Topic: Governor John Kasich

[ClevelandOhio]

I wouldnt over reacted about this. I mean come on guys, rip on him when he does someting stupid or crazy, this is not one of those times

[Scrabble]

gov. kasich, fiscal conservative!

http://www.plunderbund.com/2011/01/06/governors-office-salaries-going-way-up-under-kasich/

I'd like to see that reported somewhere other than plunderbund.com

Has it been reported anywhere else? Or is plunderbund the only blog in the world with access to Scribd.com?

This is the makings of the scandal if it's true and Gov. Scrooge McDuck is writing checks for his buddies on a whim. I suspect there's more to this story.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/01/kasich_top_staffers_earn_more.html

Thank you. Here's a quote from the article:


"The Kasich administration stressed that the governor's office staff will include eight fewer positions than under former Gov. Ted Strickland. Team Kasich will earn a total salary and benefits package of $5.99 million compared to $6.38 million for Strickland, according to the information released by Kasich's office."

[Hts121]

I wonder if he has at least satisfied the Rooney rule...

As of Thursday, Kasich had appointed nearly two dozen cabinet members and none were African American or Hispanic.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/black-leaders-seek-diversity-in-kasich%27s-cabinet

I'm trying to imagine the outrage if Obama had apointed two dozen cabinet members and they were all black.

[Scrabble]

New Ohio governor John Kasich fills cabinet with old faces
BY JON CRAIG • JCRAIG@ENQUIRER.COM • JANUARY 9, 2011

COLUMBUS - Gov.-elect John Kasich promised Ohio a "new day" and even named the group organizing this weekend's inauguration celebration the Kasich-Taylor New Day Committee Inc.

Yet eight of the Westerville Republican's first 13 cabinet nominees are hardly new to the "public trough,'' as Kasich often likes to dub it. They are holdovers or rehires from the administrations of Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, and ex-Republican Govs. George Voinovich and Bob Taft.
...

Rob Nichols, Kasich's spokesman, said the incoming governor is trying to hire the best and brightest people to fill each key state agency job.

more: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110109/NEWS0108/101100303/New-Ohio-governor-John-Kasich-fills-cabinet-with-old-faces

[David]

I dont have a huge problem with that

Why not? You do realize this guy has a history of giving jobs to his friends as favors? It's probably the result of kick-backs from his old political days - going to Lehman and evading the Chandra Levy case he effectively evaded by dropping out and joining Lehman or perhaps hooking people up who contributed to his newest campaign

. His former Chief-of Staff continues to make what, over $600,000 a year off of him? Who is to say these guys are qualified to make as much money as they do? Have we seen any track records made public? Is there some extortion going on or something? Given his bias towards privatization, I'm suspecting these workers will actually be making more money, from being "incentivized", hell, bribed, in ways that don't show up in the books. It'll be a burden on taxpayers in some less trackable ways.

If you ask me, I don't like the whole perception of government workers being lazy, incompetent and over-paid. It used to be so honorable; you were highly respected by providing even a modest civic duty to society through government work but thanks to the current perception, perpetuated by the GOP, it's becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy wherein the workers are expected to be pencil-pushing bureaucratic drones or city workers doing manual labor in between 2 hour breaks. The classic picture painted of 5 construction workers standing around staring at one other guy who is actually installing the utilities.

[Scrabble]

I dont have a huge problem with that

Why not? You do realize this guy has a history of giving jobs to his friends as favors? His former Chief-of Staff continues to make what, over $600,000 a year off of him? Who is to say these guys are qualified to make as much money as they do? Have we seen any track records made public? Is there some extortion going on or something? Given his bias towards privatization, I'm suspecting these workers will actually be making more money, from being "incentivized", hell, bribed, in ways that don't show up in the books. It'll be a burden on taxpayers in some less trackable ways.

If you ask me, I don't like the whole perception of government workers being lazy, incompetent and over-paid. It used to be so honorable, you were highly respected by providing even a modest civic duty to society through government work but thanks to the current perception, perpetuated by the GOP, it's becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy wherein the workers are expected to be pencil-pushing drones or city workers doing manual labor in between 2 hour breaks. The classic picture painted of 5 construction workers standing around staring at one other guy who is actually installing the utilities.

Is there a problem if a Governor hires someone he knows? Is he supposed to hire strangers? I'm sure if an appointee was unqualified we would hear about it quickly.

Overall, Team Kasich has 8 fewer positions and will spend less than Team Strickland. Where's the scandal here? Am I missing something?

