Smith Issues Response to Governor's State of the State

Today, state Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid) issued the following statement in response to Governor Mike DeWine’s State of the State address:
 
“Today, Governor DeWine failed to address any sort of steps he was willing to take to clean up the far-reaching level of corruption that has existed since the beginning of his tenure,” said Sen. Smith. “Corruption is not an Ohio value and Governor DeWine should have detailed plans to make sure the state government is working for Ohioans and not dark money corporations. To that end, the Governor could have announced that he was appointing former State Rep. Jeff Crossman or current State Rep. Mike Skindell to the vacant Public Utilities Commission of Ohio seat. The PUCO, and its failed oversight, is one of the most glaring examples of the Republican culture of corruption within the halls of the state capitol.
 
“While Governor DeWine did not address statehouse corruption, he did address his plans that include many Democratic priorities, including increased scholarship dollars to Ohio Universities for deserving Ohio high school graduates, continued implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan and expanded efforts to build electric vehicles in Ohio so our economy is not left in the smog age.”
 
Following the State of the State address, Senate Democrats highlighted their plan to create a budget that works for everyone and invests in Ohio families and workers. Some of their priorities include fostering economic recovery; investing in education by fully funding the Fair School Funding Plan; ensuring affordable and quality childcare and early childhood education; prioritizing safe and affordable housing; protecting the environment; and strengthening democracy.
 
“An area that needs further analysis – but could be very promising – is the All Ohio Future Fund, a $2.5 billion investment dedicated to making sites shovel-ready for new investment. District 21 should receive a large allocation as we have locations with available utilities ready to support new investment if old commercial structures can be cleared. Forty percent of Ohio's GDP comes out of the 3 ‘Big C’ counties and the All Ohio Future Fund needs to invest where Ohio's economy is already prospering.
 
“The most troubling aspect of DeWine's legislative proposals was increasing the Ed Choice voucher scholarship available to all Ohio families at 400% of the federal poverty level. That is $111,000 for a family of four – an astronomical amount of money to pay for private education considering that 87% of Ohio kids are in the public school system.
 
“I was encouraged by the Governor's proposal to fully fund Next Generation 911 technology. It is an investment in public safety that will save lives. As the Democrat who carried this legislation in the House this past term (H.B. 445), I am well aware of the significant gaps in Ohio's current 911 technology. I welcome the Governor joining me in making this a legislative priority for the 135th General Assembly.”
 
Watch the full Democratic response here.