Harris joins push for Third Frontier

Concerns ease over timing of $1 billion tech-jobs request

DAYTON DAILY NEWS VIA AP

Ohio’s Senate president now says he’s willing to work toward a May ballot issue to renew a program to boost the science and technology industries within the state. The decision erases a point of disagreement between Republicans and Democrats over the job-creating program’s future.

Senate President Bill M. Harris, an Ashland Republican, said last week that he agrees with working toward putting an issue on the May 2010 ballot to renew the Ohio Third Frontier. The program provides startup funding to businesses trying to break into industries such as advanced materials and energy, power and propulsion, and biomedicine.

Previously, Harris has said there’s no need to rush renewal because the program’s funds won’t run out until 2012. Harris has said putting the issue in front of voters before leaders can adequately explain what it’s for could lead to its defeat, especially at a time when many voters are wary of government spending.

Some Democrats speculated that Republicans were wary of supporting the issue for the May ballot because it might give Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, an economic accomplishment to tout during his 2010 re-election campaign.

But last week, Harris said he believes the proposal can be successful in May.

Harris spokeswoman Maggie Ostrowski said the senator is “willing to work toward May” but that questions need to be answered to make sure the program remains focused on creating new technologies and not just replacing existing programs.

Democrats who control the Ohio House are pressing a proposal that would ask voters to sign off on $1 billion in bonds to fund Third Frontier. They have been pushing for the May ballot for months because they think waiting until later elections will either bog down the program in politics or risk an interruption in funding.

It is unclear whether the full $1 billion in bonds has widespread support among lawmakers.

In 2005, voters approved $500 million in bonds for the program.

Third Frontier needs strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate by Feb. 3 to make it to the May ballot. Because it’s a ballot issue, the proposal will need 60 votes in the 99-member House and 20 votes in the Republican-controlled, 33-member Senate.

A recent independent study found that the $1.6 billion program, which began under Republican Gov. Bob Taft in 2002, has created about 41,000 jobs.