Gov. John Kasich took his State of the State address on the road on Tuesday, speaking to lawmakers at a school in Steubenville.
It's the first time the State of the State speech was given somewhere other than Columbus.
Kasich said that it was an emotional journey to Steubenville because the community reminded him of where he grew up.
Kasich talked about his administration's efforts to balance the state budget.
"In six months we eliminated an $8 billion shortfall without increasing taxes," said Kasich. "If you keep raising taxes, you don't make it."
He chose Ohio's top-ranked public elementary school, Wells Academy, to bring attention to a school that's hit high achievement marks without a big budget.
Kasich talked about education reform including the increase in school vouchers and teacher evaluations.
"We're moving Ohio forward, but we have a long way to go," Kasich said.
On the economic front, the governor said that Ohio was growing jobs.
"It's about time, we're a powerhouse here in Ohio," said Kasich.
Kasich also talked about the importance of manufacturing in Ohio, especially given the state's location.
"Manufacturing is coming back. Encourage your kids, if God created them to make things, let them make things," he said.
Kasich used the speech to announce the creation of a new series of courage awards to honor extraordinary Ohioans.
The first recipients were two women who have overcome tragedies from prescription painkiller abuse and human trafficking and the family of an Ohio soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Steubenville is also in the heart of Ohio's shale drilling region, offering Kasich an opportunity to tout gas and oil industry jobs and investment in the state.
He said Ohio should create an energy policy to make the state independent.
"You cannot degrade the environment at the same time you are producing this industry," said Kasich about 'fracking.'
While Kasich discussed his energy plans, several people interrupted Kasich with yelling from the back of the auditorium.
Kasich is known for an unorthodox approach to being governor, including not following prepared remarks for big speeches.
Several Democratic Ohio lawmakers who spoke to ONN-TV after the State of the State said that Kasich's bi-partisan push is just talk and that he has not opened his doors to them.
“While unemployment is at its lowest rate since January 2009, Gov. Kasich’s attempts to take credit for rescuing the economy are farcical. He stood up and spoke out against policies such as protecting the auto industry, which saved over 8,000 manufacturing jobs in Ohio alone. Almost all jobs created in 2011 were created in the first six months, before the governor’s policies took effect. During the last six months, the state actually lost jobs and many people have stopped looking for work but are still unemployed," said a statement by Ohio Democratic House Leader Armond Budish.
About 100 demonstrators have gathered outside the school where Kasich gave his State of the State address.
Some of the protesters opposed the use of a new oil and gas drilling technique and others support the Occupy movement.
Locked-out Cooper Tire & Rubber worker and steelworker's union member Shane Hanley said that he showed up to "let the governor know we ain't forgotten what he did last year."
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