Ohio Gov. John Kasich: House Tuesday Group Moderates Could ‘Be A Real Big Part of the Solution’

Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich told reporters Monday that if moderate House Republicans reach out to Democrats they could form a parliamentary majority that could break the current gridlock in Congress.

Standing with Kasich was Rep. Charlie Dent (R-CA), chairman of the moderate Tuesday Group. Congressmen from the Tuesday Group, including Dent, came out against the American Health Care Act Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, wiping out votes that would have been gained for the bill by reaching a deal with House conservatives.

“These Republicans, who represent this Tuesday Group–they are more moderate, but I can’t figure out what a moderate is these days–Ronald Reagan would be a moderate these days–they could be a real big part of the solution, if they can build personal relationships with people on the other side of the aisle.”

“The key is to start small and then, try some big things,” he said.

Kasich said the White House would join the Tuesday Group working with Democrats in the interest of getting things done.

“Donald Trump? Would he care about working with Democrats? Of course, he wouldn’t care. Why would he care about that? He’s not some ideological guy,” he said. “If Charlie and his people can look in a positive way–go make some positive speeches on the floor, praise somebody that has a bill that is a Democrat–somebody had got to start breaking the log jam in this town.”

It is ridiculous, he said. When the governor was at the British Parliament, he was surprised by the high level of cooperation between the two parties.

“It has been a long time, since I worked here,” said Kasich, who was an Ohio congressman and chairman of the House Budget Committee.

The former Lehman Brothers banker said then and now some people come to the Capitol to play politics, but many others come to do what is best for the American people, not for their country.

The difference is that today, there is a partisan wall dividing Republicans and Democrats that make it difficult to get anything done, he said.

“You have to take it down a piece at a time,” he said. “It is didn’t get there overnight, it isn’t going to come down overnight.”