A request for Governor Strickland.

In a study discussed in the Columbus Dispatch, recently Ohio saw a loss of 35,692 residents.

Yet despite having fewer residents, spending in Ohio's next biennium budget increases by 7.9%, or nearly $7 billion.

In order to cover that massive increase in spending, the Governor is asking Ohioans to pay $844 million more in taxes than they previously would have this year.

Governor Strickland, would you consider decreasing spending to $6 billion and save your constituents from a tax hike while in the middle of a recession? Considering you yourself said any kind of tax hike would be "counterproductive" during this economic crisis, it seems to be the least you can do.