Ohio Gov. Kasich: Reach Out to People Living in 'Shadows'

Ohio Governor John Kasich may have indicated last Thursday he wants to reach out to the illegal immigrant population living in the United States.

Defending his move to accept Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion for his state, the Republican Kasich told Fox News host Neil Cavuto that he felt it was important for “people who live in the shadows” to have “a bridge so they can participate in the economic promise of America.”

Illegal immigrants who live in the United States are often described as “living in the shadows” by proponents of comprehensive immigration reform. In order for those in the shadows to “join in the American system,” as Kasich said, they would presumably need some type of status that makes them eligible for various benefits. 

ThinkProgress has a transcript of Kasich’s remarks: 

KASICH: Here’s what I think, Neil. Whenever a family — when mom and dad do better, there’s more they can do to help their kids, when the state does better — we’re up now 162,000 jobs, we were down 350. We’re doing better, not out of the woods yet. I believe when you do better you need to reach out to people who live in the shadows and give them a bridge so they can participate in the economic promise of America. So that they can have their hopes and dreams. So we want to have some discipline on the side of people who depend on the government, but we also have to help them to come across that bridge so they can join in the American system.