Local Officials Seek Stimulus for Ohio Valley
By JOSELYN KINGWHEELING - They're either in the red or seeking to stay in the black. Either way, local leaders are looking to the White House and the incoming Obama administration for an economic stimulus in 2009.
Local leaders said the coming year will undoubtedly present challenges, but they also believe opportunities for growth will present themselves in 2009.
"It's going to be the most challenging time in steel history - with where the economy is right now and where we are as an industry," said John Saunders, a contract coordinator with the United Steelworkers union. Saunders said three things have to happen if the steel industry is to become viable again and reach full employment levels, and all three could be affected by an economic stimulus package being proposed by President-elect Barack Obama.
Saunders said the auto industry must be "brought back" and receive a financial infusion from the federal government so that it will again place steel orders. Also, the housing industry must be revived so there is a need for steel plating, and banks need to extend more credit to businesses so there is more opportunity "for big buildings" and the use of steel.
Saunders also noted there are many steel buyers who would like to place steel orders but can't until next quarter because their banks have reduced their lines of credit.
"We probably have not seen the worst of how bad it could be for the steel industry," Saunders said. "But I do see some tremendous opportunities ahead."
In the interim, Saunders said, he and other union leaders are lobbying Congress to place "American-made only" language in any economic stimulus plan, requiring that projects receiving these dollars utilize U.S. products.
"We can't put a stimulus package in that will create opportunity for imports," he said. "If we could get this language, it could be the biggest shot in the arm we've had in years for Wheeling Nisshin and Wheeling Corrugating."
- State Sen. Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, said that "since the time of Eisenhower and Kennedy, there hasn't been any attention paid" to the nation's infrastructure.
"It's at the top of Obama's list, and this is going to bode well for West Virginia," he said. "We will see significant opportunities in the energy field and rapid initiatives that will lead to infrastructure improvements."
For example, a project to extend Interstate 68 from Morgantown to Marshall County has "been on the boards for 20 years," according to Kessler.
Kessler said West Virginia's state budget is going to be a challenge in 2009, adding that "anytime there is a crisis, there is an opportunity for change and advancement."
"We can make energy here, and we're poised and positioned to weather this storm," Kessler said of the Mountain State. "We could actually be a national leader in new administration's energy initiatives."
- Marshall County Commissioner Don Mason sees challenges in trying to maintain current industrial jobs there in 2009 - but he also sees opportunities for bringing new businesses to open venues.
"We still have some of the best sites in the valley to develop," Mason said.
One of those sites is the Marshall County Industrial Park in Benwood, where Consol Energy Inc. has proposed a coal-to-liquids plant. Construction of the facility was put on hold after Consol's initial partner, Synthesis Energy Systems, has pulled out of the project.
"Our understanding is that Consol is continuing with plans to find a partner for its CTL plant," Mason said. "It's something we're all hoping for."
- "Money, money, money ... it's all about money in Ohio in 2009," said Ohio Rep. John Domenick, D-Smithfield. "We have a $7 billion deficit. Federal funding might help. We're only hoping that Washington can give us some relief."
If not, it's likely the state will have to cut vital services to residents to overcome the shortfall, he noted.
"We will touch everything if we have to cut $7 billion," Domenick said. "And if you want me to vote, everybody will have to be cut the same."
Any reductions also should include cuts to legislative pay, according to Domenick. In past legislative sessions, he has proposed bills advocating cuts to his salary and those of his colleagues but was unsuccessful.
"Now the Democrats are in the majority in the Ohio House," he said. "This will get more than one hearing."
He sees Ohio as a center for energy production, as well as a place where items needed for the industry can be manufactured.
- Ohio County Commissioner Tim McCormick sees growth continuing at The Highlands, a county-owned retail development, in 2009 - but at a slower rate.
"Opportunities and challenges are both on the same page," he said. "We are continuing to move forward with economic development, to make the county a better place to raise a family and to offer opportunities.
"The economic situation is not just here, but is a national situation," he added. "When you see the major carmakers going before Congress to ask for a bailout, it's a light to what's going on nationwide."
And the national economic problems are trickling down to the Northern Panhandle and the tri-state area, he said.
"Growth at The Highlands in 2009 probably will not be as large - and be a little more hand-picked - as things are slowing down to some degree," he continued. "I'd like to see the theme park (the planned Wild Escape) take off. ... As you sit back and look at it, I think we've done a pretty good job there. We're still looking at light industrial businesses for there, and our eyes and ear are always open. But it has to be a fit for the folks who live here."
