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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2008 > November > 19
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Strickland, other governors urge U.S. aid for auto industry
Gov. Ted Strickland joined seven other governors today, Nov. 19, in urging congressional leaders to approve legislation directing $25 billion in loans to automakers and component suppliers.
“Because a bankruptcy in the auto industry during these troubling economic times would be crippling to efforts to immediately grow the economy, and because U.S. auto makers will be a critical component in developing an alternative energy industry in America, we urge Congress to pass this legislation immediately,” said a letter from the governors.
Their states would suffer from the industry’s collapse, the letter said:
“Governors have already struggled to manage state economies that have seen the loss of more than 1.2 million jobs in the first ten months of 2008. Further losses wold continue to depress an already fragile national economy, and would create an emergency situation in already struggling state economies.”
In an e-mail to reporters that accompanied the letter, Strickland’s office emphasized the loan’s importance to Ohio:
Ohio auto industry facts:
There are 44 Ohio counties reporting 500 or more employees directly related to motor vehicle assembly or parts production. (SOURCE: County Business Patterns - U.S. Bureau of the Census 2006)
Total Automotive employment in Ohio: 127,000 (2006)
Of those 127,000, 28,000 are auto assembly and the remainder, 99,000, are in various parts supply.
The letter went to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Other governors signing the letter were: Jennifer Granholm, Michigan; Rod Blagojevich, Illinois; David Paterson, New York; M. Michael Rounds, South Dakota; Ruth Ann Miner, Delaware; Steven L. Beshar, Kentucky and Jim Doyle, Wisconsin.
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Boehner keeps House Minority Leader post
By Josh Sweigart Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. John Boehner will remain House Minority Leader.
In a closed door vote among House republicans today, Nov. 19, the West Chester Twp. Republican retained the post he won in two years ago.
The 59-year-old Boehner’s sole challenger was California Rep. Dan Lungren.
Lungren pushed for the closed door session so the lawmakers could have a frank discussion about leadership and the future of the party after recent losses to Democrats in the legislative and executive branches.
“The months ahead will present Republicans with an unprecedented opportunity to renew our drive for smaller, more accountable government and present positive solutions to the challenges facing the American people,” Boehner said in a prepared statement. “We have to seize this opportunity, and seize it together. I’m deeply honored my colleagues have placed their faith in me and the newly-elected members of our team to lead this effort.
“To rebuild the party, the energy has to come from us. And I will challenge all of you.”
The Republican caucus under Boehner will look a little different this year, with 20 fewer members after the November election and some new leadership.
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New Ohio House Speaker-elect says he’ll pay attention to Dayton
New Ohio House Speaker-elect Armond Budish may be from the Cleveland area but he says he knows about Dayton and how important Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is to the region.
After a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 19, Budish told the Dayton Daily
News that WPAFB is a “wonderful resource” and a major “job creator” for the area. Although there are no Dayton-area members in the new House Democratic leadership, Budish said the region wouldn’t be neglected.
He said state Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton, would play a “major role” in the House next year.
House Democrats on Wednesday, Nov. 18, chose Budish, 55, a lawyer from the Cleveland suburb of Beachwood, as their leader. That puts him in line to become the first Democratic Ohio House Speaker in 14 years when a new legislature takes office in January.
At the news conference, Budish said “my top priority is economic development and jobs.”
He also said he wants to improve workforce development efforts. Now some jobs are available but employers have to go out of state to get qualified applicants, he said.
Budish also called for doing more to help cities.
He will replace Rep. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, as speaker. Husted is term-limited and has been elected to the Senate.
