A day after a measure blocking the Republican State Auditor from auditing Governor John Kasich's private job creation entity JobsOhio passed the Ohio House, Auditor David Yost got some support from members of the opposition party in the Senate. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
Auditor David Yost sent the Republican dominated Senate a letter saying he can’t support the amendment blocking his authority to audit JobsOhio. Parts of the Republican auditor’s letter were read on the Senate floor by Democratic minority leader Eric Kearney.
“I have many more questions than answers at this time, but I know this – speed is seldom the companion of wisdom.”
But Republican Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati said since JobsOhio had paid for the rights to the state’s liquor profits to fund its operations, that’s now private money, and offered what he said was a similar scenario – if the Columbus Public Schools sold a building to the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team, making that building private.
“We do not subject the Columbus Blue Jackets to audit in that situation because they’ve acquired formerly public property from a public entity.”
The measure was approved in a party line vote.