Why DID John Kasich allow himself to be “Punk’d”?

   Once again a Republican governor elected in the 2010 mid-term “wave” election has gotten “Punk’d”.  “Punk’d” is a reference to the reality show that aired on MTV where an unsuspecting celebrity is the targeted in a world class prank.  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (Republican) was punked earlier this year during a telephone conversation he thought he was having with one of the infamous Koch Brothers, David Koch.  (The Riggins Report: Is Scott Walker a NINCOMPOOP?)   It turned out that Scott Walker was actually speaking with blogger Ian Murphy of The Buffalo Beast.  Walker, basking in the glow of passing legislation in his state that eliminated collective bargaining rights for all Wisconsin state employees, took time out of his busy schedule to speak with his GOP king maker and campaign donor.  The joke was on him.
   Earlier this week, Governor John Kasich (Republican) of Ohio, starred in a REAL LIFE episode of “Punk’d”.  In March of this year, the Ohio State Senate passed Senate Bill 5, a bill that eliminated the collective bargaining rights of all state of Ohio employees.  That bill passed by a narrow 17-16 margin with SIX Republicans crossing party lines and voting against the bill.  In addition to the six Republicans who crossed party lines, there was some additional controversy in the voting process.  Senate President Tom Niehaus booted two MORE Republicans from their committee leadership positions and replaced them with Senators who favored the bill.  This was a clear case of political chicanery.  (The Riggins Report: Chicanery in the Ohio state House used to pass Senate Bill 5)
    The passing of SB5 not only ignited state of Ohio public employee unions, it ignited a reaction of organized labor throughout the state of Ohio.  Led by the efforts of We Are Ohio, a public employee union based coalition, organized labor started a petition drive to get Senate Bill 5 placed on the ballot in November 2011.  Although only 231,000 signatures were needed, We Are Ohio collected a staggering 1.3 MILLION signatures.  It was a rout and SB 5 made the November 2011 ballot.  Polling information gathered from Ohio voters shows that Ohioans favor repealing SB 5 by a 56% to 32% margin. 
    Which brings us to Governor Kasich.  Prior to the state senate passing SB 5, state employee unions reached out to the governor in an effort to negotiate concessions that would preserve the right to collectively bargain.  Kasich, emboldened by his then recent election victory and backed by the Tea Party, rejected the overtures of the unions.  He was the Big Bad Wolf. 
    Now, fast forward, if you will, to this past Wednesday (8/17).  Governor Kasich apparently had an epiphany of sorts because HE reached out to state employee unions by sending a letter to union officials asking them to come in and meet with him on Friday (8/19) in order to discuss their differences. (WEWS Channel 5, Cleveland report: OH governor looks to meet with unions about a compromise on Senate Bill 5) The governor said that Issue 2 (the repeal amendment) would be DIVISIVE and that it would be in the best interest of all parties to have Issue 2 taken off of the November ballot.  Hmm … what, you may be asking, caused the governor to have a complete change of heart and extend the proverbial olive branch to public employee unions?  For starters, Governor Kasich saw what happened in Wisconsin and how public employee unions organized and forced six Republican senators into recall elections.  Democrats in Wisconsin defeated two of six Republicans on the recall ballot and have set their sights on recalling their governor, Scott Walker, in January 2012.  Kasich with only 35% of Ohioans approving of his job performance, wants no part of a recall effort.  Another reason is that with Issue 2 on the ballot, other ballot measures favored and sponsored by Republicans on the November ballot would face an uphill climb in gathering statewide support.  Lastly, John Kasich’s political future is at stake.  It is no secret that John Kasich, a former member of the House of Representatives and Fox News host, has visions of becoming President of the United States and holding the office of governor in a swing state is a clear and direct path to that office.  To have his signature piece of legislation DESTROYED by a commanding double digit margin would cast a dark cloud on that ambition.  Not so fast.
    Public employee unions REJECTED the governor’s conciliatory overtures.  This time, they left the governor at the altar as no one from their side showed up to meet the governor on Friday (8/19).  In fact, in a report in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, We Are Ohio spokeswoman Melissa Fazekas was quoted as saying it was “too late for talking” and that We Are Ohio is willing to let the voters decide the fate of SB5.  She did say that a condition to meet with the governor would be a total repeal of the bill.  Ohio State Senator Nina Turner (D) expressed a similar position this week on “The Ed Show”.  (Video of Nina Turner on "The Ed Show") Surely Governor Kasich won’t repeal his signature piece of legislation in order to keep it off the ballot.  Or WILL he?  
    In a recent column in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer (Gov. John Kasich, you asked for this fight … now fight), Phillip Morris implores the governor to stand on his position and that 1.3 MILLION Ohioans who signed those petitions are now entitled to have Issue 2 on the ballot in November.  He’s right.  Governor Kasich shouldn’t capitulate and should stand his ground.  Being conciliatory to labor unions in this Tea Party climate does not bode well for a Republican governor’s political future.

Why DID John Kasich allow himself to be “Punk’d”?  

Peace, peace in the Middle East.

Craig Riggins

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