Ohio Dems 'Report Card' on go-go Gov. Kasich: 3Fs, 2Ds, 1C minus

In a statement released later by House Minority Leader Armond Budish of Cleveland, the former Ohio House Speaker said Kasich has done little for public education and the struggling working and middle class families across this state over the last year. Budish aid Kasich cut hundreds of millions from education and has yet to present a long-term solution to the unconstitutional funding system, which is only forcing local schools to pass new levies raising property taxes.

 

With the news still fresh that Detroit's Big Three automakers have recovered from potential bankruptcy, some Republicans like Mitt Romney and even Kasich himself said would have been better than providing assistance as President Obama did, Democrats are particularly incensed that the Governor is taking credit for jobs he and other Republicans seemed satisfied to lose, if that's what it took to whittle down unions and wages union members won in contract negotiations. 

 

"While unemployment is at its lowest rate since January 2009, Gov. Kasich's attempts to take credit for rescuing the economy are farcical," Budish said, noting that Kasich spoke out against policies that protected the auto industry and saved over 8,000 manufacturing jobs just in Ohio alone.

 

Almost all jobs created in 2011 were created in the first six months, before the governor's policies took effect, Budish reminded reporters in the "React Room" at the Wells Academy school in Steubenville. Kasich gloated in his SOTS that during his first year, Ohio had a net job gain of over 45,000 jobs. Budish begged to diver: "During the last six months, the state actually lost jobs and many people have stopped looking for work but are still unemployed," he said, asking Kasich to recall that Ohio's unemployment rate dropped two full percentage points from 10. 6 percent to 8.6 percent before his policies even took effect.

 

"Gov. Kasich has rained lavish benefits on special interests and major Republican friends, giving huge tax cuts to the wealthiest among us, while selling off state assets and selling out the middle class," the Cleveland lawyer said. "Democrats have stood up and fought to protect working families and middle class Ohioans from the assaults on workers' rights, women's rights and voters' rights. And we will continue to fight against the Republicans' overreaching radical agenda."