OUTSOURCING DEVELOPMENT: A number of governors are toying with the notion of restructuring or privatizing economic development in their states, as Stateline has previously reported. State senators in Iowa were cautiously optimistic about Governor Terry Branstad's idea, while Governor Scott Walker’s proposal was met with more opposition in Wisconsin. Ohio Governor John Kasich, who made privatizing economic development a centerpiece of his campaign, has released additional details on his proposed agency’s structure. A recently released report from the nonprofit research organization Good Jobs First casts a critical eye on the proposals, assessing the experiences of states that have experimented with similar approaches.
TURNPIKE TWIST: Ohio politicians have long debated whether the state should follow in the steps of its neighbor, Indiana, and enter into a long-term agreement to lease its turnpike to a private company in return for a large from a large upfront cash payment. The issue didn’t play a major role in this year’s gubernatorial race because the two candidates appeared to agree that leasing the Ohio Turnpike would be a bad idea — at least in the current market. But Governor John Kasich recently reopened the controversial topic, indicating that he and his advisors are studying the idea. "Everything's on the table," Kasich said, according to PolitiFact Ohio. "You could do a lease of the turnpike."
To read the full, original article click on this link: States may outsource economic development
Author: Melissa Maynard
