Dive Brief:
- Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) said during a Teleforum Thursday afternoon with construction industry and other business association groups that he would "focus on workforce" and "treat every job creator as special" if he were elected president.
- He also touted his plan to reduce federal regulations, lower the corporate tax rate, and quickly balance the federal budget.
- The Teleforum was a part of a series in which a coalition — including the Associated General Contractors of America, Associated Builders and Contractors, Business-Industry Political Action Committee, National Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of Independent Business and National Retail Federation — invited candidates from both parties to address business concerns.
Dive Insight:
Kasich echoed the calls of the other Republican candidates who participated in the Teleforum series — Sen. Marco Rubio, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and Sen. Ted Cruz — to pull back federal regulations that could potentially hurt businesses and to lower corporate tax rates.
Kasich's focus on expanding the workforce resonates with many in the construction industry, as the ongoing labor shortage has sparked renewed concern with reaching students early and informing them of all possible careers, including those in the trades.
Most construction industry associations have not yet officially endorsed a presidential candidate, with the exception of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, which has endorsed Hillary Clinton.
