Joe Uecker

State Representative

04/23/07

What’s Good in the Governor’s Proposed Budget?

My last two articles pointed out some glaring problems with the Governor’s proposed budget (if you missed them you can find them on my website at www.JoeUecker.com).  We are still working hard to correct some of those problems I pointed out but I have had a number of folks approach me on the street and ask me if “everything” in it is bad.  So I will articulate in this article some of the points that I do not have objections with.

First it is good in that the Governor followed the path of the last General Assembly and held the growth of the budget to an absolute minimum.  Most state departments were not even allowed to submit a budget request higher than their current year budget.  So as we say, their budgets remained flat.  He did allow a little growth in certain budgets but kept the overall budget growth to close to what the Republican Legislature did with the last budget. 

Secondly, the Governor has embraced the business tax reform and reduction in state-wide tax cuts the Republicans championed two years ago.  This is big.  The legislature two years ago embarked on a plan to concentrate on revitalizing Ohio by removing the barriers to economic recovery and making it easier for businesses to stay in Ohio and to invest in growing their businesses.  This is a very Republican idea and many were afraid the Governor would attempt to scrap it.  It was very encouraging to see the Governor actually take the tax reform and build upon.  It was very courageous in light of his own party’s almost unanimous opposition (all Democrats voted against it accept Dixie Allen of Dayton who later changed parties to become a Republican).  We are seeing the fruits of our labor as Ohio was given the top honor of having the best sites for starting a new business according to “Site Selection”, a national magazine.

Building on Republicans increases in PASSPORT, a program that helps the elderly stay in their own homes instead of going into a nursing home (at an unbelievable savings to Ohio’s Medicaid program), the Governor proposes to fully fund anyone who is eligible.  The last couple of General Assembly’s have put caps on how many can enter the program until it was better seen how the true cost savings were going to be.  Having a mother-in-law who cannot get around very well and does not want to go into a nursing home, I understand this particular plight of the elderly.  Although mother-in-law does not qualify for PASSPORT or Medicaid, after a brief stay in a nursing home, it is very clear that not only is it better for the individual, it is much more economical.

There is still very much to report on for this $53 billion spending bill, and budget talks are just starting to heat up.  Last Friday was the final deadline for submissions of amendments for the budget.  I delivered several mostly having to do with getting the State to live up to its previous agreements to share revenues and reimburse certain costs with our local governments.  I am going to remain a little more optimistic that this budget might turn out to be something I can vote for –we’ll see.

As always, if you would like to comment about this article or any state issue, please feel free to give me a call (614-466-8134) or write me an email (Joe@JoeUecker.com).  You can also check out my website for other articles I have written (www.JoeUecker.com).

Joe Uecker

State Representative

Ohio’s 66 District

Representing Batavia, Goshen, Miami and Union Townships as well as the Cities of Loveland and Milford and the Villages of Batavia and Amelia. 

Columbus Phone: 614-466-8134

Local Phone: 513-532-0912

Email:   Joe@JoeUecker.com

Website: http://JoeUecker.com