"In April, Representative Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) introduced a bill that would allow EDA, which currently limits its incubator funding to construction and renovation projects, to include grants of up to $3 million for operations and support services. Ryan says the successes that the Youngstown Business Incubator and the nearby Akron Global Business Accelerator have had creating jobs in industrial ghost towns prompted the bill. (Both incubators are in his district.) "It's not 1960 where General Motors is going to come and drop in a plant with 15,000 jobs," Ryan says. "Those days are over. You're growing your own businesses now."
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
There has been a lot of talk about immigration recently but relatively little action. It seems partisanship has taken this issue and stuck it in a quagmire (for the last couple decades). The thing is, that party lines really don't define this issue. Surprisingly, this isn't a partisan debate like conservatives and some media outlets would claim. It seems that there is a consensus between conservatives, liberals, and the majority of us in the middle of the road. A large majority of people are interested in solid leadership that is driven toward creating a solution, rather than trying to use this issue as a political pulpit at the expense of the American people. Meaning, everyone wants a solution that protects our boarders (come-on, its only been nine years since 9/11 and our boarder is still porous) and allows hard-working legal immigrants access to our country. This is an issue that needs a resolution, and the difficulty isn't coming from disagreement among the people but political jockeying trying to skew an issue that should have been resolved decades ago. Ryan and Democrats are determined to find a solution that protects the interests and provides security to the American people while still being practical. A solution that allows access to those that work hard, pay taxes, are willing to naturalize, and abide by our laws. The partisanship needs to be left on the sidelines, with the cheerleaders, while reform is sought by both sides representing the near-unanimous desires of the populous.
Check out these videos for a look at current immigration policy and why it's not working. There is illegal immigration and its a huge issue, one that the current system can't handle. The faster we lay aside partisanship and search out practical solutions, the better.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
On May 18, I joined the hardworking men and women of V&M Star Steel and community leaders to welcome President Obama to Youngstown. One of the area’s largest employers, V&M is currently undergoing a $650 million project to construct a new steel pipe mill at its existing facility. This private investment was made possible by a $20 million infrastructure investment included in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. This expansion will create hundreds of construction-related jobs and about 350 full-time, permanent jobs.
The last time President Obama came to our area, he visited the GM Lordstown Complex, where a third shift was added to build the new fuel-efficient Chevy Cruze. GM invested $350 million in the Lordstown facility to make way for an additional 1,200 jobs – good paying jobs that are will provide an additional a $47 million payroll, $1.4 million in state income taxes, and generate $470,000 in local income taxes.
These two projects represent just a small portion of nearly $1.5 billion in investments generated recently in Ohio’s 17th District – strategic investments that will create over 5,000 local jobs and retain thousands more. From Revere Data moving jobs from India to downtown Youngstown, to the new Bridgestone-Firestone Tech Center in Akron and the Kent Central Gateway in Portage County, to the opportunities presented by our region’s close proximity to the extensive Marcellus Shale field – it is clear that our local economic development strategy is working.
As I joined the President for his visit today, I cannot help but think about how far we have come in the past few years, what our friends and family have been through, and how the hard work of this Administration and our community leaders is making our region an economic “comeback kid”.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Republicans and the right-wing media have come up with some crazy stories about the content of the new health care reform bill.
Again, we're here the set the record straight.
What Republicans say: This bill provides funding for abortion.
The truth: No, it doesn't. Obama signed an Executive Order to make sure that this bill did not upset any long standing precedents that Federal funds cannot be used to fund abortion. Hey, if FOX News says it's true, then it must be (that was a joke).
What Republicans say: This bill provides coverage for illegal immigrants.
The truth: No, it doesn't. Details from The Associated Press.
What Republicans say: This bill is unconstitutional because it forces people to buy health insurance.
The truth: Republicans wanted individual accountability, and here it is. By forcing people to buy insurance, insurance premiums will decrease for everybody. Because people will be "forced" to buy insurance, and thus have health insurance coverage, they will need less money from entitlement programs. This provision of the bill satisfies the age-old insurance business model that's been around for hundreds of years: the more payers there are into the system, the cheaper it is for everybody. The more people that have insurance, the less people need entitlement services. The less people need entitlement services, the less tax dollars required to fund those services. This provision will only reduce taxes for everyone across the board.
And as for this provision and the bill being unconstitutional, try again Republicans... "Under long-settled Supreme Court precedents, Congress has ample power under the commerce clause of the Constitution to legislate on health care..." Details.
A frivolous lawsuit against the Federal Government... what a waste of taxpayer dollars.
What Republicans say: This bill socialized our health care system.
The truth: This bill is far from socialized medicine. In a truly socialized health care system, insurance companies and private doctor practices wouldn't exist and citizens would be "assigned" a doctor. Doctors would be employees of the Federal Government and our tax dollars would fund 100% of our health coverage. Last we checked, insurance companies exist (and are doing fairly well for themselves!) and we have yet to meet a doctor hired by the Federal Government. If you do, please call Tim Ryan for Congress at 330-652-6900.
Immediate changes of health care reform
What Republicans say: This bill will increase taxes for everybody.
The truth: Only the richest 2% in America will experience some type of tax increase. But think of it the way the bill was designed - insurance premiums have been increasing at an average rate of 20% per year... that means your insurance premiums will double every three and a half years! Wouldn't you rather pay 2% (non-indexed, meaning it doesn't increase with inflation) tax to prevent your insurance premiums from doubling in less than four years? In the end, even the richest 2% are still better off than before the legislation, because their insurance premium rate hikes will come to a screeching halt.
What Republicans say: This bill will increase insurance premiums.
The truth: The insurance industry in America is in the form of an oligopoly: several providers of insurance coerce on price fixing and agree on premium rates. Because providers of health insurance are so few, they collectively have the bargaining power over hard working, blue-collared Americans. The insurance companies agree on price fixing, discuss it among themselves and charge whatever they want for insurance. Certain providers have exclusive access to pockets of the United States. That's why premiums have gone through the roof in recent years! Insurance premiums have increased nearly 1,000% faster than inflation in most developing countries. The new health care reform strips insurance providers of that coverage.
The new health care reform includes an "exchange" of insurance providers. Think of the "exchange" as a central marketplace for insurance companies to sell their products. Now that individuals have the option to choose a health insurance plan from anywhere in the country, instead of just the one provided to them because of where they live, competition among insurance companies will increase significantly. Increased competition makes premiums go down for everyone.
Insurance premiums will not increase nearly at the rate which they have been because that greedy tactic has been stripped of the big business insurers.
What Republicans say: There will be a rationing health care.
How? Through a shortage of doctors?
What Republicans say: There will be a shortage of doctors.
The truth: there will be an increase in wages for doctors because of the shortage, which will make medical school and becoming a doctor more attractive to students, which will increase the supply of doctors. Isn't that what a free-market, conservative Economist would say? Isn't that "Reganomics" ... lettin' the free market do it's thing?
Estimated savings for family health insurance
What Republicans say: This bill is a job killer.
The truth: many people only continue working because they wouldn't have access to health care coverage if it wasn't for their employer. By making access more affordable on the individual exchange, many people would retire and purchase insurance on their own, thus opening up many job opportunities.
What Republicans say: This bill will kill old people due to Medicare cuts.
The truth: Although there are Medicare cuts to physicians for services provided, they are phased back in starting this year. The changes will "result in a significantly higher payment rates for physicians than those that would result under current law. The details of this can be found in a letter written by the CBO Executive Director to a Republican Representative.
Copyright 2010 Tim Ryan for congress