Kasich says taxes, bureaucracy, spending drive business out of Ohio

NILES — John Kasich, the leading Republican candidate for governor in 2010, said high taxes, government bureaucracy and wasteful spending is driving businesses out of Ohio.

Kasich spoke today at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s government affairs council breakfast at Ciminero’s Banquet Centre in Niles.

Kasich stressed that his combination of political and business experience makes him the best candidate for governor.

After the appearance, Kasich told The Vindicator that the cost of doing business in Ohio is “too high” and is “created by, at times, over-harassing bureaucrats, high taxes, uncooperative labor; it all comes together to penalize ourselves.”

He also noted that he never mentioned Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, in his speech.

When asked later about Strickland, Kasich said: “There isn’t much to talk about there. I’m not worried about him. He’s been no leader, no leadership.”

In response, Seth Bringham, spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party, told the newspaper that the governor “is working every day to create jobs and pull us out of the economic mess that was created by the Wall Street greed that John Kasich was a part of as managing director of Lehman Brothers.”

For the complete story, read Saturday’s Vindicatoror Vindy.com