Upton looks for bipartisan plan
Published 12:22 pm Wednesday, February 11, 2009
By By JESSICA SIEFF / Edwardsburg Argus
ELKHART, Ind. – Filing out of the gymnasium following President Barack Obama's visit to Concord High School in Elkhart, Ind. Monday, Ruth Wiley emerged from the crowd smiling wide.
It's safe to say the Elkhart resident is a pretty big fan. "I love him," she beamed. "He's the best thing that ever happened."
Wiley works at Parker Hannifin Corporation in Goshen Ind., and said she listened to the president speak along with a few coworkers. She said the company has not gone unscathed by the current economic recession. Layoffs have left the manufacturing facility in Goshen with only 82 employees. Wiley wanted to hear "just how he's (Obama) going to get this economy going," she said. And she felt, he told her.
Trinidad Alfaro, of New Carlisle, Ind. agreed.
"I wanted to hear that he understands that while the politicians in Washington D.C. may argue the partisan points (of the economic plan) … the people here, in the communities want to get away from that.
"They (the Senate) may argue, but every day that they do that the people at these communities suffer."
Alfaro and Wiley weren't the only one's listening carefully to the president on Monday. The audience included political figures on both sides of the partisan line, including Indiana Congressman Joe Donnelly, a Democrat and Michigan's own Congressman Fred Upton, a Republican.
Upton, who has criticized the economic plan proposed by the president, left South Bend, Ind. on Air Force One on Monday, after coming in from Washington D. C. earlier in the morning. Later, he commented on what Obama had to say and what he hopes to see in the future.
"As you know, I opposed the House package," Upton said. That opposition, he explained, was in part because the House was unable to make amendments as has been done in the Senate.
The Senate, Upton said, have been going through the bill "page by page" for more than a week, adding provisions.
"We want a combination of both tax cuts to help (families)…" Upton said. "And shovel ready projects.
"The Senate bill is much improved over the House."
Now, lawmakers must get down to the business of reconciling those two bills for one package.
Upton said he doesn't expect a final package until the weekend or early next week.
Though Obama's visit to Elkhart seemed apropos, for a community that has watched its unemployment triple in one year, but Upton said Michigan itself is no stranger to the economic recession.
"I think it was admirable for him (Obama) to come and listen to the stories," Upton said.
He also noted that questions were un-scripted and in that way, came "from the heart" of audience members.
As for the work that lay ahead for lawmakers and Obama himself, Upton said he wants "to be at the table."
For the current state of the economy, he said he points the fingers at both political parties and said, "I hope that it (the bill) is bipartisan at the end of the day, but we'll see."
On his ride back to South Bend Regional Airport seated next to the president, Upton said the two discussed issues that are taking a toll on Michigan, including the state of the big three automakers and the current credit crisis.
Ultimately, Upton said he hopes for no earmarks in the bill currently in the Senate's hands and that the "priority needs of every state" will be considered.