The Great Debate
Strickland Lays Out Plan to Turnaround Ohio, Draws Sharp Contrasts in First Gubernatorial Debate
Columbus, Ohio – In the first Ohio gubernatorial debate in Youngstown Tuesday, Congressman Ted Strickland laid out his vision to Turnaround Ohio and emphasized his ability to move beyond partisanship to solve the challenges facing Ohio.
Focusing on spurring economic growth, improving the state’s education system while lowering college tuition costs, and expanding access to affordable health care, Strickland laid out a positive agenda for change.
"Ted got across a clear message today: if Ohioans are sick and tired of failed Republican leadership and are eager for change, Ted Strickland's their candidate," said Strickland for Governor spokesman Keith Dailey.
Pointing out that 16 years of Republican rule have driven Ohio to the bottom among key indicators of economic health, Strickland emphasized his experience delivering for his constituents: from helping to coauthor the Children’s Health Insurance Program to working with the labor and management to save thousands of jobs at Wheeling-Pittsburgh’s steel plant to building roads throughout his congressional district.
And Strickland also made clear he has a record of living out his values, not just talking about his values. As a Congressman, Strickland has returned several hundred thousand dollars from his congressional office budget, because he believes government should live within its means. He’s also returned more than $40,000 in mid-term pay raises and health insurance benefits since 1999, because he believes his constituents should have access to affordable health insurance. Meanwhile, Ken Blackwell is against abortion but has invested money in the company that makes the Morning After pill. Blackwell is against gambling but has invested his money in a company that makes slot machines.
In contrast to Strickland’s comprehensive plan to Turnaround Ohio, Republican Ken Blackwell continued to offer a series of gimmicky proposals that have been debunked by local and national experts. From his proposed lease of the Ohio Turnpike, which would likely go to a foreign company and lead to higher tolls, to his 65-cent education plan that former Bush Education Secretary Rod Paige called a “gimmick” and “one of the worst ideas in education,” Blackwell offered platitudes instead of solutions.
While claiming he wants to shrink government, Blackwell neglected to mention that as Treasurer he requested a 42% spending increase, the highest of any statewide official. And as Secretary of State, Blackwell increased his office spending by 73% by hiking user fees on Ohioans.
“We can't trust Ken Blackwell to level with Ohioans," Dailey said. "He has the nerve to say that we 'had a great election in 2004.' Has he forgotten the thousands of people waiting hours in line to vote, or the tens of thousands of voters who had their valid, provisional ballots disqualified? We need solutions from the next governor of Ohio, not smoke and mirrors."
While Strickland emphasized returning honesty and accountability to state government after the corruption scandals that have plagued Columbus, Blackwell insisted he should not be lumped in with the failed Republican leadership he has been a part of for the last 12 years. But Blackwell’s actions speak louder than his words: he still refuses to release his tax returns, even though Republican gubernatorial candidates for the last 35 years have done so.