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wonderwhy
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01-06-09 11:56 AM
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Katy- it's a symbol of just how fed up the american public is with your fave bush administration and cronies. Al Franken will do a good job and serve the people of MN just fine
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ConservativeKaty
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01-05-09 10:41 AM
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Wonder, I also can not believe the joker Franken won. Unbelievable!
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wonderwhy
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01-05-09 6:06 AM
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Franken/Obama! yoo hoo
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ConservativeKaty
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01-04-09 12:01 AM
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Wyatt, I agree with most in most of your posts, but for anyone, known or unknown, to raise $millions should be applauded. Conservatives make money. Many unknown conservatives make $billions. They are in it for the finance, not for the flash. I agree that for a black man to become a true conservative is rare. But it is also rare for a black man to do financially well legitimately, so maybe there is hope here. As the editorials here state, the Obama infrastructure plan is liberal craziness, but if it goes through look for conservative angles to profit from it. That would be the only good that could come from it.
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EllisWyatt
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01-03-09 11:51 PM
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I saw Barack Hussein Obama on TV today. I simply cannot believe the American people voted for this man! Who is he? Where did he come from? Never in the history of this nation have the people had a president about whom so little is known. To all of you liberal wackos out there-what do you know about Obama, beyond what his campaign people tell you? How many colleges did he attend? (answer: 3). Where was he born? Answer: Africa, as stated by his paternal grandmother. And so on. You know nothing about him and you don't care because you are stupid. You want to seem enlightened and progressive and trendy. That is why you drive a hybrid and display your Obama sticker. My prediction? In 3 years, people will have scraped those Obama bumper stickers off. Obama is the new Hanson. Millions of Americans bought both and not a single soul will admit to it years later. Where did this man come from? What has he accomplished? What are his views? How does an unknown man raise $600 million?
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EllisWyatt
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01-03-09 11:46 PM
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"We're still looking at light industrial businesses for there, and our eyes and ear are always open. But it has to be a fit for the folks who live here." - A perfect example of why WV is 50th in every economic category. I simply cannot believe that a county commissioner, in these economic times, said that a business has to be a fit for the people now living in the Ohio Valley! In one sentence, he told people from outside the area that they are not welcome, ie. the jobs created cannot be too complicated or demand too much so as to be at the level the Ohio Valley is used to. What if Google said "we want to open a resarch building at the Highlands. It will employ 200 people at an avg. of $80,000 per year plus benefits. You must have at least a Master's in Computer Science"? I have my doubts about whether the county would permit such a situation. WV is unfriendly to outsiders and hostile to new opportunities. Your county commissioner just proved it with that idioti
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ConservativeKaty
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01-03-09 11:43 PM
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Wonder, Thank you for the right-wing descriptive compliment. Usually you insult any and all things I say -- even if I wished all Happy New Year for example -- so your kindness today is especially appreciated because it was unexpected. I am glad the conservative TV shows you saw tooday reported that Obama won. The conservatives I know have known and accepted that for some time -- no recount for president. The recount we know, and have a stake in, involves the Minnesota Senator race, where a Franken victory would be a liberal joke (I know, that phrase sounds redundant).
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wonderwhy
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01-03-09 9:25 PM
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oh, and by the way, Obama won, and conservatives, moderates, and liberals are all hoping for the best. i watched the pathetic right shows today and they even praise him ., so time to back our pres and country
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wonderwhy
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01-03-09 9:24 PM
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ConservativeKaty- you are a perfect right wing extremeist. you post something that haas nothing to do with the reality of the situation. it's great.hey look over there, so you won't see how bad we are screwing things up.
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wonderwhy
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01-03-09 9:22 PM
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wvforsale. thanks for the info
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wonderwhy
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01-03-09 9:22 PM
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beach 1 , you are the one that continues to embarass yourself. stab
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beach1
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01-03-09 8:14 PM
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nancy,go to be and quit embarrasing yourself with all your fiction postings.
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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01-03-09 5:02 PM
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Better get unemployment extended first! Everyone will be on it soon!
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ConservativeKaty
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01-03-09 10:37 AM
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Nancy, I agree with the Irony of Censorship here. If one uses more than a couple of syllables, one can get anything through, but simple things like the plolite N word and the polite C word for a safe-sex Trojan get starred out. WV, All definitions likely differ slightly personally. Yet, I allow a little flux. For example, although I'm pretty loyal to these editorials, I was shocked by simple untruths in the HIV v. malaria editorial yesterday -- like publication dates cited, etc. Preaching to the readers is fine, but deliberate lies where un-lazy researched reason would work is bothersome or worse. Regards to all for this New Year and for new hopes for us all.
