Sun Sep 05 2010
COLUMBUS -- No, no, no.
That was Gov. Ted Strickland's response last week when I asked him about widespread media reports that he had flip-flopped on tax increases.
"You can't believe everything you read," he said. "I have not softened my stance. It remains as it has been."
He added, "I am opposed to raising taxes. That has been my position. It remains my position. It will be my position in the future."
Earlier in the week, Strickland was asked for the umpteenth time whether he thought tax increases were in order, given the continuing economic downturn.
The state's top Democratic office-holder repeated the answer he's given for months, saying he opposes the move, but is willing to listen to any budget ideas, including tax increases.
"It's impossible to predict with certainty what the economy's going to do over the next two years or over the next six months," he said. " My responsibility is to deal with these circumstances in a way that shows responsibility in the near term, but also understand that we very well may have to make and perhaps are likely faced with the need to make adjustments as we move forward."
Translated, I think that means the governor, isn't going to suggest a tax hike, but he's a bipartisan solution seeker who is willing to toy with the idea if the Republican-controlled Senate wants to bring it up. with due credit on any future increases given to the latter.
But no office-holder who wants to remain an office-holder is going to be outspoken in advocacy of a tax increase, particularly on the eve of the 2010 election.
(Sidenote: Strickland hasn't said publicly whether he's running again. But in an e-mail to campaign supporters last week seeking contributions, he noted, "Soon I will officially launch my re-election campaign. Because of your generous support of my efforts in the past, I am asking for your help, again, to invest early and help us start off on the right foot.")
Still, some viewed Strickland's response as a softening of his anti-tax stance, prompting criticism from Republicans.
"Raising taxes on Ohioans goes against the grain if we are sincerely trying to live within our means," state Rep. Bill Batchelder, a Republican from Medina and minority leader in the Ohio House, said in a released statement. "The House Republican Caucus will not stand for a tax increase and we will not help Gov. Strickland break his promise to the people of Ohio."
But Strickland countered that he remains opposed to raising taxes and has not changed his stance on the issue.
""I obviously believe in dialogue and discussion, and I listen to people that I disagree with all the time," Strickland said. "So I'm willing to listen, but my position remains as it has been."
(Marc Kovac is the Dix Capital Bureau Chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com.)
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