John Kasich – On the Issues




John Richard Kasich, an American politician is the current Governor of Ohio, elected twice in 2010 and then again in 2014. From 2001 to 2007 Kasich played the role of a commentator in “Heartland with John Kasich” on Fox News Channel. John Kasich was attached with Lehman Brothers Investment Banking Division, Ohio, between serving the company as Managing Director from 2001 to 2008. Kasich defeated Ted Strickland in Ohio Gubernatorial Election in 2010. He again got re-elected in 2014 after defeating Ed FitzGerald by a margin of 30 percentage points.

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Kasich aided nine terms as a member of the United States House Of Representatives demonstrating Ohio’s 12th congressional district from 1983 to 2001. His tenure in the house comprised of “House Armed Services Committee” for 18 years and served as a chairman of the “House Budget Committee” for 6 years. He was also an important figure in the channel of both welfare reform and the Balanced Budget Act 1997.

Early Life and Background

Kasich was born on May 13, 1952 in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, an industrial town near Pittsburgh. Both his parents used to work as mail carrier. John is the son of Anne (Vukovich), a Croatian and John Kasich, a Czech descent. Kasich completed his schooling from a public school in Mckees Rocks.

John went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from The Ohio State University. During his college days Kasich wrote a letter to the President Richard Nixon, describing about all the concern Kasich had about nation and requesting a meeting. Once the letter was delivered by the university’s president Novice Fawcett, Kasich was given an opportunity to present his concern for 20 minute in front of Nixon. After earning Bachelors of Art Degree in Political Science in 1974, he employed himself as a researcher for the Ohio Legislative Service Commission from the year 1975 to 1978.

Career and Achievements

Kasich was quite active on media. He hosted “Heartland with John Kasich” on Fox News, also filled in for Bill O’Reilly in the show “The O’Reilly Factor”. Sometimes he appeared as a guest on “Hannity and Colmes”.

John Kasich has earned good name as an author as well. In 1998 his first book Courage is Contagious has made the New York Times Bestseller List. So far Kasich has authored 3 books. His other 2 books are “Stand for Something: The Battle For America’s Soul” which was published in 2006 and the latest “Every Other Monday” got published in 2010.

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Kasich even had a successful career in the business industry. He served on the board of directors for many companies like Invacare Corporations, Norvax Inc and Lehman Brothers. He stayed with Lehman Brothers until it declared bankruptcy in the year 2008. Lehman Brothers paid him a hefty salary of $182,692 along with a bonus of $432,200.

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John Kasich – On the Issues

He is pro-life and opposes abortion. He acknowledges climate change is real but says that it is not up to the Environmental Protection Agency but companies and states to regulate industrial emissions.   Though he holds the lowest clemency record for an Ohio governor, he is all for criminal reform efforts. He opposes medical marijuana and says pain can be dealt with better options.  He has opposed the International nuclear agreement with Iran. Though he supports ‘Defense of Marriage Act’, he opposes discrimination on the basis of gender orientation. He is pro-gun. He has supported certain clauses of ACA or Obamacare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) especially coverage for preexisting conditions, insurance exchanges and expansion on Medicaid). He said that he is all open on for free trade but not on the premise of an American employee being given a raw-deal.

John Kasich – Wife and Children

The 1.83 meter tall Kasich has got married twice till now. His first marriage was with Mary Lee Griffith in 1975 but had divorced her in 1980. He then married to Karen Waldbillig, a former Public Relations Executive and now a business executive in the March 1997. John and Karen now have twin daughters named Emma and Reese.

john kasich daughters wife

John Kasich – daughters and wife

john kasich wife Karen Waldbillig photo

John Kasich – wife Karen Waldbillig

john kasich wife Karen Waldbillig

John Kasich – Net Worth

John Kasich has a net worth of $2.5 million at the beginning of 2016, according to filings with FEC. It is lower than the average amongst all 2016 presidential candidates and also lower than the average republican candidate. But Columbus Dispatch and other media organizations have stated that he has a net worth between $9 and $22 million.

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