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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2010 > February > 03
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Legislature puts Third Frontier proposal on May 4 ballot
By overwhelming bipartisan margins, the House and Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 3, approved putting a renewal of the Third Frontier high-tech economic development proposal on the May 4 ballot.
The vote in the Democratic-controlled House was 83-14; in the Republican-controlled Senate, the vote was 30-2.
The proposal calls for issuing $700 million in bonds over four years.
Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland does not have to give his OK to get the issue on the ballot but supports the plan. The governor expects leadership for the campaign to come from the business community, said Amanda Wurst, Strickland’s spokeswoman.
Chris Kershner, vice president for public policy and economic development for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, applauded the vote in an e-mail:
“The Dayton area business community realizes the true return-on-investment for investing in the future of our economy through the Third Frontier Program. All of the input we have received from members of the Dayton Chamber has been extremely supportive of the passage of this initiative.
“Passage of this issue on the May ballot is especially important as the Dayton economy is defining itself as a global leader in aerospace, information technology and advanced energy technology.”
Also, the Ohio Business Roundtable, a partnership of the chief executives of the state’s major companies, issued a state promising support:
“The bipartisan Third Frontier, spanning the administrations of Governors Bob Taft and Ted Strickland, is the most successful economic development and jobs program in this state and the envy of elected officials across the country. ..
“The Business Roundtable is united with our elected leaders and united with our partners in business, higher education and labor to win this campaign for jobs and Ohio’s future.”
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Fisher gets new campaign manager for U.S. Senate race
Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher is getting a new campaign manager for his U.S. Senate race, John Collins, campaign spokesman, announced on Wednesday, Feb. 3.
Geri Prado, who had been a top political adviser in Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign before joining Fisher’s campaign, is out.
Jay Howser, who has worked most recently with Democratic Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana is in as campaign manager, the campaign said.
Collins described Prado’s departure as “amicable” and a “mutual” decision.
“Geri Prado worked tirelessly over the past 10 months to help us put this operation together and Lee is enormously appreciative of her leadership,” Collins said in a prepared statement.
“Jay Howser comes to us as one of the most experienced campaign managers in the country, and we are excited to grow our operation.”
Fisher is running against Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race.
Former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman from the Cincinnati-area and Cleveland-area car dealer Tom Ganley are seeking the Republican nomination.
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House, Senate poised for Third Frontier vote
The House and Senate today, Feb. 3, are expected to vote to put a compromise plan for extending the Third Frontier high tech economic development program on the May 4 ballot.
A House-Senate conference committee late Tuesday agreed to a four-year, $700 million bond proposal. The Democratic-controlled House had proposed a five-year, $950 million plan while the Republican-controlled Senate had approved a four-year, $500 million plan.
A three-fifths majority vote - 60 votes in the 99-member House and 20 votes in the 33-member Senate - is needed to put the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. The deadline for getting it on the ballot is today.
Gov. Ted Strickland’s signature is not required on the resolution but the governor supports extending the Third Frontier. He had called for a $1 billion extension, but is expected to go along with the compromise.
The program is credited with creating or retaining 48,000 jobs, including thousands in the Dayton area.
