Ohio governor: End bans on some jobs for freed felons

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - Gov. John Kasich says it's wrong that felons who have served their time aren't able to work in certain professions.

Kasich says he's pushing to reform Ohio law to allow felons to do jobs such as cutting hair and driving trucks that they're not allowed to do now.

Kasich made the pitch for these changes in his State of the State speech Tuesday in Steubenville.

He and Republican lawmakers changed Ohio's sentencing laws last year to keep more non-violent offenders out of prison, where they're more likely to pick up bad habits that could lead to new crimes.

Kasich says the state also needs to crack down on human trafficking, calling it a scourge in the state.

He also said Ohio doesn't need to choose between a developing shale energy industry and a clean environment. Kasich told legislators he's committed to environmentally safe oil and natural gas development.

The governor said major drillers are responsible and he won't allow an irresponsible "yahoo"' to ruin the industry's reputation.

Kasich said the initial result from Ohio's growing shale development in eastern Ohio "looks pretty good."

The governor called on lawmakers to help make sure colleges and universities are preparing the skilled workers needed by the shale industry.

Several members of the public in the balcony jeered the governor's energy comments and were escorted out.