COMMENTARY | Business as usual is not what Ohio or American voters want. The time for political speeches and partisan rhetoric has long since passed. The Buckeye State will soon have a budget that will fix the nearly $8 billion deficit without raising taxes; this is the type of action Ohioans want to see from elected officials.
Life is not a kindergarten classroom, a fact that has been lost on Ohio House and Senate Democrats. After 74 hours of discussion and 15 hearings, complaints about Republicans moving too quickly and feeling "left out" of the budgetary discussion by Democrats is falling on deaf ears.
The fear of taking action is not a condition specific to only Ohio liberals. Flip through the news networks and you will hear more of the same from Democrats throughout the nation. There is a fine line between reasonable discussion and redundant lip-flapping which serves no constructive purpose.
Democrats did not offer an alternative to the conservative budget plan to dig Ohio out of an increasing mound of debt. While the Democrats continue to bemoan the fiscally responsible measures contained in Senate Bill 5, they did not offer even one amendment to the pending bill. Before the final vote on the legislation multiple liberal leaders stated it would be pointless to offer amendments which they knew they did not have the votes to pass. Liberals cannot have it both ways. Claiming to have not been included in the discussion and then deliberately choosing to sit brooding in the corner are the antics of a five year old.
Putting politics as usual aside is the only way to get Ohio back on track economically. Spouting tired rhetoric centering on Republicans being for "big business" will do nothing but slow down the recovery and alienate those individuals who actually create jobs and pay taxes to fund the beloved liberal entitlement programs.
A safety net for Ohioans who have fallen on hard times is a worthy goal, but creating a generational lifestyle based upon handouts from taxpayers through government programs is not. Progressive lawmakers and advocates can rattle off program guidelines detailing time limits for assistance, but far too many residents are milking the system and soaking up money earned by others for cradle to the grave assistance.
The two Columbus City School principals who committed both theft and fraud to get their children on the federal school lunch program designed to ensure impoverished children can eat breakfast and lunch at school are a prime example of entitlement program abuse.
Tara Dodrill is a political, eco-green and travel writer. She is a real estate agent and former elected official, public school employee and coach from Ohio who has worked as a newspaper journalist, editor and photographer for magazines and online media outlets. Follow Tara on Twitter.
