2005 – Ohio Issue 1
Continuing in my coverage of the state issues being presented to Ohio voters on the November ballot, I now look at Issue #1. The first paragraph sums up what the proposed constitutional amendment is all about:
Be for the purpose of creating and preserving jobs and stimulating economic growth in all areas of Ohio by improving local government public infrastructure, including roads and bridges, expanding Ohioââ¬â¢s research and development capabilities to promote product innovation and commercialization, and preparing sites and facilities for economic development in Ohio.
This sounds good, it sounds like a great plan, and will do lots of good things – and I think it really will! The state is not going to add new taxes, they are not going to create new positions to manage new committees, they are going to sell bonds. You can read the arguments for and against this amendment. Even after reading the arguments against, which largely deals with the point that newborns today are going to have to pay off these bonds when they’re 30, I think that the state has chosen a good direction to get the money they need to fund academic and industrial research and development in the area – and plan to improve the public infrastructure in the state. Obviously, decide for yourself – but since it seems that both sides of the political line agreed on something, its probably a fairly good indicator that the plan is a good middle ground on a lot of issues that need to be addressed. Long term investments are perfect for government activities!
Oh, and this is the ONLY state issue which was generated by the state congressional bodies, and not by a third party…more on that in another post.
