Ohio ends inthe black (One day after new taxes go into effect)

Cleveland Plain Dealer ^ | Juky 2 2003

[MissTargets]

After all that, Ohio ended fiscal 2003 with a surplus.

Make you wonder if they know what the heck they are doing in Columbus.
Do they have it or not?
I really don't like being lied to.

[boxerblues]

Tuesday, February 4, 2003
Taft wants to boost spending 10 percent

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By Debra Jasper and Spencer Hunt Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - Gov. Bob Taft on Monday proposed a 10 percent increase in state spending that directs millions of dollars in new taxes and funds from budget cuts to schools, universities and Medicaid.

In the face of at least a $4 billion deficit, the governor's proposal freezes state workers' pay, calls for more layoffs and would shut several state offices and programs.

WINNERS & LOSERS
Who wins, who loses
in Taft budget

Despite these cost-cutting steps, Taft's budget would still increase state spending by $4.6 billionover the next two years, from $44.6 billion to $49.2 billion.

To come up with the money, Taft wants lawmakers to approve more than $3 billion in new taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, businesses, and on a long list of new services, including cable TV, real estate commissions, dry-cleaned shirts - even tattoos.

If lawmakers balk at enacting all those new taxes - and many already are critical of the plan - the governor on Monday repeated his threat to make deep cuts in spending on schools, higher education, state parks, local governments, prisons and the elderly.


If he keeps going on this way he will not be in office for much longer.

[boxerblues]

it just frosts my butt when this come one day after all the new taxes went into effect. You cant tell me they had no idea they were in the black before hand.

[NeoCaveman]

Tho' I'm a diehard Republican, I voted for Hagan because I'm so against Taft.

I am a diehard Republican too, but I voted for the Third party guy instead of Taft.

[NeoCaveman]

Taft lies like Grey Davis in California. We don't have a recall option, do we?

[MissAmericanPie]

Same here in Texas, where the budget surplus fanished, now we are supposedly 10 billion in the red, and this amazing phenom is like a domino effect nation wide. "Shortfall", the boogy bear, fable, and best friend of the tax man.

[boxerblues]

Or do we? I'd like to rake him across the carpet right about now

[OHPatriot]

Taft may be a bit less conservative that we would all like, but keep in mind the DemocRAT Minority Leader Chris Redfern made the following statement:"the extra money, while small in terms of the overall budget, could have been spent on needed programs." Why the rush to SPEND the surplus???? If and I mean IF the new taxes are to shore up the rainy day fund, well I don't like it, I can accept it. Also, why did state spending increase 5%???? I sure as heck didn't get a 5% raise and I know inflation is no where near 5%. All those supposed "needed" BS DemocRAT social programs need to be cut or eliminated. It looks like 99% of the surplus is a result of a federal stimulus package not "found money".

[Lancey Howard]

Yeah, I heard Taft was a real scumbag, but is the whole state a foul pisspot? Who elects scum like this? Will the sheeple there just roll over and take it in the rear from these scumbag politicians and their tax increases? I don't know much about Ohio but it sounds as pathetic as New Jersey. Good luck.

[Area51]

That is exactly what you get when you walk in and vote Party first.

Irregardless of what the FINO sheeple blat, this is the result of that kind of mindless action.

The sorry part of it is, that a lot of those "Republicans" that vote that way actually want a bigger government but can't bring them to admit that they are actually Demonrats.

[Area51]

FINO=RINO

[boxerblues]

Ohio is not all bad, we do seems to have more than our fair share of dirtbags in charge.

[MissTargets]

If he keeps going on this way he will not be in office for much longer.

I sure wish I could help this along.
These people are out of control.
You write letters, make phone calls, and what good does it do?
I refuse to contribute to the RNC anymore. Especially on the conceal carry issue.
He's like a friggin dictator.(please excuse me, but I get so upset.)..

[chimera]

Say what you will about 'Rats, but they're consistent. When it comes to tax revenues, their first impulse is to spend, preferably on social programs, since that buys the most votes for 'Rats.

I'm not happy about Taft, either, but I firmly believe that if a 'Rat was in office, we'd be looking not only at a sales tax increase, but an income tax raise as well. Remember DICK Celeste? What was the first thing he did when he got in office? Raise taxes. Like I said, consistent.

[Lancey Howard]

Pennsylvania is one of those states with enough parasite nests (cities) to elect a scumbag like Democrat Rendell as governor. But that is only possible thanks to the votes of some suburban areas where the mindless rabble voted for Rendell because they thought he was a nice guy (and because he said he wouldn't raise taxes - - yeah, the mice believed him!).

Fortunately, we have a Republican legislature and Senate in Pennsylvania. Now we have to keep the pressure on them to tell Rendell and his tax increases to drop dead. But the education mafua is powerful here (though not as bad as NJ) and we will soon see who they have dirt on.

Regards,
LH

[boxerblues]

refuse to contribute to the RNC anymore

I give to the RNC but not the Ohio at least for this year, I havent gotten one of their pesky calls in a couple of months after I told them I was afraid to donate as Taft might tax my donations, the caller was a little stunned by my reply

[chimera]

Not that bad...yet. We don't have 'Rats switching candidates at the last minute to make sure they hold a seat in the Senate (yet). Sometimes, you have to make the best of the hand you're dealt. Bob Taft was the Republican nominee. He is pretty much a RINO when it comes to government, and that seems to be how his terms in office are playing out. But he ran against two dyed-in-the-wool liberal 'Rats in both elections, and I just couldn't see a viable alternative in terms of choosing a Governor in those elections. Sometimes hope is all you have, and we pulled the lever for Taft and hoped for the best. Not the best of all choices, I agree, but, again, given the alternative...

[E Rocc]

this comes one day after the state sales tax was raised and everything under the sun from real estate commissions, cable TV, used car trade-ins, amusement park tickets, dry cleaning, landscaping, tanning beds, massages - even tattoos has now been taxed

They snuck a lot of crap through and it wasn't just taxes. They also lowered the BAC (to 0.08%) and basically didn't tell anyone until almost the day it changed. They are talking it up like its a safety thing instead of admitting they caved in to federal blackmail, which Ohioans really don't care to see them do (motorcycle helmets are not mandatory despite federal blackmail in that regard too).

-Eric

[MissTargets]

we pulled the lever for Taft and hoped for the best. Not the best of all choices, I agree, but, again, given the alternative...

True, I had to hold my nose on that one too.
At least Tim Hagen, said he was going to raise taxes.

[OHPatriot]

Yea, DICK Celeste before he DICKS you was a very common phrase during his term.