The Cincinnati Enquirer has been on a roll recently when it comes to publishing thoughtful pieces, including this guest column, about budgets.

The Executive Director of the Ohio Head Start Association, Barbara Haxton lays out the very serious effects of the federal budget “sequestration” or automatic cuts that will happen at the end of the year if Congress does not act – 4,000 kids dropped from Head Start and Early Head Start and nearly 800 jobs lost.  So what’s this got to do with Ohio’s budget?

When cuts come down from the federal level, they effect Ohio’s budget (26% of FY2012 revenues come from federal grants, for example).  More importantly, whether programs or services are provided by federal, state, or local folks – and regardless of where the money comes from – the bottom line common good for our citizens doesn’t change.  Cutting back from important programs like Head Start just doesn’t make sense.