Trump touts infrastructure plan during Richfield visit
President touches on numerous other topics in 50-minute address
President Trump is calling for spending $200 billion in federal funds in his infrastructure proposal. Photo by DAVID SICKELS
Although President Trump officially came to Ohio to talk infrastructure, he also brought up topics such as his proposed Mexican border wall project with Mexico, advocating for a merit-based immigration system, proposed talks with North Korea to congratulating Roseanne Barr. Photo by DAVID SICKELS
President Trump received several standing ovations during his speech. Photo by DAVID SICKELS
President Trump spoke in front of a crowd of several hundred March 29 in Richfield. Photo by DAVID SICKELS
Rep. Jim Renacci (in blue) is flanked by Congressman Bob Gibbs on his right and President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, on his left. Photo by DAVID SICKELS
President Trump gave his appreciation to the workers behind him and in the crowd in front of him. Photo by DAVID SICKELS
Before going up on stage with other apprentices from the operating engineers union, Devi Bagley of Brunswick discussed her training experiences. Photo by ALLISON WOOD
RICHFIELD – President Donald Trump discussed his proposed infrastructure program among other issues March 29 in Richfield at the regional training facility for the International Union of Operating Engineers.
“We’ll transform our roads and bridges from a source of endless frustration into a source of absolutely incredible pride and we’re going to do it under budget and ahead of schedule. Have you ever heard those words in the public world?” Trump said during an approximately 50-minute address under the banner “Building a Stronger America.”
Trump gave his speech inside the indoor training facility just east of the Medina County line, which was recently expanded; its dirt floor is often used for conducting classes on various pieces of heavy construction equipment. Successful programs like the one in Richfield, Trump said, are needed to train the workers America needs to fix its infrastructure at all levels.
“There’s no better place to begin the campaign of infrastructure than right here in Ohio at this state-of-the-art training site. They’ve done a fantastic job right in this building, where the awesome skills of the American worker are forged and refined,” he said. “I’ve been in construction and building all my life, I love it ... I love the smell of a construction site, there’s just something about it ... We didn’t always get the union leadership of the big unions, but we got the workers.”
Behind Trump, sitting on bleachers were apprentices in the union’s four-year training program. Apprentices said they were in the building until 3 a.m. the night before setting up the stage, which also included parking loaders and track hoes behind it.
Rich Gallaway, one of the instructors at the Richfield facility, said apprentices learn to operate and maintain large construction equipment, including cranes, pavers and drilling equipment. The union has four training centers throughout the state and more apprentices have been taken on as construction work has increased, which ranges from road paving to a pipeline project in Southeast Ohio.
Devi Bagley, an apprentice from Brunswick, is in her fourth year of her apprenticeship and said she applied after knowing others who went through it. She said she is happy with her career choice, as she learned she likes being outdoors working with all kinds of heavy equipment.
After finishing her apprenticeship, Bagley said she will join a paving crew.
Trump’s infrastructure proposal, which must go before Congress, calls for spending $200 billion in federal funds, which a study from the Council of Economic Advisers said would spur at least $1.5 trillion in further investment. Trump said during his speech the CEA predicts 400,000 high-paying jobs would be created. In addition, funding would also be allocated for training programs like the one in Richfield.
His proposal would also streamline permitting processes so construction on pipelines and other efforts can begin sooner – he called the current process “a disaster” that causes unnecessary delays and dramatically increases costs. Ideally, there would be one point of contract from the government who would approve or disapprove projects.
“We’ll get rid of the bureaucracy that wastes time and kills jobs,” Trump said. “You have to go through different agencies, you have to go through labor, you go through transportation, you go through another one, EPA, ...”
Along with projects like bridge repair and road paving, he also mentioned improving the electric power grid to reduce power outages in addition to funding projects in rural areas such as providing broadband internet access.
The president’s speech touched a variety of other topics, from his proposed Mexican border wall project with Mexico, advocating for a merit-based immigration system, proposed talks with North Korea to congratulating Roseanne Barr for the ratings success of the “Roseanne” reboot two days prior. In addition, he mentioned $6 billion of funding recently approved to address the opioid epidemic and criticized those who have proposed to repeal the Second Amendment regarding citizens’ right to bear arms.
“Your Second Amendment will always be your Second Amendment, we’re not doing anything to that,” he said.
Trump also touched on the upcoming midterm elections, and said voters should be wary to change leadership during a time of record low unemployment and strong economic growth.
“There’s never been an economy like this,” he said.
Accompanying Trump to Richfield were his daughters Ivanka and Tiffany Trump, in addition to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta.
Local elected officials on stage included current U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Jim Renacci of Wadsworth, who was seated next to Ivanka Trump; U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs; and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.
