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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > September > 30
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Kasich campaign calls Strickland plan “unacceptable”
Republican John Kasich doesn’t think much of Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland’s plan to postpone the last year of Ohio’s income tax reductions to help balance the state budget.
Kasich, the former U.S. House member from suburban Columbus, is Strickland’s likely opponent in next year’s governor’s race.
“The state has been completely mismanaged for years and Ohioans are hurting,” Rob Nichols, Kasich’s campaign spokesman, said on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
“Our people and our jobs are leaving Ohio and to think that we can solve our problems by raising taxes on Ohio families and by imposing additional barriers to businesses wanting to come to our state is unacceptable.”
At a news conference announcing his plan, Strickland had anticipated such criticism.
“Of course, some will try to score political points by branding this delay as a tax increase,” Strickland said. “But again, tax rates are staying the same as last year.”
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Ohio State President Gee applauds Strickland tax plan
Gov. Ted Strickland’s plan to balance the state budget by suspending the final year of state income tax cuts got a boost on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee.
“With this move, the governor is taking decisive, responsible action to meet a significant budget shortfall,” Gee said in a press release. “I am hopeful that members of the General Assembly will give prompt and serious consideration to this approach.”
Philip E. Cole, executive director of the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, also praised the governor.
“On behalf of low-income people throughout the state, we hope that the General Assembly will pass the necessary legislation and allow Ohio to move forward,” Cole said in a press release.
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Lehner, Cates seek to remedy report card “death penalty”
Rep. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, and Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester, joined forces on Wednesday, Sept. 30, to push for changes in the state ranking system for school districts.
The proposal got a cool reception from Amanda Wurst, spokeswoman for Gov. Ted Strickland.
Cates said the changes would help districts avoid what he called “the death penalty.”
Both the Kettering and Lebanon districts suffered on the latest report cards because of the problems, they said.
Kettering was on its way to an Excellent with Distinction rating last year, the highest of the six categories, but slipped to Continuous Improvement, equivalent to a “C” rating, because of a measure called Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). This looks at academic achievement across racial, ethnic, economic and other groups.
Lebanon fell from an Excellent with Distinction to Continuous Improvement for the same reason.
The districts got the Continuous Improvement ratings even though they generally were high performing, Cates and Lehner said.
Kettering’s AYP performance for special education students and students whose native language is not English brought the district down. Lebanon suffered because of AYP performance for Hispanics and other students whose native language isn’t English.
Kettering Superintendent Jim Schoenlein attended a news conference with Cates and Lehner and said that in his district the ranking hurt morale. Lehner the low ranking also could make it hard to attract residents to the community.
Cates already has proposed Senate Bill 167 which would change the guidelines to prevent a school from dropping more than one classification solely on AYP performance. Lehner said she will introduce a companion bill in the House.
Wurst, Strickland’s spokeswoman, said the governor “has not been supportive of proposals to change the impact of the AYP on guidelines that determine how schools are performing.”
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GOP starts attack on “Strickland tax increase”
Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland’s press conference on a proposal to suspend the final year of state income tax cuts was still going on when the first Republican blast at the plan showed up.
State Rep. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, sent out an e-mail press release on Wednesday, Sept. 30, headlined “Hottinger Statement on Strickland Tax Increase.”
“Certainly a tax increase will hurt our economic competitiveness and Ohioans are already struggling with meeting their day to day needs,” Hottinger said in the e-mail. “The tax cuts that were passed in 2005 were enacted across the board equally for all Ohioans and this proposal will likewise subject all Ohoans to an income tax increase.”
Strickland supporters have framed the governor’s proposal as a suspension of the final cuts needed to balance the budget, not a tax increase.
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Strickland proposes income tax change to save the budget
Gov. Ted Strickland on Wednesday, Sept. 30, proposed halting a planned income tax reduction as a way to avoid painful cuts to schools across the state.
In 2005 the state adopted a 21 percent reduction in the income tax rate across the board. The reduction was to be phased in over five years. The final 4.2 percent of that 21 percent cut was to take effect this year.
The move is expected to raise $844 million for the state over two years.
Strickland needs legislative approval to make the change.
The governor proposed the move because his plan to put 17,500 slot machines at racetracks has been in limbo since the Ohio Supreme Court said last week that the slots plan is subject to a potential referendum in 2010.
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Strickland to propose suspension of income tax cut?
Gov. Ted Strickland has scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, to discuss the state budget.
One solution Strickland has considered proposing at the press conference is suspending the final year of the five-year phase in of personal income tax cuts enacted in 2005, according to Statehouse sources tracking the budget crisis.
The Ohio Supreme Court last week blew a big hole in the budget by ruling that plans to put video lottery terminals at Ohio racetracks was subject to a vote of the people. The referendum would be in November 2010 and the state wouldn’t get money from the slots, pending the outcome of the vote.
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Tougher drunken driving law upheld
The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday, Sept. 30 upheld as constitutional a state law that says repeat drunken drivers who refuse to take a breathalyzer test automatically get an extra 10 days in jail once they’re convicted.
The court’s 4-3 decision reversed a ruling by the 3rd District Court of Appeals.
