COLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland's jobless rate reached its highest level in 15 years last month, hitting 7.2 percent according to new statistics released by the state today.
According to Business First, "The last time Ohio's unemployment ticked past 7 percent was in December 1992." The jobless rate has spiked two points since Gov. Ted Strickland took office.
"Gov. Strickland is providing no leadership to turn around Ohio's economy," said Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine. "He's offering nothing creative, nothing innovative. He spends his days doing conference calls about Barack Obama's door knocking program and fundraising for the Ohio Democratic Party. Ohioans are struggling to buy gas, pay for groceries and keep their jobs, but Ted Strickland doesn't seem to have a clue how to fix it."
Strickland's overtime budget is soaring:
According to an annual report that tracks overtime costs in the state, overtime increased by 16 percent from 2006 to 2007. That cost Ohio more than $100 million dollars in overtime costs for the first time. (WTAM, 8/13/08)
Strickland failed to broker a compromise on a union-driven, jobs-destroying ballot issue:
A compromise deal over the sick-day ballot issue, brokered by Gov. Ted Strickland, was reached yesterday that would reduce the number of mandated days and raise the threshold for the size of businesses required to provide the new benefit. But the deal apparently is dead on arrival, sources told The Dispatch. (The Columbus Dispatch, 8/15/08)
The sick leave issue has become a major test of Strickland's leadership, particularly his ability to balance the legitimate concerns of various stakeholders. (Cincinnati Enquirer editorial, 8/14/08)
Ohioans are losing their homes:
In Ohio, 13,457 homeowners received a foreclosure notice last month, said RealtyTrac, a company that monitors default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions. That was an increase of 2 percent over June and 1 percent over July 2007. ... Ohio had the fifth-highest rate of foreclosure filings in July: one in 375 households. (The Columbus Dispatch, 8/13/08)
Ohio employees are fearing for their jobs:
Employee confidence in Ohio took another step back in July as more workers in the state planned to look for a new job, according to a monthly Spherion Corp. survey. (Business First, 8/15/08)
Ohio's economy is in recession:
It is no shocker, but a respected Wall Street ratings service claims that Toledo, most of Ohio, and all but one metro area in Michigan are in a recession, and have been for a while. (Toledo Blade, 8/13/08)
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