Stuffed somewhere in the middle of John Kasich's proposed budget are a handful of lines that would make Tim Keen the most powerful un-elected person in Ohio. Who is Tim Keen, you ask? He's the Director of the Office of Budget & Management.
Kasich's budget authorizes the OMB Director to issue state contracts (for up to 75 years!) for any state service to any applicant that he alone deems "qualified to more efficiently and effectively provide those services." And those lucky hand-picked winners would pay no taxes on gross receipts or on any income "derived from providing public services."
There are zero requirements on a winning "bidder", and there is no review mechanism or approval process. Just the say-so of a single political appointee.
This sleaziness takes cronyism, patronage and secrecy to new heights, and is just the sort of "speed of business" horseshit that Kasich revels in: Openness? Public record? Fairness? Legislative oversight? Fuck it, man, too slow!
The Big Bus Driver's lead foot could put us all in the ditch.