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EllisWyatt
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01-03-09 10:30 AM
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Our economy's GDP is about $16 trillion. Our annual budget for this year is about $3 trillion. Our budget deficit is more than $400 billion. Our unfunded liabilities for Social Security & Medicare alone top $44 billion. What this means is, our government is only collecting about $2.6 trillion in taxes this year. We would need to spend EVERY DIME OF TAX COLLECTIONS FOR THE NEXT 17 YEARS TO PAY FOR THESE LIABILITIES! This means, no debt payment, no military, no highway funding, no government, no courts, no FBI, not welfare, etc. for 17 years. Social Security is not an IRA. You do not have private account with your name on it. There is not trust fund. There is NO money put away. Every dime is spent. Annual budget deficits are reduced by Social Security surpluses. As the surpluses shrink, actual budget deficits, and national debt, will increase. HOW WILL WE PAY FOR ALL THIS?
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olewillie
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01-03-09 8:55 AM
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I get sick of all the people who damm Obama. For heavens sake, give him a chance then if he screws up....critize. He can't be worse than Bush...
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NancySI
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01-03-09 8:46 AM
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How ironic is that? Republicans can call President-Elect the Magic N E G R O, but this paper censors the word N E G R O?
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NancySI
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01-03-09 8:44 AM
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I dont care who the republicans nominate in 2011, we should never forget the sad state of affairs internally and in the world that this republican president has left for us to deal with. Republicans are calling President-Elect the "Magic *****". He will need more than magic to fix their mess.
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ConservativeKaty
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01-02-09 11:14 PM
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“Unrelentless?” At least I am not being relentless. “Much more informed?” I know what the pH of Wheeling rainwater was in 1978 and 1979, and I know the rain’s pH now. Even some PhDs don’t know that much about pH. “Real?” I pinched myself. It hurt. Therefore I am. “Rebel rousers?” Roused are conservative rabbles rather than confederate rebels. West Virginia may indeed be “a state of [sic] dispair” but at least it is a red state. “More moderate?” I’m holding back as it is. “Accept things?” Currently, euros and Krugerrands are preferred currency.
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funnybun
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01-02-09 9:33 PM
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ConservativeKaty- Obama will help the USA. You are being unrelentless in acting like the paper or a conservative agenda is best. REAL conservatives are much more informed and don't act like the so called conservative talk shows that really aren't but just rebel rousers. However, it is proven that it doesn't work. Seriously, look at the spending deficit, economy, unemployment. who won? geo Bush? and his followers? the fact that we are in a state of dispair will be attributed to the nonsense of this administration. conservativekaty, it would be best for you to be alot more moderate to accept things you are not sure.
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funnybun
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01-02-09 9:24 PM
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beach1- the money trail is plain to see. if you are unable to see where the money has gone in the last decade, it is pretty frustrating, becasue there are billions unaccounted for under the current presidency.
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funnybun
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01-02-09 9:22 PM
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Ellis Wyatt- I hope your grandchildren will not be saddled by this, but more importantly, if you have grandchildren, it would be best if you adapt a more pleasing attitude, they will respect you. becasue, all people young and old have the right to make their own opinions, and i hope you give your granchildren that opportunity.
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beach1
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01-02-09 9:17 PM
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THE DEMS RAN ON A PLATFORM THAT SOCIAL SECURITY WOULD BE BROKE BY 2014 AND HAD TO BE FIXED. WHAT HAPPENED? THERE WAS A 50 BILLION BILL PASSED DURING THE NIXON YEARS ALSO. WHAT HAPPENED? I THOUGHT THE MAYORS AND GOVERNORS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RUNNING OF THEIR STATES,THEY CERTAINLY GET ENOUGH TAX $, WHAT HAPPENED?
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ConservativeKaty
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01-02-09 6:08 PM
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Fortunately, editorials in Wheeling’s fine papers call for nixing the Obama infrastructure boondoggle before it takes hold. They wisely point out that the idea is only for flashy new construction that will have high future maintenance costs. No state (even crazy blue ones hopefully), say the editors, should be “saddled” with this liberal foolishness. Yes, halt this stupid stimulus Ponzi scheme for jobs and the economy, or have this wise red state simply refuse it, to send the clear message that tax reduction for the conservative business class and conservative upper class is the only Real America way to boost the economy. Governments here should ironically develop big cojones like, say, Governor Sarah Palin, and don’t even think about building “Bridges to Nowhere.” Follow the solidly paved editorials instead of the yellow brick infrastructure hype.
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zip064
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01-02-09 3:52 PM
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Hey Local Governments! It ain't the job of the feds to make sure you get a handout. Maybe a course in learning the Constitution would help you better understand.
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