House Republicans introduced a bill yesterday to expand the power of Ohio's inspector general to investigate all statewide executive officeholders and eventually transfer the authority to appoint the inspector general from the governor to Ohio's chief justice.

Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, said there was no intent to rush House Bill 576 into law. Rather, "this is to begin the discussion."

In the wake of the scandal involving former Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann, Gov. Ted Strickland recently signed a law giving Inspector General Thomas P. Charles one-time authority to investigate the attorney general's office. Otherwise, the inspector general's purview is limited to the governor's administration.

Husted said the bill would give the inspector general permanent authority to also investigate the offices of attorney general, treasurer, auditor and secretary of state.

"We know who to call when there are allegations of wrongdoing in the administration, but with respect to those other offices, who do you call?" Husted said.

Strickland, who has authority to appoint the inspector general, had expressed reservations about expanding the power to investigate other officeholders because it could cause future perceptions of gubernatorial witch hunts.

For that reason, Husted said, the authority to appoint the inspector general would be transferred to the chief justice when Strickland completes his term in 2011.

"We just thought the chief justice would be perceived as the most impartial appointer," Husted said, noting he had tried to reach Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer to discuss the bill but could not connect.

Late yesterday, Moyer issued a statement saying he had just become aware of the bill: "I will be studying the legislation closely and will offer my perspective on the bill in the near future."

Strickland's spokesman, Keith Dailey, said the governor does not support the approach because he thinks it raises serious concerns about violating the separation of powers in state government.

Dailey likened the proposal to having the governor appoint an inspector general to investigate the legislature, which the legislature no doubt would oppose.

But Strickland is open to the idea of having some independent oversight entity for each branch of government or elected office, Dailey said.

Husted said he does not think that "each of these offices warrant their own inspector general." The more prudent course, he said, is to expand the inspector general's authority.

"What we didn't want to do is create a bunch of new government. We believe one office is sufficient to do these investigations."

Charles said he had not seen the bill and could not say much about it. "I think there's a lot of discussion that would need to occur; obviously, commitment to staff, and how they would fund it, and those kinds of things."

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Kevin Bacon, R-Minerva Park Township, said the sexual-harassment scandal that chased Dann from office showed a void in the state's ability to investigate wrongdoing by elected officials.

"The reckless conduct of our former attorney general underscores the need for independent oversight of our statewide officeholders," Bacon said. "This bill will provide consistency and fairness over all of those offices."

Dispatch reporter Mark Niquette contributed to this story.

jhallett@dispatch.com

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