COLUMBUS - State Representative Robert F. Hagan (D-Youngstown) offered an amendment today that would require oil and natural gas companies to hire at least sixty percent of their workforce from Ohio.
"It's clear to me, and it should be clear to all of us here, that we want to do everything we can to make sure our constituents-Ohioans- have jobs," said Rep. Hagan. "It's shameful that Republicans haven't taken this amendment seriously. It's such a simple, small step to ensure Ohioans are getting jobs in our state instead of people from Oklahoma and Texas."
The amendment would ensure that Ohioans benefit from the expansion of fracking in the state. Introduced on the House floor as an amendment to Senate Bill 319, it would require that any time a company applies for a permit to drill a new horizontal well in Ohio, the owner of the well must submit a signed affidavit stating that at least sixty percent of their full-time employees are residents of Ohio.
"Republican leadership has had multiple opportunities to ensure Ohioans are being put to work on wells and rigs in our state, but they've caved to special interests each time," said Rep. Hagan. "Now, the Governor is finally realizing this is an issue, yet still no one is responding to the call to hire Ohioans. I have a suspicion that if my name didn't have a "D" next to it, this would have passed."
The amendment was tabled by House Republicans with a vote of 56-36. The amendment was offered previously to SB 315, the Governor's energy bill, but denied then as well. Recently, Governor Kasich has publicly realized that the oil and gas industry may not be living up to their potential in employing Ohioans.
