Sabety Fires Right Back at Mary Taylor
From the Associated Press today:
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s budget director says the Republican state auditor’s questioning of Ohio’s financial condition hurts confidence in the state during tough economic times.
Budget Director Pari Sabety told lawmakers today that Ohio’s finances are in good condition. Auditor Mary Taylor says Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland’s administration’s failure to provide necessary financial information has kept her from being able to conduct an audit.
Sabety says the first-time use of complicated state payroll and accounting software has delayed the process. She says Ohio is on track to be faster than other states using similar payroll systems.
Sabety says “exaggerated” claims hurt confidence at a time when Ohio is trying to raise money through bonds.
Gooo Bucks!
Times are tough and even Ohio’s venerable land grant institution has to make some sacrifices. Yes, Buckeyes even our beloved Scarlet and Grey making some cuts.
So is it farewell to the days of $300,000 salaries for former legislators? Are the executives at University Hospital taking a 5% pay cut? Will Ohio State be scaling back the free football tickets to state legislators and other power brokers. Will OSU drop the presumptuous “The” and cut printing costs?
Nope. Ohio State is slashing the University Extension program. This is the one shining example of true community presence by Ohio’s largest publicly funded university in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. The extension service provides meaningful education and consultative services to community groups, the ag industry and the Lake Erie fishery among others.
Ohio State says the extension office pain is due to cuts in funding from the state. The fact is, Ohio State could have shuffled the money from elsewhere. State taxpayers have given much to Ohio State over the years, it’s too bad the university chooses to cut perhaps the only service it offers directly to all.
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
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.
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.
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
More Tough Times for State Budgets
Filed under: Recession, State Governments, State of Ohio Budget
California’s Governator is still locked in mortal battle with the legislature in Sacramento – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger even turned to bad theology the other day and said Cali is on the brink of “financial Armageddon.”
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas, has her own budget cum legislature problem. Media reports today say that the state of Kansas is out of money in the account which pays tax refunds and state employee pay. Republicans in the Kansas state legislature blocked Sebelius’ attempt to move funds from other accounts today.
As a reminder, Ohio’s projected deficit problem is anywhere from $3 to 7 billion.
- Kansas suspends income tax refunds, may miss payroll – Wichita Eagle
- Sebelius, legislature tangle over budget – Topeka Capital-Journal
- Op-Ed, Dan Walters: No End in Sight on Budget Battle – Sacramento Bee
- California struggles to close deficit – New York Times
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:
Ohio Sunday Papers – February 8, 2009
Filed under: Economic Stimuls, Education, Education Funding in Ohio, Ohio Economy, Recession, State of Ohio Budget, State of Ohio Govt, U.S. Congress, U.S. Economy, ohio politics
- Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Strickland’s budget has some odd twists and turns – The Plain Dealer
- GOP’s Carey scrutinizes Strickland budget – Dayton Daily News
- Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Ohio Dems Clumsily stoop into the mud in attacking Portman - Columbus Dispatch
- Sen. Brown touts Ohio’s $6.8 BN in stimulus - Toledo Blade
- No stimulus deal for Voinovich – The Plain Dealer
- Unemployment hits nearly every area of Ohio analysis shows - The Plain Dealer
- Ohio likes Obama – Columbus Dispatch
- Ohio Mayors in line for stimulus cash – Columbus Dispatch
- Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Buy American is no sale for Obama – Columbus Dispatch
- Ohio prison staffs feeling strained – Dayton Daily News
- Malaise grows, resources shrink – Columbus Dispatch
- Some wealthy districts would gain, some poor would lose in school funding – Columbus Dispatch
- Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Reforming schools starts with audits – Akron Beacon Journal
- Factors in Strickland school funding plan – Columbus Dispatch
- Kasich says wait and see – Columbus Dispatch
- Region has clout in Ohio legislative ranks – Cincinnati Enquirer
- Ohio stem cell researchers get ready for old rules to be tossed – Columbus Dispatch
- Head of PUCO reappointed – Associated Press
- Maureen O’Connor to run for Chief Justice – The Plain Dealer
- Lake Erie ice fishermen rescued, one dies – The Plain Dealer
Graphic of the Day: Medicaid Cost, Enrollments Rising During Recession
Filed under: Health Care, Recession, State Governments, State of Ohio Budget, U.S. Economy
(Source: Stateline.org)
Check out this article from Stateline.org. As the Senate continues considering the economic stimulus bill, Washington needs to keep in mind that Medicaid expenses are a huge part of state budgets. In Ohio and most other states, budgets must be balanced. Unfortunately, without federal stimulus dollars targeted directly toward state budget relief or Medicaid in particular, states will have to make cuts in health care services for the most vulnerable. One more reason for the dire need for the stimulus to pass.
