Dispatch: Strickland's economic growth cabinet met only three times

The Columbus Dispatch reports:

Saying he has no greater priority than getting Ohio's economy moving again, Gov. Ted Strickland created a new Economic Growth Cabinet one year ago to "focus on creating jobs and increasing economic growth opportunities."

But the group has met only three times. And although no one denies the effects that the global recession has had on all states, Ohio continues to fare worse than most others in net job losses. ...

Things moved much faster in Colorado.

After former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens issued a similar executive order in 2003, the state had its centralized Web site up and running in three months, said Rick O'Donnell, who helped lead the effort.

O'Donnell said such a system is critical because it allows consumers and small businesses that can't hire lobbyists to monitor changes that affect them and give them a say in the process.

Ohio officials say they are limited by a lack of resources, but O'Donnell said Colorado got its project off the ground with existing staff and no additional funding.

(Source: The Columbus Dispatch, 10/04/09)