Speech to focus on jobs
Ohio is third in lost manufacturing jobs under Bush.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Sen. John Kerry was to outline the devastating impact the loss of manufacturing jobs has had on Ohio during the Bush administration in a speech in the city's downtown today.
Kerry's campaign released a report this morning that was to be the basis of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's speech.
West Federal Street between Chestnut and Phelps streets were closed to vehicular traffic, and people walking on the street -- whether they were going to hear Kerry's speech or not -- were subjected to screenings by U.S. Secret Service agents and bomb-sniffing dogs.
Kerry's speech today was expected to attract about 1,000 people, his campaign estimated.
"America has lost 2.8 million manufacturing jobs under President Bush, while George Bush has done virtually nothing," the report reads. "As a result, this crucial sector -- which pays higher wages and is responsible for the majority of research and development -- is in the worst crisis in over 80 years."
The report lists the number of manufacturing jobs lost since Bush took office in 2001, with Ohio third on the list. The 170,000 manufacturing jobs lost in Ohio during that time period only trails California, with 350,000 lost jobs, and Texas, with 175,000 lost jobs. The population of California is about three times as much as Ohio, and the population of Texas is about twice as much as the Buckeye State.
Job creation
Kerry was to tell those attending today's rally that he plans to create 10 million new jobs nationwide, and concentrate on the manufacturing sector.
Kerry's report states that manufacturing jobs pay 50 percent more than nonmanufacturing jobs, and each manufacturing job supports 4.2 additional jobs through the economy.
The report also states that manufacturing is critical to the national defense, and is responsible for two-thirds of all private sector research and development.
Kevin Madden, a Bush-Cheney campaign spokesman, says Kerry's solution to everything is to increase taxes and regulations, and the Democratic senator doesn't understand that his policies would hurt the national economy.
Touring states
Kerry is on a three-day "Jobs First Express" bus tour through four states -- Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Michigan. The tour concludes Wednesday.
Ohio is seen as a key battleground state in the 2004 election. A recent statewide poll has Ohio up for grabs between Bush and Kerry. Polls in West Virginia and Michigan also have the race at about a dead heat. Bush has a lead in Pennsylvania polls.
Kerry is visiting the four states to focus on his jobs and economic growth proposal. The four states have lost about 470,000 manufacturing jobs under Bush.
Kerry said his plan would create 417,000 jobs in Ohio.
The plan would eliminate the incentive for corporations to send jobs overseas by cutting corporate tax rates by 4 percent, give small businesses tax credits for creating manufacturing jobs and cut health-care costs. Some of the programs would be funded by Kerry rescinding the Bush tax cut given to the wealthiest 2 percent in the country.
skolnick@vindy.com