"We've led the nation in spending for the last 10 years," says Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.Contrary to what the Montgomery campaign would have you believe, Blackwell leads most polls by a staggering double-digit lead.
He says Ohio also leads the nation in losing the 25-39 age group, while 250 Ohio residents move to Florida every 24 hours.
Blackwell thinks swelling taxes and a shrinking population are not a coincidence. So he has proposed a tax and spending cap that would let budgets grow no more than 3.5 percent, or the percentage of population increase (now zero) plus inflation (about 2 percent), whichever is greater.
In related news, Montogmery did pick up the endorsement of Summit County Republicans. Although I'm pretty sure they're "mavericks" if you know what I mean...
Petro, by the way, can't even get his running mate to agree with him on spending...
Doug's Dialogue
About bleeping time. We are sending more of our money to govenment on a yearly basis. As the per capita income increases from year to year, the government takes more and more in taxes. I for one think that I caan do a better job spending my money than they can. Sure I like to have some of the things that those taxes purchase, namely a strong military, but do they need all of it? I don't think so.
While this is a step in the right direction, and I feel other states and the federal government need to take a look at this as well, I think that there is another reason why the 25-39 age group is moving. They are running away from their college loans.
On average inflation goes up approximately 3.5% per year. However, colleges and universities are raising tuition rates at rates that far exceed that inflation amount, most of them in the 9 to 15% range. Colleges and Universities would be wise to limit their spending and allow students to be able to afford to be able to get a college degree so that they might get a better job and be better off for the economy on the whole. I mean after all you can get a Bachelors Degree in Undecided from the University of Cincinnati. Yeah, like they need the money to support that program.
Government along with colleges and universities need to realize that there purpose is not to make money off of the people, but to spend the people's money wisely on programs that are needed. Not on underwater basketweaving courses.
Mark's Remarks
Where are the conservatives within the party? Where is the citing of the Ohio Republican Party Platform? Wait....we don't have one....Where is the outrage at the betrayal of Republican values of lower taxes and less spending and government intrusion? Wait, I forgot--our agenda comes from the officials we elect.....
Stop the insanity, Ohio Republican grassroots! Take back your party! Demand the formation of a state platform (even the Lefty Dims in Massachusetts have a state platform--complete with get this, PLANKS IN THE PLATFORM!). Demand the return to Republican values of lower taxes. These taxes and spending on useless programs are more and more making our state a commerce wasteland. And it is US, the Republicans, who are in power!
Why is this happening? One, because the Dims are too lefty to put up real good candidates. Two, because the Dims have no good ideas beyond spend and tax some more. Three, because the state party apparatus has become more about winning elections for people with an R next to their names; rather than seeing an agenda carried out for the state.
If the Ohio GOP continues on this path, there will be hell to pay. Eventually, the people in Ohio will get so fed up the R voters won't show up. Then we will elect Democrats and the GOP will wonder why. The answer is pushing an agenda beyond letting the elected officials make stuff up as they go. The answer is in getting back to pushing forward ideas over just winning elections. The answer is to push forward an agenda of hope and change that will revitalize this great state, rather than simply look to the sky and throw up your hands.
Call your GOP headquarters in Columbus, or visit their blog titled State of the Union, over in the sidebar here at WMD.
