After seven disastrous years of liberal incompetence, we need a strong, conservative Republican who can beat Hilary Clinton and who's proven he can enact sweeping reforms.
One stands out. Conservative principles, balanced the federal budget, appeals to conservative independents and Democrats, never been defeated, 12 wins, zero losses: Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
We worked with Kasich in Congress to enact Ronald Reagan's agenda. We admired him then, and our admiration has only grown during his terms as governor. He's the only candidate who balanced both federal budgets and a state's budget, turning big deficits into surpluses.
Kasich wrote the last four budgets that produced surpluses, paying down $560 billion of the national debt, about 10 percent of the $5.7 trillion then outstanding.
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projected surpluses for 10 years totaling $4.6 trillion, enough to pay off about 80 percent. When Kasich returned home to Ohio in 2001, fiscal discipline collapsed.
Congress spent all $4.6 trillion and more, tripling the national debt to $18 trillion.
How does Kasich balance budgets?
Cuts. In Ohio he cut state government employment to the lowest in 30 years. Growth. He reduced Ohio taxes by $5 billion and grew 350,000 new jobs. To accomplish that, he had to enact budgets. That's the hard part. Repeat, that's the hard part.
How did he get a majority of Democrats and Republicans to support the most contentious of matters legislators tackle? Determination and human relations skills.
Like Ronald Reagan, Kasich has a way of eliciting respect, admiration and cooperation across the aisle.
Kasich is fearless. Three months after joining the Budget Committee, he wrote his own budget. He was crushed, 405 to 30. Refusing to give in, he presented his own budget every year.
In 1995, he was elected chairman of the Budget Committee over three more senior members. In 1997 he enacted the budget reforms that produced the four balanced budgets. Kasich is conservative and determined.
You can believe him, when he commits to shrink the Department of Education to a tiny research center powerless to bully communities, by returning education programs and funding to the 50 states, where competition will determine the best methods to educate our children to 21st century standards.
That's just the start in Kasich's bold plan to cut Washington down to size. Next is shutting down Commerce.
These are worrisome times. Decline at home and abroad. Evil regimes advancing everywhere, filling the vacuum left by President Barack Obama's retreat. A president's weightiest responsibilities are those of commander in chief.
No candidate is more experienced in national security than John Kasich. He served 18 years on the Armed Services Committee and was known as a "cheap hawk," because of persistence in attacking Pentagon waste.
He's determined to make America's Forces strong and flexible, to regain respect in the world, but with procurement reforms that will save billions.
Here's another vitally important dimension. Kasich's book,
"Stand for Something: The Battle for America's Soul," appeals for moral and ethical renewal. He cites cases of selfishness, greed, unethical, immoral and criminal conduct by America's elite. He appeals to them to listen to their conscience and live their lives to a higher purpose than self.
Unsurprisingly, Kasich's first office was that of altar boy. He was a member of a Bible study group in Congress and attends another study group in Columbus, Ohio whose biblical explorations are described in
"Every Other Monday: Twenty Years of Life, Lunch, Faith, and Friendship."
He believes renewal in Washington cannot last without renewal of American society. He is clear that moral and ethical standards cannot be legislated, but he pledges to raise standards, using the bully pulpit to honor citizens and organizations who set a noble example for our children.
As you would expect, John Kasich is strongly pro-life, signing every pro-life bill presented to him in Columbus.
Some conservatives want an outsider. Remember, President Obama was an outsider lacking serious experience, like some of today's candidates.
But what is on our minds when we board an airline flight? Is it good enough the captain slept in a Holiday Inn — or even the Trump Tower? Or do we want someone who knows how to land the plane?
Kasich knows how. He's done it in Washington and Columbus. In good weather and bad. This is serious stuff. For us. For our families.
Dick Armey was U.S. Representative from Texas 1985-2003, served as Majority leader, 1995 to 2003.
Gordon Humphrey was U.S. Senator from New Hampshire 1979 to 1990.
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