Cincinnati Enquirer - Redfern Knocks Taft's Budget Plan

(Cincinnati Enquirer)

MOUNT AIRY - The Ohio House's top Democrat stopped at a union hall here Monday evening on a 10-city campaign to tell voters what's wrong with Gov. Bob Taft's proposed state budget.

At the top of Democrats' list is Taft's proposed 21 percent across-the-board income tax cut, state Rep. Chris Redfern of Port Clinton said.

The state could save $550 million for local government services such as schools, police and fire while increasing the tax cut to 28 percent for those making less than $100,000 a year, Redfern said, if those in higher income brackets got just a 5 percent to 7 percent tax break.

"In a $52 billion or $53 billion budget, there's enough money to invest in the things that matter to us," he said. "It's a question of priorities."

Those priorities should be police and fire protection, libraries and schools, Redfern and others told a group of about 40 Democrats who attended the "town hall" meeting at the Communications Workers of America union hall on North Bend Road.

Taft has proposed cutting the state's contribution to local cities, counties, townships and towns by 10 percent to 20 percent, and cutting libraries' funding by 5 percent.

"This is going to be the death of our communities," state Rep. Catherine Barrett of Cincinnati said.

Local Democratic Reps. Tyrone Yates and Steve Driehaus also spoke, along with Kim Fender, director of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, and state fire and school union leaders.

Tom Mooney, head of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, said Taft's plan will force communities to raise local taxes for schools, police and other vital services while further cutting taxes for corporations that already avoid paying many taxes.

"That's really what's at the root of all this - it's who's not paying," Mooney said.

Democrats hold 39 of the House's 99 seats, so they need to pick up 11 Republican supporters to make changes to the budget.

E-mail candrews@enquirer.com