As Ohio lawmakers are questioned over their JobsOhio transparency bill, DeWine, Tressel, and the organization announce a $300 million fund
While Ohio lawmakers are being questioned over a bill that would require JobsOhio and other government and government-related organizations to be accountable and transparent, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, Republican Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, and JobsOhio announced on Tuesday a $300 million initiative to connect employers with people seeking jobs.
State Reps. Tristan Rader, R-Lakewood, and Justin Pizzulli, R-Scioto County, the sponsors of House Bill 779, also known as the Enact the JobsOhio Transparency Act, provided testimony last week before the House General Government Committee.
State Rep. Juanita Brent, D-Cleveland, asked the lawmakers how this legislation would address JobsOhio’s sponsorship of a random podcast, referring to the recent scandal.
The lawmakers said that JobsOhio would have to track and report its spending so that Ohio government officials would be able to see each year how the money is being spent and who is receiving it.
State Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, also asked the lawmakers whether JobsOhio created any jobs, to which the sponsors of the bill said that there is no direct evidence of the organization being responsible for creating new jobs in the state, adding that even if one believes that the government-funded organization was responsible for job growth in Ohio, it still would not be enough for Ohioans who are struggling to find a place where they can work.
State Rep. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, also asked Rader and Pizzulli about how Ohio compares ot other states in terms of transparency and accountability to the government and regular people. The lawmakers said the situation in Ohio is far worse than in other states, with Rader and Pizzulli specifically citing Tennessee and Florida as examples.
State. Rep. Eric Synenberg, D-Beachwood, asked the lawmakers whether their bill would require an independent auditor to inspect JobsOhio to prevent further corruption, and the lawmakers suggested that the bill would include Ohio Inspector General Randall J. Meyer in overseeing JobsOhio.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, DeWine, Tressel, and JobsOhio announced a new JobsOhio Experiential Learning Initiative to connect companies with workers by investing $300 million over 10 years so that specialized positions in the “critical industries of advanced manufacturing, advanced aerospace and defense, automotive, energy and chemicals, financial services, food and agribusiness, healthcare, logistics and distribution, and technology” would be filled, according to a JobsOhio release.
“This program is a win-win for everyone involved – it gets young people into the workforce faster, gives existing employees the opportunity to learn new skills, and gives employers the talented, technical workforce they need to get the job done,” DeWine said, according ot the press release. “Providing this support to Ohio employers is critical to growing the state’s talent pipeline at a speed aligned with demand.”
Tressel said that “Ohio’s economic future will be built by the people who are willing to learn, grow, and adapt,” adding that the JobsOhio program “will create more chances for Ohioans to gain skills through hands-on experience, which is the best way to lead someone to a rewarding career.”
“Today’s economy is being driven by people with the skills to build, maintain, and operate the systems that drive innovation forward,” JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef said in a release. “Empowering employers with the ability to provide hands-on experience is a critical step to increasing earn-and-learn opportunities for Ohio’s students and workers.”
