Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today announced his support for establishing an independent deputy inspector general to monitor federal Recovery Act resource expenditures.

Also today, the U.S. Government Accountability Office announced that Ohio is one of 16 states that will participate in ongoing reviews of the use of Recovery Act resources, providing additional federal monitoring and transparency.

“Ohio taxpayers deserve nothing less than a full and transparent accounting of how the federal stimulus resources will be spent in their communities to create and save thousands of Ohio jobs and promote lasting economic growth,” Strickland said.  “I support the establishment of a new, independent, non-partisan deputy inspector general position with authority to monitor distribution of federal recovery resources in Ohio to ensure taxpayers have full confidence in the stimulus process.”

Yesterday, the Ohio House Finance Committee voted to include this language in the transportation budget.  The model is well-established in Ohio, as demonstrated by deputy inspector general positions at the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation and Industrial Commission

“I am hopeful that other legislators will see the value of establishing rigorous oversight through an independent deputy inspector general,” Strickland said.

Ohio was one of the first states to establish a public Web site, Recovery.ohio.gov, to provide information about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and to ensure that all eligible entities seeking federal stimulus resources are provided with an opportunity to apply for funds, and that they are considered fairly and equally.  This website will also serve as the portal through which Ohioans will find the full details of future stimulus expenditures.

“My administration will continue to work in a bipartisan way with members of the Ohio congressional delegation, Ohio General Assembly and other leaders throughout the state to make certain that we put these resources to work in our communities in the manner most accountable to taxpayers and to the federal government,” Strickland said.