Foes seek halt to creation of new Ohio jobs board

COLUMBUS (AP) — Two Democratic state lawmakers and a liberal policy group fighting Gov. John Kasich’s new job-creation board have asked a Franklin County judge to halt administration efforts to get the panel up and running.

Sen. Mike Skindell, Rep. Dennis Murray and ProgressOhio filed for preliminary injunction today. They’re asking Judge Laurel Beatty to prohibit Kasich’s development director from firing anyone, or transferring any more money or authority to JobsOhio until their legal challenge is resolved.

The suit challenges the law creating the privatized nine-member board of gubernatorial appointees to handle economic development deals.

Plaintiffs argue it’s illegal for JobsOhio to invest state money in private companies and to pass bills granting special corporate powers. Kasich pushed JobsOhio as a way to speed up state business dealings amid high unemployment.