Ohio Sunday Papers – Casinos: State Newspapers No Likey
Filed under: Banking, Education, Gov Strickland, Ohio Economy, State of Ohio Govt, ohio politics
- Huron County’s 18.3% unemployment rate – Associated Press
- State making more records available online – Columbus Dispatch
- Banks face long climb – Cincinnati Enquirer
- New Schools Fall Short of Strickland’s Standards – Columbus Dispatch
- Editorial: Fool’s Gold (Casinos) – Toledo Blade
- Editorial: False Promises (Casinos) – Columbus Dispatch
- Editorial: Highway Funds, er, Safety – Toledo Blade
- Editorial: Strickland – Let Charter Schools Bloom – The Plain Dealer
- Editorial: Trust in Change (Higher Ed) – Akron Beacon-Journal
- Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Big Brother, Big Brother, big money – Akron Beacon-Journal
- Op-Ed, David Skolnick: Congressman Ryan Man of the Hour – Youngstown Vindicator
- Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Gambling Promoters & Their Self Serving Ideas – The Plain Dealer
- Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Pollution plan fuels bipartisan fight – Columbus Dispatch
- Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Ohio needs to upgrade Capitol statuary – Columbus Dispatch
Mary Taylor Audited for Hypocrisy, Recklessness
Filed under: Republican Party, State of Ohio Govt, ohio politics
The stakes are too high as Ohio navigates the perilous waters of the current recession. That’s why state of Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor should have known better than to call the state “unauditable” last week.
The basis for her stretcher (that’s what we used to call lies in Southern Ohio) was the fact that an important end of fiscal year report was past due. As the Auditor of State, her office has been kept abreast of the issues the state has had in transitioning to its new accounting system known as OAKS. As the Auditor, she’s been treated professionally and her staff always have had a seat at the table. In fact, the state auditor’s office was probably better prepared for the OAKS transition than some state agencies.
That’s why she should have known better than to nitpick an administrative hassle and turn it into a potentially financially harmful circumstance for her state. The state of Ohio is not unauditable.
What’s at the root of the current economic crisis? The financial markets – they’re not working properly. Every aspect of the financial markets are gummed up and there is a dearth of something even more important than money in these markets: trust. Mary Taylor’s outrageous pronouncement that the state is “unauditable” was an overreach and could have harmed Ohio’s credit rating.
As a politician, Mary Taylor is living up to that which so many of us have grown sick and tired – grandstanding for purely political gain. Today, the Ohio Democratic Party brought my attention to something I missed over the weekend. Mary Taylor’s own end of year reporting was late as well. I don’t remember her chastising herself on this point last week.
From the ODP:
COLUMBUS – Just days after State Auditor Mary Taylor stood before the entire Statehouse press corps to accuse Governor Strickland of delaying the state audit, it was revealed that the audit of Taylor’s own office was months late, raising questions about the sincerity of her accusations.
As reported by the Columbus Dispatch (“Audit of Taylor’s office also late,” 3/7/09), under Ohio law, the audit of Taylor’s office had to be completed by October 15. It was not finished until December 8, nearly two months late.
While the Strickland administration acknowledged the delay in both cases is due to the complicated transition to the Taft-initiated Ohio Administrative Knowledge System, Taylor continues to use exaggerated partisan rhetoric even as she begins to backtrack. Now Taylor admits she “knew there would be delays” months before last week’s press conference.
Let me just back one thing up contained in the paragraphs above from ODP. In May of 2008, Taylor was informed that the end of year report she was expecting would be late, perhaps not ready until the Fall of 2009. This was before the fiscal year was even up. Again in August, Taylor was updated some weeks after the end of the fiscal year. This time the news was better. The report would be late, but she could expect it as early as March or by perhaps late Spring.
These are just two instances I have read about or heard about regarding communication between the Auditor’s office and the Strickland Administration. I know there were more, a source tells me that the Auditor’s office is “copied on everything.”
Mary Taylor is getting ready to run for something. This context for her reckless behavior as a public servant is not lost on anyone who follows events on Capitol Square. Let’s hope that the public servants in the Capitol and the state office towers in Columbus can make up for her shameless act.
