He's Astounded?

Really, really, I say it again really.  King John causes the "political divide" with his radical right tactics, and he has the nerve to be "astounded".  He says that the players should "put aside differences to develop the best policies for the state."  What he really means is that they should agree with his plan because he knows what is best for the state.  King John decries the public sector unions as too costly but does not even bother to ask them for their ideas on how close the budget gap.  No one has gone to any public sector union and asked "What would you be willing to give up?"

Governor Says He’s ‘Astounded’ By Political Divide

Gov. John Kasich said Tuesday he has been “astounded” by the deep political divisions he has seen in his first month as governor and called on Statehouse players to put aside differences to develop the best policies for the state.

His comments came during an event held by the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, which has been critical of the governor’s efforts toward diversity in his cabinet but agreed in a private meeting Monday to work with the Republican on legislative priorities.

The OLBC luncheon at the Statehouse Atrium was held about an hour before the latest hearing on a rollback of collective bargaining laws (SB 5), which the governor supports, again drew a massive turnout of mostly union members opposed to the GOP policy proposal.

The governor said in his speech to OLBC that people should be able to express their differences if done with respect, but stressed they should come together to return the state to prosperity.

“I have been astounded by the partisanship that I have seen since I’ve been governor for 30 days,” Mr. Kasich said. “Not just among African-Americans and whites, but between Democrats and Republicans.”

“That kind of partisanship poisons the well that we all must drink from.”

Mr. Kasich said he never saw such partisanship during his time in Washington, D.C. “I have been aghast and the inability of both sides to communicate and work together,” he said, predicting that Democrats and Republicans will be working better together by the end of his time in office. “I have been so shocked at the distrust between the parties.”

The governor and black legislative leaders have been sparring over the number of blacks who have been appointed to key positions in the cabinet. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, February 14, 2011)

He called on everyone involved to remember they are involved in government to help serve the people. That recollection, he said, should help parties reach agreements on tough policy decisions, like the budget.

“My goal in the budget is that nobody gets passed,” Mr. Kasich said, noting that a “restructuring” of government is in order. “Delivering a better product at a lower price to serve the customer.”

Mr. Kasich also reiterated that he won’t be driven by special interest requests. “I don’t care what the special interests say,” he said. “Because if you let the special interests (HERE KING JOHN MEANS THE PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS) dominate the process, then it always comes out hurting the most vulnerable.”

He said he would work to make the state more prosperous by making it more suitable for business. “I don’t believe we can tax our way to prosperity, but…over time we can’t cut our way. All we can do is to set the table for entrepreneurship and economic growth. And I intend to do that.”

Gov. Kasich expressed concerns about cities, noting the recent deadly shooting in Youngstown. “We need to take our communities back one block at a time,” he said.

Mr. Kasich also said he had problems with a felony charge that has been brought against a northeast Ohio woman who sought to get her kids enrolled in a different school. “We’ll see what the Parole Board ultimately recommends, but a felony for a woman who is trying to protect her kids just doesn’t seem right to me,” he said.