Dayton Business Journal...
House Speaker Boehner visits Springfield, criticizes Obama policies
by Joe Cogliano, Senior Reporter
Date: Friday, March 23, 2012 

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner told a group of Clark County businesspeople that President Barack Obama’s energy policies are out of step with what needs to be done to keep prices down and minimize dependence on foreign sources. 

The West Chester Republican spoke about energy and the economy to about 320 people Friday afternoon at a Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce    luncheon on the campus of Wittenberg University    . 

President Obama is out touting energy production he had nothing to do with, Boehner said, and is making a mistake by preventing energy development on federal lands and refusing to approve the entire Keystone pipeline project. 

According to Boehner, the Presidential election this fall will hinge on gas prices as well as the overall economy and “Obamacare.” 

“While things are getting better, they should be a lot better,” Boehner said. 

The Speaker also spent several minutes roasting former U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson, who he referred to as his good friend. 

Hobson called Boehner’s visit historic, as a sitting Speaker of the House hasn’t visited the Springfield area since the late 1800’s. Under newly drawn Congressional districts, Clark County will soon be part of Boehner’s district. 

“Certainly having the Speaker represent the area is a great positive for the community,” Hobson said. “It’s a different county for him, it’s one he’s going to have to get to know, because he’s never had a diverse a county as this in his district before. But he has a great staff and has already done a great job of integrating themselves into the community.” 

During his introduction, Boehner sat next to Mike McDorman, president and CEO of the chamber. 

“We have a lot of momentum happening in our community right now and we’re able to showcase that momentum to him today,” McDorman said, referring to hundreds of millions of dollars in recent investments and job additions across the county. “We have a real triple threat here in Springfield with what’s happening in UAVs at the airport, with what’s happening at our high tech park and with what’s happening in manufacturing.” 

Boehner was slated to tour the Navistar    truck production facility in Springfield Friday afternoon and appear Saturday in Troy at an annual farm forum. 

Read this and other articles at the Dayton Business Journal