Some Democrats at the Ohio Statehouse are introducing a new bill that they say will make sure Governors can’t receive money from private companies while they are in office.
JobsOhio, the state’s private job creation company recently gave Worthington Industries incentives worth a half million dollars. But questions were raised when reports surfaced that Governor Kasich was taking deferred compensation payments from that company while he was in office. The Governor says the company deserved the money it got from the state but it raises eyebrows with some groups that say they want more transparency in JobsOhio. And it is prompting some Democratic State Representatives to bring forward a bill that would say Governors could not accept money from a private company while in office. Representative Ron Gerberry says majority Republicans should be willing to pass this legislation, regardless of the political affiliation of the Governor.
"If the shoes were reversed here, I could assure you this type of legislation would be introduced," says Gerberry.
But Republicans don’t appear quick to embrace this legislation.
"I think it’s a Democratic smoke screen," says Matt Borges, head of the Ohio Republican Party.