[David]

Yeah, that's why we have HR departments to eliminate such shenanigans. You can't just hook up your close buddies who happen to do political or financial favors for you. I haven't researched any of these guys yet but I know for a fact Strickland surrounded himself with some very talented people. I met some of them. I'll give Kasich benefit of the doubt but I'd like to see their performance tracked and made public to prove his own point. That's all I'm saying.

I have a big problem with a lot of 'appointees' in general, because of this. Kasich might not actually be the main culprit in future scandals.

George Bush's appointees could be used as a prime example of things to come in terms of Ohio politics.

Supreme Court Justices and CIA. Hell, Alice Fisher was appointed by KARL ROVE. She was also tight with Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. Btw, Boehner's former Chief of Staff who still works for him, Barry Jackson, is also really tight with Karl Rove. That might explain why Boehner isn't in prison where he should be. Gonzalez is Rove's b!tch from Texas. The Bush Regime exerted too much influence over the Justice Dept. and CIA it's ridiculous. If you don't believe that, you're delusional. Research some old controversies and you can see how it likely lead to some serious injustices.

[Keith]

^Can we leave GWB out of this thread please?

Overall, Team Kasich has 8 fewer positions and will spend less than Team Strickland. Where's the scandal here? Am I missing something?

If the budget is in such bad shape that he's cutting salaries for many state employees, than hiring top staffers at higher salaries than their predecessors is hypocritical and kindof makes him look like jerk. If those top staffers do a really good job, than there's nothing wrong with having paid them well.

[ClevelandOhio]

$62,000 to help run a state seems a bit low. Maybe a little more money will give them more motivation to do a good job.

And If I were in charge of some company, ad lets say I was going to hire an accountant, and I had a friend who I knew was really good, follows all the rules, and we get a long, I would most likely hire him instead of hiring some random person and hoping it works out. Im not a fan of the guy at all, I hate what he did with the 3C project, but with this, I dont see a problem. Almost everybody in any field of work hires people that they have some connection with if they know they can get the job done. Its life.

[Ram23]

I wonder if he has at least satisfied the Rooney rule...

As of Thursday, Kasich had appointed nearly two dozen cabinet members and none were African American or Hispanic.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/black-leaders-seek-diversity-in-kasich%27s-cabinet

I'm trying to imagine the outrage if Obama had apointed two dozen cabinet members and they were all black.

87% of Ohio's population is white.  24 appointees so far, out of how many total? Not to mention we're talking about Republican appointments; really, there aren't a whole lot of black republicans for Kasich to pick from.  There would be outrage if Obama chose two dozen black cabinet members, as it would be clearly motivated by race.  What Kasich has done makes sense, statistically; it's clearly not racially motivated.

[ClevelandOhio]

I wonder if he has at least satisfied the Rooney rule...

As of Thursday, Kasich had appointed nearly two dozen cabinet members and none were African American or Hispanic.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/black-leaders-seek-diversity-in-kasich%27s-cabinet

I'm trying to imagine the outrage if Obama had apointed two dozen cabinet members and they were all black.

87% of Ohio's population is white.  24 appointees so far, out of how many total? Not to mention we're talking about Republican appointments; really, there aren't a whole lot of black republicans for Kasich to pick from.  There would be outrage if Obama chose two dozen black cabinet members, as it would be clearly motivated by race.  What Kasich has done makes sense, statistically; it's clearly not racially motivated.

I have to agree with that.

[natininja]

Concluding "it's clearly not racially motivated" is a bit of a stretch, but your points are solid for showing that it's plausibly not racially motivated. Thus, giving the benefit of the doubt is appropriate.

Still, I take it as an obvious sway towards rural interests. And that makes me sick!

While I wasn't in love with Strickland, I felt he fit Ohio well regarding his balance between rural and urban interests.

[Hts121]

I think it is just a matter of Kasich picking people that agree with his ideology, which is a statement in itself.  So much for the "new face of the GOP" we keep hearing about...

[gbk0114]

I wonder if he has at least satisfied the Rooney rule...

As of Thursday, Kasich had appointed nearly two dozen cabinet members and none were African American or Hispanic.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/black-leaders-seek-diversity-in-kasich%27s-cabinet

I'm trying to imagine the outrage if Obama had apointed two dozen cabinet members and they were all black.

87% of Ohio's population is white.  24 appointees so far, out of how many total? Not to mention we're talking about Republican appointments; really, there aren't a whole lot of black republicans for Kasich to pick from.  There would be outrage if Obama chose two dozen black cabinet members, as it would be clearly motivated by race.  What Kasich has done makes sense, statistically; it's clearly not racially motivated.

