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| Ohio leaders unveil $1.57 billion bipartisan jobs package for state |
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By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent COLUMBUS, Ohio — Last week, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, Ohio Senate President Bill Harris and Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted announced a $1.57 billion stimulus package that aims to create new jobs while laying the foundation for future economic prosperity in Ohio.
“I am thankful to President Harris and Speaker Husted for their leadership and hard work in helping develop a jobs plan that will create thousands of new jobs in our great state,” Strickland said. “Together, we have crafted a thoughtful approach to making the investments needed to jumpstart our economy.”
Following the announcement, Husted spent his afternoon in front of Ohio Farm Bureau’s board of trustees, breaking down the details of the package, much of which relies upon and affects agriculture, the state’s no. one industry.
“I can support this plan – it invests in people and it creates real jobs because it requires private sector investment in the economy,” Husted said. “The plan does not mortgage Ohio’s future, it invests in it.”
The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) praised what it called a thoughtful effort to boost Ohio’s economy. “This is solid work. It’s the kind of work we expect out of our elected officials, and it shows Ohio has leaders who are willing to put the state’s interests ahead of politics,” said OFBF Executive Vice President John C. “Jack” Fisher.
OFBF has been analyzing the concept of a stimulus package since Strickland’s announcement of his original proposal in February. Strickland met with the Farm Bureau board to discuss his plan in detail. Husted did the same, hours after the announcement of the new bipartisan plan.
“We understood from the start that the need was there,” Fisher said, acknowledging it was necessary for state government to take steps to jump-start economic activity in Ohio. “But we also wanted to be sure that the state acted responsibly with our limited taxpayer dollars.”
With the exception of the Clean Ohio program, the bipartisan package will not need to go to the ballot in November, allowing the positive benefits to the state’s economy to start almost immediately.
“I am pleased to stand in support of a bipartisan jobs package that relies less on debt, that ensures stimulus dollars can be released before the end of the year and which wisely targets investments where they can make the most difference to our overall state economy,” Harris said.
The state leaders agreed while the availability of high-quality jobs is essential to Ohio’s future, so too are the investments needed to link Ohio students and graduates to those jobs. This package calls for $250 million over the next five years to build a jobs pipeline for students – a resource to greatly expand internships and co-op programs that place Ohio at the forefront of job creation. Moreover, attracting students and graduates back to Ohio will serve a critical role in this effort.
The proposal’s investments of $1.57 billion, which represent approximately $700 million in less debt than the original proposal, will be funded through a combination of bond sales, existing revenue and other sources. The economic package makes major investments in workforce, infrastructure and new and emerging industries to spur job creation.
“This bipartisan jobs stimulus plan will create jobs, make us a leader in emerging industries and establish the foundation for long-term growth and prosperity in Ohio,” Strickland said.
Details of the new and emerging industries portion of the bipartisan economic package include $50 million for biobased products to help support and grow an industry aimed at producing polymers, plastics and other crucial modern materials out of Ohio-grown crops; $150 million earmarked to create new jobs by making Ohio a powerhouse of renewable and advanced energy production including wind, solar and clean coal; and another $100 million for biomedical industries.
The infrastructure portion of the package includes $200 million for Clean Ohio Conservation to fund the preservation of farmland and green space, another $200 million for Clean Ohio Revitalization, $100 million for logistics and distribution, $200 to help build local infrastructure and $120 million in historic preservation tax credits.
The plan’s inclusion of assistance to infrastructure, workforce development and land-use are crucial to both economic and quality of life issues, according to OFBF President Bob Peterson, who also appreciated that the plan acknowledges agriculture’s ability to contribute to economic growth.
“Whether it’s biobased plastics or renewable fuels or wind energy, farm families across Ohio are excited about being a part of the solution to Ohio’s economic challenges,” he said. “We’re glad our government leaders understand that rural Ohio has an important role to play.”
OFBF trustees and staff will remain engaged as details emerge during the legislative process.
“We still need to see all the particulars in black and white, but the big picture is very encouraging,” Fisher said.
This farm news was published in the April 9, 2008 issue of the Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 4/9/2008 |
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