Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's corporate incentive agreements report found that only 220 of 420 job creation projects which ended during former Gov. Ted Strickland's administration completed the terms of their agreement, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Strickland and Cincinnati-area government leaders courted Tata, one of India's wealthiest companies, to the area with $21.5 million in grants and state tax breaks, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The company was supposed to create 1,000 high-paying positions but currently employs only 269 workers. Only 40 of the most expensive job creation deals in the past decade actually reached new job quotas.
Ohioans shared their views on tax incentives for job creation via email, instant messaging and Twitter.
* "Only tax incentives which coincide with a per job creation guideline should be allowed. That is what Gov. John Kasich is doing now through the Ohio Department of Development and JobsOhio. Grants often offer too much wiggle room for excuses and forgiveness for businesses which claim to have made valiant attempts yet go under, like Solyndra." -- Bill Loudner, small business owner, Dayton.
* "If we just raised the amount of money the 1 percent pay in taxes, there would be enough money to help create jobs. We need to attract more businesses to Ohio by promoting a safe and fair union work environment and low taxes for the middle class. This is corporate welfare at its worst. The Republicans don't want to end welfare for the rich, only for the poor and disenfranchised." -- Rashawna Eastman, Ohio State University graduate student, Columbus.
* "I hope the Attorney General DeWine is far tougher than his predecessor on those companies which didn't comply with the requirements yet still got taxpayer dollars. The Cincinnati Enquirer article says that the state only went after one of 20 companies which was given money yet didn't live up to the agreement. Tax incentives and reasonable taxes will draw business to Ohio and create jobs, but those who abuse the gift need to be punished." -- Jason Wheeler, construction foreman, New Lexington.
* "Liberals try to pin the evil corporations on Republicans, but hundreds of deals were approved by Strickland. President Obama's connection with General Electric scored them huge grants and tax incentives. Tax incentives which lower start-up costs and pave the road for job creation are a good thing, but need to be monitored and penalties levied when agreement are broken." -- Tasha Cox, nurse, Columbus.
* "All businesses, sports complex and social services programs which benefit from taxpayer dollars should be held to a very high standard and monitored much more strictly than they have been. If dollars are mismanaged or service and hiring agreements are broken, the money should be paid back with interest." -- Stephen Weir, computer technician, Akron.
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