Obama’s budget plan warrants thoughtful debate in Congress

Even before the ink had dried on President Barack Obama’s 150-page $3.9 trillion federal budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, some recalcitrant Republicans unceremoniously declared it “dead on arrival.”

Such posturing and politicking serve no useful purpose in what ranks as arguably the most important task of the year for our nation’s senators and representatives: charting the spending and policy priorities of our national government through September 2016. As such, the president’s budget plan deserves thoughtful, reasoned debate with an accent on what’s best for the wide range of interests of all Americans.

After all, the document eventually authorized by Congress and signed by the president represents more than a juggling of dollars and cents. It represents a blueprint for addressing which of the many pressing needs of this nation will get the most funding – and the most attention – over the next year.

Clearly, the needs are many. The president’s proposal offers a grab bag of them, but we’ll focus on a couple that potentially could have significant impact on the lives of many throughout the Mahoning and Shenango valleys: urgent repair to our crumbling infrastructure and broad expansion of advanced manufacturing.

INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

The centerpiece of the budget proposal is a six-year, $478-billion program to build and upgrade roads, bridges and other transit systems. It would be financed by a one-time 14 percent tax on overseas profits and by closing loopholes that have allowed U.S. companies to shift profits to tax havens and avoid paying any tax on them for years.

Not even the most contrary lawmaker could disagree with Obama’s premise that the foundation of our nation is crumbling beneath us fast. The American Society of Civil Engineers, in its annual Report Card on America’s infrastructure, gives the nation an embarrassingly poor grade of D+. Singling out Ohio, the ASCE reports that 42 percent of Ohio’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition, costing Buckeye State motorists $1.68 million a year to repair, or $212 per driver.

Those Republicans who prefer to deep-six the budget plan and the infrastructure enhancement along with it should think of the consequences to their districts and to their political futures. Then they might thoughtfully propose alternative funding sources, if the president’s plan displeases them so much.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

The president also singles out Youngstown prominently on page 17 of his budget proposal, on which he makes the case for spending an additional $350 million to support seven new advanced manufacturing hubs. As most realize, the mother of all such hubs is America Makes, a center of 3-D printing technology and research in downtown Youngstown Youngstown. What’s good for manufacturing hubs in general will also be good for the Valley’s hub and the Valley’s expanding high-tech manufacturing base as well.

The momentum behind America Makes must not be slowed. As Obama says in his proposal, “Although only in its third year of operation, the [America Makes] institute has research underway that will help accelerate the speed of 3D printing in metals by a factor of 10, is partnering to provide over 1,000 schools with access to 3D printers, and has launched new workforce training programs that have trained over 7,000 workers in the fundmentals of 3D printing.”

In addition to addressing advanced manufacturing and the region’s deteriorating infrastructure, the president’s budget includes money for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna Township. We’ll have more to say about the importance of the base on Sunday.

The president’s budget also includes plans to ensure two years of tuition-free community college, proposals to clean up the Great Lakes and other critical U.S. waterways.

That’s why Obama’s spending blueprint deserves thoughtful consideration, spirited debate and sincere willingness to compromise among leaders of all political stripes.