Cutting History Class: Gov. Strickland and the Efficiency of State Spending

Gov. Strickland said yesterday that state spending, of all things, is the "most efficient" way to get resources into the local economies of Ohio. Mr. Strickland evidently was not paying attention when, during his lifetime, all the planet's state-planned economies collapsed -- from inefficiency.

The Governor is wroth because the U.S. Senate dares to give him only $2.2 billion in state welfare -- $1.2 billion less than the House did. His letter to Ohio's congressional delegation details his displeasure and threatens all manner of budget mayhem if this "cut" remains in the place -- without mentioning that his proposed budget actually increases state spending by 4.4 percent.

Even if the Senate's less-generous bailout remains in place, Mr. Strickland will still spend more next biennium than last.

But tucked away in his letter is this amazing paragraph:

"State spending is perhaps the most efficient way to ensure that the stimulus resources flow quickly into local economies where they will have the greatest impact. In Ohio, for example, a full 88 cents of every revenue dollar is spent in local cities and towns." (Emphasis added.)

That just isn't so. The most efficient way to make sure resources flow into local economies is not to take them out in the first place.

Taxpayers already spend their money in local economies, and they don't drop 12% of the value along the way.

But the inconvenient truth is that when taxpayers are allowed to decide where to spend their money, they don't choose to spend it on the priorities set by Mr. Strickland, or his allies in Congress.

Ohio is not its government, but its people. Our State will be great again when we trust the people to make their own decisions.