League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
State of Ohio November 2, 2010 Election
	J. John Kasich/Mary Taylor Answers Questions Candidate for Governor/Lt Governor; State of Ohio

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. Ohio is facing a huge budget deficit for the FYs ending in 2012 and 2013. What specific revenues increases would you support and what cuts would you make to balance the budget?

As the chairman of the U.S. House Budget Committee, I led the effort to balance the federal budget for the first time in 30 years. I`ve written 13 budgets and know how to get the job done. I also know that budgets are not goals in themselves, but that they are a means of achieving goals. Ohio doesn`t have a budget problem, it has an economic problem, and by undoing the economic mismanagement that has been imposed on Ohio over the past three years and which has contributed to the loss of almost 400,000 Ohio jobs, we will see immediate benefits to the state`s bottom line. Working together we can set our priorities, manage this budget, make ourselves more competitive, and put the state on the path toward prosperity.

2. What should be done to ensure that all community schools and nonpublic schools that accept state financial support (including vouchers) are accountable to the public?

We must hold Ohio`s entire education system accountable to ensure that all of our students are achieving at high levels. We need to set higher standards so our children can compete. We need to get education dollars to the classroom. Ohio is 47th in the nation in getting money to the classroom, and 9th in spending on bureaucracy and overhead. Instead of funding bureaucracy, we should allow funds to follow children to the classroom. We need to empower teachers to be in control of their classrooms and principals to operate their schools efficiently and effectively. All parents and students deserve high-quality education choices, and we need to use technology to engage students in creative ways. Charter schools, scholarships and voucher programs, and online education can serve as incubators for good ideas that can be translated into the public system to drive innovation.

3. What would you propose, if anything, to change Ohio’s tax structure?

Ohio`s business environment is flawed, and as a result our economy is suffering. According to 651 CEOs around the country Ohio`s business climate ranks 44th. CNBC ranks Ohio 38th in business friendliness. One reason for this is our tax environment. Ohio ranks 47th in the Tax Foundation`s State Business Tax Climate Index. We also have the 7th highest state and local tax burden in the country. The bottom line is our taxes are too high and it is making us uncompetitive in retaining and attracting businesses, growing our economy and creating jobs. I will do everything in my power to reduce the cost of government so that over time we can significantly begin reducing Ohioans` tax burdens and make us more competiti

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply for each question. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 24, 2010 18:09
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