Dayton Business Journal
Kasich Guest Column: A budget that celebrates the freedom to succeed 

Editor's Note: The following is a guest column by Ohio Gov. John Kasich about the new state budget. 

This week we honor the birth of our great nation and the freedoms for which generations of Americans have fought and—sometimes—given their lives. It’s a time to spend with friends and family and celebrate the liberty and opportunity that continues to make the United States a force for good in the world. 

As a fitting companion to Independence Day, I recently signed into law a budget bill for our state which reinforces some of the best things about America and Ohio, especially the freedom to pursue our dreams and the opportunity to reach our God-given potential. 

All too often we hear about fighting and gridlock in government and the inability for elected officials to get anything done. It frustrates me also and I do everything I can in my work as governor to cultivate a productive, civil atmosphere that allows Ohio’s state government to work better and more efficiently for Ohio taxpayers. That’s what happened in writing this budget, I’m proud to say, and why we were able to get so many needed reforms done. 

Freedom from high, unfair taxes was part of what motivated our nation’s first patriots and it’s something for which we still strive today. This budget cuts income taxes by 10 percent and cuts taxes for almost every small business by 50 percent. Allowing Ohioans and small businesses—who employ half of Ohio’s private sector workers—to keep more of their own money is essential if we want to continue Ohio’s economic growth. 

We know that these kinds of pro-growth policies work because of how they’ve helped propel Ohio’s comeback in the past two years. Last month our state was the number one job-creator in the nation and a recent survey of CEOs by Chief Executive Magazine said Ohio has the most-improved climate for business in the nation. Our new budget will keep this success going. 

To ensure that every Ohioan has the chance to participate in a strong, prosperous Ohio, the budget also devotes considerable resources to education and training. Our new Achievement Everywhere plan invests $1.5 billion in new funds into Ohio’s classrooms to provide valuable support to students and their teachers. It also creates a new $250 million fund to encourage school improvements that increase achievement and make our education dollars go even further. And college students will now have better support for achieving their education goals with a new funding formula that rewards public colleges and universities for improving graduation rates. All of these improvements help make sure that Ohioans have the skills, training and experience to prepare for a brighter job future and to take part in the economic rebirth we’re beginning to see take hold in Ohio. 

We’ve got more work to do, but Ohio is making big progress toward getting back on track. Job creation has been—and continues to be—our top priority and we’re making major progress. Ohioans have created more than 170,400 new private sector jobs and our unemployment rate is a full half-point below the nation’s. Two years ago we faced an $8 billion budget hole but now we’ve got $2 billion in the rainy day fund. Education will always be a top priority and our new classroom-focused funding formula and $1.5 billion in new funds makes sure every child has the resources to succeed, regardless of where they live. We’re cutting red tape, improving our health care system and providing needed new resources for infrastructure. 

Our work is far from finished but, together, we’re helping make Ohio stronger and more prosperous for all, and we’re doing it our way—without the gridlock that paralyzes Washington. Our Founding Fathers shared a common purpose to build a nation on liberty and freedom that set people free to dream and achieve. That vision is alive and well today in Ohio and it’s making our state a better place now and for the Ohioans who will come after us. 

Read this and other articles at the Dayton Business Journal