COLUMBUS, Ohio -- State Sen. Robert F. Hagan (D Youngstown) has sent a letter to Ohio Gov. Bob Taft urging him to sign an executive order to prevent the outsourcing of Ohio jobs overseas. Similar executive orders have been issued by governors in Michigan and Missouri. "This letter is an effort to get Gov. Taft to take leadership on this issue," Hagan says. "Outsourcing is a critical issue for my district and for the rest of Ohio. Gov. Taft needs to step up to the plate and help prevent the job losses Ohio is experiencing everyday."Missouri Gov. Bob Holden signed an executive order yesterday that requires vendors that bid on state contracts must verify where the work will be performed and will hold the vendors in breach of contract if the work in performed outside the United States, Hagan notes. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm also recently signed an executive order that will prevent state agencies from spending state or federal funds to provide incentives for businesses located in the United States to relocate jobs out of the country. "I sincerely hope Gov. Taft decides to follow the lead of govenors Granholm and Holden," Hagan says. "Ohio can't afford for him to hesitate on this issue." Here is the full text of Hagan's letter to Gov. Taft:As you are aware, outsourcing of American jobs overseas and across the border has taken on great importance here in Ohio and throughout our nation. As this debate intensifies further members of the General Assembly and labor and business leaders will be looking to you and your administration for leadership. With the above in mind, I urge you to sign executive orders similar to those signed by your counterparts in Michigan and Missouri. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently signed Executive Orders 2004-2-3, which prohibit state departments and agencies from spending state or federal funds to provide a financial incentive to induce businesses located in the United States to relocate out of the country, if production offshore will reduce jobs for U.S. workers. The executive orders also give preference to Michigan-based job providers in the state government contracting process and gives the state budget office more oversight over state contracts. Yesterday, Missouri Gov. Bob Holden signed an executive order that requires vendors who bid on state contracts must certify where work will be performed. This order further requires all current contractors to disclose whether work is being performed offshore and provides for breach of contract provisions if contractors ships work offshore after certifying that it will be performed in the U.S. Many legislators in the General Assembly are concerned about the impact outsourcing has on our state and local economy. I hope you will agree that our state agencies should not be in the business of providing incentives and awarding contracts to businesses that relocate American jobs overseas and across the border. I look forward to your anticipated reply to this very important matter. It is my sincere hope that you will follow the lead set by governors Granholm and Holden and stand up for our working men and women."