scooter: You wrote: The Focus is built in Wayne, Michigan exclusively.

Didn’t know that. Of course, to a full-bore Ohio State fan, having the state government buying made-in-Michigan vehicles is appalling!

Anyway, I just read a letter to the editor about the budget shortfall in Thursday’s Repository (the local Canton, OH paper) and the writer gave the same facts about the shortfall, but they also mentioned a “rainy day fund with 1 billion dollars in it” that Ohio has had to tap once before, or they had depleted it, but they REPLACED THE MONEY. So Ohio does have the 1 billion dollar rainy day fund if they need to tap into it again, and if that letter to the editor was correct.

While I am not crazy about my 2006 Focus it is fine car for fleet duty. So save the drama for yer momma.

“A further question for all the protectionists and populists in the current administration: why is the state buying made-in-Mexico Foci instead of built-in -Ohio Accords or Cobalts?”

Because they are too expensive. Besides…who cares where they are built?

For me, it does not matter who makes it or where it is built. ALL that matters is if I am happy with MY purchase.

This is another example of how “buy American” really doesn’t make sense anymore in the tradtional meaning of the words. “Buy Ohioan” would have brought about a look at Honda, and the state would benefit from it.

John

I agree that they should have considered Hondas but with Ford needed to off load overproduction into gov’t cheap fleets versus Honda actually able to get MSRP for their Civics – the price differential would be too much for the accountants to overcome.

As for that Ford burning down someone’s house (there was a couple fires in my area from same defect). Remember that same device was installed in 16m Fords. They only recalled 6M. But – what’s to worry. They bought American!

“Cabinet told to look for ways to cut back” by Mark Niquette in the Columbus (OH) Dispatch on 24-Jan-2008:

As the economy continues to slide toward a recession, state agencies are being told to find ways to cut spending after a new forecast yesterday said Ohio could face a shortfall of up to $1.9 billion in the next 1 1/2 years. Because the state Constitution requires a balanced budget, dealing with such a shortfall means either slashing state spending and services, raising taxes and other state revenue, or a combination of both.

… Gov. Ted Strickland isn’t talking new taxes or steep spending cuts. Instead, he wants state agencies to identify spending cuts and other savings … a budget shortfall ranging from $733 million to $1.9 billion by the end of June 2009. At the high end, that would be 3.6 percent of the state’s $52.3 billion, two-year budget.

When Strickland and the legislature approved the current two-year budget that took effect July 1, a $56 million surplus was projected by its end. But rising fuel prices, the fallout from the mortgage crisis, job losses and other factors have combined to affect state finances. By November, general-fund tax receipts were down $117.2 million from projections while spending was $188.3 million over estimates, and Strickland began warning of budget pain ahead.

The state’s financial problems come as more Ohioans are in need of help. Federal statistics show that Ohio lost a net total of 15,300 jobs last year, including 13,800 manufacturing jobs. That was second-worst in the nation, behind only Michigan.

A further question for all the protectionists and populists in the current administration: why is the state buying made-in-Mexico Foci instead of built-in -Ohio Accords or Cobalts?

Re: mass transit…
Touche, even outside of Cleveland to Mentor and Strongsville is pretty weak… I don’t know how we beat DC and NYC.

How about Toronto? There’s a fine system. Although the panhandlers seem worse than ever last time I visited…

Somebody around here has a saying, “Fords are not known for not catching on fire.”

Touche, even outside of Cleveland to Mentor and Strongsville is pretty weak… I don’t know how we beat DC and NYC.

True, I meant like statewide rail, etc.

John

I’m not defending the Focus refresh, just tossing some balance into the mix. However, as an Ohio taxpayer, I’m all for a more efficient fleet.

Oh, and on public transportation Cleveland RTA was Best in the North America

John

That’s only news if it was a plugin hybrid or EV.

Well, I need to see if Cleveland.com or the State of Ohio can direct me to one of these late model Cherokees. The Grand is too fancy for my tastes and the 4-door Wrangler Unlimited has too many doors for a Wrangler. I want a new XJ.

I know the omission of the word “Grand” is petty at worst, but it goes to show the lack of attention to details that typifies much of journalistic community. Thank goodness for TTAC. Wish the rest of the media was as concerned with truth and details.