Strickland takes the Fifth

Appearing in Cleveland today, Gov. Ted Strickland dodged one of Cuyahoga County's hottest topics: the commissioners' proposed sales tax increase, which would boost the sales tax by a quarter percent without a vote of the people.

After bragging in a speech at the City Club about his fiscally conservative budget and its provisions to cut taxes for elderly homeowners, he was asked about the proposal.

But Strickland refused to weigh in, obviously aware of the political implications of either supporting a tax increase or rejecting his fellow Democrats' proposal.

"I have my hands full dealing with the state," he said. "These local folks and local leaders and local citizens will obviously reach a local decision about that."

from the Cleveland Plain Dealer
http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/