Progress Report
Two congressmen fielded questions about developing the workforce from Butler County officials and businesspeople at a roundtable discussion Thursday afternoon.
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, and U.S. Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, R-15th, gave updates on legislative business to a crowd of about 50 at Butler Country Club.
After the update, the legislators took questions from all three Butler County commissioners and several other local leaders.
The men were asked several questions about the labor force. Some in the audience, such as Scott Docherty of CID Associates, called on the politicians to allow for more immigrant workers.
“Every business owner in this room needs workers now,” Docherty said. “Not in the future. I want to get past this. Send us legal immigrants who can speak English, and we'll put them to work tomorrow.”
Both Kelly and Thompson said they want such workers, but said there are legislative obstacles.
Kelly blamed political grandstanding for the standstill on immigration reform.
Thompson recommended giving ex-criminals a chance when hiring, in the meantime.
Commissioner Kim Geyer addressed the same topic, saying “we have a lot of industries that are really busy right now, such as construction and farming, but we don't have the seasonal workers to put in those slots.”
The other commissioners asked about their own issues.
Commissioner Leslie Osche asked about the $68 million federal grant to widen Route 228 that Butler County learned last week that it will not be receiving.
The two men said county leaders had submitted a good, well-made application. Both men seemed to think the funding will be approved in future grant cycles.
“That work was not for nothing,” Thompson said. “There will be another round.”
Commissioner Kevin Boozel also spoke, asking the men to strip levels of regulation from the federal government.At different times, both Kelly and Thompson pointed to the 2020 election as reasons for legislative sluggishness, though their points seemed to contradict each other.“From now until November 2020, it becomes part of the next election, and it's really hard to get legislation done in that time period,” Kelly said. “I know you don't want to hear that.”Thompson offered a different telling of when Washington moves.“One of the best ways to apply heat to the feet of Congress to get stuff done, is the closer you get to an election,” Thompson said.In his update, Kelly talked highly of the tax cuts passed by a Republican-controlled Congress last year.“The results have been stunning,” Kelly said.Later in the event, Kelly again referenced his party's span in power before the 2018 election, saying his party may have been mistaken in pursuing health care reform — an effort which ultimately failed — rather than transportation and infrastructure.Thompson advocated for dairy farmers and for vocational education.He said technical education is all many need, saying “You get what you need, just what you need, and then you get out and get to work.”Tracy Vitale, superintendent for the Seneca Valley School District, spoke to the legislators about difficulties getting parents on board for trade careers.“Seneca Valley has been sending middle school students to the Butler County Vo-Tech School for years,” Vitale said. “By eighth grade, every child. When they come back, they're pretty excited. But when they go home, and they come back the next day, they tell us why they're not allowed to go the vo-tech. We need to shift the paradigm with our parents.”A communications director for U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-17th, also was present. State Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, also attended.
