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Kasich wants changes but will save details for fall

Republican running for governor says Ohio taxes are too high, regulations are too burdensome.

Jan Underwood/Staff photographer John Kasich, Republican candidate for governor

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By Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau Updated 11:18 PM Thursday, March 18, 2010

DAYTON — Republican John Kasich can talk at length about what he thinks Ohio needs to do to get out of the economic ditch — phase out the state income tax, reform regulations, cut government spending — but the gubernatorial candidate is reticent about the details.

“I’m not proposing any of that today. We’ll get to that in the fall,” Kasich told the Dayton Daily News editorial board on Thursday, March 18, when pressed for specific details of his plans if he were elected Ohio governor.

Kasich, who is challenging incumbent Gov. Ted Strickland, said Ohio’s taxes are too high and its regulations too burdensome to attract businesses. Kasich has proposed phasing out the state income tax, although he won’t say over what time period.

Critics of a pending GOP bill to phase out the income tax over 10 years say it would wipe out 45 percent of the general revenue fund, triggering massive cuts to state government. Policy Matters Ohio of Cleveland noted that closing all prisons, chopping state aid to higher education and eliminating property tax relief still would not account for the revenue that would be lost if Ohio got rid of its income tax.

Kasich maintains that lower taxes and better regulations would put out the welcome mat for businesses, which would in turn bring jobs and more tax revenues.

Ohio is still struggling economically despite a 2005 tax cut package designed to make the state more appealing to businesses. Kasich said those tax reforms didn’t go far enough to “move the needle.”

Kasich, a former Lehman Brothers investment banker, Fox News show host and congressman, has proposed cutting government spending, although he won’t say which state programs will feel the pain.

“There are ways to go after all these government programs and make them function better,” Kasich said.

Kasich said it isn’t that he doesn’t have specifics; he wants to unveil them in the fall when voters are paying attention and he has had a chance to further refine them.

“You’re interested in the same thing I am. How the heck are we going to get Ohio out of this ditch? And I just don’t believe these people (the Strickland administration) are capable of it. I just don’t think they have any idea, any imagination, any creativity to get us out of this,” Kasich said.

Strickland campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith responded that Strickland has cut the size of state government, held the line on taxes, and invested in growth industries.

“Congressman Kasich has already laid out what his “creative” plans are- bringing failed Washington-Wall Street economic policies to Ohio and implementing a reckless tax plan that would devastate local services and create a crippling budget deficit,” Smith said. “We’re confident that the more Ohioans learn about Kasich’s radical agenda, the less they will believe his empty promises.”

Contact this reporter at  (614) 224-1624 or lbischoff @DaytonDailyNews.com.

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