Ohio school facilities commission says director won't favor union firms

From The Columbus Dispatch: The Ohio School Facilities Commission has approved a policy clarifying that it would be inappropriate for its executive director "to coerce or threaten retribution" to get school districts to use union construction firms. The resolution also makes it clear that an Ohio inspector general's report didn't prove that commission director Richard Murray threatened or coerced anyone to pay prevailing union wages or use project labor agreements. The commission's new policy will give Murray the responsibility of ensuring that all agency initiatives are carried out "with the highest level of integrity and ethical standards."


EARLIER...from The Cleveland Plain Dealer: A state representative in Ohio wants the state inspector general's office to conduct a deeper investigation of the Ohio School Facilities Commission. State Rep. Kris Jordan, a Republican, says he is concerned that school-furnishing contracts are being steered toward specific companies, eliminating competition and costing taxpayers more money.

Earlier...from The Columbus Dispatch: The leader of the Ohio School Facilities Commission abused his authority by participating in union "arm-twisting" to pressure school officials to use union labor on lucrative building projects, according to a state investigation. A report by Inspector General Thomas P. Charles criticized Richard Murray, executive director of the facilities commission, for crossing the line of propriety in a bid to help steer tax dollars to organized labor.