ELECTION 2004 - OHIO Races for the Ohio statehouse Ohio 8th Senate District Ohio 14th Senate District Ohio 28th House District Ohio 29th House District Ohio 30th House District Ohio 31st House District Ohio 33rd House District ELECTION 2004 - KENTUCKY Battling for a seat in Frankfort Kentucky 17th Senate District Kentucky 23rd Senate District Kentucky 61st House District Kentucky 67th House District

Tom Niehaus: All residents will benefit from adequate, predictable funding for public education and continued efforts to make Ohio friendlier for companies to relocate from other states and for those already here to grow. Taxpayers expect school districts to plan and manage their money, and that means they must be able to count on funding for more than a two-year cycle. Tax reform is necessary to encourage companies to expand and hire more employees.

Paul Schwietering: The 14th state Senate district needs: a school funding system that reflects the requirements of the 21st century, reducing the reliance on the property tax and distributing resources in a more equitable manner; a tax code that is fair to everybody; better funding for higher education, and a fairer system for funding roads.

How do you think the next legislature should deal with the state's continuing budget deficit crisis?

Tom Niehaus: Priority must be given to cutting expenses. All programs should be critically examined on a regular basis to see if they are still needed and if they are achieving the predicted results. If they are not needed, cut them. If they are important, review how to make them more efficient and effective. Tax reform is necessary to assure everyone is paying a fair share, but it will not necessarily generate additional revenue.

Paul Schwietering: The state should deal with the budget crisis by eliminating some of the 138 special tax breaks that accounted for $9.5 billion worth of revenue in 2003.