As President Barack Obama readies to deliver his State of the Union speech to Congress and the American people Tuesday night, Ohio lawmakers and officials are weighing in on what they’d like to hear.
Improving the nation’s economy is high on the list, officials said.
“I think the most important issue is improving the economy and lowering the unemployment rate,” state Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville, said.
Gentile, whose senate district includes parts of Athens County, said he doesn’t think Ohio’s economy is “doing as well as it should,” but doesn’t put fault on Obama.
U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, a Republican from Columbus whose congressional district includes parts of Southeast Ohio, said he hopes the president will address the way government regulates businesses and the nation’s debt, which he said currently sits just above $17 trillion.
“The president calls for more government, not more efficient and effective,” Stivers said. “We need to think about reinventing government, kind of like how Bill Clinton did.”
Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl, a Democrat, said he would like Obama to touch on several issues affecting Athens, such as alternative energy and fracking.
Many Americans might expect Obama to address the bumpy rollout of his signature law, the Affordable Care Act.
“I’m sure he’ll have to tackle health care,” said Gentile, a supporter of the act.
He said he thinks, “it’s a shame” the policy wasn’t enacted earlier.
Stivers, who is against the law, said he doesn’t expect to see much change regarding health care reform unless the GOP gains more seats in Congress after the midterm elections in November.
He also expressed concern over a polarized political climate in Washington.
“(I) hope (Obama) will talk about the ways to work together for the American people instead of talking about how he can get everything done through executive action,” Stivers said.
Gentile struck a similar tone.
“I really hope he can get Congress to work with him,” Gentile said. “There’s so much dysfunction going on in Washington.”
@LucasDaprile
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