Obama’s 2-year college plan worthy of thoughtful debate

If Republicans in Congress want to find out whether President Barack Obama’s community-college initiative has merit, they should contact Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich, a Republican, and ask him about the 140,000-plus jobs in the state that are unfilled because there aren’t enough qualified workers.

Not all the jobs require a four-year college degree or a post-graduate degree. A goodly number are in companies in Ohio that are eager to join with the state and with community and technical colleges to develop training programs for potential employees.

Indeed, if the leaders of the GOP-controlled U.S. House and Senate talk to members of the Republican-dominated Ohio General Assembly, they’ll hear this: Not everyone should attend a four-year institution of higher learning; there’s an urgency to meet the demands of employers looking to hire as soon as possible.

There are positions that require specific qualifications, experience and skills that JobsOhio, the state’s quasi-public entity, is working with companies to fill.

During his re-election campaign last year, Gov. Kasich talked about this unusual phenomenon with editors and writers of The Vindicator.

Kasich, who was sworn in Monday for a second four years after scoring a landslide victory in the Nov. 4 general election, is of the opinion that various strategies are needed to meet Ohio’s job-creation goals.

President Obama’s community-college initiative is an acknowledgment of the workplace challenges confronting states like Ohio.

Last week, Obama unveiled America’s College Promise, which is aimed at making two years of community college free for responsible students, letting students earn the first half of a bachelor’s degree and earn skills needed in the workplace.

“It’s something that we can accomplish, and it’s something that will train our workforce so that we can compete with anybody in the world,” the Democratic president said in a video released by the White House.

However, the initiative needs congressional approval because it carries a price tag of $60 billion over 10 years. Even without that estimated cost, support from the GOP- controlled Congress will not come easily.

The president and Republicans on Capitol Hill are on a collision course on a number of headline-grabbing issues, led by the Keystone XL Pipeline. The House approved legislation giving the green light to construction of the controversial project, and the Senate is expected to take it up shortly.

The president has said he will veto the legislation because a State Department study is not completed.

Affordable Care Act

The Republicans also are gearing up to take on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which many in the right wing of the party want to totally dismantle. Others want to make major changes, especially to the provisions that apply to small businesses.

It’s unfortunate that everything Obama proposes will be viewed by Republicans with a jaundiced eye — unless it’s something the GOP wants. The community-college initiative is important, not only because of the cost savings — about $3,800 for each student who meets the stringent requirements — but because it would fill a growing need.

The Mahoning Valley has a front-row seat to the increasing demand for a two-year college education. The phenomenal growth of Eastern Gateway Community College has drawn the attention of businesses in the region and even state government.

EGCC is working closely with companies to meet their employment demands, and President Obama’s initiative could well bolster that effort.

The GOP leadership in Congress should invite the administration to plead its case.