Renacci said he is excited to see how Trump’s proposal will affect the 16th district of Ohio.
“When I was mayor of Wadsworth and worked closely with the community on issues like trash and snow removal, I understood how important it was for government to be close to those it governs,” Renacci said following the speech. “Today, our president came to Ohio to finally return power to the state and local governments who are best suited to make decisions for their communities. I look forward to seeing how the 16th district will thrive because of the investment we are making to our roads, bridges and those who work on them.”
This is not the first time the Richfield facility has hosted a U.S. President; in 2003, President George W. Bush gave a speech there on Labor Day.
“We’ll transform our roads and bridges from a source of endless frustration into a source of absolutely incredible pride and we’re going to do it under budget and ahead of schedule. Have you ever heard those words in the public world?” Trump said during an approximately 50-minute address under the banner “Building a Stronger America.”
Trump gave his speech inside the indoor training facility just east of the Medina County line, which was recently expanded; its dirt floor is often used for conducting classes on various pieces of heavy construction equipment. Successful programs like the one in Richfield, Trump said, are needed to train the workers America needs to fix its infrastructure at all levels.
“There’s no better place to begin the campaign of infrastructure than right here in Ohio at this state-of-the-art training site. They’ve done a fantastic job right in this building, where the awesome skills of the American worker are forged and refined,” he said. “I’ve been in construction and building all my life, I love it ... I love the smell of a construction site, there’s just something about it ... We didn’t always get the union leadership of the big unions, but we got the workers.”
Behind Trump, sitting on bleachers were apprentices in the union’s four-year training program. Apprentices said they were in the building until 3 a.m. the night before setting up the stage, which also included parking loaders and track hoes behind it.
Rich Gallaway, one of the instructors at the Richfield facility, said apprentices learn to operate and maintain large construction equipment, including cranes, pavers and drilling equipment. The union has four training centers throughout the state and more apprentices have been taken on as construction work has increased, which ranges from road paving to a pipeline project in Southeast Ohio.
Devi Bagley, an apprentice from Brunswick, is in her fourth year of her apprenticeship and said she applied after knowing others who went through it. She said she is happy with her career choice, as she learned she likes being outdoors working with all kinds of heavy equipment.
After finishing her apprenticeship, Bagley said she will join a paving crew.
Trump’s infrastructure proposal, which must go before Congress, calls for spending $200 billion in federal funds, which a study from the Council of Economic Advisers said would spur at least $1.5 trillion in further investment. Trump said during his speech the CEA predicts 400,000 high-paying jobs would be created. In addition, funding would also be allocated for training programs like the one in Richfield.
His proposal would also streamline permitting processes so construction on pipelines and other efforts can begin sooner – he called the current process “a disaster” that causes unnecessary delays and dramatically increases costs. Ideally, there would be one point of contract from the government who would approve or disapprove projects.
“We’ll get rid of the bureaucracy that wastes time and kills jobs,” Trump said. “You have to go through different agencies, you have to go through labor, you go through transportation, you go through another one, EPA, ...”
Along with projects like bridge repair and road paving, he also mentioned improving the electric power grid to reduce power outages in addition to funding projects in rural areas such as providing broadband internet access.
The president’s speech touched a variety of other topics, from his proposed Mexican border wall project with Mexico, advocating for a merit-based immigration system, proposed talks with North Korea to congratulating Roseanne Barr for the ratings success of the “Roseanne” reboot two days prior. In addition, he mentioned $6 billion of funding recently approved to address the opioid epidemic and criticized those who have proposed to repeal the Second Amendment regarding citizens’ right to bear arms.
“Your Second Amendment will always be your Second Amendment, we’re not doing anything to that,” he said.
Trump also touched on the upcoming midterm elections, and said voters should be wary to change leadership during a time of record low unemployment and strong economic growth.
“There’s never been an economy like this,” he said.
Accompanying Trump to Richfield were his daughters Ivanka and Tiffany Trump, in addition to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta.
Local elected officials on stage included current U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Jim Renacci of Wadsworth, who was seated next to Ivanka Trump; U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs; and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.
Renacci said he is excited to see how Trump’s proposal will affect the 16th district of Ohio.
“When I was mayor of Wadsworth and worked closely with the community on issues like trash and snow removal, I understood how important it was for government to be close to those it governs,” Renacci said following the speech. “Today, our president came to Ohio to finally return power to the state and local governments who are best suited to make decisions for their communities. I look forward to seeing how the 16th district will thrive because of the investment we are making to our roads, bridges and those who work on them.”
This is not the first time the Richfield facility has hosted a U.S. President; in 2003, President George W. Bush gave a speech there on Labor Day.
