Ohio Governor calls for fiscal relief for state governments

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland offered his support for the upcoming economic recovery plan and made the case for fiscal relief in individual states.

“I think Ohio is similar to many other states…my first two year budget was the slowest growth budget that Ohio had in 42 years. We were very frugal with the people’s resources,” said Strickland during a teleconference hosted by Campaign for Jobs and Economic Recovery Now.

“In spite of that fact, over the last few months I have had to reduce over 1.9 billion dollars in our current budget.”

The Governor stated that without immediate federal assistance, Ohio would be faced with a 7.3 billion dollar deficit in 2011.

“In order for us to have a balanced budget in 2010 and 2011 without federal assistance I would have to cut state government spending by 25%,” a notion that Strickland described as impossible.

Governors Dave Patterson (D-N.Y.), Jim Doyle (D-Wis.), Jon Corzine (D-N.J.), Deval Patrick (D-Mass.), Jennifer Granholm (D-Mich.), Jim Doyle (D-Wis.), and others have joined Strickland in calling for state assistance.

“We have got to have this help. It must come from the Federal Government because states do need to have a balanced budget, it will require additional borrowing…and the deficit will increase. There is no doubt about that,” commented Strickland.

“But I believe the President Elect is correct in saying the greatest threat is in doing nothing and allowing this recession to become ever deeper,” he concluded.