WHAT GOVERNOR STRICKLAND DIDN’T SAY

REPUBLICANS FILL IN THE GAPS IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

“Gov. Ted Strickland is

recklessly, obstinately and
selfishly putting Ohio on a
horrible course.”
-Dayton Daily News
7/12/09

SINCE GOVERNOR STRICKLAND TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY 2007:

Ohio has lost more than 330,000 jobs, 260,000 of which were lost in the past 12 months alone.
Ohio’s manufacturing industry has declined by more than 10 percent in the last two years, with losses of
about 107,000 manufacturing jobs since 2007.
Twenty-five major Ohio businesses have relocated to more business-friendly states. Among these
businesses are DHL of Wilmington (8,000 jobs) and NCR of Dayton (1,200 jobs).
Ohio’s unemployment reached the highest rate in decades and has remained in the double digits for nine
months.
Ohio’s credit rating continues to plummet; after being downgraded to “negative outlook,” the state is in
danger of having its rating dropped even further.

THE FAILED SCHOOL FUNDING PLAN

“The Strickland OF THE “EDUCATION GOVERNOR”
administration has Strickland worked behind closed doors while blocking legislators
and the media from accessing his “evidence-based” school
turned out to be one funding formula. Only after two public records requests and a
lawsuit through the Ohio Supreme Court did the governor finally
of the most relinquish the research behind his plan.
dysfunctional in Ohio He attacked school choice by severely cutting funding to charter
schools and e-schools, while reducing funding for public schools
history.” by nearly $400 million. This was the first cut in school funding
since the DeRolph decision of 1997. The poorer school districts
-Columbus Dispatch will lose money while the wealthier districts will enjoy larger
10/01/09 increases.
He imposed costly unfunded mandates on school districts,
including requiring all-day kindergarten to be fully implemented
by the 2010-2011 school year. This mandate will cost at least
$205 million and force many districts to make budget cuts
elsewhere.
Governor Strickland has a notable track record of flip flops on
Ohio’s most important issues.

Fees
What he said: What he did:

“The new governor also reiterated that he

has no plans to raise taxes to generate
Governor Strickland imposed 134 new fines,
additional revenue--and he went a step
fees and penalties in order to raise more
further to say he doesn't plan to raise state
than $1 billion for the state.
fees, saying, ‘I think higher fees are higher
taxes.’" (Columbus Dispatch, 1/19/07)

Taxes
What he said: 
What he did:

"In my judgment, if the economy falters, the

last thing we should consider would be a tax
increase. I think the economy is fragile and a Proposed raising income taxes by 4.2 percent
tax increase would be detrimental at a time to raise nearly $1 billion for the state.
of economic uncertainty." (Dayton Daily
News, 12/01/07)

Jobs
What he said: 
What he did:

Since Governor Strickland took office in

"The issues that I've said are central to my
responsibilities as governor are economic
development and job creation." (Columbus
Dispatch, 5/13/09)
2007, more than 330,000 jobs have been lost
and 25 major corporations abandoned Ohio.
In 2009 alone, nearly 260,000 jobs were lost
and unemployment remained in the double
digits for nine consecutive months.

Gambling
What he said: 
What he did:

"I do not believe that [gambling] is the right

way for Ohio to deal with our budget or to
try to fund education. I think the people of
After opposing expanding gambling in Ohio,
our state have spoken on this issue clearly,
the governor proposed adding video slot
multiple times, and until the people change
machines at Ohio's seven horseracing tracks
their mind about the issue, then I am
to fill the $3.2 billion budget gap.
supporting what I believe to be the will of
the people of Ohio (Columbus Dispatch,
6/19/09)