Kasich unbowed in face of protests

[Geee]

Washington Times:

New Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich stood his ground Tuesday, facing down hecklers as he vowed to hold the line on taxes and press for concessions from state unions in his first State of the State address.

With protesters and counterprotesters demonstrating outside the Capitol in Columbus, Mr. Kasich elicited both cheers and boos as he told state lawmakers, “If you’ve seen a lot of change in these first seven weeks, you ain’t see nothin’ yet.”

Ohio and Wisconsin have been at the center of a nationwide clash between new Republican governors and public-employee unions over pensions, benefits and pay as states tackle yawning budget deficits.

Mr. Kasich in his hourlong address barely mentioned the hot-button issue of collective-bargaining reform — a topic that has caused an outcry from union members since Senate Bill 5 passed on March 2. The bill would permit union members to negotiate working conditions and hours, but would restrict pay increases to those based on merit only.

When the governor briefly referred to the topic of collective-bargaining rights, he was immediately drowned out by shouts from the back of the room.

“I appreciate the passion of people who don’t agree with us,” the governor said. “People who feel strongly, I respect them. But they also need to respect those who don’t always agree with them.”