Published: Saturday, December 30, 2006
As he leaves office, Gov. Taft stresses his economic initiatives
A Youngstown Democrat says the governor failed to develop Ohio economically 'because he was so weak.'
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS — As he prepares to leave office, Gov. Bob Taft says he hopes that public perception about his administration will be more about what he tried to do, instead of the ethics-related controversies that arose.
"It's my hope that it will be viewed as an administration that prepared Ohio to compete in the 21st-century economy," the Republican Taft said in a recent interview. "I really believe that because of major initiatives that we have taken Ohio is poised for greater prosperity."
Taft points to recently enacted reforms in the state tax system and other programs as accomplishments that will outlive his administration, which ends early next month when Democrat Ted Strickland takes office.
Strickland, a congressman from Lisbon, defeated GOP nominee J. Kenneth Blackwell last month.
"I think our tax reform plan is going to help significantly to retain and hopefully attract manufacturing jobs," the governor said from the ceremonial office in the Statehouse.
The tax revisions in the current two-year, $51.2 billion state budget that runs through June cut personal income tax rates by 21 percent. The changes also phased out the corporate franchise tax and replaced it with a phase-in of a "commercial activity tax" on business receipts.
The tax changes also phased out the tangible personal property taxes on machinery and equipment, changes lauded by heavy industry.
"We've eliminated the penalty for investing," the governor said of the TPPT phase-out. "That's basically a tax on investment."
The governor said the state has also put an emphasis on developing high-tech jobs in industries such as fuel-cell development.
"That's a complement to our focus on traditional manufacturing," said Taft, who was first elected governor in 1998 and then re-elected to another four-year term in 2002.
Ethics violations
But despite the accomplishments, the governor could also be remembered for becoming the first sitting governor convicted of a crime.
In 2005, Taft pleaded no contest in Franklin County Municipal Court to four misdemeanor ethics violations connected to gifts he received, including golf outings, that authorities say should have been reported on the governor's financial disclosure forms from 2001 to 2004.
Taft was convicted and ordered to pay $4,000 in fines.
"It's just unfortunate that it occurred," the governor said.
Senate President Bill M. Harris, an Ashland Republican, said he believes Taft will be remembered positively. "I think in the long run, history will look at those things he's done to impact the big picture," Harris said.
State Rep. Stephen P. Buehrer, a northwest Ohio Republican recently elected to the Ohio Senate, agreed. "I think in the long term, history is going to be kind to him," he said.
Buehrer pointed to state efforts to beef up school construction and renovation. "The benefits will be seen for years to come," he said.
"Unfortunately, his record in those types of policy issues is going to be tarnished by ... the golf disclosure issues," Buehrer said.
Criticism
Other lawmakers weren't as charitable.
"He's failed to develop economically the opportunity that Ohio stood to gain because he was so weak," said state Sen. Robert F. Hagan, a Youngstown Democrat recently elected to the Ohio House.
Taft said he wants to remain active in school-reform issues when he leaves the governor's office.
Before being elected governor, Taft spent eight years as secretary of state, serving as the state's chief elections officer.
Taft has also served as a county commissioner in his native Hamilton County and as a state representative from that area as well.
Taft's father and grandfather both served in the U.S. Senate. Taft's great-grandfather, William Howard Taft, served as the 27th President of the United States and as the chief justice of the United States.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
A Youngstown Democrat says the governor failed to develop Ohio economically 'because he was so weak.'
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS — As he prepares to leave office, Gov. Bob Taft says he hopes that public perception about his administration will be more about what he tried to do, instead of the ethics-related controversies that arose.
"It's my hope that it will be viewed as an administration that prepared Ohio to compete in the 21st-century economy," the Republican Taft said in a recent interview. "I really believe that because of major initiatives that we have taken Ohio is poised for greater prosperity."
Taft points to recently enacted reforms in the state tax system and other programs as accomplishments that will outlive his administration, which ends early next month when Democrat Ted Strickland takes office.
Strickland, a congressman from Lisbon, defeated GOP nominee J. Kenneth Blackwell last month.
"I think our tax reform plan is going to help significantly to retain and hopefully attract manufacturing jobs," the governor said from the ceremonial office in the Statehouse.
The tax revisions in the current two-year, $51.2 billion state budget that runs through June cut personal income tax rates by 21 percent. The changes also phased out the corporate franchise tax and replaced it with a phase-in of a "commercial activity tax" on business receipts.
The tax changes also phased out the tangible personal property taxes on machinery and equipment, changes lauded by heavy industry.
"We've eliminated the penalty for investing," the governor said of the TPPT phase-out. "That's basically a tax on investment."
The governor said the state has also put an emphasis on developing high-tech jobs in industries such as fuel-cell development.
"That's a complement to our focus on traditional manufacturing," said Taft, who was first elected governor in 1998 and then re-elected to another four-year term in 2002.
Ethics violations
But despite the accomplishments, the governor could also be remembered for becoming the first sitting governor convicted of a crime.
In 2005, Taft pleaded no contest in Franklin County Municipal Court to four misdemeanor ethics violations connected to gifts he received, including golf outings, that authorities say should have been reported on the governor's financial disclosure forms from 2001 to 2004.
Taft was convicted and ordered to pay $4,000 in fines.
"It's just unfortunate that it occurred," the governor said.
Senate President Bill M. Harris, an Ashland Republican, said he believes Taft will be remembered positively. "I think in the long run, history will look at those things he's done to impact the big picture," Harris said.
State Rep. Stephen P. Buehrer, a northwest Ohio Republican recently elected to the Ohio Senate, agreed. "I think in the long term, history is going to be kind to him," he said.
Buehrer pointed to state efforts to beef up school construction and renovation. "The benefits will be seen for years to come," he said.
"Unfortunately, his record in those types of policy issues is going to be tarnished by ... the golf disclosure issues," Buehrer said.
Criticism
Other lawmakers weren't as charitable.
"He's failed to develop economically the opportunity that Ohio stood to gain because he was so weak," said state Sen. Robert F. Hagan, a Youngstown Democrat recently elected to the Ohio House.
Taft said he wants to remain active in school-reform issues when he leaves the governor's office.
Before being elected governor, Taft spent eight years as secretary of state, serving as the state's chief elections officer.
Taft has also served as a county commissioner in his native Hamilton County and as a state representative from that area as well.
Taft's father and grandfather both served in the U.S. Senate. Taft's great-grandfather, William Howard Taft, served as the 27th President of the United States and as the chief justice of the United States.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
As he prepares to leave office, Gov. Bob Taft says he hopes that public perception about his administration will be more...
More Stories from Wed, Jan 3, 2007
