Gov. John Kasich signs JobsOhio bill, addresses doubts that his hand-picked leader for the corporation is eligible to serveFriday, February 18, 2011, 2:42 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Republican Gov. John Kasich signed the JobsOhio bill Friday, following through on a campaign promise to
replace the Department of Development with a private corporation in an effort to revive the state's economy and create jobs.
The triumphant mood at the ceremonial bill-signing was somewhat dampened, however, when Kasich acknowledged concerns that
his handpicked leader for JobsOhio -- Mark Kvamme, a wealthy venture capitalist from California -- could be ineligible to serve in that role.JobsOhio will be a publicly funded yet privately operated nonprofit corporation with duties to lure and retain businesses to the state. The Department of Development has been a failure in that regard, Kasich has said.
"People will look back on this day, with the creation of JobsOhio, and see it as the vehicle for the transformation for our economy," Kasich said before signing his first bill as governor. "People need jobs. With jobs comes hope. Without jobs, people become hopeless."
More:
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/02/gov_kasich_signs_jobsohio_bill.htmlSnip~
"Lawmakers passed a bill authorizing Kasich to establish JobsOhio earlier this week, despite objections from most Democrats in the House of Representatives who said the company will be allowed to operate in secrecy. JobsOhio will be exempt from the state's public records laws."