Here's another stroke of Kasich genius.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich counts on liquor consumption to bring jobs

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The success of Gov. John Kasich's plan to recruit new business to Ohio will hinge heavily on just how much Ohioans drink alcohol.

Kasich last week unveiled his state budget proposal, which includes a plan to lease the state's liquor distribution operation -- which of late has drawn record profits -- and use the cash to fund his private economic development machine.

Since floating the idea earlier this year, the Republican governor says there have been plenty of potential takers. In fact, Ohioans' propensity to consume more than ever, according to recent figures, has influenced the governor's idea most.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/03/ohio_gov_john_kasich_hopes_boo.html

It's easier to focus on dumbass social reforms than jobs. Why work on the hard stuff when you can ram horrible social bull**** through without opposition due to having both houses?

Yeah, let's work on the hard stuff....like our President who refused to meet with congressional Republicans and left Washington to attend fundraisers while Congress gave up its 4th of July recess to stay and work on a budget deal.

Heck, why work on the budget when we can raise funds!....

Kasich is thinking outside the norm to try and revitalize a moribund economy.

What's wrong with that?

As to whether he's counting on people drinking more or less -- yawn. People who drink are adults who can make their own decisions on that front.

But being creative and using this money to entice more jobs into the state is a great idea. Why didn't we think of it before?

^^^ Agreed. Oddly enough, Kasich is the leader who should have run with the campaing slogan, "Hope and Change". The fact of the matter is the status quo was not working. Kasich is thinking outside of the box to raise revenue and cut expenses, just as an owner of a private business would do. I know from experience many do not like change up front, but in the long term those same people realize it was for the best for the long haul.

How much time would you give Kasich to turn things around? One term, two? Less than one? What would have to happen in order for his stewardship to be considered a success? Or a failure?

Well, if you want to be fair, you'd probably give him two terms (since it's all he can have at one time) to make all the changes necessary -- but I'm betting we'll see enough in 4 years to deem what he's done a success. That's even if SB 5 is overturned. Because at least he can say he tried to change the culture of failure but people we're too scared of the unions to let it happen.

However, he's already closed an $8 billion budget deficit without raising taxes (in fact, he let some tax cuts already set to go take place). He's also revised the development agency in the state to allow it more flexibility in retaining and luring jobs. He's also had a hand in retaining several businesses that were in talks with out of state suitors (like Diebold, Bob Evans, American Greetings).

And he hasn't been on the job a full year yet.

Already his resume is better than Strickland's was in 4 years.

To hear you tell it, Ohio will be the land 'o plenty in no time at all. I sure hope you're right, because if Kasich fails it could really be an ugly mess. Of course, you'll never admit it if his policies fail, will you?

Of course I will.

I voted for Strickland and he was one of the biggest failures as governor in Ohio history.

stlouiedipalma;820756 wrote:... I sure hope you're right, because if Kasich fails it could really be an ugly mess. Of course, you'll never admit it if his policies fail, will you?

He' already closed an $8 billion deficit. Unless he leaves one larger he will have accomplished enough to have improved our position.

Con_Alma;820808 wrote:He' already closed an $8 billion deficit. Unless he leaves one larger he will have accomplished enough to have improved our position.

A deficit his predecessor refused to address...simply kicking it down the road by using so-called stimulus funds to close the gap. Real leadership all around there.

We already know Kasich is a leader in every sense of the word. He does what he feels is best for the state, even if the political fallout isn't favorable. That's what you need in tough times; and it's what you need when a state is mired in mediocrity brought on, in large part, by failed policies and programs of the past.

First off it was not an 8 billion dollar deficit. Second off selling off state assets at bargain basement to his Wall street friends will have long term effects that Ohio will never recover from. Kasich should be impeached and thrown in jail.

Bigdogg;820882 wrote:First off it was not an 8 billion dollar deficit. ....

It was an $8 billion dollar budget deficit.

Kasich simply passed the debt to local governments, who won't be able to pass the buck to anyone else.

Sage;820898 wrote:Kasich simply passed the debt to local governments, who won't be able to pass the buck to anyone else.

