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Ohio Gov. John Kasich flies into Washington Tuesday to meet with a group of heavy hitters – including some of his former congressional colleagues – who have lent their names and support to the governor’s bid for president.
Among those included on Kasich’s “steering committee” of D.C. supporters is Rep. Mike Turner of Dayton and Columbus-area Reps. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Twp., who is chairing the committee, and Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington.
Also on the committee are a handful of former Ohio lawmakers – Reps. Deborah Pryce, R-Upper Arlington, who at one time was the fourth-highest Republican in the House, and Mike Oxley, R-Findlay, a former chair of the House Financial Services Committee.
The steering committee is being co-chaired by Bob Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. Rusbuldt volunteered for Kasich’s 1999 presidential campaign. The committee is described as providing “advice, counsel and support” to Kasich.
Also in the who’s who of former Kasich colleagues:
* former Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., who led the National Republican Congressional Committee,
* former Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., who steered the House Intelligence Committee,
* former Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., who chaired the House Financial Services Committee,
* former Rep. Bob Walker, R-Pa., former Rep. Jim Walsh, R-N.Y.,
* and lobbyists including John Downs Jr., head of the National Confectioners Association, Adam Francis, a former Kasich staffer now with Ernst and Young and Sue Andres of Union Pacific. The lobbyists are serving as individuals – not on behalf of their organizations, Rusbuldt said.
Kasich tomorrow will meet with about 35 to 40 congressional chiefs of staff, Rusboldt said, then meet with members of the Kasich steering committee. At 5, he’ll meet with uncommitted members of Congress, former members of Congress and those in the private sector who have not committed to any presidential candidates. He’ll also appear on Bret Baier with Fox News and with members of the Fox editorial board. “It’s a full day in D.C.,” Rusboldt said.
He said the 20 on the steering committee represents the “in-the-trench, worker bee group that is doing a lot of work for him behind the scenes,” but that many other Ohio members of Congress also plan to support and endorse him, most likely after he announces his White House bid July 21 at the Ohio State University.
Absent from the list – so far – are the two Ohio lawmakers most prolific at fundraising: House Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester Twp. and Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who spearheaded fundraising for Senate Republicans in 2014. Rusboldt said Kasich has talked to both men, but they are not currently on the steering committee.
In all, there are 20 members of the committee.
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