TAFT EASY CHOICE FOR OHIO VOTERS

Ohioans in voting booths on Nov. 5 won't have to ponder their choice for
governor long. Incumbent Gov. Bob Taft is the logical, easy choice.

Taft's efforts to help citizens of Ohio have provided an improved quality of
life for many, and his record bears up well under the contrived criticisms
of his opponent, Democrat Tim Hagan. Hagan has taken a "scare the seniors"
approach to campaigning, making every effort to convince them they are in
danger if they vote for Taft. In reality, seniors have been the
beneficiaries of Taft's work on their behalf during his first term.

Taft has signed legislation to reform Ohio's estate tax laws, which he says
will save citizens more than $63 million in the fiscal year 2002. He fought
for and won enactment of his plan to give seniors a discount on prescription
drugs. And, among many other things, he has put in place a patient
protection plan that allows some patients to deduct from their state income
taxes the cost of health insurance premiums.

The Patient Protection Act also allows patients to appeal managed care
decisions, gives women and children direct access to their specialists, and
requires insurance coverage of emergency room care.

Hagan, meanwhile, follows his "scare the seniors" routine with a revelation
that he believes tax increases will solve all the state's problems. More
specifically, Hagan has said he believes a state sales or income tax
increase is necessary to support Ohio's schools. He charges that Taft has
ignored education during his time in office.

But, the numbers tell the real story. During Taft's first term, Ohio
taxpayers have received more than $900 million in income tax relief. At the
same time, he has enacted record levels of spending for education -
increasing school funding by nearly 40 percent. He and his wife, first lady
Hope Taft, have devoted time along with 40,000 other volunteers to their
OhioReads program, which schools are reporting has produced noticeable
improvements in participating students.

Taft has also provided $100.6 million for programs that have allowed
two-year colleges in Ohio to avoid raising tuition, and, in some cases,
reduce tuition, which has increased enrollment at those schools by nearly 7
percent.

Closer to home, Taft put in place a $110 million Ohio Steel Development
Initiative to provide state financial incentives for our ailing steel
industry. He was also among those who aggressively lobbied the Bush
administration to investigate the harmful effect of foreign steel being
dumped in the U.S.

During his term, Taft has launched a record number of reclamation projects
for abandoned mine land, in an effort to maintain public safety and
environmental health.

Since his term began, the number of Ohioans on welfare has decreased by more
than 52 percent, producing the lowest welfare rolls since 1967.

As many politicians soften their stance on illegal drugs and drug offenders,
Taft has taken an aggressive stance in the war against drugs. He is a
staunch opponent of Issue 1, which would turn loose first-time drug
offenders by sending them to drug treatment instead of prison.

Hagan, meanwhile, is not only in favor of the misguided attempt to
"rehabilitate" those who, in some cases, may be dangerous members of
society, he has gone a step farther and proclaimed his support for the
legalization of "medical" marijuana. In fact, he even joked with some
reporters that, if he needed to get his hands on some marijuana, all he
needed to do was "go out, or find my nephew or someone, to find it."

Hagan is a shameless supporter of gambling, going so far as to applaud a
television station that aired lottery numbers during his defense of a plan
to expand gambling. He is also in favor of abortion, a stance with which
even his wife disagrees.

Increased taxes, drug use, abortion, gambling ... the list of issues on
which Hagan appears to be morally and ethically bankrupt does not bode well
for those who would put him in a position to make decisions affecting all
Ohio residents.

Taft, on the other hand, has proven himself to be a capable, thoughtful
leader who has done everything in his power to make decisions that improve
the lives of those living in the state of Ohio.

Voters who wish the outlook for Ohio to remain bright should give Taft the
chance to continue his good work in a second term.