John Kasich

Kasich talks economics, foreign policy at GOP debate

The New Political

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The top 11 Republican presidential candidates squared off in the second GOP debate Wednesday night in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Among them was Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Many of Kasich’s remarks during the debate, including his opening statements, focused on economic improvement to help the American middle class. He argued that as the only candidate onstage to work on the federal budget the last time it was balanced, he is qualified to be the next president.

“People still have to get to know me, so I want to spend my time talking about my experience reforming welfare, balancing budgets, cutting taxes, providing economic growth when I was in Washington, turning Ohio around,” Kasich said.

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Kasich vetoes voting restrictions

The New Political

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After receiving a letter from all members of the Senate Democratic Caucus encouraging him to do so, Gov. John Kasich used his line-item veto last week on a controversial amendment to the state transportation budget that would have affected new and temporary Ohio residents’ voting rights.

This section of House Bill 53 included restrictions that would have required people wishing to drive in Ohio to register for an Ohio driver’s license within 30 days of registering to vote.

While the language directly connected to voting has been removed, the provisions that require drivers to obtain an Ohio license within 30 days of establishing residency in other ways were left in the transportation bill.

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Ohio HOR introduces bill to change charter school funding

The New Political

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An education bill currently being considered by the Ohio House could clear up some controversy surrounding charter schools and their funding.

House Bill 2,  a piece of legislation that was introduced to the Ohio House of Representatives by Reps. Mike Dovilla, R-Berea, and Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson, details proposed changes in how community and charter schools are funded as well as how their progress and standards are measured.

Charter schools are unique because, like public school districts, they receive government funding from tax dollars but are often privately owned and receive additional funding from sponsors. According to William Phillis, executive director of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding, this has left them in a largely unregulated state since charter schools became legal in Ohio in 1997.

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Kasich plans to focus on funding colleges in new budget

The New Political

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The state government will dedicate a total of about $5.1 billion to higher education programs over the next two years, according to Gov. John Kasich’s 2016-17 budget proposal, Blueprint for a New Ohio.

The budget would increase funding for certain financial aid sources and create a new debt reduction program, but it would also erase other programs, such as the Co-Op Internship Program.

The largest increase in higher education funding is seen in Program Series 4: Student Access, which has a proposed increase of 25.7 percent in 2016. This program funds direct student aid including grants and institutional subsidies “that help certain campuses maintain lower, more affordable tuition rates,” according to the budget.

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