Military Engagement

– Ohio Democrats support our troops fighting to protect our freedom. We support our flag and we pray for our soldiers and their families during these trying times. We believe we cannot turn our backs on the basic needs at home while we fight a war in Iraq. In Iraq, America is spending millions of dollars on building and staffing new schools. In Ohio, a nearly 12 year court fight for adequate school funding has not been resolved and middle class Ohio families continue to be pressed to raise local taxes to support their schools. In Iraq, America will provide $850 million to improve the nation’s health care system. In Ohio, health care premiums continue to skyrocket and out-of-pocket medical costs are becoming so steep that health care is becoming unaffordable for many. Ohio’s pension systems, brutalized by corporate greed, are increasing costs of Ohio retirees to cover their health care costs. In Iraq, $5.7 billion will be spent to upgrade the electric system. In Ohio, lack of attention to quality by electricity providers led to one of the nation’s worst blackouts and millions of Ohioans continue to pay some of the highest rates in the nation to bail out poor-peforming utilities. In Iraq, America will invest $150 million to recruit and train Iraqi police. In Ohio, the massive cuts to the federal COPS program is resulting in layoffs of hundreds of police officer, including 100 in Cleveland.