Bill aims to shed light on JobsOhio

By Marc Kovac

news@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

Gov. John Kasich’s Jobs-Ohio nonprofit and other public-private groups would be subject to the state’s open meetings and records laws, under legislation being introduced in the Ohio House.

Rep. Matt Lundy, a Democrat from Elyria, is calling his bill the Taxpayer’s Right to Know Act.

“Government in the dark,” Lundy said during a press conference at the Statehouse on Monday, after turning off the lights in the room for emphasis. “It’s a dangerous thing. What’s being suggested in this state is that public-private partnerships operate in the dark, and I think as we can all tell here today, that’s not a good thing for taxpayers — especially taxpayers who have a right to know.”

The bill is aimed at Kasich’s plans to privatize the Ohio Department of Development, moving its economic-incentive programs to a nonprofit that would not be subject to open meetings and records requirements.

The Ohio House, over Democrats’ objections, OK’d legislation last week starting the privatization process. The Ohio Senate has scheduled two hearings on the bill this week.

Additional legislation is expected to be offered in the next six months to complete the transition. Proponents of the bill have said that JobsOhio is necessary to replace an economic-development agency that has proved ineffective in promoting business and job growth in the state.

But as a private entity, JobsOhio would not be subject to the state’s open meetings and records laws, ethics rules or other requirements that generally affect state agencies.

Instead, the legislation requires four public meetings annually and disclosure of contract information, employee salaries and other details in an annual report.

But critics of the bill say that’s not enough to ensure public funds are used appropriately.

Lundy’s bill would require any public-private partnership formed by the state to be subject to public meetings and records laws.