Mean King Kasich and the Local Leaders, Part 1

Governor Kasich, whose reign includes such war crimes as cutting 4% of the Columbus City Schools budget, is making all sorts of enemies. This week protestors in Mahoning County – bluer than blue on the electoral map, redder than red financially – complained that the GOP budget “passes the buck,” forcing local governments to operate with fewer state dollars.

“We know the games are being played,” said Youngstown City Councilman Mike Ray. “It’s just a shell game, and like I said, it’s just pass the buck, and we need to work together.”

“We need to work together,” or in other words, “Ohioans need to pay more taxes to fund Youngstown government.” Democrats are all for passing bucks as long as they’re going from The Rich to Democrat constituencies. Does Councilman Ray think increased taxes will bring residents (down 8.1% since 2000) and jobs (down 15.6%) back to Mahoning County?

It isn’t news that class warfare plays well in Youngstown – and as the saying goes, “all politics is local.” Tip for Progressive readers: Don’t try explaining that saying to the farmer in Miami County or the barber in Hancock County whose state taxes wind their way from Columbus into the pockets of Youngstown politicians!

Throughout the state, professional leftists insist governor’s office salaries preclude any conservative criticism of local pay. As usual, there’s an obvious difference the left refuses to acknowledge: if I think John Kasich pays his staff too much, I can vote for somebody else. I’ve got no say over who Youngstown voters elect, but Democrats take it as given that I should be on the hook for Youngstown’s budget decisions.

Follow me on Twitter: @jasonahart

Cross-posted from that hero.