Squandered Opportunity
After eight years of mismanagement by Governor Taft, Ohio Democrats have an unprecedented opportunity to advocate for a change in the way the state does business. Unfortunately, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland is embracing the same tired ideas that under Governor Taft have caused the Ohio economy to stagnate and other states around the nation to far outpace it in job creation.
If one thing is clear this election season, it is that Ohioans are tired of the Taft Administration. It also seems that this administration's numerous problems are dragging down the fortunes of other Republican candidates across the state. Congressman Ted Strickland looks to coast to election as the next governor in part due to this dissatisfaction with Governor Taft.
It is strange, then, that Congressman Strickland is embracing much of Governor Taft's failed agenda. So while Ohioans will be voting for Congressman Strickland in large part to repudiate the policies of Governor Taft, they will likely be getting a Governor whose policies will fit comfortably within the framework of the past eight years.
The Taft Administration presided over eight years of stagnant economic growth and introduced little innovation in Ohio government to help it preside over a changing economy. Instead of reforming a tax code that discourages business creation, Governor Taft championed only minor revisions. Instead, he sought to lure jobs to the state by expanding government programs and giving taxpayer-funded grants to large corporations. These policies have resulted in Ohio’s economy being left behind during the economic recovery taking place in the rest of the nation.
Congressman Strickland also fails to appreciate the fact that the way Ohio has done things in the past needs to change. Take Ohio's taxes, for instance. The non-partisan Tax Foundation recently found that Ohio ranks next to last in terms of the state business tax climate. Congressman Strickland's tax proposal, however, would do nothing to address this. Instead, it would leave in place the system that has produced an anemic 1.2% job growth since 2000.
Or consider Congressman Strickland's ideas to expand pre-school, provide government-funded Internet service to remote areas, and use taxpayer funds to create jobs. All these ideas are simply expansions of current Taft Administration policies. There is nothing new about them except their increase in spending.
The way to create economic opportunity in Ohio is not through a government program, as Governor Taft and Congressman Strickland seem to think, but through changing the state’s business climate. Nothing we have heard from the Strickland campaign would do this.
Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, on the other hand, is advocating policies that depart significantly from the Taft Administration script. His plans to revamp the state tax code and lease the Turnpike are bold ideas that deserve serious consideration in Columbus. Unfortunately for Secretary Blackwell, because he belongs to the same political party as Governor Taft few are paying attention to the fact that he offers to most anti-Taft ideas of the two candidates.
The Democrats' failure to advance ideas to fundamentally reform Ohio’s government is a shame. They have the chance to be the party that could truly change the culture of Columbus and set Ohio on the path towards increased economic growth and greater personal freedom for its citizens. Instead, they seem to be more focused on riding to power based on the unpopularity of Governor Taft. And while this will probably gain them the governorship, it will do little to help the state make the reforms it truly needs.
Marc Kilmer is a policy analyst with the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, a research and educational institute located in Columbus, Ohio.
