Hearings on governor’s budget should be transparent and fair

The predominantly Democratic Mahoning and Trumbull counties have known since 2011 that there’s a price to be paid for having the Republican Party control the Ohio General Assembly.

Time after time we’ve heard Democratic senators and representatives from this area complain about being largely ignored during deliberations on issues of importance to the governance of the state.

We’ve used the word “marginalized” to describe what has happened to Democrats in the Legislature with the dominance of the GOP in the Senate and House. But, it’s more than just the political fallout from statewide elections in 2010 and last year.

The reality is that the people of the Mahoning Valley who pay taxes and are as patriotic as the residents of Republican regions of the state don’t have a voice in Columbus.

We’ve criticized Democrats when they’ve been in charge and have occupied the governor’s office — just as we’ve taken Republicans to task for their heavy handedness.

But now, the time has come to set aside the partisanship that has given state government such a negative reputation.

The ideal setting for this political rapprochement is the legislative hearings that will begin in the near future on the executive biennium budget unveiled Monday by Republican Gov. John Kasich.

Kasich’s two-year spending plan carries a $72 billion price tag, up from $62 billion from the previous biennium budget.

“I believe that if we can be successful in passage of this, I not only think that it’s a new day for Ohio, but it could be potentially a new day for America,” the governor said.

As for the General Assembly’s reaction to his spending plan, Kasich, who won re-election in November by a landslide, had this to say:

“What I’ve asked the Legislature to do is, if you don’t like what we’ve proposed, tell us what you do propose. I’m actually pretty optimistic about our package. What do I think will happen? Hopefully, we’ll get a good hearing.”

Bipartisan

But a “good hearing” will only occur if the legislative committees responsible for analyzing the governor’s budget conduct business in the open and in bipartisan fashion.

In the past, Republicans have used their majorities in the House and Senate to run roughshod over Democratic committee members.

As a result, concerns about the effects of the biennium budget on economically distressed regions like the Mahoning Valley are given short shrift.

Indeed, cuts in state funding for local government have been particularly difficult on Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. Likewise, cuts in education funding, especially for higher education, have been a major point of contention.

Youngstown State University, which is struggling to end its enrollment decline and to eliminate a $10 million operating budget deficit, should have the chance to state its case in Columbus.

As we’ve noted in the past, YSU is an open access urban institution that is putting a college degree within the reach of families that have not previously pursued higher education.

Gov. Kasich has said he wants to increase the number of college graduates in the state, and YSU is stepping up to the plate. However, a reduction in state funding for higher education undermines this effort.

State legislators, especially GOP leaders, should hear what YSU and other urban institutions must deal with on a daily basis.

We would hope that as the budget hearings unfold, our legislators will have the chance to protect the interests of their constituents.