\u201cThis is a very good time, if we but know what to do with it,\u201d Gov. Ted Strickland quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson during the state of the state address on Jan. 28. \u201cWe do know what to do with it. First on the list is education.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement reflected much of the more than hour-long speech, which focused on education for nearly 40 minutes.<\/p>\n
Calling upon all citizens to tighten their belts, Strickland said he was \u201casking all Ohioans to accept the sacrifices these times demand,\u201d noting that there would be reductions in programs and services statewide. He revealed that next year\u2019s budget would have $3.2 billion in spending reduction.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will live within our means and invest in what matters,\u201d Strickland said.<\/p>\n
The governor did not specifically discuss state funding for higher education, other than to announce his call for the current tuition freeze to continue in fiscal year 2010, with a cap of 3.5 percent in fiscal year 2011 at Ohio\u2019s public universities. The announcement was symbolic of his commitment, he said, to \u201cmaintain affordable access to higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n
President Lloyd Jacobs spoke to a group who viewed the speech in Doermann Theater following the address, noting his belief that Strickland\u2019s remarks \u201cspeak to his deep commitment to higher education, which is shared by the president of the Ohio senate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe governor believes, as I do, that if there is any way out of our current economic mess, it is not merely bailouts that may be a short-term fix,\u201d Jacobs said. \u201cIn the long term, the only way out of this mess is education.\u201d<\/p>\n