Governor signs 7 day budget calling on Republicans in Senate to offer solutions
This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Signs Interim Budget, Renews Call for Republican Budget Solutions
Columbus, OH – Governor Ted Strickland today signed a seven-day interim budget to ensure critical state services continue at reduced funding levels.
The interim budget was included in House Bill 16, the biennial budget bill for the Industrial Commission.
The legislature was responsible for sending the state’s two-year operating budget to the governor no later than today, June 30, for his review and signature.
“I continue to believe that the budget proposal I put forward provides a way through this recession and positions Ohio for job growth and recovery. Not only is my budget proposal balanced, it supports our schools and does not raise taxes on Ohio families or businesses,” Strickland said.
“It is troubling that Senate Republicans are still refusing to say what they would do to fill the budget gap. Because of this, I have no other option but to sign a temporary budget that only delays the inevitable hard choices before us. It is time for the Senate majority to stop avoiding hard choices and say what taxes they would increase or what services they would further reduce if they will not support our budget proposal.”
The one-week continuation budget appropriates operating funds for the period of July 1 through July 7. The framework of the Continuing Resolution appropriates 70% of one week’s worth of FY 09 General Revenue Fund (GRF) adjusted spending levels for GRF-funded state agencies (adjusted for the nearly $2 billion in executive budget reductions in 2009). Non-GRF line items, which do not rely on tax revenue, are appropriated at 100% of one week’s worth of adjusted appropriations for FY 09.
“Signing an interim budget is not my preference but it must be done to ensure the state’s critical services continue while the legislature works to produce a balanced budget. Over the next seven days, I expect members of the legislature to join me in working around the clock and, if needed, through the weekend to get this budget done,” Strickland said.
The exceptions to the 30% spending cut in the interim budget are:
* The Foundation line item for Education receives 100% of FY 09 adjusted spending levels for the June 2009 foundation payment amount.
* The Instructional Subsidy line item for Higher Education receives one-twelfth of the spending levels of the FY 09 appropriation. No SSI payment is scheduled for payment in the next 7 days.
* All debt service line items receive the level of appropriation they need to fully pay any required state obligations.
* The Medicaid 525 line item in JFS has appropriation authority necessary to make required payments to ensure continuity of the program and continued draw down of federal matching funds.
LOL! Now he needs help from the GOP. This guy has no ideas of his own. My advice to the state GOP. Do what the Democrat Party did pre06 and pre-08 elections. Do nothing. Helped them win!
July 1st, 2009 at 12:24 pmChad, the governor has ideas of his own, the Senate Republicans don’t agree with them. Which means either they can come up with suggestions of their own creating the novel concept of working together to pass the budget that is supposed to have been done or? They can not.
Now, if you want to point out that perhaps if both sides quit playing political games it would create a healthier environment more likely to create cooperation? I’d agree. There will come a point when the Senate will have to do something, it will come down to when.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:32 pmDispatch article that may interest some of you. This one too that says in part:
Senate Republicans plan to hold hearings Thursday on Gov. Ted Strickland’s controversial plan to allow electronic slot machine gambling at Ohio’s seven horseracing tracks.
Sen. President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, who has been adamantly opposed to allowing the slots without a vote of the people, proposed the hearings today in a meeting with Strickland and House Speaker Armond Budish, D-Beachwood.
A special five-senator task force chaired by Sen. Mark Wagoner, R.-Toledo, will conduct the hearings.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:35 pmIt isn’t just republicans who don’t agree with current budget proposals. Start with the uproar about library funding – those are ALL republicans? Hardly.
But this tactic of an embattled leader trying to pass the leadership ball back to political opponents, is as old as the hills. Nothing inherently evil about it – just that it’s transparent.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:21 pmIn this instance the topic was the budget and the Senate which does have a republican majority not moving on it, as well as Chad’s statement that the Governor did not have any ideas of his own. The main stumbling block appears to be the video slots, which I don’t support either, which would mean if I were an elected official it’d be my responsibility to make suggestions instead of if I was truly interested in what’s best for all of Ohio. It’s also clear that not all of the republicans disagree with the video slots, nor do some believe the amount of revenue predicted will be generated, I’d tend to agree with them on that, I think the amount is being overinflated.
The same could be said for the library cuts, it’s easy to protest things, but if that funding was to be restored it would have to come from something else. Or revenue would have to be increased. I’m much more concerned about the cuts to children and senior citizens, however few are speaking out on that.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:28 pmI know the GOP in the Senate doesn’t agree with him. And that is a good thing!
July 1st, 2009 at 4:19 pmGreat point truthseeker!
If Strickland had any guts or any political moxy, he would try to work with both houses and get something done. So far he is not doing it. Time will tell.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pmIt takes two Chad…they have to be willing to work with him as well. Holding a hearing is a good start.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:23 pmI wouldn’t work with him! He is in huge trouble and they know it. Hence that is probably why they are sitting back. Good move IMO, let him shoot himself in the foot.
He is such a horrible governor it is unreal. About as bad as Taft.
July 1st, 2009 at 6:01 pmHe’d have to drop much farther to even be close to Taft.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:42 pmMany people will believe this. That if you see a problem and point it out that this will somehow – mysteriously obligate you to be able to solve the whole issue.
It’s a cheap cop-out. And a not very original version of shooting the messenger.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:45 pmAbdicating the electoral responsibility to vote for a balanced budget can only work for so long. It’s easy to criticize which is why that’s often what’s done instead of coming up with alternative plans or working together for solutions.
What’s funny is how quickly people forget…
Published: March 19, 2003
School Aid Is Casualty Of Ohio’s Budget War
By Karla Scoon Reid
A standoff among Ohio’s Republican state leaders has left the state’s schools grappling with a $90 million budget cut.
Gov. Bob Taft, a Republican, warned the GOP-controlled legislature in January that, because of declining revenues, Ohio faced a $720 million budget gap in the fiscal year that ends June 30.
To make up the shortfall, he gave the lawmakers an ultimatum: Increase revenue by raising taxes on cigarettes and beer, or deal with a $136 million reduction…
Anyone who has followed Ohio’s government knows how long deficits and other problems have existed. They also know that solutions have to come from the Governor’s office and the General Assembly, Republicans did not always agree with Taft, nor did Democrats.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:53 am