It may make sense to you, but your stats are off. First of all, Ohio is 82 percent white alone according to census estimates, and probably below 80 percent if a true head count was taken. Plus, you are assuming that every white person is a Republican. That's not the case. Registered white Republicans make up less than 30 percent of the population, but make up over 90 percent of Kasich's cabinet. Does that statistically add up?

Face it, Kasich is appointing "the best people that best fit his ideology" ... rich, white male, Republicans ... Not the "best overall people possible."

I know how the game works, the Gov. in power is going to appoint allies. But don't sell it as "I'm only appointing the best possible candidates" when it's quite obvious he isn't. If he was, what are the odds, since you brought up statistics, that a state that is 20 percent some sort of minority, should be run by 100 percent white (80 percent being white males)?

Statistically, it doesn't add up, unless you think that minorities are less capable than white's.

I'm a liberal, but I still believe it's best to get differing voice on matters such as local, state and ferderal government. For example, I am 100 percent behind the new Cuyahoga County setup. We'll see how it works out, but for the first time, Republicans, though only a 27 percent of the board, have a voice in county government. Differing opinions and diversity is a good thing, unless you are John Kasich.

[gbk0114]

gov. kasich, fiscal conservative!

http://www.plunderbund.com/2011/01/06/governors-office-salaries-going-way-up-under-kasich/

I'd like to see that reported somewhere other than plunderbund.com

Has it been reported anywhere else? Or is plunderbund the only blog in the world with access to Scribd.com?

This is the makings of the scandal if it's true and Gov. Scrooge McDuck is writing checks for his buddies on a whim. I suspect there's more to this story.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/01/kasich_top_staffers_earn_more.html

Thank you. Here's a quote from the article:


"The Kasich administration stressed that the governor's office staff will include eight fewer positions than under former Gov. Ted Strickland. Team Kasich will earn a total salary and benefits package of $5.99 million compared to $6.38 million for Strickland, according to the information released by Kasich's office."

That's why his top people are making more than Strickland's? But of course, those are the best (white male Repuclicans) people out there. Alll he is doing is chopping more off the bottom and giving more to the top.

That's business-like, free enterprise! Yeah, we have a shrewd businessman that saw Lehman Brothers go under leading us. But he was qualified (white) enough to get up to that level, so it's all good.

Kasich isn't doing anything different than what Strickland would be doing .... cutting. The state can't be run at a deficit. The difference is that Kasich is giving raises to those at the top and cutting more at the bottom.

Cutting government is a good thing, but, considering his rhetoric, Kasich is hardly being efficient about it. If you want to be efficent, then cut at all levels. Don't give your "endorsers" raises.

But in his mind, those "endorsers" (even though they are all white and vastly Repulican) represent all of us.

[Keith]

$62,000 to help run a state seems a bit low. Maybe a little more money will give them more motivation to do a good job.

I'll agree it's not something to get upset about, but it does qualify as a reason to respect him a little bit less.

[Hts121]

At least some of the money that he is giving to his pals at the top is coming from reducing wages at the bottom; i.e. support staff - http://www.cleveland.com/schultz/index.ssf/2011/01/kasichs_pay_priorities_are_all.html

I hope this is not a foreshadow of things to come on a lager scale in this State.  Wishful thinking perhaps.

[ClevelandOhio]

It feels like you guys are ready to jump on this guy no matter what he does. Give him a chance, your stuck with him for 4 more years. I dont even like the guy at all, and I didn't vote for him, but damn, let the guy breathe. You dont need to be breathing down his neck every time he takes a step. Wow he hired all white people. Several of them were women. Sorry he picked people that he thought were best for the job and that wanted to take the state in the same direction as him. He is probably mostly surrounded by white people so those are the people he knows and feels comfortable hiring. Im sure the hiring had nothing to do with race. Dont turn into Jessie Jackson or George Forbes guys.

[Hts121]

How about we let everyone express their thoughts and leave the name calling out of it?  You make a lot of assumptions.  Allow others to do the same.  Its all just opinion at this point, one way or the other.

To me, his actions/decisions since being elected have done nothing but amplify the concerns I had gong in.  I'm going to express those concerns.  That's my right as an Ohio citizen and elector.  If you don't like it, don't read the thread..... or just skip ahead to the Kasich friendly posts.  Simple as that.

