Governor Bob Taft
Riffe Center, 31st Floor
Columbus, OH 45215

Dear Governor Taft,

I was deeply troubled to learn of your threat to parents, teachers, and children - the threat to chop millions of dollars from school budgets if legislators do not give you the tax increases you want. Apparently, the slew of press releases issued by your office have been an attempt to convince people that the sky is falling and that the only path to redemption is the road to higher taxes on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, now, and with additional taxes on services and products yet to come.

When people are threatened, they require a defense; this is why the House added an amendment to the Budget Corrections Bill, HB 40, prohibiting you from reducing FY'03 General Revenue Funds for the following: School Finance Equity, Base Cost Funding, Pupil Transportation, Auxiliary Services, Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid, Gifted Pupil Program, Parity Aid, Nonpublic Administrative Cost Reimbursement, and the Charge-off Supplement.

Certainly, in your effort to "balance the budget," you have the authority to line-item veto the amendment. However, I suggest that you look more closely at the administrative budget of the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). The ODE spends millions on public relations campaigns, travel, conferences, focus groups, and a whole host of other activities that waste precious resources.

Just how many staff lobbyists, assistant state superintendents, and marketing associates does the department need? How many slick, colorful, advertisements do they need to pontificate their programs even as some school children are using outdated textbooks? Why does the department waste taxpayer dollars on paper, printing, and postage to mail a copy of the State report card to parents three months after the information is spread upon the pages of every newspaper in the state? Why does the department spend millions of dollars on billboards to advertise the new math and English standards? What about those full-color, bi-weekly newsletters advertising employee massages, cold weather travel tips, and full-color pictures of the department's Halloween party? For two years, in preparation for this year's budget debate, I have tracked the unfettered spending by the ODE and have kept the evidence in a file labeled "waste." I will review it with you at your convenience; I'm eager to hear, first-hand, why you believe we should cut money for classrooms rather than nonsense spending.

Governor, I didn't run for office so I could increase taxes and grow a bigger government. Even though I heartily, but respectfully, disagree with you on the issue of raising taxes, I look forward to working with you on other issues to ensure that Ohio remains a great place to live, to work, and to raise a family.

Sincerely,
DIANA M. FESSLER, 79th House District Chair, Federal Grant Review and Education Oversight Subcommittee