Ohio Newsbreak – State Budget Coverage
Filed under: Education, Education Funding in Ohio, Gov Strickland, State of Ohio Budget, State of Ohio Govt, ohio politics
State of Pain – Columbus Dispatch- Budget winners and losers – Columbus Dispatch
- School funding plan not so simple – Columbus Dispatch
- Pay cuts, medical facilities stir outcry – Columbus Dispatch
- Higher fees a tax hike? – Columbus Dispatch
- GOP leaders troubled by one time budget money – Columbus Dispatch
- Federal money for federal debt – Columbus Dispatch
- Governor Strickland’s transportation plan – The Plain Dealer
- Budget effect on NE Ohio schools – The Plain Dealer
- New and increased fees – The Plain Dealer
- Strickland reveals budget – The Plain Dealer
State of Ohio’s Budget as PowerPoint
Filed under: State of Ohio Budget, State of Ohio Govt, ohio politics
Today the Office of Budget and Management released the Fiscal Years 2010-11 Executive Budget Proposal. You can find all you ever wanted to know about this proposal here.
If you want to go straight to 100 slides worth of PowerPoint CLICK HERE.
Full Text: Gov. Ted Strickland, Ohio State of the State, January 28, 2009 | Ohio’s Economic Future & A New Plan for Education
Filed under: Education, Education Funding in Ohio, Gov Strickland, Health Care, State of Ohio Budget, State of Ohio Govt
(Source: Office of the Governor)
Governor Strickland’s 2009 State of the State address
I’d like to first recognize that one of Ohio’s great leaders, Senate President Bill Harris, was not able to be with us today. I know that he is in all of our thoughts and prayers, and we wish him a very speedy recovery.
Speaker Budish, Senate President Pro Tem Niehaus, Leader Batchelder and Leader Cafaro, Lt. Governor Fisher, statewide elected officials, members of the Cabinet, members of the General Assembly and the Supreme Court, distinguished guests, First Lady Frances Strickland, and my fellow Ohioans…
There was a time when Ohio State University played its football games on a dusty field surrounded by a humble collection of wooden bleachers.
Back then, OSU played teams from universities and small private colleges. They even scheduled a game against the soldiers from an army camp in Chillicothe.
Just after World War I came to an end there was a painful combination of high inflation and high unemployment that produced economic misery in Ohio and across the nation.
It was a truly frightening moment – hardly the time for a bold new idea.
Ohio Sunday Papers | January 18, 2009 | Ohio Tuskegee Airman, Kevin Boyce, Casinos, Strickland, Ohio Economy, Cuyahoga Corruption, Fingerhut, OCSEA, Hobson, Voinovich, Taxes
Filed under: Big Three Automakers, Cuyahoga Corruption, Education, Gov Strickland, Ohio Economy, State of Ohio Budget, State of Ohio Govt, ohio politics
- Toledo Tuskegee Airman savors inauguration – Toledo Blade
- State Treasurer fought obstacles on way to success – Dayton Daily News
- Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Don’t bet on Casino cure for budget woes – The Plain Dealer
- Editorial: Don’t just give it away – Columbus Dispatch
- Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Voinovich look back – Columbus Dispatch
- Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Tax Overhaul Needs Revisit - Akron Beacon Journal
- Demise of big city Republicans hurts GOP – Dayton Daily News
- Valley car dealers keep close watch on economy – Youngstown Vindicator
- Strickland working through clemency decisions – Columbus Dispatch
- Dark days for retail – Columbus Dispatch
- Prisons, drugs: A daily war – Columbus Dispatch
- FBI looking at Cleveland suburb – Associated Press
- Hobson to join Vorys, Sater – Columbus Dispatch
- U.S. Supreme Court to review Ohio case – Columbus Dispatch
- $1 billion in worker givebacks sought by state – Columbus Dispatch
- Editorial: Fingerhut clear about higher-ed priorities – Youngstown Vindicator
- State employees stunned by concession requests – The Plain Dealer