The law says that a repeat DUI offender convicted of a subsequent offense faces a minimum mandatory jail sentence of 20 days if they refused a chemical test when arrested.
In September 2006, a deputy sheriff pulled over motorist Corey Hoover, of Union County, who had a DUI conviction within the prior six years. Hoover failed roadside sobriety tests, was arrested and asked to take a breathalyzer to determine his alcohol level but he refused.
His attorney argued that the new provision in the law is unconstitutional because it imposes a more severe penalty on a defendant who refuses to consent to a warrantless search of her person or property. The trial court convicted Hoover and he appealed.
In the court’s majority opinion, Justice Judith Lanzinger said Ohio’s “implied consent” law has been upheld as constitutional and provides that motorists automatically are deemed to have given consent to tests to determine alcohol and drug use if arrested under the state’s DUI laws.
Lanzinger wrote: “Asking a driver to comply with conduct he has no right to refuse and thereafter enhancing a later sentence upon conviction does not violate the constitution.”
Plus, the sheriff’s deputy pulled Hoover over after he crossed the center line and he reeked of alcohol, failed sobriety tests and admitted he had been drinking, Lanzinger said.
Justice Paul Pfeifer said in a dissenting opinion that previous court decisions upheld administrative penalties for refusing a breathalyzer test but this law adds a criminal sanction for refusing to submit to a search.
Pfeifer wrote that the issue is whether the state can “force a consent to search through the coercive power of threatened jail time… Imposing criminal sanctions for failure to consent goes far beyond the state’s power … to regulate the licensure of drivers.”
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Candidate nights set for Beavercreek, Fairborn, Centerville and Riverside
As election season heats up, you have a chance to meet candidates in your area at local candidate nights. Here’s a list of some of the events going on around Dayton. If you know of any other election events, send an email to ashoemaker@daytondailynews.com
Beavercreek candidates night Beavercreek Women’s League is hosting its annual candidates and issues forum on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8:30 a.m. at the Hawker United Church of Christ, 1617 N. Longview St. Candidates for Beavercreek Council and School Board will attend.
Riverside candidates night The Riverside Republican and Democratic clubs is hosting a candidates night at Mad River Middle School, 1801 Harshman Road, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. Facilitated by the Dayton Area League of Women Voters. Candidates for Riverside City Council, the Mad River Board of Education and representatives from the City of Riverside, Metro Parks, and Montgomery County Library have been invited to discuss their platforms, and levy issues.
Centerville and Washington Twp. candidates nights There will be two candidate nights at the Washington-Centerville Public Library, 111 W Spring Valley Rd. On Oct. 20 at 7 p.m., there will be an event for Centerville City Council candidates. On Oct. 22 at 7 p.m., there will be an event for Washington Twp. trustee candidates.
Fairborn candidates night On Thursday, Oct. 15, the League of Women Voters is hosting a candidates night for Fairborn mayor and council candidates at 7:30 p.m. at St. Christopher Episcopal Church, 1501 N. Broad Street, Fairborn.
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Dayton candidates’ schedules full of fundraisers and candidate nights
In the month before Election Day, candidates in Dayton are having fundraisers and taking part in candidates nights.
Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin is running against challenger Gary Leitzell.
Incumbent commissioners Joey Williams and Nan Whaley are defending their two seats against David Esrati.
Current school board members Yvonne Isaacs, Stacy Thompson, Joe Lacey and Ronald Lee are running for their four seats along with challenger Jim Weir.
Here’s a list of some of the upcoming events. Email me at ashoemaker@daytondailynews.com if you know of any other election events.
Dayton candidate nights
City of Dayton candidate nights for mayor and city commission candidates. School board candidates may also take part in some events.
Oct. 1: c}space, 20 N. Jefferson St., 6 p.m.
Oct. 5: Ruskin School, 407 Ambrose Court, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 12: Mary Queen of Peace Activity Center, 200 Homewood Ave., 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 22: St. Anthony Elementary School, 825 Creighton Ave., 7 p.m.
Fundraiser for Dayton City Commission candidate David Esrati Chef Joe Fish will have you to his home in the Oregon District, 128 Jones Street, to enjoy a spread of bite sized delicacies. You’ll meet candidate David Esrati, and discuss his vision for Dayton. When: Oct. 3, 7 p.m. Click here for more information and to register
Fundraiser for City Commissioner Joey Williams A fall fashion show featuring jazz and jambalaya on Thursday, Oct. 1 at Gilly’s, Jefferson and Fifth streets, starting at 5:30 p.m. Fashion show at 6:30, music and dancing follow. For tickets ($20), call (937) 285-0686. Click here for more information
Fundraisers for Dayton Mayoral candidate Gary Leitzell The next Fundraiser is Sept. 30, at the Top of the Market located behind the Webster Street Market. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Includes hot dogs, burgers beer and wine. Suggested donation $100 per couple, $60 individual.
There will also be a fundrasier on Thursday, Oct. 7, at Dolcessa located at 1106 Brown St. Dayton starting at 6 p.m. Suggested donation $20. Click here for more information and to register
