Kasich struggles to win public approval for budget cuts

Former Governor Ted Strickland was able to use federal dollars to avoid making tough choices on cutting Ohio’s budget and his choices let Ohioans continue to live in the fantasy land big government spending projects paid for by someone else. Strickland has convinced many in Ohio that we could continue getting money from the federal budget and not deal with the fiscal imbalance of lost industry and reduced tax base. Are Ohio voters any smarter than the women in this video who says money is coming from Obama’s stash.

The changes sought by John Kasich have been troubling to many Ohio voters. Rather than seek additional Federal dollars to fill the budget hole created by the recession and loss of 600,000 taxpaying jobs, the Kasich budget seeks balance it’s budget by making tough choices of spending without raising taxes. Budget cuts to reduce the $8 billion dollar shortfall will be painful and voters do not want to hear that their favorite programs will be reduced or eliminated. Thousands of protesters have marched on the state house to voice their opposition to changes to Ohio collective bargaining rules and lawmakers are feeling a lot of heat on making tough decisions. Kasich proposed changes are pretty scary and voters fears are reflected in polls. The only way these poll numbers will be reversed is if we are able to successfully balance the budget and reduce the 10% unemployment rate. If his plan works, everyone will love him.

Voters’ disapproval of Kasich more than doubles in latest poll

By MARC KOVAC

Dix Capital Bureau

COLUMBUS — The percentage of Ohioans disapproving of Gov. John Kasich has more than doubled since he took office in January, according to a new poll released by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

That compares to an approval rating increase for Gov. Ted Strickland during his first months in office in 2007, when he offered his first two-year spending plan.

In a survey conducted over the past week, 46 percent of respondents disapproved of how Kasich is handling his job as governor, up from 22 percent polled in January. Thirty percent approved of Kasich’s work in office during both polls.

Additionally, 53 percent believe Kasich’s $55.5 billion biennial budget proposal is unfair. And about half opposed changes in state law that would limit collective bargaining for public workers.

“Gov. John Kasich has gotten off to a rocky start with Ohio voters, perhaps not surprising given the size of the cuts in public services and state spending that he has proposed,” Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a released statement. “Although there is almost nothing in these numbers that Kasich can point to as evidence of his popularity or that of his proposals, he can take solace from the fact that he has almost four years to turn around public opinion.”

Connecticut-based Quinnipiac regularly gauges Ohioans’ opinions of politicians and issues. Over the past week, it surveyed 1,384 registered voters on Kasich and his policy proposals. The results have a margin of error of 2.6 percent.

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