[OPLINLIST] Fw: Governor Strickland Proposes Librarians Cut Pay

[Kathy South]

Hello All,

We received this from Senator Stewart.  Just wanted to share.  

Have a good day,
Kathy South
Director
Monroe County District Library
96 Home Avenue
Woodsfield, OH 43793
740-472-1954
southka at oplin.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Senator Stewart 
To: sandi at muskingumlibrary.org ; coshpl at coshoctonlibrary.org ; danforpa at oplin.org ; justin.mayo at wcplib.lib.oh.us ; lmiller at myacpl.org ; eblinkr at oplin.org ; blythe at oplin.org ; southka at oplin.org ; goodwinr at oplin.org 
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 3:49 PM
Subject: Governor Strickland Proposes Librarians Cut Pay


Dear Directors:

 

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you an article from the Mansfield News Journal written July 5, 2009 after an appearance by Governor Ted Strickland in Ontario, Ohio on July 4, 2009, concerning Governor Strickland's viewpoint concerning library funding. I have been vocal about my support for the libraries in the 20th Senate District and my disagreement with Governor Strickland concerning this proposed cut. I felt it was necessary to share this viewpoint with you and would encourage you to share this with the many librarians that work in your respective branches. 

 

After receiving over 1,200 e-mails and many more letters and phone calls, I continue to work diligently with my colleagues here in the Ohio Senate and the members of the Joint House and Senate Conference Committee to resolve the differing issues in the state budget bill House Bill 1. 

 

Below is the article that I referenced above, and please feel free to contact me at anytime if you have any further questions regarding this or any other state issue. I can be reached at (740) 707-3124 or by contacting me at my office at (614) 466-8076.

 

Sincerely,



State Senator Jimmy Stewart

20th Ohio Senate District

 

By Erik Shilling, News Journal, July 5, 2009:

Governor discusses proposed library cuts
ONTARIO -- After speaking at a rally for the Ontario GM plant Saturday afternoon, Gov. Ted Strickland harshly scolded State Sen. Bill Harris, R-Ashland, and suggested librarians cut their own pay before lashing out at him over the budget.

Strickland said cuts had mostly been agreed upon, but whether to allow slot machines at state horse racetracks remained a sticking point.

"Everything has been decided accept this issue," the Democratic governor said. "Ten senators, including Sen. Harris, voted for a similar proposal in 2007 ... They have taken this process and turned it into a raw political action."

The governor's remarks were made amidst an ongoing budget battle with the Ohio General Assembly. The state is operating on a weeklong interim budget that expires Tuesday night.

"We ought to stay at the Statehouse, around the clock, day and night, until this is done," Strickland said.

As for libraries, which, in Strickland's original budget framework were slated for a 30 percent cut in state assistance, the governor said that librarians across the state might consider a pay cut.

"Other leaders have taken a pay cut," he said. "I've taken a pay cut."

The News Journal reported Friday that Mansfield/Richland County Public Library Director Joseph Palmer, who has an annual salary of $118,000, recently softened his stance on paring back his own compensation.

Responding to a Friday poll that showed his approval rating dropping to 47 percent, Strickland said he saw it coming.

"The people will judge me and I will accept that judgment," he said.

-- Erik Shilling, News Journal 

 
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