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Read full text of Governor Strickland's State of the State speech.>>
Governor Ted Strickland presented to the joint convention of the Ohio General Assembly a strong message of establishing new state priorities.
The new priorities will be detailed in the release of the Governor's state budget proposal on March 15. By law the the biennial budget to begin July 1, 2007 must demonstrate that the state expenditures do not exceed revenue projections.
According to the Governor the shifting of priorities means bold new ideas for Ohio especially for education and health care. Strickland is planning to pay for health care for all uninsured children and increase public education spending by $1 billion through usage of the tobacco settlement funds, closing tax loopholes that are no longer justified and some agency "belt tightening."
The Governor further declared his support for public education by placing a moratorium on new charter schools, and forbidding for-profit companies from operating them. He also proposes the elimination of Ohio's school voucher program.
President William Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO said "the Governor's vision for Ohio puts us on a bold and bright new direction to help working families and those that have paid the price of a pay to play government of past administrations. " Burga also stated that the Governor's movement toward "shared sacrifice" was long overdue and will begin the process of scrutinizing corporate welfare which has not led to job growth in Ohio.
Some of the highlights and excerpts of the Governor's remarks included:
The priority of my administration is to keep and create jobs that grow from Ohio’s strengths and that are worthy of Ohio’s workers. Ohio has everything it takes to become a center of advanced energy technology. We have energy resources, technical know-how, manufacturing experience, and logistical advantages. That’s why I am seeking to expand and improve our job training programs. This can be done without any new dollars from our budget – by simply using funds available from the federal government that have gone ignored.
There is belt tightening ahead and it’s not a pleasant thing to do…Especially when we’re already dealing with shortfalls.
And so we face a choice. We can take the easy route. We can continue divvying up our shrinking resources and spreading them around so that everybody is mildly satisfied while nothing is actually accomplished.
Or, we can make very tough choices. We can seek cuts, and savings where possible, enabling us to make meaningful investments which will lead to a transformed Ohio.
My budget reflects tough choices. Now, for those tempted to cave in to the special interests, who will come asking you to restore this item and that loophole, my message to you is this: It’s time for shared sacrifice.
“Opportunity,” as Thomas Edison once said, “is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
And that’s exactly what’s ahead of us. Work.
Work to improve our schools. Work to increase access to health care. Work to prepare Ohioans for the jobs of the future.
My budget imposes a moratorium on new charter schools and prohibits for-profit management companies from running charter schools. My budget eliminates the voucher program except for the means-tested voucher initiative in Cleveland.
Proverbs tells us: “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.” But, my friends, now is the time for hope. A new day is coming. A new Ohio awaits us.
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