Media
–> Stalemate continues as interim budget is signed
Like many Ohioans, state government now is living paycheck to paycheck.
For how long is anybody’s guess.
With the new fiscal year starting today, Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and Senate President Bill M. Harris, an Ashland Republican, have drawn lines in the sand over the placement of electronic slot machines at Ohio racetracks. Strickland wants a legislative vote. Harris wants Strickland to write an executive order.
Yesterday, Strickland signed the new interim budget, which runs through Tuesday and sets funding levels for a number of agencies at 30 percent less than they received last year.
–> Ohio the exception to big city growth, according to data
Many big cities across the nation appear to be feeling an unexpected consequence of the economic downturn — population growth.
As the bad economy makes it harder for people to move, cities like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia Minneapolis and Columbus are showing major gains.
But other than Columbus, which gained an estimated 8,000 residents in the 12 months ending last June 30, no other big Ohio cities joined the resurgence.
–> Slots issue rife with party politics
The name of the game for the Senate Republicans is to let the Democratic governor twist slowly in the wind in this year before he seeks re-election.
So much for the sweetness and light that accompanied the smooth passage of the 2008-2009 budget.
But then, that was an eternity ago — three years before the 2010 election for governor.
–> SUPREME COURT REJECTS UNION BID TO EXPAND PREVAILING WAGE; CONTRACTORS SAY GOVERNOR’S POLICY EFFECTIVELY REVERSED ($ sub. req.)
The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a labor union attempt to expand the scope of the state’s prevailing wage law to private improvement projects that are partially financed with public funds.
Justices said in a 7-0 opinion that prevailing wage applies only when a public authority spends public funds to construct a public improvement.
–> Budget solution: Buy cheaper pizzas
Mayor Michael B. Coleman thought he was dishing up a hot metaphor to show that a proposed tax increase wouldn’t cause much pain at all for the average working family. He got it handed back to him as a metaphor for what opponents say is the overspending that got Columbus into this financial mess.
Blogs
–> Driehaus Wrong on Cap and Trade
Rep. Steve Driehaus voted “Yes” on HR 2454, the so-called “Cap and Trade” Bill, further alienating him from his constituents in Ohio’s 1st Congressional District. To see his vote and how he joined his Democratic colleagues in raising your taxes, click here.
This controversial tax hike on energy passed under the guise of protecting the environment. It passed on a largely party-line vote of 219-212. With 44 Democrats opposing it (including ultra-liberal Dennis Kucinich), the Democratic leadership needed Steve Driehaus. As usual, they got him.
Mr. Driehaus has forgotten where he came from and is now part of the liberal, big-spending, over-taxing Democratic machine in Washington, D.C. He does what he is told in Washington by the Democratic party.
–> POLL: Kasich, Portman and Slots Are Winners
Release:
Wenzel Strategies survey shows Ohioans favor Strickland proposal for slots at Ohio horse tracks, but incumbent governor does not appear to profit politically from the idea
Kasich leads incumbent Ted Strickland 44%-35%, with 21% undecided Portman leads Fisher 39%-33% in U.S. Senate race with 27% undecided Portman leads Jennifer Brunner 43%-31% with 26% undecided
–> It’s not fair to judge the stimulus already.
Or so your liberal friends say.
Do yourself a favor, next time you hear that, show them this…
–> June Federal Receipts: The Dive Continues, As Does Media Near Silence
As we near the end of June, which is supposed to be one of the four biggest months for federal tax collections (January, April, and September are the others), it is clear that the serious receipts shortfalls are not only continuing, but have caused the March 20 projections of the administration and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to be outdated.
Media coverage of the ongoing receipts dive has been minimal at best. A Google News search on “federal receipts” (typed in quotes) returns on seven items, two of them originating from yours truly.