Madison graduation 2012
Warren County CC graduation
New Miami graduation 2012
Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2010 > September > 13 > Entry
Fisher, Portman clash on trade, job losses during Dayton session
Democrat Lee Fisher and Republican Rob Portman clashed on issues including trade, Ohio’s job losses and the new federal health care plan as they brought their campaign for the U.S. Senate to a meeting of the Dayton Daily News editorial board.
Disagreement on trade policies sparked several heated exchanges in a session that lasted more than an hour and a half on Monday, Sept. 13. Fisher is Ohio’s lieutenant governor. Portman is a former Cincinnati-area U.S. House member who served as budget director and U.S. trade representative for President George W. Bush.
Portman cast Fisher, Ohio’s lieutenant governor, as a protectionist who embraced policies that are “going to kill jobs.”
Fisher said trade must be “fair and balanced.”
He said that “my attitude is that every single trade agreement ought to be renegotiated.”
Asked about that statement, he amended it to say each agreement “should be reassessed …and then determined whether or not it should be renegotiated.”
Portman countered that trade agreements are constantly being reassessed.
Fisher lashed out at claims from Portman and Republicans that Fisher and Gov. Ted Strickland are responsible for the 382,000 Ohio jobs has lost since they took office in 2007.
“That is not only nonsense, it’s offensive,” said Fisher. The job losses are due to a national and global recession and Strickland-Fisher policies have worked to retain and create jobs, he said.
Portman said that under the Strickland-Fisher administration, Ohio has “fallen behind” and cited NCR’s 2009 decision to move its headquarters from Dayton to Georgia. Fisher said intense bipartisan efforts to keep NCR involving him and state Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, didn’t’ succeed.
Fisher said he supported the health care overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama, but added there was room for improvement. Portman called the health care overhaul “a huge missed opportunity” and said major changes are needed.
They also clashed on the $787 billion federal stimulus plan. Portman said it’s been ineffective while Fisher said it has been “absolutely indispensable” in limiting damage from the economic downturn in Ohio.
They are running to replace Republican U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, who is retiring.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment |
Tweet
Comments
By JustinR
September 13, 2010 9:27 PM | Link to this
Mr. Fisher has my vote.
By red
September 13, 2010 9:14 PM | Link to this
Max…..calling you on that post. Please give evidence that Husted has done nothing. You either aren’t well read or just a liberal who sees the ‘R’ after the name and thinks they don’t do anything. Get a clue.
By Max
September 13, 2010 3:12 PM | Link to this
These two bumbling buffoons are great spinning their viwe of the past. Titanic; iceberg or design flaw? Well, it’s at the bottom of the ocean, now what? Bringing up Sen. Husted’s name is interesting; so far, probably the most power do-nothing state senator in Columbus. Fisher, as usual, is confused: “Fair and balanced” is what Fox News does…….or doesn’t. How about really digging deep; ’ a chicken in every pot,’ ‘every man a king’….Again, recycling failed slogans, ideas, and historical revisionism is not what we need.
By Asuselessas
September 13, 2010 2:26 PM | Link to this
Fisher’s private sector expeience has been invaluable in job formation and retention in Ohio. Wave goodbye to the moving vans, Lee.
By Boehnerisms
September 13, 2010 2:25 PM | Link to this
Too bad we can get Mr. Boehner to debate the issues with his West Point grad opponent, Justin Coussoule. Boehner has been everywhere except Ohio talking to the top 1% wealthiest in America and his hard working constituent families and communities would like him to stand alongside Justin Coussoule and discuss the issues and answer questions. Mr. Boehner, the voters of your District deserve your presence at a debate, you owe your District at least that, since you have done little else in the last 20 years.