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

Lou Blessing: (Did not respond.)

Joseph R. Wolterman: The 29th District, along with the whole of Ohio, needs the Legislature to work with a bi-partisan approach to solving problems. The present Republican controlled legislature has taken an arrogant approach and has shut out the Democrats in seeking to address the future of Ohio. No one party or person has all the answers. The citizens of Ohio have certainly seen the results of this as Ohio is looking at budget deficits and a Republican controlled legislature is raising taxes wherever they can find a loophole. They have failed to address the educational funding problem on a timely basis resulting in local school levies going down to defeat on a record pace.

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

Lou Blessing: (Did not respond.)

Joseph R. Wolterman: The next Legislature needs to be more creative and start thinking outside the norm. The first approach should be an audit of all funded programs to make sure that the benefits to the citizens of Ohio are measurable and positive. Secondly, all programs offering tax rebates or incentives must be reviewed to ensure that the intended results of these actions are in fact beneficial to its citizens. Upon completion of this audit a comprehensive plan for the State of Ohio should address the needs of its citizens versus the cost of implementing and prioritize to fit within a reasonable budget.