ELYRIA, Ohio — President Barack Obama is more committed than ever to addressing the economic crisis plaguing the nation.
“I’m trying to solve the problems that folks here in Ohio and across the country face every day and I’m not going to walk away just because it’s hard,” Obama said.
Obama, who spoke during a town-hall meeting at Lorain County Community College on Friday, offered solutions to improve a decimated Ohio economy.
Obama cited several ways for Ohio and the country to reignite the economy, including increasing exported goods while limiting imports from foreign countries, convincing banks to offer loans to small businesses, cutting unnecessary federal government staff and making higher education affordable.
The University ended a two-year plus tuition freeze this semester. And while Obama didn’t talk specifically about college employment during his speech, the president said education will help younger generations secure jobs in the future.
Obama said investing in local businesses and industries would also help curb the recession.
The BASF Corporation, which has an automobile plant located in Elyria, received $25 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The plant will produce “car batteries of the future,” Obama said.
Continuing to invest in local businesses will be a major way the United States can prosper, the president said.
“That’s what we’re going to keep on doing for the rest of 2010 and 2011 and 2012, until we’ve got this country working again,” Obama said.
Before his speech at LCCC, Obama visited EMC Precision Machining and Smitty’s Place, a popular restaurant in Elyria.
One person Obama talked with was Elyrian native and electrician Jeff King, the father of University senior Callie King. The two discussed economics and King’s involvement in the stimulus-funded program to improve the city’s transportation system.
“I happened to be here for lunch and President Barack Obama was there and it was kind of cool,” King said.
King makes the special sauce for the popular Smitty Burger. Obama’s burger was topped with lettuce, onions and mustard, but he held off on the special sauce. King said his feelings weren’t hurt at all.
With a full stomach, Obama answered questions following his speech.
One question came from Jerome Lowery, a 29 year old who has never been employed because of his criminal record.
Lowery said it is nearly impossible for a felon to be hired. Obama sympathizes with employers hesitating to hire someone with a criminal record, but also believes this country is great because it provides people with “second chances.”
His administration recently passed the Second Chance Act, a program that helps fund programs geared toward ex-felons.
“I’m glad that he did respond to my question,” Lowery said after the meeting.
The Elyrian native also presented Obama with a poem inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. describing Inauguration Day.
Lowery is just one of millions unemployed in the state. In December, Ohio’s unemployment rate was 10.9 percent, up 0.3 percent in one month’s time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Obama said he will solve the problems of displaced citizens by using the same American ideals that got him elected: Hard work and dedication.
“So long as I have some breath in me, so long as I have the privilege of serving as your president, I will not stop fighting for you,” he said.
Although his policies of creating jobs are not the most popular in Washington, Obama said he is determined to bring jobs back to Ohio.
“I won’t stop fighting for an economy where hard work is rewarded. I won’t stop fighting to make sure there’s accountability in our financial system. I’m not going to stop fighting until we have jobs for everybody,” he said.