Audio: Listen to the Wingnut Talk About the Columbus Tea Party Plans
Click Here for About 7 Minutes of Audio from AM-610 in Columbus
Proof That Columbus Tea Party Organizer Is Republican Drone
Out getting the garden ready for some spring lettuce and hit the record button on 610 WTVN when they began talking Columbus Tea Party next weekend. If Russo’s video didn’t show what a bunch of drones these people are, listen to the clip below. Here at Clips and Comment we have advanced audio electronics which can filter out the fake, human sounding voices of YAF’ers and Young Republicans to their soulless, pre-programmed core:
Click Here for Tea Party Drone
Go Here for More on the Columbus Tea Party
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
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
Candisky Predicts Brunner Will Be Nominee, Butland Says She May Pull a Mary Ellen Withrow
Notes from Columbus On the Record:
- Dale Butland, during the conversation about the Dem Senate primary race said Brunner benefits right now being the only woman in a field with several men. He said she could do what Mary Ellen Withrow did and take in the bulk of female voters while the guys divide the male vote.
- Cathy Candisky of the Columbus Dispatch predicted a Brunner win in the “Off the Record” segment.
- Butland, in the same segment, seemed to discount his previous comment and said there will only be three viable candidates and it will come down to who can raise $10-12 million. (This is actually what everyone says, he should have stuck with first theory.
- Republican talking head predicted that state pols are up shit creek come May — there won’t be many capital gains reported in this year’s tax haul.
Slick Jonny Husted: How the Hell Did I Miss This Gem?
So, I asked a friend tonight, “Whatever happened to Jon Husted’s residency question over there in Montgomery County? Is he still in office?”
“Yeah, he’s still in office, but I don’t know how — the guy doesn’t even show any water usage wherever the hell it is he says he lives,” they answered.
“Huh?” I thought. “How’s that work?”
Roll Tape! Courtesy of Progress Ohio … at least someone in Columbus is watching.
State of Ohio Reaches Tentative Agreement with Major State Workers Union
From the Columbus Dispatch:
State employees won’t have to take a salary cut, but will have 10 days of leave a year without pay, under a tentative contract agreement worked out by state and union negotiators.
Neither the state nor the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association would confirm that an agreement has been reached or any details of negotiations because they are working under a news blackout.
The rank-and-file membership of the OCSEA, the largest state employee union representing 35,000 workers, would have to vote to approve the new pact before it could take effect.
The Dispatch learned that a tentative agreement reached today will not require employees to take pay cuts of up to 6 percent as the Strickland administration wanted to help balance the budget. Instead, employees will be required to take 10 unpaid days. However, it appears the amount of days lost might vary by seniority and would be prorated over a two-year period, sources said.
State employees work 2,080 hours annually, meaning the loss of 10 days, or 80 hours of pay, would be roughly equivalent to a wage cut of just under 4 percent.
The OCSEA wage agreement typically sets the pattern for other union contracts, as well as pay and benefits given to non-union employees.
In addition, “step increases” — raises based on employees moving up in pay grade — will be frozen for two years. The accrual of personal leave and conversion to cash payments also would be frozen.
The agreement reportedly includes a restoration of some cut or frozen benefits in the third year of the contract.
First Coverage: Brunner, Fisher Race – Tonight’s Clips
Filed under: 2010 Ohio U.S. Senate Race, Jennifer Brunner, Lee Fisher, ohio politics
- Brunner, Fisher announce candidacies – Columbus Dispatch
- 2 top Ohio Dems running for U.S. Senate – Associated Press
- Secy of State Jennifer Brunner, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher to run for U.S. Senate – The Plain Dealer
- Democrats line up for U.S. Senate seat – Dayton Daily News
- Ohio U.S. Senate Race Taking Shape – Politics Nation
Didn’t Look Like an Ohio Democratic Party Divided at Fisher’s Presser
Filed under: Gov Strickland, Jennifer Brunner, Lee Fisher, ohio politics
Governor Strickland Didn’t Feed the Notion Either
“My support for Lee does not mean I do not respect Secretary Brunner,” said Gov. Ted Strickland.
That was how Strickland answered a reporter’s question tonight regarding his early support for one statewide elected official – Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher – over another – Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner – in an early start to a U.S. Senate primary campaign.
