House Dems seek ways to create jobs

The Democrats’ first priority is passing the governor’s proposed budget.

STAFF/WIRE

COLUMBUS — Democrats who control the Ohio House said Monday they want to create jobs by requiring public buildings to meet energy efficiency standards. They also want to address distressed mortgages by forcing lenders to give homeowners more notice before their homes foreclose.

Democrats, in control of the House for the first time in 14 years, laid out a number of policy priorities for the legislature to tackle over the next two years.

First on their agenda is passing a bill that would provide bonuses to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Once passed, the proposal would need approval from voters because it would require the state to issue bonds to pay for the bonuses.

Democrats said building projects getting money from the state capital budget should meet energy efficiency standards, which would spur the creation of jobs in energy-efficient design and construction.

House speaker Armond Budish of Beachwood also wants to create an Ohio Energy Resource Center at Ohio University to conduct research on alternative energy and energy efficiency projects.

Several of the Democratic proposals, including a bill to prevent home foreclosures and an effort to prohibit credit-card marketing on college campuses, won’t cost the state money. But other proposals require significant investment at a time when Ohio is facing a $7 billion budget deficit and is having to rely on one-time federal money to fund priorities.

Democrats want to make distance-learning available at every public high school in the state. Currently, about 200 of the state’s roughly 800 high schools have the capability for students to learn using teleconferencing equipment.

State Rep. Jennifer Garrison of Marietta said it would cost about $6 million to get the equipment in the remaining schools so that students could take advanced placement courses using the technology.

That money is not a part of Gov. Ted Strickland’s two-year budget proposal.

Democrats in the House would need to get their proposals through the Republican-controlled Senate.

“Our first order of business will be to pass the budget,” Budish said.