...some of it yes. Local governments, if they can't convince the citizens who are using the services to pay more for them, will be forced to cut services. The Governor has created a scenario whereby the people will decide if they want to pay for services or not.

If we don't want to pay for services we shouldn't expect others to pay for them for us.

Bigdogg;820882 wrote:First off it was not an 8 billion dollar deficit. Second off selling off state assets at bargain basement to his Wall street friends will have long term effects that Ohio will never recover from. Kasich should be impeached and thrown in jail.

Got some facts to back this up (that isn't Plunder Poop's site) or is this just more the same hatred toward Kasich you've displayed from day one?

And I LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL at anyone who quibbles about a couple BILLION dollars in deficit and then tries to use it as some sort of defense. Lame. Lame. Lame.

He inherited the biggest deficit in Ohio history -- how about that? And he closed it without raising taxes. Now I know all your Democrat buds are pissing and moaning about how they had no say in the budget or they're upset with what ended up being in (or out) of it. But you and they need to be reminded (yet again) that THE DEMOCRATS PASSED ON PUTTING TOGETHER THIS BUDGET WHEN IT WAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY TO DO SO.

That act gives them no right to complain about anything -- or, for that matter, sit in judgment of a man who actually displayed leadership and political courage, two traits sorely lacking in his predecessor.

Sage;820898 wrote:Kasich simply passed the debt to local governments, who won't be able to pass the buck to anyone else.

Why are local governments needing to depend on the good graces of the state for funding LOCAL operations, anyway?

If they can't afford these things on their own merit and with their own funding, then either don't have them or get the locals to pony up more dollars. It's not the responsibility of every Ohio citizen to take care of local programs in Youngstown, Cleveland, Columbus or any other locality or township.

Con_Alma;820901 wrote:...some of it yes. Local governments, if they can't convince the citizens who are using the services to pay more for them, will be forced to cut services. The Governor has created a scenario whereby the people will decide if they want to pay for services or not.

If we don't want to pay for services we shouldn't expect others to pay for them for us.

People always spend other peoples money less responsibly then their own. When it comes to government, the local level is about as close as it gets to their own. Subsidies from the state and feds skew that.

majorspark;820951 wrote:People always spend other peoples money less responsibly then their own. When it comes to government, the local level is about as close as it gets to their own. Subsidies from the state and feds skew that.

Very, very true.

Bigdogg;820882 wrote: Kasich should be impeached and thrown in jail.

Wow. U mad.

Don't get me wrong, folks. I want Ohio to succeed. It appears from where I sit that Kasich is either going to turn the whole thing around or it comes crashing down around all of you. This is a critical point in the state's history and a lot of folks around the country are watching.

The real question is: will people let actual change happen, or will they vote their own billfolds (and those of their relatives and friends) on SB 5?

If we're going to erase the culture of unionism in this state, it needs to happen over an extended period of time so people start to think as individuals, free to make their own choices without having to worry about union pressures. That won't happen overnight.

If Ohio just goes back to doing business the same old tired and unsuccessful way (think old school unionism), then it's going to be a struggle to make the changes necessary to revitalize Ohio's economy.

Con_Alma;820888 wrote:It was an $8 billion dollar budget deficit.

No, it was Kasich's propaganda.

http://innovationohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/io_dispatch_jun181.pdf

Again -- lame. Your guys were too scared of the politics to even TRY and fix the problem, so they punted.

You have no standing to complain now. None. Zero. Zip.

Writerbuckeye;821436 wrote:Again -- lame. Your guys were too scared of the politics to even TRY and fix the problem, so they punted.

You have no standing to complain now. None. Zero. Zip.

My guys ( and yours) have been in control of the state Senate and House for a long time. If you are gonna sit there and say this is all Strickland's fault, I will say None. Zero. Zip to you. I will not come on here and defend Strickland because he was a castrated wimp. But he did sign the Bills sent to him from the senate.

You Guys haulin off on the left about the state of the state is like the buzzard complaining that the shit from the elephant stinks.

Writerbuckeye;821436 wrote:Again -- lame. Your guys were too scared of the politics to even TRY and fix the problem, so they punted.

You have no standing to complain now. None. Zero. Zip.

How do you explain then Strickland's first budget passing with only one no vote?