Ohio auditor says he can audit JobsOhio panel

COLUMBUS (AP) — The state auditor has written a letter to lawmakers insisting he would have the authority to audit a new private job creation board made up of corporate executives and chaired by the governor.

In a letter today, Republican Auditor David Yost told House State Government Committee Chairman Robert Mecklenborg that the law gives him the authority to review the books of all private entities that are spending public money.

His comments followed calls by Democrats for Yost to push for broader authority over JobsOhio than what was described in a bill creating the 9-member panel that will be chaired by Gov. John Kasich, a Republican.

Yost’s 2010 opponent, Democrat David Pepper, said today that the bill should specifically require Yost to audit JobsOhio — rather than making it optional.