Tell Ohio state legislators not to decrease funding for your local libraries

Opinion: March 5, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

As part of his efforts to improve the quality of Ohio’s workforce, Gov. John Kasich wants to get more use out of online job training and education. He sees libraries as a key piece of that plan.

The governor acknowledged that not everyone has internet services and that those at the bottom of the income ladder may not have a lot of the technology that they need.

The governor is sending a mixed message. While being supportive of the state library system, his proposed budget cuts tell a tale of his word and deed being at opposition.

If Ohio’s 251 libraries and branches are going to grow in purpose, they would do it without extra money under Kasich’s budget.

The state public library fund would decrease from $389.5 million this year to $381.8 million next year, before going back up to $393.5 million in 2019.

GOP lawmakers two years ago temporarily increased library funding to 1.7 percent of the state general revenue fund. Kasich is returning it to the prior 1.66 percent level.

Under the proposal, which is still subject to legislative changes, library funding in 2019 would be $57 million less than what libraries got in 2008.

“The Ohio Library Council is concerned about Gov. Kasich’s proposed funding cuts to public libraries and the mixed message it seems to be sending,” said Michelle Francis, the council’s director of government and legal services. The council, Francis said, will urge lawmakers to not cut library funding.

The rebranding effort as continuous learning centers in its current proposal does not require a significant influx of resources but would almost certainly be derailed if proposed budget cuts become law.

We are fortunate locally to have excellent library systems. I personally am most familiar with the facilities and services available at the Salem and Leetonia public library.

If you value your local library as much as I do, please contact your state representative and senator and ask them to support your local library by rejecting the current proposed budget cuts.

Frank J. Zangara, Salem

Make term limits reality simply by voting sensibly

Given the current total inability of Congress to function as a governing body because of an unwillingness to compromise, is it not time to restrict the number of times a senator or representative could be elected to office?

The Congress itself would never take such action – the argument being that term limits currently exist in that each must stand for re-election. The fact is that once elected, it becomes next to impossible to defeat the incumbent. This is due to a large extent to the fact that the incumbent spends a high percentage of his/her time raising funds that will be used to defeat the opposition in the next election. The U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding Citizens United only adds fuel to the fire.

Also, the arbitrary arrangement of the political divisions of a state gives one party an unfair advantage in elections (gerrymander). This in itself allows for the legislator to care less how his/her voting record might affect the country in general. It allows for the extreme approach to governing.

If you want to see this practice in action, watch the coverage of our Congress on C-Span; watch your tax dollars at work. Listen to the legislator who tries to reinforce his/her argument by claiming that he/she has been in Congress 40 years as they debate a particular issue and then vote party line.

So let’s take the advice given by our elected officials: If you believe that term limits provide for a more effective government and that the continued re-election of a particular member of Congress is not warranted and that widespread participation in the political process is essential for the fulfillment of both the individual and society, then do your civic duty and exercise your right to vote.

In doing so, you will have done your part – you will have voted for term limits for now.

Angelo & Donna Pezzuolo, New Castle, Pa.