Ohio should keep rail money

Ohio should keep rail money

Reading the recently re- ported news regarding Gov.-elect Kasich making written demands to Gov. Strickland instructing him to discontinue the Ohio passenger rail project only makes me scratch my head. Ohio fought extremely hard for federal grant money, a sum of $400 million, which was planned to go straight toward a new Ohio rail system. That system is for Ohioans.

While this debate continues in Ohio and Wisconsin; New York is requesting both of the respected states federal grant money. The federal government already stated that it will not allow a penny of this money that was promised to be used on a passenger rail system to be used on any other project. This is a “severe” step backwards for Ohio.

Visualize the jobs that will be created in just the service of this rail system. Construction workers, train operators, maintenance personnel, security staff and so on. Gov. Strickland cites that 16,000 jobs will be created in support of this rail system.

Of course this is another ploy to reduce spending on liberal projects while conservative ideals are expanded. If Kasich were truly interested in reducing the state deficit, his first slashing should be the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction funding.

I am fearful of an elected official who will create a board of “advisers” with all say on Ohio economic development; this control belongs to no one individual. I am fearful of an elected official who wants to eliminate the state income tax; will we become a tax haven to predatory companies just like South Dakota (the capital for credit card companies)? I am fearful of the next four years of state legislation for only the rich while the bottom and middle classes are placed on the endangered species list.

Arthur Thompson, Austintown