Strickland delivers second State of State; Shared plans for new veterans affairs agency, job stimulus package

Feb. 6, 2008 - In Gov. Ted Strickland's second State of the State Address, he spoke about two issues pressing on the minds of most Ohio families: job loss and our veterans.

VETERANS AFFAIRS  He called for the creation of the Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs. "Consolidating our veterans programs in one cabinet-level agency will ensure that we serve our veterans more effectively – especially at a time when thousands of Ohioans will be coming home from the battlefield." Strickland said in his address.

"I look forward to working with the General Assembly on this effort. Let us make Ohio known for its commitment to our entire military community."

JOB CREATION & ECONOMY  OCSEA members are all too aware that unemployment rates impact the operation and funding of government services. Good paying jobs generate tax dollars to pay for schools and a variety of valuable public services, many performed by OCSEA and other AFSCME union members across the state.

This "Turn Around Ohio" governor announced a $1.7 billion investment in Building Ohio Jobs, a stimulus package anticipated to create more than 80,000 good-paying jobs for Ohioans. Strickland says his plan lays the foundation for future economic prosperity by investing in the state’s energy economy, distribution infrastructure, biomedicine, bioproducts, public works, our downtown neighborhoods and the Clean Ohio fund.

“Building Ohio Jobs, and all these programs within it, represent a commitment to opportunity and strength,” Strickland said. “It is an investment in job-creating industries, in our communities, and in our workers. And it will create opportunity today, tomorrow, and for generations.”

Through issuing bonds, the plan will invest:

• $250 million in the advanced and renewable energy economy, including solar, wind and clean coal.

• $150 million in our state’s infrastructure to help create a seamless network of roads, rails, and ports to support our logistics and distribution industry.

• $100 million in bioproducts that use renewable sources instead of petroleum to create plastics and other products.

• $200 million in the biomedical industry, saving lives by fueling Ohio’s leadership in new medical products.

• $200 million establishing the Ohio Main Streets Renewal Initiative to spur redevelopment in downtown neighborhoods in our cities and towns.

• $400 million in the Clean Ohio fund, to advance our efforts to reclaim brown fields and other damaged lands and preserve farm land and open spaces.

• $400 million in the Ohio Public Works Commission to help our local partners with road, bridge, water and sewer projects. These are projects that spur growth in our cities and towns and Ohio as a whole.

State of State Resources

Press Release

Full Text