John Kasich

Infobox_Congressman
name = John Richard Kasich


date of birth = birth date and age|1952|5|13
place of birth = McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
state = Ohio
district = 12th
term = 1983 – 2001
preceded = Robert N. Shamansky
succeeded = Patrick J. Tiberi
party = Republican
spouse = Karen Waldbillig
religion = Christian

John Richard Kasich (born May 13, 1952, McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania) is a former Republican United States Representative who is now a television show host for FOX News Channel. He formerly hosted "Heartland with John Kasich" and also guest hosts "The O'Reilly Factor", filling in for Bill O'Reilly when necessary.

Personal

A native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, Kasich graduated from The Ohio State University in 1974 with a B.A. in political science. He was a member of 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. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9900EFD8113CF935A15757C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print R. W. Apple, "A Republican With Rough Edges", New York Times, 4/26/98] ] He now attends a non-denominational evangelical Christian Church. Kasich married the former Karen Waldbillig in 1997 and has twin daughters.

Political career

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. [cite news|url=http://www.cincypost.com/news/1998/kasich070498.html|title=Kasich is a maverick with youth on his side|author=Bill Straub|first=Bill|last=Straub|work=The Cincinnati Post|publisher=E. W. Scripps Company|date=1998-07-04|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040918034811/http://www.cincypost.com/news/1998/kasich070498.html|archivedate=2004-09-18] Kasich was 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. [ [http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/entertainment/article/0,1626,ECP_738_4729770,00.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] ]

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 would have cut federal spending by $90 billion, failed by only six votes. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,979537,00.html Richard Lacayo, Time Magazine, Remember the Deficit?] ]

After 1994, Republicans became the majority party in the United States Congress and Kasich became Chairman of the House Budget Committee where one of his stated goals was working towards a balanced budget. 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. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n17_v46/ai_15844122 "It oughta be a crime - Omnibus Crime Bill of 1994", National Review, 9/12/1994] ]

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. [ [http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9604/16/veep/index.shtml Bill Schneider, CNN.com, The Last Cookie On The Plate, 4/16/96] ] 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 and subsequently married in March 1997. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985297-1,00.html Karen Tumulty, TIme Magazine, The Baiting Game, 10/4/96] ]

He did not seek reelection for the House for the 2000 election, but instead formed an exploratory committee to run for President. [ [http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/15/president.2000/kasich.announce CNN.com, Kasich forms exploratory committee to run for president, 2/15/99] ] He withdrew early in July 1999 and endorsed George W. Bush, the eventual Republican nominee and winner of the election. [ [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/resources/whosin.whosout/ CNN Allpolitics.com, Who's in, Who's out] ]

He took a job as managing director of the investment banking division of Lehman Brothers in 2001. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07E6DB1E3AF932A25752C0A9679C8B63&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fK%2fKasich%2c%20John%20R%2e New York Times, Lehman Hires Kasich 1/11/01] ] Kasich is currently chairman of the New Century Project.

Republicans tried to recruit Kasich for Governor of Ohio in 2006; however Kasich was not interested in the race. [ [http://www.columbusdispatch.com/topstory.php?story=dispatch/2005/07/15/20050715-A1-02.html Joe Hallett and Jonathan Riskind, Columbus Disptach, GOP voices urge Kasich to enter race for governor, 7/15/05] ]

Kasich is now thinking about making a serious run for Governor of Ohio in 2010, seeking the Republican nomination to unseat incumbent Ted Strickland. [http://www.dispatch.com/live/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/20/20070220-D1-05.html Joe Hallett, "Ohio GOP happy as Kasich dips toe in water", Columbus Dispatch, 2/20/2007] ]

John Kasich has stated that Ohio's state income tax has to be "phased out." Meanwhile, Democrats label him "the leading cheerleader for the failed policies of President Bush" on Fox News. [ [http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/27/kasich.ART_ART_03-27-08_A1_9F9OP95.html?sid=101 Joe Hallett, Kasich gets set to run in 2010, 3/27/08] ]

Kasich is the author of two books: "Courage is Contagious" was published in 1998 and made the New York Times bestseller list. [ [http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/08/02/08/lincoln.day.html "Kasich to speak at Lincoln Day Dinner", Mount Vernon News, 2/8/08] ] His second book, "Stand for Something: The Battle for America's Soul" was published in 2006.

ee also

* Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 12th District
* List of United States Representatives from Ohio

References

External links

* [http://www.johnkasich.com/ John Kasich's official website]