John Richard Kasich (born May 13, 1952, McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania) is a former Republican United States Representative. He formerly hosted Heartland with John Kasich on the Fox News Channel and also guest hosted The O'Reilly Factor, filling in for Bill O'Reilly as needed. Kasich also frequently appeared as a guest on Hannity & Colmes and now Hannity. On June 1, 2009, Kasich announced his candidacy for Governor of Ohio.[1]
Personal
John Kasich was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, U.S..
Kasich graduated from Ohio State University in 1974 with a B.A. in Political Science. While there, he joined the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity.
Kasich was raised in the Roman Catholic Church but reconsidered his faith after his parents were killed in an automobile crash in 1987.[2] He now attends a non-denominational evangelical Christian Church.
Kasich's biography page on the website of his 2010 Ohio gubernatorial campaign [3] notes that "instead of seeking a 10th congressional term, John decided to remain in Westerville with his wife Karen and twin daughters Emma and Reese, and has pursued new challenges and experiences outside of Washington."
Karen is Kasich's second wife. He divorced his first wife, Mary Lee Griffith, who helped campaign for him after the divorce during the 1990s. [4]
Political career
Congress
Election
After college, Kasich served as a legislative aide to Ohio State Senator Donald "Buz" Lukens. In 1978 he was elected to the Ohio State Senate when he served until he was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982, defeating incumbent Bob Shamansky. Kasich was reelected eight times, serving from 1983 to 2001.[5]
Actions
Kasich claimed to be fiscally conservative, taking aim at programs supported by Republicans and Democrats, teaming up with Rep. Ron Dellums to cut spending on the B-2 Bomber and Ralph Nader in seeking to reduce corporate tax loopholes.[2][6]
During the 1996 presidential campaign, Republican nominee Bob Dole was reported to have considered Kasich as a vice presidential running mate but instead selected Jack Kemp, a former congressman and HUD Secretary.[7] However, during his 1996 re-election campaign Kasich's Democratic opponent in his House race, Cynthia Ruccia, made comments questioning Kasich's sexuality in an attempt to damage him with conservative voters. Ruccia raised the question of the propriety of bachelor Kasich sharing a Washington townhouse with his male chief-of-staff for several years while the staffer drew a large government salary. He nonetheless won the 1996 election. Kasich married in March 1997, at the age of 44.[8]
In 1993, he became the Ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee where he authored an alternative to President Bill Clinton's deficit reduction plan that he presented as relying on spending reductions rather than tax increases. Later that year, the Penny-Kasich Plan, which proposed $103 billion in cuts to federal spending including reductions to Medicare payments for those earning less than $75,000[citation needed], failed by only six votes.[9]
Kasich also served as chair of the congressional committee on welfare reform. In 1994, Kasich was called in by Republicans who supported President's Clinton's Omnibus Crime Bill of 1994 to assist in helping to reduce the overall cost. His support of the bill helped it pass the House, but provisions that outlawed some firearms did not win him fans among gun rights supporters. Many of his constituents were upset that he promised to oppose gun control during his previous election, then voted in favor of it.[10]
Budget chairman
In 1995, when Republicans gained the majority in the United States Congress, Kasich was selected to become Chairman of the House Budget Committee. As Chairman, Kasich worked towards balancing the Federal Budget, and was the chief architect of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. As Chairman of the Budget Committee, Kasich presided over the only U.S. Budget Surplus since 1969.[11]
In 1995, when Kasich assumed the position of Budget Chairman, the U.S. Federal Budget had a deficit of roughly -$163 billion, and upon the conclusion of his tenure as Budget Chairman, the U.S. Federal Budget had a surplus of roughly +$236 billion.[11]
Post-Congress political involvement
Kasich did not seek reelection for the House for the 2000 election, but instead formed an exploratory committee to run for President.[12] He withdrew early in July 1999 and endorsed George W. Bush, the eventual Republican nominee and winner of the election.[13]
Republicans tried to recruit Kasich for Governor of Ohio in 2006; however Kasich declined to enter the race.[14]
Kasich "always had an independent streak," said his friend, Curt Steiner, former chief of staff to former Ohio Governor and now U.S. Senator George Voinovich. "He's a solid Republican, but he's always had his own views. [He's] a biological Democrat" [... his parents were Democrats]. "He came from an average background. He's in touch with people. He's not a Beltway thinker."[15]
In early 2007, Kasich was reportedly considering making a serious run for Governor of Ohio in 2010, seeking the Republican nomination to unseat incumbent Ted Strickland.[16] In March 2008, Kasich said that Ohio's state income tax should be "phased out." [17]
In 2008, Kasich was named the Honorary Chairman of Recharge Ohio; an organization with the stated purpose of electing leaders who would "get our state back on track."[18] Kasich said that he hoped that through Recharge Ohio, he could "provide the framework necessary to allow Ohio to become a leader in economic and educational success."[19]
2010 Ohio Gubernatorial campaign
On May 1, 2009, Kasich filed papers to run for Governor of Ohio.[20][21] He formally announced his candidacy on June 1, 2009.[1]
Private sector
In 2001, Kasich took a job as managing director of the Columbus investment banking division of Lehman Brothers.[22]
Kasich is the author of two books. Courage is Contagious was published in 1998 and made the New York Times bestseller list.[23] His second book, Stand for Something: The Battle for America's Soul was published in 2006.
See also
References
- ^ a b Ex-US Rep formally announces run for Ohio governor
- ^ a b R. W. Apple, A Republican With Rough Edges, New York Times, 4/26/98
- ^ http://www.kasichforohio.com/site/c.hpIJKWOCJqG/b.5280651/k.EB86/Biography.htm
- ^ http://www.enquirer.com/columns/bronson/1998/10/101198pb.html
- ^ Straub, Bill (1998-07-04). "Kasich is a maverick with youth on his side". The Cincinnati Post (E. W. Scripps Company). Archived from the original on 2004-09-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20040918034811/http://www.cincypost.com/news/1998/kasich070498.html.
- ^ Kasich looks at nation, GOP and finds both in trouble, Erich Pianin, Washington Post, Kasich looks at nation, GOP and finds both in trouble 5/28/06
- ^ Bill Schneider, CNN.com, The Last Cookie On The Plate, 4/16/96
- ^ Karen Tumulty,"The Baiting Game", Time Magazine, October 4, 1996
- ^ Richard Lacayo, Time Magazine, Remember the Deficit?
- ^ It oughta be a crime - Omnibus Crime Bill of 1994, National Review, 9/12/1994
- ^ a b U.S. Budget Historical Tables
- ^ CNN.com, Kasich forms exploratory committee to run for president, 2/15/99
- ^ CNN Allpolitics.com, Who's in, Who's out
- ^ Joe Hallett and Jonathan Riskind, Columbus Disptach, GOP voices urge Kasich to enter race for governor, 7/15/05
- ^ http://www.enquirer.com/columns/bronson/1998/10/101198pb.html
- ^ Joe Hallett, Ohio GOP happy as Kasich dips toe in water, Columbus Dispatch, 2/20/2007
- ^ Joe Hallett, Kasich gets set to run in 2010, 3/27/08
- ^ Recharge Ohio
- ^ Recharge Ohio newsletter
- ^ Kasich to run for Ohio governorship
- ^ Kasich names treasurer for 2010 campaign against Strickland
- ^ New York Times, Lehman Hires Kasich 1/11/01
- ^ Kasich to speak at Lincoln Day Dinner, Mount Vernon News, 2/8/08
External links
