Strickland Campaign Responds to Kasich Campaign Ad
COLUMBUS–Today, Strickland for Governor Communications Director Lis Smith released the following statement responding to Republican gubernatorial candidate Congressman John Kasich’s latest campaign ad:
“The only business experience Congressman Kasich has is working at the failed investment firm Lehman Brothers and serving on a corporate board where he signed off on a policy of outsourcing Ohio jobs. While Ted has worked every day to create good jobs here in Ohio by slashing regulations on small businesses, cutting taxes, and investing in growing industries, the only jobs Congressman Kasich helped create have been in China and Mexico. It’s clear he can’t be trusted to create good jobs here in Ohio.”
Background:
Kasich Supported Unfair Trade Deals, Outsourcing of Ohio Jobs
In 2007, The U.S. Trade-Deficit Cost Ohio 303,800 Jobs Lost To Outsourcing – 5.6 Million, Nationally. ["The Burden of Outsourcing", Economic Policy Institute, 10/2/2008]
Congressman Kasich Voted For NAFTA And It Cost Ohio At Least 49,886 Jobs. Ohio lost 49,886 jobs from the signing of NAFTA from 1993 to 2004. [Vote #575, 11/17/93; Scott et al, "Revisiting NAFTA: Still not working for North America's workers," Economic Policy Institute Briefing Paper #173, 9/28/06, p. 4]
Congressman Kasich Voted For Free Trade With China And It Cost Ohio At Least 91,800 Jobs. In 2000, Kasich voted for normalizing trade relations with China, paving the way for China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001. Since then, Ohio has lost at least 91,800 jobs as the trade deficit with China has increased. [Vote #228, 5/24/00; Dallas Morning News, 5/25/00; Chicago Tribune, 5/25/00; Economic Policy Institute, 5/23/10; Akron Beacon Journal, 3/24/10]
Kasich Voted For NAFTA-Like Agreement With Caribbean, Central American Countries. In 1997, Kasich voted for the US Caribbean Trade Partnership Act, which would have provided free trade benefits to Caribbean and Central American countries similar to those provided to Mexico under NAFTA. [Vote #570, 11/4/1997]
As A Member Of The Invacare Board Of Directors, Congressman Kasich Signed Off On Policies That Shipped Ohio Jobs Overseas
2006: Invacare Sends 225 Jobs To China And Mexico For A Total Of 455 Jobs Outsourced – Blames Bush Medicare Cuts And Chinese Imports. According to the Chronicle-Telegram, “‘We’ll probably have to use involuntary layoffs to achieve [the] total reduction necessary,’ Invacare spokesman Lara Mahoney said. About 750 workers are currently employed at the Taylor Street plant, and a total of 225 will be cut in the newest round of layoffs. Company officials cited competition from low-cost imports and reductions in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements as reasons for the cuts. Production at the Taylor Street plant will be limited to high-end, custom wheelchairs, company officials said. Power wheelchair production and manufacturing of other lower end home healthcare products will be shifted to China and Mexico. Last year, Invacare eliminated about 230 local jobs when it moved part of its local operations to China.”[Chronicle-Telegram 2/15/2006]
Former Congressman Joined Invacare’s Board In 2001. “John R. Kasich, former congressman and chairman of the House Budget Committee, was appointed to a three-year term as a director of Invacare Corp. in Elyria. Kasich spent 18 years as a Republican representative from Westerville, Ohio. Most recently, he was named managing director of Lehman Brothers’ investment banking group.” [Plain Dealer 3/3/2001]
As A Member Of Invacare’s Board, John Kasich Signed Reports To Shareholders That Detail How The Company Outsourced Production To China To Achieve Cost Savings And Increase Profits. Invacare’s yearly annual shareholder reports discuss the company’s outsourcing policies at length. In 2007, for example, Invacare’s board reported to shareholders, “The company continues to make progress with the restructuring initiatives that it began in 2005 to drive cost reductions and improve profitability… The cost reduction and profit improvement actions include: reduction in personnel, outsourcing improvements utilizing the company’s China manufacturing capability and third parties… and exiting facilities.” [Invacare ARS 4/10/2007, Pg I-33]
Strickland: Creating Strong Business Climate for Job Growth
Strickland Altered And Eliminated Hundreds Of Rules And Red Tape. Governor Strickland’s Advantage Ohio initiative was undertaken to eliminate or change unnecessary and cumbersome rules, and resulted in the revision of over 1,800 rules and the elimination of nearly 250 rules after a review of approximately 3,800 rules by state agencies. Strickland was the first governor in Ohio history to undertake comprehensive regulatory reform, applying the principles he set out in his 2008 “Common Sense Business Regulation” executive order. [Executive Order 2008-04S; Ohio Business Gateway]
Strickland Successfully Implemented The Third Frontier Program And Fought For Its Expansion.In 2009, Governor Strickland called for a reauthorization and expansion of funding for the Third Frontier Program. Third Frontier has created over 55,000 jobs, including 14,000 in 2009, and has distributed more than $1 billion in grants to support high-tech research and stimulate job growth in high-tech sectors. On May 4, Ohioans will vote on a $700 million bond proposal to fund the extension of the program, up from the $500 million approved by voters in 2005. [Dayton Daily News, 12/1/2009; Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/28/2010]
