Strickland took high road

Strickland took high road

EDITOR:

There are a number of definitions of political leadership, including being willing to do the right thing no matter the consequences. Last week, when the Ohio Supreme Court blew a billion dollar hole in the state’s education budget, Ted Strickland proved once again that he is a real leader while Republicans demonstrated conclusively that they can’t even spell the word.

Forced to choose between a number of less than attractive options that included raising the state sales tax, delaying — but not cancelling — the fifth in a series of small income tax cuts passed during the Taft administration, or forcing public schools, including those in the Mahoning Valley, to lay off teachers and slash critical programs, the governor did the right thing. He stepped up and called on the legislature to delay the tax cuts. As a result, Ohioans will still pay lower taxes in 2009 than they did in 2008 while the quality of education in the state will not suffer.

Sadly but predictably, some Republicans immediately accused the governor of increasing taxes even though he had not, offered no solutions of their own, and gleefully predicted that the governor and House and Senate Democrats would be punished by the voters in 2010.

Sound familiar? Of course, it’s the same strategy the GOP is using to fight health care reform: lie about the existence of “death panels,” use overheated rhetoric to scare the public, and, in the end, do nothing to solve a crisis that is literally killing thousands of Americans every year.

Fortunately, the people of Ohio are smart enough to see through the political games Republicans are playing with their future. As 2010 approaches I am confident that when the public compares our doing the right thing to their doing nothing, our courage to their cowardice, our leadership to their indifference, our faith in the future to their doubt about tomorrow, our optimism to their cynicism, they will reward us with their votes and our position as Ohio’s majority party will be secure for years to come.

For in the end, the question is not whether taxes are being raised, it is whether we want to make our schools better, make college more affordable, create and retain good jobs and ensure that Ohio can compete and succeed in the highly competitive global marketplace. Gov. Strickland has given his answer: A resounding yes. Some Republicans, as usual, haven’t a clue.

Atty. DAVID J. BETRAS

Canfield

X The writer is chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party.