The head of Ohio’s Consumer’s Counsel, Janine Migden Ostrander, has resigned. She says the agency can not move forward in the way she thinks it should due to budget cuts.
Ostrander says, “Last January the governor issued an ultimatum to the citizens of Ohio to either get on his bus or be run over by it. At the beginning of his administration, I tried to get on that bus, but the doors were locked to the OCC and the four point five million households we represent. But now, having experienced the lack of respect for this highly accountable, ineffective office, the blatant disregard for the facts, and the abandonment of concepts of simple fairness and the opportunity to be heard that are at the foundation of American democracy, I do not want to get on that bus, because I do not like where it is going. The bus is running over consumers, and has no brakes.”
Migden Ostrander says her agency has saved Ohio consumers more than 8 billion dollars during her time at the helm. She is critical of Governor John Kasich, saying he locked the door of his bus to her and Ohio’s 4 point 2 million utility consumers. After election last year, Kasich cautioned lobbyists to get on his bus or the bus would run them over.
For his part, Kasich doesn’t have much to say about Migden Ostrander’s resignation. "No, I haven't even thought about it. I've been in this conference all day, but I wish her the best."
Migden Ostrander’s resignation is effective on October 15th. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will be in charge of appointing her permanent replacement.