Voinovich challenger says he'll do a better job for Ohio

Voinovich challenger sayshe'll do a better job for Ohio
EDITOR:
In a Dec. 29 editorial titled "Voinovich should persist in manufacturing battle," The Vindicator praised Sen. George V. Voinovich for his "determination to keep the manufacturing issue on the front burner."
Voinovich is right to be concerned about the loss of manufacturing jobs in Ohio. Unfortunately, his record as governor of Ohio and U.S. senator makes clear that he does not know how to fix the problem. It is time for a new approach to building Ohio's manufacturing base in the 21st century.
The Vindicator editorial mentions the loss of 170,000 manufacturing jobs in Ohio since 2001. Any resident of the Mahoning Valley can tell you that the decline in Ohio's manufacturing base did not begin in 2001. We may be "under siege" today, as Voinovich says, but the reason is that we failed to build up our defenses over the last decade.
The key to success in today's economy is innovation -- new products, new companies and new industries working to meet the needs of the international marketplace. Companies that invested in new equipment, new technologies, product development and workforce training are succeeding. Companies that stood pat are failing. We can restore Ohio's manufacturing base if we educate our workforce, attract talent, encourage innovation and invest in new ideas. Ohio has failed in each of these critical areas.
There is no question that our nation's trade policies are failing. When I was in Congress, I voted against NAFTA because it was not fair to Ohio workers (Voinovich supported it). As a state senator, I fought to extend the steel tariffs for the full three years.
But trade policies are not the only federal policies that matter to Ohio's manufacturing sector. Voinovich voted to make corporate dividends tax deductible, whether the corporation keeps their jobs in America or not. I would have voted instead for a job creation tax credit that gave companies a tax break for increasing jobs in America. Voinovich voted to eliminate the estate tax on the wealthiest families in America. I would have voted instead to expand the research and development tax credit, and to eliminate the capital gains tax for investments in new, start-up businesses. Voinovich voted to cut taxes on the highest income Americans. I would have instead voted to make student loan repayments tax deductible and to freeze loan repayments for recent graduates who start their own businesses. I could go on, but I think these few examples give your readers an idea of the important choices we face in this country.
I have no doubt that Voinovich cares about the loss of manufacturing jobs in the Mahoning Valley. As governor, however, he completely failed to prepare Ohio for the competition we face in the 21st century. As our U.S. senator, he is supporting policies that will hasten Ohio's decline. If we keep supporting the same people who got us in this mess, why should we be surprised when we keep getting the same results? It is time for new leadership for Ohio.
State Sen. ERIC D. FINGERHUT
Candidate for U.S. Senate
Cleveland
Incident at local school wasfar more than just hazing
EDITOR:
On Tuesday, The Vindicator reported on a Boardman student who was charged after a "hazing incident." After reading the details, I think a "vulgar incident" is more appropriate. I find the charge of gross sexual imposition quite fitting.
Funny how the superintendent can be quoted as referring to what happened as an "unpleasant prank." Call me naive, but with the word prank I associate such acts as soaping a window, smashing a pumpkin or toilet papering trees.
The school declined to say how the boys involved were disciplined but did say appropriate disciplinary action was taken. If a student gets a three-day suspension for smoking or skipping school, it seems like anything short of expulsion is a slap on the wrist.
As Superintendent Don Dailey was quoted, "This was the act of individual kids who made a poor decision." It's a scary thought that in just one year these same kids could make additional "poor decisions" behind the wheel of a car.
CHRISSY FLESCH
Mineral Ridge