Retread Ted is trying to explain away draining Ohio’s rainy day fund to just 89 cents when he was Governor. But there’s only one problem for Strickland – he can’t explain it away, it’s true.
Even Strickland himself admitted the facts are cutting through to voters, with the Toledo Blade reporting, “Mr. Strickland said the rainy-day fund attacks have been effective,” and “he acknowledges [the ad] has hurt his campaign.”
Now, Strickland is again draining the rainy day fund – this time from his senate campaign – to try and fight back against the effective reminder of his gubernatorial record. In Strickland’s ad, which repeats attacks lobbed against him, he claims he didn’t cut education funding – but Strickland cut funding for Ohio’s colleges and universities, preschool, and funding for schools for the deaf and blind.
And today, Strickland is up on TV with another ad, this time attacking Rob Portman. The ad is in part paid for by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which should come as no surprise because Strickland is loosely spending, much like he did as Governor, and has been unable to raise money for his flailing Senate bid. Many reports have detailed that Strickland “has surprisingly struggled to raise money” and that his campaign has an “anemic fundraising pace.” With $3.7 million cash on hand, Strickland’s embarrassing fundraising reports are very far behind the $20 million he said he would need to be competitive.
BACKGROUND:
Strickland cut funding for Ohio’s colleges and universities
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“The budget agreement also cuts by $170 million over two years the primary source of state funding to higher education. So instead of the tuition freeze in 2010 as Strickland proposed, state universities and colleges will be able to raise tuition by 3.5% over each of the next two years.” (The Columbus Dispatch, July 11, 2009)
- "For students at Ohio State University in Columbus, this could mean an extra $300 a year in tuition.” (Tuition freeze casualty of Ohio budget cuts, Associated Press, July 8, 2009)
Strickland cut funds for School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind
- Strickland’s budget in 2009 cut funds for the School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind. The cuts are widespread, including areas such as textbooks, equipment that helps students communicate and pricier salad-bar items in the school cafeteria…The School for the Blind has stopped buying Braille textbooks and special equipment that helps students with multiple disabilities communicate. (The Columbus Dispatch, August 17, 2009)
Strickland cut preschool for poor children
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“Operating funds for K-12 education will be cut by 0.24% each year.” (The Columbus Dispatch, July 11, 2009)
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Strickland’s budget in 2009 cut funds for The Early Learning Initiative – a preschool program for poor children. Ohio slashed preschool programs more than any other state in the nation, according to a new report. The state-by-state analysis found that Ohio cut the largest percentage of funding from preschool education and, as a result, will deny services to the largest number of children. (The Columbus Dispatch, October 23, 2009)
- Strickland cut funding for preschools, literacy programs and school bus purchases in 2008. The list of new cuts is extensive: $10.2 million from county mental-health agencies, $12.7 million from welfare programs, $4 million from child-care subsidies, more than $13 million combined from public preschools, bus purchases, literacy programs and aid to private schools for books and supplies. (The Columbus Dispatch, October 1, 2008)