Gov. Ted Strickland Responds to Library Outcry in New Letter
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, who proposed cutting state funding to library's by 50 percent, has responded to the enormous outcry by libraries and his constituents in a letter posted to his website just moments ago.
In the letter, Strickland justifies his position, stating that other state agencies will be experiencing similarly devastating cuts and that we will all get through this difficult time together.
Here is the letter for you to read in full:
Our public libraries serve an important role in the lives of Ohio children and adults. The funding reduction faced by our libraries is one that will also be experienced by state government programs across the board.
My framework to balance the state budget includes a reduction in state aid to libraries in order to minimize the impact of $2.43 billion in spending reductions that will impact services for our most vulnerable, especially children, the elderly and disabled. These cuts will help to address the $3.2 billion budget gap without raising taxes on Ohio families and businesses. The framework reduces the size of government in line with the shrinking economy, and keeps our commitment to the classroom reforms that will better prepare Ohio students for jobs. All this will position Ohio for job growth and economic recovery.
Without doubt, what I have outlined requires tough choices. Many of the services that Ohioans have come to rely on will have to be reduced, and some suspended. This is not because those services are not worthy. It is because state government has to prioritize limited resources to make it through this recession. Every day, similar decisions are being made around countless kitchen tables and shop floors throughout Ohio.
I believe that libraries provide important services to members of our community. While many of us turn to our libraries for book clubs, summer reading and research projects, Ohioans also utilize the local library as a place to find free high speed internet access and to receive assistance with finding a job or filing their taxes. I am committed to the goal and vision of our libraries and the services they provide. During these difficult economic times, it is important that our libraries remain a haven for individuals to gather and utilize resources. That’s why my framework commits $531 million in funding for our libraries over the next biennium.
All Ohioans are making shared sacrifices. But I have faith that, with the commitment of our community members, we will be able to overcome today’s challenges and continue working to build a stronger, better Ohio.
Let's hope that the committee finalizing the budget has more sense than our Governor. Libraries are a lifeline for many Ohioans. A 50 percent reduction in funding would be devastating to the state.
Comments
LIBRARY CUTS
YOU SAID EDUCATION IS THE SOLUTION TO ECONOMY. WHAT'S LIBRARIES DO?
library funding
The literate electorate needed to fuel our democracy is not being encouraged by the degree of reduction in funding Gov. Strickland justifies. What a farce to say that education is the solution while decimation of support systems is being touted.
Fear not, Gov. Strickland, You wll not have to deal with the economy, or anything else, during another term in office.
Provide access to education:
Provide access to education: where do you go to borrow a dictionary for your kid's school report, where do you get books on whatever subject they're doing a report on? What about adult education outside of the school systems? What if you wanted to learn a new skill, or lay a tile floor, or plan your own lanscaping? Not to even mention employment assistance-to apply for any job now is all online; where will the people who cannot afford Internet service go?
I am ashamed that I voted
I am ashamed that I voted for Strickland. It is almost like he wants Ohio residents to remain stupid and illiterate so that they can continue to draw more welfare and end up in prison.
Nice long term thinking.....
Also, it does not matter how
Also, it does not matter how much money you throw at Ohio schools, as long as an outdated model of education is used, they will fail in the modern era. Preparing students to rote memorize things to pass a test is a joke. No real life skills are taught. Every school should teach a course in financial literacy.
But what does it matter if students can't read or comprehend what they read. All the better to sign predatory lending contracts, eh?
PARENTS should teach their
PARENTS should teach their children about financial literacy, not public schools. If parents are uninformed in that area, they should take a class at THEIR PUBLIC LIBRARY!!
Library cuts
It's a game so that the governor can then say, okay, if you don't want cuts in the library, than I'll have to raise your taxes. He picks a devisive issue in order to manipulate us into going for tax raises. It's despicable!
Library cuts
I was not impressed with your letter at all Governor Strickland. I work in a very small public library and if you go through with these cuts we will probably have to close our doors. You are not just hurting us but the hundreds of our library patrons that depend on us for our computers, our books, and our movies, not to mention our children's programs that we currently offer. Where are they supposed to go? You're not just hurting us but our patrons too. Also, where is all of the money going to come from to pay for our unemployment as there will be thousands of us applying for it.
I voted for you and trusted in you and I'm a Republican but you will not get my vote again if you go through with these cuts and hurt our libraries!
Public Libraries
Just a quick note. Are any of the people who are responsible for the cutting in funding our libraries going to cut thier wages as well? What of the people who work in these libraries? Who will support them? Why pay them unemployment while you can pay them the wages to stay working at our librariess, actually helping the community. Sometimes it's hard to fathom the logic here.
Bye, bye idiot......nothing
Bye, bye idiot......nothing like doing whatever you can to NOT be re-elected!!
gov. Strickland
i do believe we have just been "handled". when i say handled it is when a politician makes a statement to the public using big words to try and distract us from the problem at hand. we have certainly been handled and i for one dont like it. in the letter he clearly gave us no information and although the letter is long we really didn't learn anything from it. its like the remix of an old song. different tune, same words.
Library cuts.
We always hear politicians talk about not raising taxes. It is a campaign issue so they do not want to commit political suicide by even saying such a possibility. So they continue to cut taxes when revenue is not enough to pay the bills. Those taxes poiticians avoided are now just passed on when levies are needed or when we have to start paying user fees for various services. I am a strong library supporter and user. Libraries offer education to everyone, not just those in the classroom. Now my taxes will be lowered but I will have to spend more money to provide for my library habit. The educational push will prepare students for jobs but I have to say, what jobs? I do not see any growth in that market, just loss. This topic totally angers me and makes me even more cynical about politicians and their ability to respond to the needs and desires of their constituents.
So This Is The Culture War
So this is the culture war? The dumbing down of society? Is culture an elitist thing? Bring it on!
Libraries
Governor Strickland,
You don't have a clue as to what you are doing. You say you know how important libraries are and then you have this education reform issue. You need to visit a library for one day and see just exactly what we do. We are a very important resource. I just cannot comprehend your reasoning in this. We wanted Taft out of there, because we thought you would help. Now I can't wait to see you go!!!
Embarrasing
You must be kidding? Your explanation is both inadequate and shows your true ignorance of what your citizens expect and need. You are destroying centuries of learning. Congratulations. The budget numbers are ridiculous. We are talking of 200 million our of billions. BILLIONS. This is a speck in the budget. But rest assured, you will not find a second term in my house.
libraries
You want education but you are cutting off a source of educational material???
Don't screw things up too much - Gov. John Kasich won't be here to fix your mistakes for a couple years, yet.
library funding
Dollar for dollar our libraries are our best bargain for our tax dollars. It makes no sense to destroy what has been the best library system in the country. If education is so important to our governor, he has a funny way of showing it.
On the other hand maybe it is part of a long range plan to get the voters of Ohio to support gambling in our state. Never mind that time and again we have turned it down. Gambling/slot machines at the race tracks will only make matters worse for our citizens.
Gov. Strickland, you need to go back to the drawingboard.
library funding budget cuts
There is no other resource like a public library. THIS is where EDUCATION and family literacy begin. We've had over 1,500 kids sign up for our summer reading program so far and they are taking home hundreds of books, books on CD, downloadable books to read over the summer when brain drain is at it's peak. This past week we had over 90 kids with their families in our library for a program and this is just yet another example of how important the public library is -- I could go on and on. It is a travesty that Governor Strickland wants to cut funding for this invaluable resource. Shame on him.
ACTION TIME ! Contact Legislators TODAY !
SEND THIS MESSAGE TODAY:
I am counting on you to keep funding strong for Ohio libraries. Libraries are not a luxury - they are ESSENTIAL!
When the economy is down, library use goes up, as libraries provide so many services necessary for those looking for a job, looking to educate and entertain themselves and their families without spending money from their shrinking budgets. Job seekers use library resources, including Internet access, to search for jobs and apply for work. Where libraries are located, the local economy benefits. Businesses near libraries thrive from foot traffic. Libraries provide information and programs for businesses, both small and large, to help them grow and prosper. Now, more than ever, in this difficult economy, the community cannot - and must not - go without a strong library system. Libraries are important to me and my family. Libraries are important to me and my family. My children love to read and be read to because of library programs they attend. Seniors are enriched through Outreach services: Remember seniors.
Here is a list of who to send this to, just copy and paste the address list into an email and copy and paste the message!!! Thank You!!!
THE ADDRESS LIST:
SD24@senate.state.oh.us SD24@senate.state.oh.us
district16@ohr.state.oh.us district16@ohr.state.oh.us
senatorturner@maild.sen.state.oh.us senatorturner@maild.sen.state.oh.us
district08@ohr.state.oh.us district08@ohr.state.oh.us
SD24@senate.state.oh.us SD24@senate.state.oh.us
district17@ohr.state.oh.us district17@ohr.state.oh.us
district18@ohr.state.oh.us district18@ohr.state.oh.us
district17@ohr.state.oh.us
SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us
district14@ohr.state.oh.us district14@ohr.state.oh.us
district15@ohr.state.oh.us district15@ohr.state.oh.us
senatorsmith@maild.sen.state.oh.us senatorsmith@maild.sen.state.oh.us
district15@ohr.state.oh.us
district14@ohr.state.oh.us district14@ohr.state.oh.us
district15@ohr.state.oh.us
Strickland Shows No Creativity
What a bunch of lies your letter is Gov. Strickland. You claim to be for education, yet cut one of the most important resources available for people from all walks of life.
Here's the bottom line...this is what the public wants. We want libraries, we don't want gambling. Now go work for your salary, and come up with a different plan!
liebraries
cut them, they are not needed ,when internet is more educational liebraries
are outdated.
Strickland isn't a Democrat.
No sane Democrat or liberal cuts library funds, no matter how bad the economy is. Libaries serve one function: to make people smart enough to understand how the upper classes are trying to rule us. Strickland is one of the rulers and he wants us to accept his boot on our neck, keep us illiterate, so that we will take the pay cuts and anti-unionization his corporate buddies want.
You don't have balanced budgets in a recession. You have to spend to right the economy. Don't these Democrats read Keynes?
Post new comment