Strickland was also asked whether or not Brunner’s entry into the race leaves a hole in Democratic ranks for retaining the Secretary of State’s office and its seat on Ohio’s Apportionment Board.
Strickland said, “life rolls on” and that the job of political leaders is to be prepared for any eventuality and make wise decisions at the right time.
Strickland said it should be no surprise that he would support Fisher, who has been his partner since 2006. He said that when it became apparent that there would be a real race for Senate in 2010 he encouraged Fisher and made a commitment to support him out of the gates.
In a room filled with many members of the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses, Strickland said, “There is no (party) split.”
Lee Fisher’s — Masterstroke
Look, I know everyone is thinking Lee looks a little weak hopping on to the whole announcement thing on Jennifer Brunner’s terms, but guess what? Sometimes the only move is the best move.
Brunner’s media cycle is now the Brunner-Fisher media cycle. We’ll see how long it takes for the statehouse press corps to develop these storylines:
- Brunner’s been on the statewide scene for three years — Fisher — for like 20.
- Fisher’s got Ted.
- Fisher has the inside track on the money and that’s where this primary race will be won.
- Peter Lawson Jones is not running for Senate and will support Lee – no problems with the microbase – Sorry, Blogger Interrupted.
- Lee’s got a boatload of Mayors, County Commissioners, etc.
- I’ve even heard the supposed Golden Boy Tim Ryan is in the tank for Fisher.
Ohio Sunday Papers – February 15
Filed under: Big Three Automakers, Economic Stimuls, Education, Education Funding in Ohio, Ohio Economy, Recession, State of Ohio Budget, State of Ohio Govt, ohio politics
- Celeste, (Chris), exploring U.S. Senate run – The Plain Dealer
- Part of Strickland’s school funding formula involves judgement calls – Columbus Dispatch
- Plan calls for judging teachers on results – Columbus Dispatch
- Editorial: School Funding – Evidence of Confusion – Akron Beacon Journal
- State’s use of stimulus: Plodding or on Pace? – Columbus Dispatch
- Economists: This recession deeper than ‘83 – Dayton Daily News
- Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Ohio Legislature = Boys Town - The Plain Dealer
- GM, Chrysler labor talks slow – The Plain Dealer
- Steamed about heating bills – Toledo Blade
- Surprise: Pryce becoming a lobbyist – Columbus Dispatch
- Ohio Turnpike toll plan takes from other states – Toledo Blade
- Food inspection complex, has holes – Columbus Dispatch
- Payday lenders use loophole to continue high interest rates – The Plain Dealer
- Health agencies brace for cuts – Columbus Dispatch
- Editorial: Improve Democracy – Columbus Dispatch
- Op-Ed, Roger Geiger: Secret ballots must remain in union elections – Toledo Blade
- Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: High School buddies solve economic mess – Columbus Dispatch
Voinovich Crankiness Continues
Filed under: Gov Strickland, Ohio Economy, Recession, State Governments, State of Ohio Budget, U.S. Economy, ohio politics
An article which will apparently be in tomorrow Plain Dealer (it posted on the web tonight) has Sen. George Voinovich saying his budgets as governor could beat up Gov. Ted Strickland’s budgets. He also criticized state governors for pushing for federal dollars in direct aid to state budgets.
What’s with this guy?
He never dealt with anything remotely like what Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly are facing with the current economy and drop in state revenues. Has he forgotten that a lot of state programs are actually federal programs? Why wouldn’t we opt for more money for Medicaid rather than cut the program when it’s needed most?
Paul Krugman had a great column in the New York Times not too long ago titled, Fifty Herbert Hoovers. He pointed out how important federal stimulus dollars were to state governments because state governments cannot use temporary deficit spending as a tool — most states have to balance their budgets by law. This idea was fine when Alan Greenspan and others thought we were too advanced for the business cycle, but the cycle is back and we’re not through the downslope.
The Daily Graphic: Where Does the State of Ohio Spend Money?
Filed under: Gov Strickland, State of Ohio Budget, State of Ohio Govt, ohio politics
The Strickland Administration and the Ohio General Assembly begin working in earnest this week on the Fiscal Years 2010-11 state budget. According to the Ohio Office of Budget and Mangement, here’s where your tax dollars go:
