US Rep. Tim Ryan not impressed with Kasich run for the White House

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, issued a news statement today saying he's not impressed with Ohio Gov. John Kasich's announcement he's running for the Republican nomination for president.

"After seeing firsthand how John Kasich has led Ohio over the last five years, it is unbelievable that he thinks he should be president of the United States. Throughout his career as a member of Congress, a Wall Street banker, and Ohio’s governor, John Kasich has proved many times that he will always put the desires of the wealthy and special interests before the needs of the middle class.

"I am tired of watching John Kasich time and time again take the credit for Ohio’s recovery when he has had very little, if anything, to do with it. And in many measures our state is worse off than it was when he took the top job in Ohio," the statement said.

"Yes, our nation went through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression – but what he fails to mention is that, through President Obama’s leadership, our nation continues to be in the midst of the longest streak of private-sector job growth on record: 64 consecutive months, and more than 12 million new jobs. Ohio is benefiting from this national economic recovery, especially the rescuing of the American auto industry, which represents one of every eight jobs in Ohio. Kasich opposed helping the auto industry and American manufacturing, and the reality is that John Kasich is lucky enough to ride the economic wave these policies created."

Kasich will formally announce his presidential bid at 11 a.m. at Ohio State University.