Issue Position: Jobs and the Economy

Issue Position

Rob has spent a lot of time on the campaign trail talking with working families about how they're weathering the economic storm and what Congress must do to save jobs and create new ones. Rob has toured 16 Ohio manufacturing plants throughout Ohio talking with workers who are struggling in this difficult economy. With the state's unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent, it's getting harder and harder for Ohio families to make ends meet while at the same time people are scared and wondering if their jobs will be the next eliminated. Rob visited Crown Battery in Sandusky, which is a rare Ohio small business success story and one that we need more of right now. The company has invested in cutting-edge technology and worker education, providing them not just with health insurance but also preventive programs like a partnership with a local YMCA and other incentives to live a healthy lifestyle. But Crown Battery's management -- like many other small business owners -- are fearful of the health proposals currently being debated in Washington that could raise small business taxes and force workers into government-run plans that do less and cost more. Defiance Metal Products in NW Ohio is one of that area's largest employers -- when the economy is good. Unfortunately, the company has had to lay-off between 200 and 250 workers since mid-2008. Defiance Metal is a full-service precision metal fabricator for truck/transportation and HVAC facilities. The company is privately-held, non-union and has expressed great concern about the proposed card-check legislation that would eliminate workers' right to a private ballot for union elections. During a trip to Cuyahoga County, Rob spent time with workers at Farris Engineering in Brecksville. The company makes pressure release valves and is a subsidiary of Curtis Wright Corp., which is part of the Wright Brothers proud legacy in Ohio. Farris Engineering is a successful manufacturer that provides some of the critical components for nuclear power plants. Expanding nuclear energy is a safe and practical solution to meeting our energy needs and ensuring a clean environment. Rob joined Dover Mayor Richard Homrighausen on a tour of Allied Machine and Engineering, a world leader in metal cutting for various manufacturing sectors, including the aerospace, defense, automotive and energy industries. If the cap-and-trade energy tax is passed by Congress, it could force plants like this to close. Sweet Manufacturing in Clark County has received the Ohio Excellence in Exporting Award three times. Companies like Sweet, which makes equipment for grain elevators that are sent to customers in Ohio and throughout the world, prove that Ohio can be a leader in the global economy if we fight for fair trade and enforcement of our open trade agreements.

Training for Ohio's Workers

Ohio's workers need to be able to compete in an increasingly high-skilled global environment, and we've got some great training facilities where the Buckeye State's workforce can train for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Rob Portman has visited some of these facilities and sees great opportunities for Ohio's workforce. In 2002, Cleveland-based Jergens, Inc., spun-off Tooling U, which has become a leading online training provider for manufacturers. Tooling U's "students" are part of a growing manufacturing base who gain valuable skills through integrated online learning tools and classes for, among others, welders, assemblers and maintenance professionals. Tooling U recently introduced a series of training classes for first-time supervisors promoted from the shop floor who have technical skills but need classes designed for management and leadership skills.

Helping Ohio's Families

There's a tragic cycle playing out in too many Ohio communities: more and more families are turning to charitable organizations for help while fewer and fewer have the resources during this recession to make donations. Still, many dedicated Ohioans devote themselves to helping those less fortunate and those struggling to make ends meet during these difficult economic times. Bambi Markham is executive director of the West Ohio Food Bank in Lima, which works with 170 charities throughout 11 counties in Western Ohio to stock food pantries and collect other supplies that families need. Under Ms. Markham's direction, the West Ohio Food Bank relies on hundreds of volunteers, businesses like Wal-Mart and Proctor & Gamble, local farms and government surplus to fill its warehouse. Ms. Markham has also developed innovative programs for low-income school children and meals for seniors. A highlight from Rob's North-Central RV Tour was visiting Grace Community Church in Bryan where Pasto Mike Kelly discussed the church's community involvement, which includes a food bank, thrift store and health clinic. This faith-based program provides much needed care and support for families suffering through this economic crisis.

Source