Bob Taft Quotations

Many have left their families to defend our freedom. We salute their bravery; we express our appreciation and support to their families. And we pray for their safe return.

A dynamic economy begins with a good education.

Yet in this global economy, no jobs are safe. High-speed Internet connections and low-cost, skilled labor overseas are an explosive combination.

We must ensure our system of higher education offers world-class quality for a world-class economy.

We will never forget the passengers of Flight 93, who courageously confronted the terrorists, defeating another planned attack on America. They are the heroes for our times.

We all share a common goal - we want our children to succeed.

What happened on September 11 compels us to focus on who we are as Americans, what we stand for, what really matters in our lives - family, friends, faith and freedom.

We stand strong together - as Americans - many cultures, races and faiths, but one nation under God.

We live in a land like no other - a land of freedom and opportunity unparalleled on the face of the globe.

If we are to create tomorrow's jobs, we can't remain frozen in time in yesterday's tax system.

Ohioans are practical. We're a can-do people. Give us a problem, we'll give you a solution.

Everything depends on a good job - strong families, strong communities, the pursuit of the American dream, and a tax base to support schools for our kids and services for our seniors.

Let us seize the special opportunity that is ours to act boldly and decisively at a time when the eyes of our fellow citizens, both present and future, are upon us.

What we don't talk about enough is Ohio's unique and remarkable quality of life. We are a state of cities, small towns and growing suburbs where life is affordable and destinations within reach. There is no better place to raise a family.

Whether we knew many who died on September 11 or personally knew none, we all lost something on that day. Innocence. Security. A trust that our homeland would always be safe.

My understanding is that the challengers, at least the Republican challengers, will only be witnessing; they will not be directly asking the election officials to challenge voters, but they will be witnessing the process and then reporting any concerns thereafter to election officials,

My friends, we're going to have to help ourselves. No one is going to save us. The federal government certainly isn't going to bail us out.

I have failed to live up to those high expectation and the expectations of the public. I am very disappointed in myself,

If we hesitate to spend money, we will lose time, and we do not have time to lose.

If this had been premeditated, that would have been a good cover. This is like another world.

Let us walk in the shoes of those who went before us, and conquer the third frontier on whose threshold we stand today.

Most of us would prefer that our own aged and infirm family member be cared for at home with the right kind of supporting services, as opposed to in a nursing home. For that reason the state created the PASSPORT program, which provides services to elderly and disabled people in their own homes.

Mr. Ashworth's decision to plead guilty and failure to offer any mitigating evidence has been exhaustively reviewed by both the state and federal courts, and five medical experts have confirmed his competency to do so,

I encourage all Ohioans to conserve motor fuel use whenever possible until the state's supplies are fully restored,

I am hopeful the Supreme Court will recognize tax incentives as a constitutional means for states to encourage business investment and job creation,

I am here today to publicly apologize to the people of the state of Ohio for my failure to provide complete financial disclosure statements to the Ohio Ethics Commission as mandated by law, ... I accept total responsibility for my mistake, and I'm sorry.

Recent, severe increases in gasoline prices in my state are, to say the least, baffling. Our citizens are demanding, if not complete answers, at least some rational justification for this dramatic price increase.

Recently, I saw firsthand how the Emerald Ash Borer is destroying our vital ash tree resources, ... We appreciate these additional federal dollars, and I will continue to work with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to pursue further funding for 2006.

Passion Works is a studio where persons with mental retardation or other disabilities can create beautiful works of art and products and provide those to the community,

Over the next several months we'll find reasons to disagree. Our path will not be easy. Yet our opportunity will never be so great.

We put all our passion and our focus on coffee, even to the point of doing fresh roast (on site).

Upon becoming aware of my failure to disclose these activities, I promptly notified the Ohio Ethics Commission,

There are many things we must do to improve our business climate. But in the quest for prosperity, what matters most is our people.

In this global economy, no jobs are safe. High-speed Internet connections and low-cost, skilled labor overseas are an explosive combination.

Contracts are awarded based on merit, based on qualifications, based on experience and performance under our administration.

These were recreational events with friends, primarily on the weekends, and we don't have a pay-to-play system, ... There is no connection between golf or contributions and state contracts in our administration.

The secret to great coffee is having it fresh. We roast it fresh on site.

I've traveled this great state for many years, and seen firsthand our tremendous strengths. And our foremost strength is our people.

We have defined our challenge. We must now meet it head on. And we won't let the special interests stand in our way.

The most fundamental reality is this: for a nation with an economy that is so heavily dependent on oil, we have no coherent energy policy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil or our vulnerability to rapidly escalating price spikes like this one,

There is overwhelming evidence of guilt in this case. ... (He) confessed to the authorities on two separate occasions, and he fully admits he committed these crimes,

I'm responsible for them, absolutely. It's my responsibility to file a correct report,

I'm not focused on next year's election, ... Obviously, I'm not a candidate. I'm term-limited. I'm focused on doing the job I was elected to do as governor.

tax credits remain a critical tool in our ability to attract and retain good jobs in Ohio.

Taft, I feel, has kind of made a joke out of all of us.

The new agreements will improve and protect the health and economic vitality of the Great Lakes region and allow future generations to share the same benefits.

Before we responded to the request for troops, we made sure we could do this and still take care of our own needs, ... We have ample guard left here in Ohio should we need them.

George W. Bush is rightfully our president-elect, ... We should not prolong a constitutional impasse that could prevent the timely transition of presidential power.

I recognize that motor fuel production and distribution are very complex processes that are influenced by a host of factors,

For every 10 students who start high school in Ohio, only seven will earn a diploma, only five will enroll is post-secondary institution and of those, fewer that three out of 10 will complete a bachelor's degree within 10 years, ... Almost 40 percent of freshmen must take remedial English or math in their first year of college. A high school diploma should mean that a student is prepared to succeed in college.

The number one issue is helping people get through the winter comfortably without pushing people into bankruptcy,

That's the competitive environment we're in, whether you're Democratic or Republican, ... Every governor is battling for these jobs.

I applaud the president for his assistance in helping Ohioans who have suffered through the effects of severe weather.