Hayseeds and wackos in the Republican caucus won't support Third Frontier

[Kolesar]

Brent Larkin's editorial
Playing politics over percentages
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Brent Larkin
Plain Dealer Columnist

ERIC FINGERHUT: The smartest member of the legislature?

Playing politics over percentages

Here's a little lesson for Cleveland-area Democrats. A cynic might title it "The Third Frontier for Dummies."
...snip...
So, with 37.5 percent of the money headed to the city (Cleveland) that houses 4 percent of the population, Common Sense 101 teaches us that Gov. Bob Taft's plan to place on the ballot an issue to increase Third Frontier funding by $500 million has unanimous support from Greater Cleveland legislators. After all, the region's economy is in the tank and this program holds undeniable promise to improve that economy.

Incredibly, that's not the case.%%endhead%%

Because some of the downstate hayseeds and wackos in the Republican caucus won't support expanding the Third Frontier, the Republican leadership needs some Democratic votes to place the issue on the Nov. 8 ballot. To date, not one Democratic legislator who represents the city of Cleveland has stepped up to champion an issue that is so important to Cleveland. In contrast, it is believed that every Republican member of the legislature from Greater Cleveland supports the effort.
...end...
After voting against Taft's Third Frontier bond issue, I read Fingerhut's position on it and realized that I had taken the wrong position. Ohio needs to do something to stimulate its urban areas to create economic activity. I am going to vote for the $2 Billion combined bond issue this November.

edit: Senator Fingerhut on the bond issue

[MostlyLurks]

1. I Am Conflicted.

If the tables were turned and it was an embattled Dem governor under cloud of scandal proposing an initiative that would make the Dems look good, I have ZERO doubt that the 'Pubs would dig their heels in and utterly refuse to give the Dems any political points at all, even if it meant screwing over their own constituents. They'd put their foot on our neck, piss down out throats while we screamed and then claim there were no politics involved in doing it - they just happened to have to urinate and some of it splashed down an air vent and landed on the Democrats. So that part of me says "the Dems shouldn't do diddly to help this initiative. Not one damn thing." In fact, I lean toward the "they should actively work against it" side.

The other half says this is exactly why I wanted Fingerhut in the Senate: he's people over party all the way, and that's what I want in a representative.

The other half of me says "Hey, I live in frigging Columbus - where's our pile of cash?"

Mostly.

[mosin]

2. Screw Bob Taft...

and screw the "Third Frontier." It's a bad deal for the state as a whole.

(And who cares about Cleveland anyway. :))