63°Kasich signs sweeping $56B budget
Jun 30
2011
Just hours before a midnight Thursday deadline, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed into law a nearly $56 billion state budget that contains broad policy changes for the state, after vetoing a provision that would have given the state first dibs on repurchasing state prisons sold to private developers.
The 3,262-page bill privatizes five state prisons, overhauls Medicaid, eliminates Ohio's estate tax in 2013, bans most abortions in public hospitals, and ties teachers' pay more closely to student achievement.
"We promised Ohioans a new way and a new day, and we're delivering," Kasich said. He signed the two-year spending plan on the eve of a new fiscal year after striking the prison language and six other items.
In his veto message, Kasich said he thought the state guarantee would dramatically decrease the value of the prisons and raise costs. Kasich also struck a provision requiring the Ohio Lottery to list how much it gives to education, and restored wording allowing schools to screen children's body mass index to combat obesity.
He planned to further discuss the budget Friday and take questions when he meets with legislative leaders at the governor's residence.
"This is the one they said couldn't be done," he said as he used multiple pens in his ceremonial Statehouse office to sign the document.
Speaking at an earlier event in Findlay to mark the spinoff of Marathon Petroleum Corp., Kasich touted that he kept his campaign pledge not to raise taxes while coming up with a balanced budget.
The measure keeps in place an $800 million cut in the personal income tax that went into effect in January.
"There's a tremendous amount of change," Kasich said earlier Thursday. "I would argue this bill is the most comprehensive piece of legislation Ohio has passed in modern times."
The first-term Republican faced an estimated $8 billion budget shortfall when he took office in January. Improved state revenues have put the gap closer to $6 billion.
Kasich and other legislators have contended that such a shortfall forced them to make changes to how the state operates and to trim how much money is directed to agencies, schools and local governments.
Critics, however, argue his plan makes such drastic reductions in funding to school districts and local governments that teachers and police will be laid off and residents will end up taking a financial hit as local tax increases get passed.
Cities, townships and other local governments will see a drop of more than $1 billion during the next two years through a combination of cuts to state funding and changes to the tax money they get.
While state aid to schools increased by roughly $400 million, it will not be enough to compensate for losses under new tax policies and with the end of a nearly $900 million federal economic stimulus program for Ohio.
Among other changes, the measure prohibits hospitals and other facilities receiving state funds from performing elective abortions. It also provides tax credits for investors in Ohio businesses and expands eligibility for Choose Ohio First college scholarships for residents who attend Ohio colleges and universities
"Budget are awfully boring things until you take a look at what we've done," Kasich said at the Findlay event.
The legislation was passed Wednesday along party lines by the Republican-controlled Ohio House. The GOP-led Senate passed the measure Tuesday, with one Republican voting against it.
At a separate, private ceremony Thursday, Kasich also put his pen to several other measures, including a bill to allow certain gun owners to take concealed firearms into bars and other places where alcohol is served. He also signed a measure to open the state parks and other lands to oil and gas drilling.
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10:57 AM
mikel says
kimo just runs his mouth and no idea how to start eliminating the debt or just lives in fantasy land. bottom line cuts have to be made everywhere.
as for the turnpike. the state put a clause in it regarding the upkeep which would default it back to the state if it is not maintained. this is great for the state. the state gets the money and doesn't have to worry about wages, benefits etc.
08:45 AM
donutshopguy says
Kimo,
Your idea of no one losing their job and everything staying the same is admirable. But, you are 8 billion dollars in debt. The largest portion of the state's budget is wages and benefits. Same with cities and schools. In most cases a school's or city's budget are 75% wages and benefits for teachers or policemen. Same with the state.
What is your solution? Should we increase taxes to reduce this debt? What do we do next time? Increase taxes again?
You can't solve a problem by not looking at the major reason for the problem. We as the entitlement generation expect our governments to take care of all our need. Well, there is a cost for that entitlement and it's time to pay.
I am very interested in your suggestions to relieve local governments, the state government and the federal government of this debt that will drown our children and grandchildren.
It's our problem. Lets not pass it on.