Strickland Worked With Huntington Bank To Establish A Public-Private Small Business Loan Partnership To Help Entrepreneurs Gain Access To Capital And Create Jobs. According to Huntington, “The Ohio Huntington Job Growth Partnership is a groundbreaking 3-year, $1 billion public-private lending partnership to attract, retain and grow businesses and jobs within the state. The statewide program will strengthen the link between Ohio businesses and its banking community by throwing a $1 billion lifeline in new credit to small- to medium- sized businesses struggling in the face of the sudden contraction in credit availability and economic activity that began in 2008. The partnership leverages existing State of Ohio and federal Small Business Administration loan programs to maximize availability of funds for companies located in or moving to Ohio.” [Huntington Bank Viewed 7/23/2010]
In Its First Year The Huntington Bank Partnership Provided Loans And Assistance To Over 2,000 Ohio Small Businesses By Leveraging State And Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Resources. According to a release by the Office of the Governor, “In its first year, more than 2,000 Ohio businesses have received $465 million in new loans through a public-private lending partnership between the State of Ohio and Huntington Bank….Through the partnership, Huntington committed to fund $1 billion in new loans over three years to attract, retain and grow businesses and jobs in Ohio. Lending to small-and medium-sized businesses is on track to meet that goal when the program concludes in 2012. The partnership, which leverages existing State of Ohio and federal Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs, makes funds available to companies located in or moving to Ohio.” [Office of the Governor 5/26/2010]
Ohio’s Small Business Climate Improved To #1 In The Midwest. In 2009, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council ranked Ohio 11th in the nation and 1st in the Midwest for overall business climate. When Strickland was elected Governor in 2006, Ohio was ranked 38th in the nation and 7th in the Midwest. [Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council]
Youngstown Vindicator: Strickland Working Tirelessly To Bring Jobs. GM and V&M Star Are Prime Examples; Gambling Will Bring Thousands More. According to the Youngstown Vindicator, “Ohio has been hard hit by the national economic recession that began in 2008. And while the Strickland administration is working tirelessly to reignite the state’s economy — in the Mahoning Valley, General Motors’ Lordstown plant and the V&M Star expansion are prime examples — the expansion of gambling will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in investments and thousands of jobs.” [Vindicator 7/15/2010]
Columbus Dispatch Commentary: Strickland Not Responsible For Economic Downturn–Even Republican Business Allies Agree He’s Positioned The State For Job Recovery Through Tax Reform. According to Columbus Dispatch Commentator Joe Hallett, “But Strickland spoke the truth last month when he said, “I am not responsible for the (national) recession, but I am responsible for the decisions I’ve made and am making in helping this state move through the recession.” Strickland has had the misfortune of serving during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. He can’t be blamed for that. Virtually every state in the union has lost plenty of jobs and is awash in red ink. Ironically, Strickland responded to the crisis by doing what Republicans wanted him to do: preserve the landmark 2005 tax reform, including a 21 percent, five-year cut in the state income tax. Last month, he grudgingly delayed the final 4.2 percent of the cut to balance the budget. Eric Burkland, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, told me recently that Strickland has helped position Ohio for better days: “We’ve got a tax structure right now that beats anybody,” he said.”For the state level, we have the best tax structure for an export-oriented, goods-producing state in the country.”" [Columbus Dispatch 1/10/2010]
Polifact Ohio: Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN) Agrees With Strickland – State Employment Is At The Mercy Of The Global Economy. According to Polifact, “Strickland argues that Ohio – like Michigan and other Midwest states — was especially hurt by forces beyond his control, namely a recession and the decline of manufacturing…Strickland is not the only one making this argument. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican elected in 2004 who is in his second term, says the same thing, at least he did July 22 during an interview in Cleveland. What makes the Daniels’ comments worth highlighting is that the rising GOP star was in town campaigning with Kasich. The two were beating up on Strickland for the state’s job losses. But Daniels became a bit defensive when questioned about Hoosier State less than stellar performance in the last several years…echoing the sentiments of other governors in defense of their states’ economic woes, he said, ‘To some extent, everybody is at the mercy of national and global events, and we are no different.’” [Polifact Ohio Viewed 8/8/2010]
