Local lawmakers noted Gov. John Kasich failed to mention Ohio's struggling steel industry in his State of the State speech in Steubenville Tuesday - despite the fact he spoke within yards of the nearby RG Steel plant.
"It's a slap in the face - especially when he is just a stone's throw from a steel mill that used to produce," said Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire.
The RG Steel plants in Steubenville and Mingo Junction are mostly idle, and no steel is being made at either plant.
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Photo by Joselyn King
Belmont College President Joseph Bukowski, left, speaks with Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, center, and Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville, following Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s State of the State address in Steubenville on Tuesday.
"I was a little disappointed that the governor was in Steubenville, the steel valley, and he didn't talk about steel," said Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville. "The governor came and talked about a lot of the development around the state pertaining to manufacturing, and that was positive. But what's his plan to work with us in the Ohio Valley and show he is committed to getting people back to work - that it's on his radar screen?"
He said he would have expected some recognition from Kasich of the problems the steel industry has had.
"I realize he can't just raise a magic wand and bring back steel jobs," Gentile said. "But he should have acknowledged struggling - that he cares and that he and his administration want to be helpful. It would have gone a long way with local working men and women if he would have indicated he hadn't given up on manufacturing jobs in the Ohio Valley."
Kasich in his speech did tout the rise of new manufacturing jobs this year throughout Ohio, and he told mothers and fathers to again encourage their children to consider jobs in manufacturing.
"Manufacturing is coming back," Kasich said.
The words weren't lost on Rep. Allen Landis, R-Dover, who previously worked as a manager of sales administration for Greer Steel.
"When I hear the word 'manufacturing,' I think about a lot of things," Landis said. "When I hear that manufacturing is improving, I know these are feeders into the steel industry. When I hear the word 'manufacturing,' I know steel is there."
He commended Kasich for bringing his State of the State address to Steubenville.
"It was a bold move of the governor to move his speech out of Columbus to our district," Landis said. "I believe it is a very beneficial means of taking government to the people - and for me that's important."
Gentile said he was pleased to host the Legislature in his hometown, and that the city of Steubenville and Jefferson County "could be highlighted in such a positive way."
Cera, meanwhile, said although the day was exciting for the community and Steubenville City Schools, and Kasich's speech was "like a lot of other State of the State speeches" he has heard in Columbus.
He acknowledged feelings in the House were divided about holding the annual address in Steubenville, but not because they didn't want to come to the city.
"It was about the tradition of having the speech at the Statehouse," Cera said. "They believe the Statehouse is where it should have been, and there is something to be said for having the speech in the Statehouse."