Pubdate: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 Source: Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register (WV) Copyright: 2002 The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register Contact: http://www.intellnews.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1633 TAFT EASY CHOICE FOR OHIO VOTERS Ohioans in voting booths on Nov. 5 won't have to ponder their choice for governor long. Incumbent Gov. Bob Taft is the logical, easy choice. Taft's efforts to help citizens of Ohio have provided an improved quality of life for many, and his record bears up well under the contrived criticisms of his opponent, Democrat Tim Hagan. Hagan has taken a "scare the seniors" approach to campaigning, making every effort to convince them they are in danger if they vote for Taft. In reality, seniors have been the beneficiaries of Taft's work on their behalf during his first term. Taft has signed legislation to reform Ohio's estate tax laws, which he says will save citizens more than $63 million in the fiscal year 2002. He fought for and won enactment of his plan to give seniors a discount on prescription drugs. And, among many other things, he has put in place a patient protection plan that allows some patients to deduct from their state income taxes the cost of health insurance premiums. The Patient Protection Act also allows patients to appeal managed care decisions, gives women and children direct access to their specialists, and requires insurance coverage of emergency room care. Hagan, meanwhile, follows his "scare the seniors" routine with a revelation that he believes tax increases will solve all the state's problems. More specifically, Hagan has said he believes a state sales or income tax increase is necessary to support Ohio's schools. He charges that Taft has ignored education during his time in office. But, the numbers tell the real story. During Taft's first term, Ohio taxpayers have received more than $900 million in income tax relief. At the same time, he has enacted record levels of spending for education - increasing school funding by nearly 40 percent. He and his wife, first lady Hope Taft, have devoted time along with 40,000 other volunteers to their OhioReads program, which schools are reporting has produced noticeable improvements in participating students. Taft has also provided $100.6 million for programs that have allowed two-year colleges in Ohio to avoid raising tuition, and, in some cases, reduce tuition, which has increased enrollment at those schools by nearly 7 percent. Closer to home, Taft put in place a $110 million Ohio Steel Development Initiative to provide state financial incentives for our ailing steel industry. He was also among those who aggressively lobbied the Bush administration to investigate the harmful effect of foreign steel being dumped in the U.S. During his term, Taft has launched a record number of reclamation projects for abandoned mine land, in an effort to maintain public safety and environmental health. Since his term began, the number of Ohioans on welfare has decreased by more than 52 percent, producing the lowest welfare rolls since 1967. As many politicians soften their stance on illegal drugs and drug offenders, Taft has taken an aggressive stance in the war against drugs. He is a staunch opponent of Issue 1, which would turn loose first-time drug offenders by sending them to drug treatment instead of prison. Hagan, meanwhile, is not only in favor of the misguided attempt to "rehabilitate" those who, in some cases, may be dangerous members of society, he has gone a step farther and proclaimed his support for the legalization of "medical" marijuana. In fact, he even joked with some reporters that, if he needed to get his hands on some marijuana, all he needed to do was "go out, or find my nephew or someone, to find it." Hagan is a shameless supporter of gambling, going so far as to applaud a television station that aired lottery numbers during his defense of a plan to expand gambling. He is also in favor of abortion, a stance with which even his wife disagrees. Increased taxes, drug use, abortion, gambling ... the list of issues on which Hagan appears to be morally and ethically bankrupt does not bode well for those who would put him in a position to make decisions affecting all Ohio residents. Taft, on the other hand, has proven himself to be a capable, thoughtful leader who has done everything in his power to make decisions that improve the lives of those living in the state of Ohio. Voters who wish the outlook for Ohio to remain bright should give Taft the chance to continue his good work in a second term. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh