Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following statement in response to the House Finance Committee’s passage of the 2008-09 Operating Budget:
“The House budget reflects a bipartisan effort to move Ohio forward. I appreciate the hard work of legislators on both sides of the aisle. We have much work ahead of us, but I am hopeful as the core priorities of my budget have been preserved.
My education proposals represent a significant step forward toward addressing education funding in Ohio. Taken together our budget will improve equity and accountability in our public schools, accelerate school facilities construction and reduce the over reliance on property taxes through a tax cut for one in four Ohio homeowners.
I am encouraged by Speaker Husted’s and Leader Beatty’s leadership in recognizing that education is a primary driver of Ohio’s economy and worthy of the state’s support.
And I remain committed to working with the legislature to provide every uninsured Ohio child with access to health care and to ensure Ohio’s poorest families have access to health care in this budget.
I look forward to continuing to work in good faith with the leadership of both houses to develop a budget we can all be proud of.”