And I don't think that one person said that it was racially motivated, so your Jackson and Forbes line is not called for.  Just because not everyone is willing to just give him the benefit of the doubt and completely rule out any racial motivation, does not make us anywhere close to a George Forbes.

[ClevelandOhio]

How about we let everyone express their thoughts and leave the name calling out of it?  You make a lot of assumptions.  Allow others to do the same.  Its all just opinion at this point, one way or the other.

To me, his actions/decisions since being elected have done nothing but amplify the concerns I had gong in.  I'm going to express those concerns.  That's my right as an Ohio citizen and elector.  If you don't like it, don't read the thread..... or just skip ahead to the Kasich friendly posts.  Simple as that.

And I don't think that one person said that it was racially motivated, so your Jackson and Forbes line is not called for.  Just because not everyone is willing to just give him the benefit of the doubt and completely rule out any racial motivation, does not make us anywhere close to a George Forbes.

Yeah my bad, just got heated. And trust me, I definitely wouldn't look for good posts cause I honestly can't stand the guy. Just seems like a piece of sh!t corrupt bastard lol. It just seemed like he was getting over attacked. Im not a huge fan of Obama either and I sure dont think he needs to be criticized over everything he does though. Sorry though. And im glad you took George Forbes as an insult lol, not that I was trying to insult you, but its funny.

[Hts121]

I took it as a kick right in the nuts

You're right.  He shouldn't be criticized for everything.  And I don't think he has on this board.  I, for one, have said nothing bad about his economic development plan, which I would consider his big ticket item so far.

[TBideon]

On a lighter note,

does anyone else here have a slight crush in his wife?  She should join Mrs Obama's anti-obesity campaign.

[X]

At least some of the money that he is giving to his pals at the top is coming from reducing wages at the bottom; i.e. support staff - http://www.cleveland.com/schultz/index.ssf/2011/01/kasichs_pay_priorities_are_all.html

I hope this is not a foreshadow of things to come on a lager scale in this State.  Wishful thinking perhaps.

It's in line with Republican economic ideology- more for the top, everyone else can eat sh-t.

[Scrabble]

He is spending on his team than Strickland spent on his.

If he cuts 8 positions and spends more on the few he keeps. That's his choice.

And don't give me this "Republican economic ideology" line. GOP grows government, just look at the numbers.

[Hts121]

If he cuts 8 positions and spends more on the few he keeps.

Not quite.  Close though.  It appears he is cutting some jobs altogether and then lowering the salary on several other positions to give his high end appointments more $$.  But, yes, that is his prerogative.  And, yes, it is in line with Republican ideology.  Trickle down economics, in a sense, applied to the public sector.

[Scrabble]

If he cuts 8 positions and spends more on the few he keeps.

Not quite.  Close though.  It appears he is cutting some jobs altogether and then lowering the salary on several other positions to give his high end appointments more $$.  But, yes, that is his prerogative.  And, yes, it is in line with Republican ideology.  Trickle down economics, in a sense, applied to the public sector.

He cut the budget overall. You can't disagree with that.

[Hts121]

I didn't.  Where did you get that notion from?  I never said he wasn't going to.  If he has a strength, that is it.... and I have consistently said so.  But the budget is not the be all, end all to me.  I can cut the budget if you elected me governor and told me that was all I had to do to be viewed as a success.  It's more complicated than talking points at a Town Hall meeting.

[gottaplan]

At least some of the money that he is giving to his pals at the top is coming from reducing wages at the bottom; i.e. support staff - http://www.cleveland.com/schultz/index.ssf/2011/01/kasichs_pay_priorities_are_all.html

I hope this is not a foreshadow of things to come on a lager scale in this State.  Wishful thinking perhaps.

I used to enjoy Connie Schulz's columns for her views about daily issues.  She's become unreadable anymore with her obvious political slant.  Might as well have her byline read "sponsored by Ohio Democratic Convention".  Then again, perhaps she's balanced out by Kevin O'Brien.

[gbk0114]

He is spending on his team than Strickland spent on his.

If he cuts 8 positions and spends more on the few he keeps. That's his choice.

And don't give me this "Republican economic ideology" line. GOP grows government, just look at the numbers.

So do Democrats. Ted Strickland wasn't great, but he did weather the Great Recession as well as he could've. That's evident by the fact that the Ohio economy Kasich has inherited (and will probably take credit for, unles he screws it up) was among the fastest growing in the country and the top in the Midwest.

If he cuts 8 positions and spends more on the few he keeps.

