WHY?

The question that comes to mind when you read the Dispatch story about Kasich appointing Montgomery to a job.

Why?

We are trying to cut spending. Not appoint folks to jobs of dubious value.

Ohio Chamber of Commerce advocates raising taxes

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has released a report on how Ohio can start digging it's way out of it's budget mess.

One item I disagree with is the suggestion of the elimination of the real estate rollback. This was implemented in the early 70's to help "sell" the income tax. (never trust your government).

(The Chamber is playing a Chameleon again. Depending on the subject............they either say we are massively overtaxed (which I agree with) or now, we are "giving money to taxpayers", propaganda Lenin would be proud of)

Now the Chamber thinks it's a costly entitlement given to tax payers! This sounds just like a press release from the obama administration.

They also float the idea of "means testing" the real estate rollback based on the value of the property. Again, never trust your government. They know that over time inflation will make whatever number they come up with meaningless.

Previous posts on not trusting what the government says when they try to sell a new tax: here and here

The part of the report I do agree with is consolidation of local governments. They talk all around the idea but they get there. I wish they'd be even more bold and suggest the elimination of Townships. It doesn't matter if the cost only equals whatever percentage of the upcoming shortfall. If Townships are wasteful and not needed, they need to go!

Previous posts on eliminating Townships here and here.

Voinovich right on gambling

And I do believe he would raise taxes rather than agree to more gambling. Even though, that is not the right answer either. Just cut spending! It's amazing how afraid our governors are of a mob of middle aged librarians when it comes to budget cuts.

Voinovich speaks out against gambling plans

Sunday, September 6, 2009 7:20 AM

Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, ripped both proposals to expand gambling in Ohio last week as an "attack on families." Voinovich made his comments as the Ohio Roundtable, a conservative policy group, announced a lawsuit to block Gov. Ted Strickland's plans for video slot machines at horse tracks.

Voinovich said at the event that the slots plan and a November ballot issue to permit full-blown casinos in Ohio's four largest cities would suck money out of the pockets of vulnerable people.

Voinovich said the fourcasino plan is the handiwork of "greedy vultures" from other states. The Republican former governor was not as harsh toward Strickland, a Democrat, but sounded personally betrayed as he recalled how Strickland stood with Voinovich and other gambling opponents against a slotmachine proposal in 2006.

"Based on his past comments, he knows that this is not in the best interest of Ohio's families," Voinovich said.
Strickland says that the state needs the $933 million in expected revenue from the video lottery terminals at the racetracks to head off massive cuts to education and social services.

Voinovich recalled that he faced similar budget problems, albeit less severe, when he took office in 1991. He noted that he cut the state budget four times and raised taxes, and would do so again in Strickland's position.

"I would have raised taxes," he said.

More proof that Strickland is gambling with Ohio's budget

BUDGET FIX? Gambling payoff could be delayed

This is a budget set up to fail. More budget cuts will happen. Gambling is never a fix, pretty soon we'll be using tax money for gambling addiction programs.

Gambling is a vice and Ted Strickland does not deserve to be our Governor. He was voted into office with him stating over and over that he was against gambling. This guy has no real core values. He says one thing and does another.

From Pennsylvania's experience, it will take much longer than Strickland states to get slot machines up and running....and dumping their ill-gotten gains into the state's coffers.

"Just as anti-gambling groups held up Rendell's proposal by suing, the conservative Ohio Roundtable is vowing to go to court to block Strickland's plan.

The group believes slot machines fall outside the scope of the constitutional amendment authorizing the state lottery 36 years ago.

"We feel (Strickland) is going outside his realm of authority," said Rob Walgate, Roundtable vice president. "We don't think the voters in 1973 voted to authorize slot machines at racetracks." "

Walgate is correct. Who really believes that the voters that authorized the lottery were actually authorizing converting horse racing facilities into casinos? That logic is a huge, unsupported leap!

What's next when this budget does not cover all that it promises? Where's the contingency plan when this budget falls short?

The next time libraries post signs in their windows protesting budget cuts; is Ted Strickland going to legalize prostitution under the authority of the lottery?