Statement from President E. Gordon Gee

"I want to express my gratitude to Gov. Strickland, House Speaker Budish, Senate President Harris and members of the Ohio General Assembly. They have demonstrated principled and responsible leadership in the passage of the state budget bill. During very challenging times, our elected leaders have extended our state's forward momentum and made a strategic commitment to Ohio's long-term economic well-being by continuing to invest in the education of our young people.

"We think Ohio State's Project One is an ideal candidate to demonstrate the benefits of construction reform. Construction flexibility on the $1 billion expansion of our academic medical center would allow us to be a better financial steward through the faster, more efficient completion of this important project. And, of course, it would speed up the creation of jobs and enable us to accelerate both promising research and patient care."