, State of Ohio Govt
Despite some recent reports that the final version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would leave a hole in Ohio’s next biennial budget, Gov. Ted Strickland said today that Ohio stands to take in over $8 billion in federal investment related to the economic stimulus bill.
“The effects of this recession reach deep into the lives and pocketbooks of everyday Ohioans. The federal stimulus is the right investment at exactly the right time to jumpstart the stalled economy,” said Strickland.
“These resources will save or create more than 130,000 jobs for Ohioans and provide tax cuts to working families, while also helping to protect essential state services that Ohioans rely upon every day,” Strickland said. “The stimulus resources will enable Ohio to make targeted investments in the critical sectors of our economy that will create and grow jobs – laying the foundation for future economic growth and shared prosperity.”
Strickland’s office summed up Ohio’s stimulus investment:
- Direct Relief through State Fiscal Stabilization Funds and Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP): $4.8 billion
- Infrastructure: $1.5 billion
- Education: $981 million
- Health and Human Services: $597 billion
- Energy: $399 million
- Criminal Justice: $75 million
White House Releases State by State Job Creation Numbers from Economic Stimulus
Filed under: Economic Stimuls, Ohio Economy, Recession, State Governments, U.S. Economy
According to the White House, the state of Ohio will net 133,000 jobs as a result of the recently passed – and today signed by President Barack Obama – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
This is the economic stimulus bill passed by Congress last week in time for Diva Pelosi to make her trip to Europe.
