Strickland proposes $200 million to create biomedical jobs

To combat a struggling state economy, Gov. Ted Strickland is proposing to sell $1.7 billion in 20-year state bonds to pay for public-works projects and other items to create jobs under a "Building Ohio Jobs" initiative. (Source: "Economy tops agenda; education close behind," Columbus Dispatch, Feb. 7, 2008.) Of that money, $200 million would be spent on the biomedical industry. "This is a targeted investment in those areas of the state that we already have identified as some of our greatest assets and strengths," said Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher. However, Republican leaders questioned the effectiveness of Strickland's plan and if the state could afford to borrow this much money.