With Governor John Kasich's JobsOhio program dishing out grants for the 2012 fiscal year, one Ohio Democrat is pushing legislation that would “encourage responsible and thoughtful economic development” by requiring corporations that receive state assistance to employ workers in the United States. Vindy.com published comments made by Robert F. Hagan (D-60, Youngstown) that signal distrust of the Governor's use of state dollars:
“Gov. [John R.] Kasich has made it clear that he and his Republican allies in the Legislature are ready and willing to pass out unfettered tax dollars for any company promising to create or retain a job,” Hagan said in a statement.“Especially with the creation of JobsOhio, we need to now, more than ever, ensure accountability in the way we pursue economic development as a state.
“We can’t afford to pass out tax dollars to companies that are essentially investing the money overseas.”
Vindy adds that Hagan's bill, if enacted, would require off-shoring companies to repay their state grants and ban them from receiving similar contracts for a period of five years following their violations.
JobsOhio supporters might argue that Hagan is being paranoid, but with the Chamber of Commerce receiving the largest of six grants given preliminary approval, the Youngstown Democrat's concern is perhaps not misplaced. After all, the Chamber this year fought tooth and nail against a bill that would penalize outsourcers.
Hagan is somewhat of a progressive hero in Ohio. He has spearheaded the effort to enable a John Kasich recall and called for drug testing of individuals receiving corporate welfare in response to the push for drug testing of everyday welfare recipients.