Madeline
Rookie
- Banned
- #1
Partisanship is sometimes more extreme in times of crisis than it is in times of calm. We seem to be seeing some of this here in Ohio, as our new GOP governor gets ready for the 2011/2012 budget year.
Ohio faces a $8 Billion shortfall just this year, and our outgoing Democratic governor had suggested we look at cutting the Law Enforcement and Corrections budget to help address it. Specifically, he suggested we look at delisting nonviolent felonies -- changing them into misdemeanors or eliminating the criminal penalty altogether.
This idea was roundly denounced by our predominately GOP state legislature. "Soft on crime", they cried.
Guess what is now the hot new idea for curbing the Law Enforcement and Corrections budget?
Now, I'll grant that decriminalizing nonviolent offenses isn't Kasich's only proposal to trim the budget. He is also interested in privatizing prisons and reducing recidivism. Nevertheless, it is fucking annoying that the same lawmakers who condemned this proposal coming from a Democrat are applauding it now that a Republican is making it. The lawmakers in this state need to lay aside their partisan bullshit and do what is necessary to get this state up off its knees.
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland sets himself up as a softie on crime: Round the Rotunda | cleveland.com
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/02/new_probation_rules_not_jailin.html
BTW, it is time to consider repealing Ohio's death penalty. Mebbe it costs more than we can afford now......we should at least study on it.
Or are the current crop of lawmakers afraid their opponents will do to them what they did to their opponents?
Partisan bullshit is bad for Ohio.
Ohio faces a $8 Billion shortfall just this year, and our outgoing Democratic governor had suggested we look at cutting the Law Enforcement and Corrections budget to help address it. Specifically, he suggested we look at delisting nonviolent felonies -- changing them into misdemeanors or eliminating the criminal penalty altogether.
This idea was roundly denounced by our predominately GOP state legislature. "Soft on crime", they cried.
Guess what is now the hot new idea for curbing the Law Enforcement and Corrections budget?
Now, I'll grant that decriminalizing nonviolent offenses isn't Kasich's only proposal to trim the budget. He is also interested in privatizing prisons and reducing recidivism. Nevertheless, it is fucking annoying that the same lawmakers who condemned this proposal coming from a Democrat are applauding it now that a Republican is making it. The lawmakers in this state need to lay aside their partisan bullshit and do what is necessary to get this state up off its knees.
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland sets himself up as a softie on crime: Round the Rotunda | cleveland.com
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/02/new_probation_rules_not_jailin.html
BTW, it is time to consider repealing Ohio's death penalty. Mebbe it costs more than we can afford now......we should at least study on it.
Or are the current crop of lawmakers afraid their opponents will do to them what they did to their opponents?
Partisan bullshit is bad for Ohio.
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