By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Nickole Wilson didn’t mince words in her assessment of Gov. John Kasich’s $55.5 billion biennial budget proposal.
“I am just a simple parent, but I’m not going to take this sitting down,” the mother of three from Cleveland said during a rally at the Statehouse Tuesday. “And you shouldn’t, either.”
She added, shouting, “Enough! We’ve had enough! We’re mad and we’re not going to take it anymore.”
Wilson was one of about 800 people who took part in the midday protest, calling on lawmakers and Kasich to take a different approach to balancing the budget — and one that includes tax increases instead of cuts to programming for the needy.
Among other issues, the protesters are calling for lawmakers to restore funding for a kinship program that allows children to be placed in relatives’ homes instead of foster care, increased support for community health clinics and a restoration of eligibility for child-care vouchers.
“We are not going to stand by and allow you to pillage and plunder our children anymore,” Wilson said, adding later, “They’re putting an economy together for us that is going to invoke riots.”
Asked about the protest during a press conference Tuesday, Kasich said his budget proposal preserves funding for services for the needy.
“I think we’ve done a very good job in terms of our efforts to protect the weakest among us,” he said. “When it comes to the developmentally disabled, the mentally ill, the addicted ... I’m telling you honestly, I want to help there.”
He added later of the protesters, “God bless them. I like anybody who wants to stand up for the disabled, for children, but I think we’ve done a pretty good job with this.”
Comments
Oh always mention the "children" to get the ears of voters. The truth is that the monies for the weakest will always be there, but just to let you know the tax payers have had Enough! The gravy train has sopped at the station and isn't pulling out. There is a budget crisis and we elected Kasich to fix the Ohio budget. Quit thinking of me me me all the time.
Nickole Wilson how much would you like YOUR taxes raised, or is it that you only want the RICH people's taxes raised.I could hear her now , how dare he raise taxes on the poor and middle class. Every one else needs to pay more but not poor ol me, Nickole Wilson .
Nickole Wilson how much would you like YOUR taxes raised, or is it that you only want the RICH people's taxes raised.I could hear her now , how dare he raise taxes on the poor and middle class. Every one else needs to pay more but not poor ol me, Nickole Wilson .