Not quite.  Close though.  It appears he is cutting some jobs altogether and then lowering the salary on several other positions to give his high end appointments more $$.  But, yes, that is his prerogative.  And, yes, it is in line with Republican ideology.  Trickle down economics, in a sense, applied to the public sector.

He cut the budget overall. You can't disagree with that.

And Strickland (me, you) would've too. There is not a choice. The budget has to be cut. It's how Kasich is going about it that is raising questions in my opinion.

[ClevelandOhio]

Since there will be fewer people, will the people in place now have more responsibilities? If so then the raises aren't bad.

[Hts121]

Since there will be viewer people, will the people in place now have more responsibilities? If so then the raises aren't bad.

I assume you mean "fewer" people.  I don't know the answer though.  But if he is cutting down on the size of government, isn't he also cutting down on the responsibilities of government?  If Strickland had programs A, B, C and D run by a cabinet of 20 and Kasich is going to cut D and have a cabinet of 16 then no, the people in place might not have more responsibilities.  They would have less, in fact.

On the other hand, if the responsibilities increase, I would agree that a raise is justified.  But then again, how do we justify giving raises to the top cats, while cutting the salaries of their support staff who would also have increased responsibilities, no?

At least some of the money that he is giving to his pals at the top is coming from reducing wages at the bottom; i.e. support staff - http://www.cleveland.com/schultz/index.ssf/2011/01/kasichs_pay_priorities_are_all.html

I hope this is not a foreshadow of things to come on a lager scale in this State.  Wishful thinking perhaps.

I used to enjoy Connie Schulz's columns for her views about daily issues.  She's become unreadable anymore with her obvious political slant.  Might as well have her byline read "sponsored by Ohio Democratic Convention".  Then again, perhaps she's balanced out by Kevin O'Brien.

I posted that link just for you buddy.  It was posted just so you could verify the facts.  I would have just mentioned it, but I didn't want to get accused of just making stuff up again (still waiting for you to offer a smitten of proof on that one).  Probably the one and only time you will ever see me post something from Schultz.  I don't care for her either.  But since when do political "conventions" sponsor editorial journalists? 

[Scrabble]

If he cuts 8 positions and spends more on the few he keeps.

Not quite.  Close though.  It appears he is cutting some jobs altogether and then lowering the salary on several other positions to give his high end appointments more $$.  But, yes, that is his prerogative.  And, yes, it is in line with Republican ideology.  Trickle down economics, in a sense, applied to the public sector.

He cut the budget overall. You can't disagree with that.

And Strickland (me, you) would've too. There is not a choice. The budget has to be cut. It's how Kasich is going about it that is raising questions in my opinion.

Yeah but we're talking about his advisors here. It's not a huge deal either way.  Let's focus on real issues in this thread like Ohio's cities that are dangerously dependent on state and federal aid.

[Sherman Cahal]

Unfortunately, the link on the Ohio Governor's web-site is now dead, but it was confirmed yesterday:

Kasich declares MARCH 17th, Martin Luther King, Jr. day in Ohio
by ModernEsquire on January 17, 2011



Original link, now dead: http://governor.ohio.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3bbmkk4KSl8%3d&tabid=74
Posted here: http://governor.ohio.gov/Resolutions.aspx

Sigh.

--

Ohio state employees lose non-discrimination protections
Posted on January 17, 2011 by Stuff Queer People Need To Know

Ohio Gov. John Kasich allowed non-discrimination protections for LGBT state employees to expire Jan. 10.

An executive order, signed four years ago by former Gov. Ted Strickland, prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender expression for all state employees in hiring, layoff, termination, transfer, promotion, demotion, rate of compensation and eligibility for training programs.

--

Kasich diversity view draws some fire
Posted by cweiser (Politics Extra blog, Cincinnati Enquirer), 01/17/11, 9:13 am

Gov. John Kasich, whose cabinet so far is all white, told the Plain Dealer that he was worried about finding the best people, not diversity.

“I want the best possible team I can get, and, hopefully, we will be in a position that we are fully diverse as we go forward,” Kasich said. “But I can’t say I need to find somebody to fit this metric, not when I am trying to get a state that is in deep trouble out of trouble.”

[Hts121]

I really hope he reconsiders the State employee protection.  What could possibly be the rationale?..... other than hate, of course

[natininja]

Re: the MLK thing...the link to the government site has January 17th. Also, the signature is no longer blue. Did the governor's office fix it, or was the plunderbund site messing around with photoshop?

Someone commented "It's been six hours since you posted this and the original document is still up on the Governor's website. WTF?", so I guess the answer is the former.