The State of Ohio is a weekly news program spotlighting the latest happenings at the Statehouse, in the Governor’s office, at the Ohio Supreme Court and throughout the Buckeye State. Award-winning host Karen Kasler presents viewers with unique analysis and thoughtful perspective on important issues of statewide interest through interviews with political leaders, newsmakers, experts and Ohio citizens. The State of Ohio is the only TV show to bring to Ohioans the latest news about taxes, voting, education and other critical matters from where it all happens -- Capitol Square.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Topics: Economy, Politics
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It took almost a month, but the governor’s proposed budget first outlined in the State of the State speech in late January is finally before state lawmakers. The budget brought out a rare “no” vote from the state auditor, a member of panel deciding on the state’s plans to delay debt payments.

Requests for a chunk of the $8.2 billion in federal stimulus money coming to Ohio are pouring in from governments, businesses and individuals throughout Ohio. And some people fear this kind of spending is the wrong way to get the economy moving, and worry about the impact of this huge package in the long run. Among those is Sen. John Carey, a Republican of Wellston, who’s proposed a bill to put some guidelines on how the money will be spent.

The unemployment rate has steadily climbed up over the last several months in Ohio, and with no break in sight in the economic challenges this state is facing and with budget cuts always a possibility, the agencies and organizations that help shore up the so-called safety net are getting increasingly frantic. Barbara Poppe with the Community Shelter Board, Chuck Gehring with Lifecare Alliance/Meals on Wheels and Matt Habash with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank are among them.

One charity helping the hungry is Lutheran Social Services of central Ohio, and this week the agency launched a mobile food pantry to Ironton in southern Ohio, where several pantries have closed and many thousands are jobless. Food pantry director Barbara Packer and pantry manager Mark McPherson talk about the emotional experience of bringing the truck into this devastated area.

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