Apparently, Gov. Strickland hasn’t read the news that Ohio has the 5th worst state and local tax burden in the nation and the second to worst state business climate.
From the Dispatch:

Gov. Ted Strickland said today that he disagrees with former U.S. Rep. John Kasich’s contention that Ohio is in an economic “death spiral,” and he questioned Kasich’s proposal to phase out the state income tax.

“I guess I’m just more optimistic about Ohio’s future than Mr. Kasich’s comments would indicate that he is,” Strickland told reporters after an event this morning.

The governor was asked for his reaction to Kasich’s probable 2010 run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and the former Westerville congressman’s assessment that dramatic action is needed to stem Ohio’s economic decline.

Kasich, in an interview with The Dispatch, said he believes the state income tax “has to be phased out.” The tax provides the state with more than $9 billion a year, or 34 percent of its operating money. Kasich said he would detail later how he would make up for those tax revenues.

And here my favorite part:

Such a move, Strickland contended, could mean “you’re going to dismantle higher education, and elementary and secondary education, and various departments of government…”

Phasing out the income tax would not be that drastic. Somehow Ohio was able to pave roads, educate children, and function just fine without an income tax prior to Governor Gilligan’s time in office. And, not to mention, what Ohio would lose in tax revenue would certainly be more than compensated for with the new jobs and prosperity which would be generated.

However, any candidate who would pledge to make those things on Ted’s list really happen would automatically have my full support.