Displaced Workers On McCain Economic Agenda


By Loren Genson, Lancaster (OH) Eagle Gazette
August 7, 2008

Article Excerpts:

Innovations in business, retraining programs for displaced workers and tax breaks for working class Americans are Sen. John McCain's plans for helping the economy -- especially in southern Ohio.

McCain spoke of those plans with reporters aboard his "Straight Talk Express" bus, while en route from Jackson to Dublin -- with a brief stop in Chillicothe Wednesday.

The Arizona senator said morale at the Merillat plant in Jackson was surprisingly upbeat considering recent job cuts.

"These are tough times and they've had to downsize,"said McCain.

Speaking in general terms, McCain said he would like to have more tax breaks for working class Americans and said he would like to begin offshore drilling as soon as possible, and encourage clean coal technologies.

"Let's pump $2 billion a year into clean coal technology," he said. "It's got to be a major priority."

When asked about keeping manufacturing jobs in America, McCain said he agreed with current free trade policies, but said those policies should be enforced, and that he believed in a strong partnership between colleges and displaced workers to re-train them for other fields.

When asked what other industries and businesses they should be trained for as jobs vacate their towns, McCain said, "There are industries still here."

He recommended "innovative" businesses like Werner Enterprises in Omaha, Neb. McCain said they are doing high-tech recycling and creating more jobs.

"There are businesses that could be starting if they had more trained workers." McCain said. "Businesses will go where there are trained workers." . . .

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