Hagan pushes jobs bill
Staff report
COLUMBUS
State Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, on Thursday introduced legislation to require corporations that receive state assistance to employ workers in the United States to make goods or deliver services.
Hagan said the legislation is designed to “encourage responsible and thoughtful economic development” in Ohio.
“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.”
JobsOhio is Kasich’s privatized economic- development agency.
If enacted as law, companies that violate the “off-shoring” ban during the course of a contract or development-assistance period will be required to repay the state.
The repayments would be based on the amount paid by the state for the percentage of work performed outside the country.
The bill also bans violators from receiving contracts or development assistance for five years.