JOHN KASICH
Name: John Richard Kasich
Born: 13 May 1952 McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
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 hosts Heartland with John Kasich, and also guest hosts The
O'Reilly Factor, filling in for Bill O'Reilly when necessary.
A native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, 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 is of Croatian descent. He was raised in the Roman Catholic Church but
reconsidered his faith after his parents were killed in an automobile crash in
1987. He now attends a non-denominational evangelical Christian Church.
Kasich married the former Karen Waldbillig in 1997 and has twin daughters.
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. Kasich was fiscally conservative, taking aim at programs
supported by Republicans and Democrats, teaming up with Rep. Ron Dellums to cut
spending on the the B-2 Bomber and Ralph Nader in seeking to reduce corporate
tax loopholes.
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 failed by only six votes to cut federal
spending by an additional $90 billion on top of the deficit reduction forecasted
by President Clinton.
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 ovrall 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.
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. However, during
his 1996 re-election campaign Kasich's Democratic opponent in his House race,
Cynthia Ruccia, made comments regarding 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.
He nonetheless won the 1996 election, and subsequently married in March of 1997.
He did not seek reelection for the House for the 2000 election, but instead
formed an exploratory committee to run for President. He withdrew early in
July 1999 and endorsed George W. Bush, the eventual Republican nominee and
winner of the election.
He took a job as managing director of the investment banking division of Lehman
Brothers in 2001. 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.
Kasich is now thinking about making a serious run for Governor of Ohio in 2010,
seeking the Republican nomination to unseat incumbent Ted Strickland.
Kasich is the author of two books: Courage is Contagious was published in 1998
and made the New York Times bestseller list. His second book, Stand for
Something: The Battle for America's Soul was published in 2006.
Name: John Richard Kasich
Born: 13 May 1952 McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
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 hosts Heartland with John Kasich, and also guest hosts The
O'Reilly Factor, filling in for Bill O'Reilly when necessary.
A native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, 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 is of Croatian descent. He was raised in the Roman Catholic Church but
reconsidered his faith after his parents were killed in an automobile crash in
1987. He now attends a non-denominational evangelical Christian Church.
Kasich married the former Karen Waldbillig in 1997 and has twin daughters.
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. Kasich was fiscally conservative, taking aim at programs
supported by Republicans and Democrats, teaming up with Rep. Ron Dellums to cut
spending on the the B-2 Bomber and Ralph Nader in seeking to reduce corporate
tax loopholes.
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 failed by only six votes to cut federal
spending by an additional $90 billion on top of the deficit reduction forecasted
by President Clinton.
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 ovrall 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.
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. However, during
his 1996 re-election campaign Kasich's Democratic opponent in his House race,
Cynthia Ruccia, made comments regarding 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.
He nonetheless won the 1996 election, and subsequently married in March of 1997.
He did not seek reelection for the House for the 2000 election, but instead
formed an exploratory committee to run for President. He withdrew early in
July 1999 and endorsed George W. Bush, the eventual Republican nominee and
winner of the election.
He took a job as managing director of the investment banking division of Lehman
Brothers in 2001. 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.
Kasich is now thinking about making a serious run for Governor of Ohio in 2010,
seeking the Republican nomination to unseat incumbent Ted Strickland.
Kasich is the author of two books: Courage is Contagious was published in 1998
and made the New York Times bestseller list. His second book, Stand for
Something: The Battle for America's Soul was published in 2006.