Lt. Gov. Fisher: Ohio Economic Growth "Number One Priority."

PD: In a state where job growth far lags the nation's, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher said Friday that preserving, expanding and bringing in new economic opportunities is the "single highest priority" of Ohio's administrative branch. He called his associates in the state development department, which Fisher heads, "deal-makers" with "about 1,000 different projects of different types working all the time." But he also said they must operate strategically to guide Ohio's growth, especially at a time of national economic stress. The department is preparing a strategic plan for Ohio economic development that Fisher expects to make public in draft form in early February. He promised a final plan before the end of March.

These guys took office when? Now we are finding out that economic growth is their "highest priority?" What took a year? What happened to "TurnAround Ohio?" Everyone knows Ohio's weak economy should be the #1 priority. Fisher promises a plan before this March. Very bold - 13 months after he and Strickland took office they will have come up with something, though in fairness they are making more progress on this front than the school funding front (no progress). Along the same lines, it did not take quite as long for the state Democrats to try and take credit for the Republican tax cuts of 2005 - even though only one Democrat in the entire state Senate and House voted yes. (See: Ohio Department of Taxation release - "The new income-tax rates are part of a package of tax reforms enacted by the Ohio General Assembly in 2005 and embraced by Gov. Ted Strickland in his 2008-09 budget proposal"). But back to Fisher.

Lee Fisher took a big political gamble when he decided to take Gov. Ted's offer to be both Lt. Governor and head of the Director of State Development department. Fisher is not content to be just Lt. Governor. He has always wanted bigger and better things for himself as a politician. I personally think he has eye set on George Voinovich's Senate seat....I just can't see him wasting away as Strickland's #2 for very long. Taking that into consideration, now might be a good time to fill out an event request form to have Fisher come to your place of business. Who would possibly want Lee Fisher to show up at their event? I should have an event for my website and invite him, claiming I am promoting internet development in Ohio. I would click the "present award" option on the form. That would be a nice picture.

In an unrelated note, I am putting out an APB for my red Nike Ohio State winter hat. It is impossible I would have lost it, so I think it was stolen. Last known sighting of it was on Wednesday - on my head. Whereabouts now are unknown.