08:00 PM
FST says
I just found a VERY interesting website called www.opencongress.org The information on this non profit and non partisan website is great. Like HR 872 has been approved by the GOP to stop the regulation of pestiside use near water putting our drinking water in danger of becoming toxic. Also found where GOP cut all funding to the Economic Development Revitilation act of 2011, which is a "jobs creation act". Isn`t it something how the Republicans cut spending for E-GOV? That is the "transparency" website that shows everything Congress is doing. And while making cuts to everything trying to balance the budget, the House approved increasing the Defense Department budget 17 billion dollars PLUS tacked on 119 billion dollars for emergency spending for the "Globel War on Terror". Now does this seem right to anybody here? The House ,so far, has taken 54 days off since the first of the year. NOT including weekends! That is 2 months off over the last 6 months!
09:03 AM
Kimo says
How bout them apples, who we gonna screw over and what do you think we should sell next.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/07/04/highway-fund-is-falling-into-holes.html?sid=101
The last line sums it up in a nutshell.
08:13 AM
Kimo says
Re: We know you’re a rich old man,
The subject is Kasich.
If you think that screwing over turnpike employees is a good way to balance a budget, then nuff said.
04:48 AM
gilamonster says
10:23 PM
Kimo says
Re: All the people in the private sector who lost jobs, they did not deserve it either; if theres no payroll to pay employees.
The turnpike does not have money problems.
The problem with the turnpike is they did too good a job.
I don't care what party you carry a flag for...............
What is going to happen to those people is "WRONG"
10:49 PM
Kimo says
Re:Yep, that's what he was voted in to do. Eliminate the state's debt
I guess the big difference tween u and me.............
I just don't like sticking someone else with my share of the tab.
10:04 PM
Kimo says
Re: Aug 199-Aug 2009 public sector added 14,100 jobs, so who got hit in the pocketbook thus far?
Majority of those jobs were temporary census workers. Those jobs dried up and blew away.
09:50 PM
Kimo says
08:32 PM
Kottage Kat says
@FST,
They are not "putting in" a bar this has been there for quite sometime. Just a new operator, who is exercising his option to serve alcohol. The previous operator only used the license for catered events. Perhaps all costs are at the expense of the leasee. I am sure that other employees of the statehouse will use this facility. Are you sure that tax dollars are being used??? Some of the legislators don't do such a hot job when they are sober. I see you read the article in the Columbus Dispatch.? Have a safe 4th.
Kat;}
07:47 PM
Itsntallaboutu says
BTW~I'm public and haven't seen a bit of hiring~maybe in management but not one single peon.
07:45 PM
Itsntallaboutu says
I saaaaaid~ It's going to get worse thanks to Mr. Ego. I already know it's BEEN bad for the middle class. Believe me I know~they have been taking from me for atleast 5 years now. People just can't wait to dive down your throat. HAPPY JULY 4th!
06:52 PM
patriot5 says
05:04 PM
Itsntallaboutu says
KIMO and FST~ Might as well save your time~some people JUST DON'T GET IT AND NEVER WILL until this all SLAMS them in THEIR pocketbook. Think it's bad now? Wait until Mr. Ego is through with us ALL.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
04:44 PM
FST says
I wonder how much it is costing the TAXPAYERS for them to put a bar in the statehouse so our leaders can conviently get drunk when they are working. THIS is the biggest waste of taxpayer dollars I`ve seen yet. This is just like the Republicans to take away from the "have nots" so they can give more to the ones who "have". I don`t know about you,but I don`t like the idea of the ones making decisions with MY money possibly being drunk when they decide. Can anyone give me ONE GOOD reason what good it will do to have a bar in OUR government statehouse that the public will "sometimes" be able to use? I know I can think of a few better things they can be spending MY taxes on.
02:11 PM
patriot5 says
12:16 PM
donutshopguy says
Kimo,
Yep, that's what he was voted in to do. Eliminate the state's debt.
12:04 PM
Kimo says
Bottom line, he has the power and he intends to use it.
