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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > April > 27 > Entry
Editorial: ‘Dirty money’ charge tarnishes commission
“I’ll let Warren County go broke before taking any of (President Barack) Obama’s filthy money.” — Warren County Commissioner C. Michael Kilburn.
All class, huh?
Commissioner Kilburn said he is “tired of worrying about people who don’t have.”
Oh, the burdens of worry. It can make one so tired.
The “filthy money” description was no momentary lapse of judgment. The commissioner also said, of money from the federal stimulus, “This is bad, filthy money, folks. This is money we don’t have.”
If that’s the definition of filthy money — money that’s borrowed — then the money spent in Iraq or, say, on the new Medicare coverage of prescription drugs is filthy, too. And a lot more besides.
In announcing his exhaustion from worrying about “people who don’t have,” Mr. Kilburn cited a conservative icon: “As (Ronald) Reagan said, ‘Government is not the answer, it’s the problem.’”
But Mr. Reagan would never have been so graceless as to talk about “Obama’s filthy money.” He could hold staunchly conservative views without getting ugly.
Reasonable people can disagree about the merits of the Obama administration’s efforts to get the economy moving. The nation has had a lively debate on it, which is all to the good.
Even on the Warren County Commission there’s some support for using the federal money in certain ways — on local roads (though the money for that wouldn’t be any cleaner; it also would be borrowed).
It’s remarkable how few places have rejected the money. But if that was to happen someplace in Ohio, Warren County was the likely spot. The county is so monolithically conservative that Republican politicians only worry about challenges from the right wing of their party, never from Democrats.
Moreover, Warren is one of the few counties in Ohio that has actually been growing. And it’s generally affluent.
And yet, about 1,870 people are reported to have lost their jobs there last year, at a time when replacement jobs are hard to find. Requests for food stamps are up about 60 percent, and building permits down by 35 percent, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Unemployment in February was 6.7 percent, which is way below the average for Ohio, but definitely is still not good.
The feds essentially offered Warren $373,000 for three new buses and vans, as part of an effort to help unemployed rural people get to job training and educational opportunities.
Whatever one thinks of the stimulus, one might expect leaders of a fully Republican county to appreciate that the Democrats are not excluding politically hostile territory from its benefits.
Moreover, the money will eventually go to somebody. Commissioner Kilburn says he wants Warren County’s share to go to deficit reduction. The commission has reportedly asked the county prosecutor to try to make that happen with other stimulus money the county has already received: $1.8 million to improve energy efficiency in government buildings (which would save local money in the long term).
But, of course, the feds have already decided they don’t want the stimulus money to go to deficit reduction, that being at direct odds with the goal of stimulating the economy in the short run. Nevertheless, Reps. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, and Jean Schmidt, R-Cincinnati, have put forth legislation trying to accommodate the county.
Maybe there is some county that can use the bus and van money better than Warren. But the commissioners would serve the community by taking a close look at each shot at stimulus money, rather than getting hostile.
If they are more eager to complain about national policy than to serve local constituents, a simple “No, thank you” (as, indeed, was offered by one commissioner), would have sufficed.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Editorials, Martin Gottlieb, Miami Valley Politics, Suburban Communities
Comments
By Lynn
April 26, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this
Considering your nasty comments about every day citizens that chose to protest on April 15th, you don’t have room to talk. No one is being hurt by them not taking the money, if they don’t need it, they are honest politicians in not accepting it. They are taking care of their community themselves, that’s the responsible way and the proper way, the American way. It’s nice to have honest politicians that respect America’s traditions and values.By 1 of 4
April 26, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this
I agree with Kilburn on this one. If they have no “need” for the money then why would they take it? Because it is a handout? I guess the idea of personal responsibility is a bitter pill for left wing liberals to swallow. I once saw a hat that said “We are spending our children’s inheritance” How little did I know that it would later become the mission statement of the Democratic Party!!!By Amy
April 27, 2009 7:27 AM | Link to this
I am appalled by Kilburn’s comment that he is “tired of worrying about people who don’t have.” Apparently he doesn’t have an autistic child, a frail elderly parent, or a disabled sibling. Then he would know what it REALLY means to worry about “those who don’t have.” Instead of insulting the needy, he should be counting his own blessings.By all stimulus accepted
April 27, 2009 9:54 AM | Link to this
AMAZING how Republicans had their hands stretched out drooling for ANY money from the Bush Administration, but money that would help the community from Obama is “filthy”. Can we say hypocrites? Kilburn and Young should be shown the door. I for one am not one of the Affluent in Warren county. But,I can pay my bills. Kilburn and Young shouldn’t be turning up their noses at help that is beneficial for the community. They one day may need it themselves.By Davidss2
April 27, 2009 4:21 PM | Link to this
Thumb in nose. Fingers waving at the readers who don’t agree with the far left newspaper. Just read that papers were down 7% since October through March except for WALL STREET JOURNAL. Bet you won’t find this editorial attitude in the Journal. ++++++++++++++++The stimulus bill was 3 times the size it needed to be. The recession will run its course with or without taht money The problem of taking or not taking that money is a help to the deficit if we don’t How much has this admin already added. BUT the major problem is that many of their “help” items included in the stimulus bill have strings attached requiring other changes in how business is done at the local level. They require changes in rules or they require future other spending. ==========I’d be more concerned about the thumb on nose with hand-waving attitude of the writer of the editorial. Still smarting from the effectiveness of the TEA parties, I guess. problem ofBy RAW
April 29, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this
So what is the real cost of buying replacement vehicles? The money refused for the vehicles was to be spent on replacements to the fleet not additions to it. Routes would not be increased and availability to users would not be increased. The only benefit might be reduced maintenance costs and maybe better fuel efficiency. It take nearly 6 years to see any savings based on that assumption. So I ask what is the benefit to replacing the the vehicles already in service? The holds true about the energy effiency improvements to be made on government buildings. The overall savings would likely not be substantial enough to recover the full cost the money for many years to come. It also would not be enough to create lasting jobs in the area, which is what is trully needed. This is really all about liberal spending by democrats and republicans. What really has everybody in an uproar is that someone would have the gaul to actually refuse the handout from the Messiah…oops…I mean the President. The political posturing here cannot go unmentioned. I agree that this is definitely a political move, but it is the right move in this case. The federal stimulus money is bad for the country, and more counties should have refused it as the benefits do not outweigh the overall cost of the money.