Groundwork laid for JobsOhio plan

Gov. John Kasich made his opinion of Ohio Department of Development quite clear during the gubernatorial campaign: It should be abolished and replaced with a privatized, corporate board that he would appoint and chair.

Under his "JobsOhio" plan, economic development would be shifted to a 12-member private board while the department's other duties -- state tourism, home energy assistance programs and others -- would be moved to other agencies.

Kasich argued that the private, non-profit entity would be able work more efficiently than the Department of Development and better able to bring jobs to the state.

"They will be given the power to negotiate all the way down to crossing the T's and dotting the I's," Kasich said. "The final decision will remain inside the governor's office.

"You'll have a board of directors and I'll be the chairman of the board," he said.

At a news conference Jan. 20, Kasich and Republican lawmakers began to lay the groundwork for JobsOhio, discussing some details and saying legislation will soon follow in the General Assembly.

The corporation, JobsOhio, will be funded with public and private money, including $1 million in public money for its startup. Names and salaries of all JobsOhio employees will be public. Board members, who will be experienced business figures, will not be paid.

Kasich already has named Mark Kvamme, a wealthy Silicon Valley venture capitalist working on a $1 salary, as his director of development who will help shape JobsOhio.

"JobsOhio is an organization that is going to move at the speed of business, move at the speed of what is needed to be a job creator," Kasich said.

The details will be worked in legislation by the House and Senate, both of which are controlled by Republicans who say the JobsOhio bills are a high priority. The legislation got it"s first hearing in the House on Jan. 25. House Speaker William G. Batchelder has said a full House vote is possible by February.

That"s enough for us to move the Kasich-O-Meter for this promise to In the Works.