Two Paths, by John Kasich: on Budget & Economy

John Kasich: 1995 shutdown on phony budget led to real balanced budget

Understand, the numbers supporting Clinton's budget didn't actually support his budget at all, and as soon as we were able to convince enough members of Congress to stand against it, we started battling long and hard over priorities. I was not willing to stand behind Clinton's counterfeit numbers and tell the American people that we were achieving something when I knew we were not. Out of that shutdown we were finally able to balance the budget in 1997--for the first time since man walked on the moon, according to the headlines that dominated the newspaper coverage that followed.

John Kasich: 1990s successful reform and leadership can happen again

In the '90s, when we balanced the federal budget, paid down the federal debt, cut taxes, and created surpluses, the result was a sustained period of economic growth, lower interest rates, job creation, and national prosperity. Businesses were growing, unemployment was at historic lows, and nearly anyone who wanted a job could have one.

We didn't only balance the budget. We were able to reform welfare, end generational dependency, reform the Pentagon to strengthen our defenses, cut the capital gains tax, and much more.

You know, I tell younger audiences about this, and they look at me like I'm crazy. They don't believe it ever happened. But we know it did, and it can happen again [if we] challenge the status quo & work across the aisle.