Democratic governor hopeful blasts state budget

June 29, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Ed FitzGerald blasted Statehouse Republicans on Friday for tax reform and other measures included in the $62 billion biennial budget and urged Gov. John Kasich to line-item veto abortion- related laws and other policy changes.

The Cuyahoga County executive and lone Democrat to date to officially announce his 2014 candidacy said the two-year spending plan, to be signed into law before the start of the new fiscal year Monday, provides a stark contrast in his leadership styles.

“This budget is just a train wreck for the middle class,” FitzGerald told reporters during a brief morning stop at the Statehouse. “... You’re seeing income tax for the very wealthiest people in the state being paid for by really increasing the tax burden on the middle class and the poor.”

FitzGerald echoed many of the concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers during the final floor debates on the budget bill earlier in the week. And he called on Kasich to strike specific provisions that require doctors to check for a fetal heartbeat before performing an abortion, prohibit public hospitals from contracting with facilities that perform nontherapeutic abortions and block allocations for Planned Parenthood.

FitzGerald said Republicans added such amendments without providing any opportunity for a “fair and free and open debate.”

“These types of divisive restrictions have no place in a budget bill,” he said.

FitzGerald also countered assertions by Kasich and Republican lawmakers that their policy initiatives have helped Ohio to recover from the “Great Recession,” with increasing job rolls, decreasing unemployment and a refilled state rainy-day fund.

“What about all the jobs that were lost in law enforcement?” he said. “How many police officers have been laid off during the last couple years? How many teachers have been laid off in the last couple years? How many local property taxes had to go up because this budget and the last budget was balanced in large part by taking money away from local communities?”

He added, “We’re still stuck around 7 percent unemployment. I wouldn’t be satisfied with that.”