The scorched-earth campaign against Obama for 2012 is now underway in Ohio. Mission: Destroy the economy of swing-state Ohio, eliminate energy-efficient travel choices in advance of global petroleum shortages which the Pentagon says will start in 2012, then blame the president for both.
Copies of both letters are below.....
November 8, 2010
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
Dear Governor Strickland,
I am writing to request that you immediately cancel all contracts relating to your passenger rail program in the most cost-effective manner possible, and that you spend no additional taxpayer money on this program.
As you are aware, I am opposed to this program and will terminate it upon taking office. Given that, I am sure that you will agree that it would simply be wasteful to spend any additional money on this program. At a time when Ohio is facing an approximately $8 billion budget shortfall, every step should be taken to eliminate waste and prevent unnecessary spending. While there are remaining legal issues concerning the contracts themselves and the funds appropriated in execution of these contracts, in light of the fact that they allow for their termination without the state incurring their full cost, the sooner that you terminate them the more money Ohioans will save.
I realize that we disagree on this issue, but I am confident that you and your Administration will respect my request and take the steps that are in the best interest of Ohio taxpayers.
Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this request.
Sincerely,
John Kasich
Governor-elect of Ohio
Governor-elect of Ohio
___________
Here's the letter to Obama:
November 8, 2010
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama,
I am writing to inform you that I upon taking office as governor of Ohio on January 10, 2011, I will terminate work on Ohio's passenger rail project, the "3C-QuickStart" program. Further, I have asked Ohio Governor Ted Strickland to immediately terminate all contracts related to Ohio's passenger rail project which received $400 million in federal funding through the High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program (HSIPR).
Passenger rail is not Ohio's most pressing infrastructure concern at this time. Instead, Ohio's existing freight rail and highway transportation infrastructure has significant upgrades needs. Therefore, I request that you make provisions for the $400 million to be used to support other vital transportation infrastructure projects in Ohio.
In the event that you cannot accede to my request, I ask that you take no actions to spend the funds allocated to Ohio so that these funds can go toward reducing the federal government's $1.4 trillion deficit.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this request.
Sincerely,
John Kasich
Governor-elect of Ohio
Governor-elect of Ohio