12:03 PM
mikel says
stand in toll booth and take money at $21 per hour not including benefits. that is not even the top of the pay scale. now thats a great job! no wonder the gov is broke!
the dems and their entitlement mentality is ruining this country financially faster than anything else.
what you say? you are healthy enough to work but just don't want to? no problem. here is money for food, health benefits, rent, utilities, at one time they were giving out gas cards and oh what the he!! now you can even have a cell phone! no worries man. get a job whenever you feel like it and if you never get a job thats ok to. oh yeah, while you are at it go and have as many kids as you want and we will pay for those to as well as increase your benefits! this mentality is whats ruining america.
11:58 AM
Kimo says
Re: What gives you the right
"I" didn't do any of those things; the politicians that "we" elected made those mistakes.
To undo a mistake by punishing someone that is only guilty of voting for the wrong people is not my way of solving the problem. We all created these problems, we "All should shoulder the burden" You can spin all you want, to screw over the blue eyed people so that the brown eyed people don't have to pay for their mistakes is wrong.
"I am waiting for the teachers union to take out full page ads in all of the newspapers apologizing for what they had to say about me during this campaign," said Kasich.
Add to that his ties to “Charter Schools” and it equals his “policy” on education.
Don't just get mad, get mad and get even is not my idea of what this State needs.
11:26 AM
donutshopguy says
Kimo,
What gives you the right to build up a state debt of 8 billion dollars that my children will have to deal with ?
What give you the right to build up a federal debt of 17 trillion dollars that my grandchildren will have to deal with?
What gives you the right to continue to fund schools that 50% of the kids can't pass a simple proficiency test?
09:50 AM
Kimo says
Re: So your willing to give up your rights?
I don't like people that think they have the “Right” to put words in my mouth".
What gives anyone the "Right" to continue to pile up nuke waste for future generations to deal with?
What gives anyone the "Right" to ruin a turnpike employee’s life so that they don't have to pay "Their" bills?
What gives anyone the "right" to decide that school tax money should be given to a "Private" charter school?
When a man runs for political office, saying "I will create jobs" and then implements a program called "Strategic Employee Reduction", I do reserve the "Right" to think he lies.
09:06 AM
donutshopguy says
Kimo,
Be careful what you wish for. Government control of your income, food, water, health care. That can also be very scary.
So your willing to give up your rights ?
08:33 PM
buckeye15 says
Thanks for telling that story Kimo. It needs to be told over and over and over till every person has not only heard it, but remembers it, and vows never to let it happen again. If people like John Kasich had their way, it would start happening again today....profits above all else.
08:10 PM
Itsntallaboutu says
KIMO~I like you more and more everyday ;) Truth hurts~no one wants the truth. So sad about your dad :(
07:46 PM
Kimo says
BTW
The turnpike is a good road, provides good jobs and wages, which result in good tax collections for the State.
So now we are going to lease that puppy, replace those good jobs with minimum wage jobs that pay little or no taxes.
The people that work for and have built the road into what it is today, don't deserve to have the rug pulled out from under them,
Who cares about those people and their families, we don't want to pay our bills that we racked up so we are going to screw those people over.
I think that kind of greedy thinking stinks.
07:34 PM
Kimo says
03:27 PM
donutshopguy says
Kimo,
Was looking for more of a number but I know of all those locations.
Guess I'm a middle class .
I believe in SB5, drug testing for entitlement, personal responsibility for one's actions and less government.
03:09 PM
Itsntallaboutu says
LOL
02:30 PM
Kimo says
Re: I also would like a little clarification on the "rich", "middle class" and "living wage"
Rich = Cliffs - Marin
Middle Class = Catawba in general
Living Wage = Bay Township
"Associates" = Buckeye Blvd
09:18 AM
donutshopguy says
I also would like a little clarification on the "rich", "middle class" and "living wage" spin words being thrown around.I need to know where I belong.
My father use to say " A man who knows he has enough is rich." What's up with that?
11:29 PM
The New World Czar says
Itsnt- Please define the "middle class" and "rich" that you are categorizing so one of us Republicans can try and make sense of what you are posting?
05:42 PM
eriecounty2011 says
I think everyone needs to read this article posted in the Toledo Blade.
'Aye,' 'Nay' and 'Cheers': Ohio Statehouse gets a bar offering beer, wine and liquor
12:27 PM
Itsntallaboutu says
Why doesn't Kasick and his buddies take a cut? The rich keep getting richer and the middle class keep getting poorer~typical of the republicans.