By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Rolling back prices to the 1980s at Mr. Spots in Bowling Green on Monday didn’t prompt much conversation about Reaganomics versus Bidenomics. But it did generate long lines of customers looking for deals on Philly steaks with sides of waffle fries.
The “Americans for Prosperity” bus was parked in front of the North Main Street restaurant over lunchtime to bring attention to economic issues affecting Ohioans, including jobs, inflation, and energy production.
Mr. Spots, owned by State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, and her husband Jim, went back 40 years on prices to point out the differences between economic policies of presidents Ronald Reagan and Joe Biden.
The tour stop was intended to give Americans for Prosperity a chance to speak with voters about economic challenges that have resulted from “reckless spending and failed policies in Washington.”
An informal survey of about 30 people lined up outside of Mr. Spots showed that all came for the food deals – not discussions about the economy.
But the stop in Bowling Green gave U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green, a chance to share his concerns about the economy with members of the media.
“I think it’s important when you talk to the people, they want to talk about the economy,” Latta said, listing off the big topics of inflation, interest rates, gas prices and energy costs.
“It’s about the economy,” he said.
Latta’s primary concerns were the uptick in food prices, rising inflation, higher fuel prices, lagging energy creation, and out of control government spending.
“We can’t keep spending,” he said.
“We need to make sure we’re taking care of ourselves with our energy,” he said. “How do we get more energy in this country?”
Latta listed off oil and natural gas, clean coal and hydro as the powerhouses of energy in the U.S. When asked about green energy efforts, he added, “that’s all part of the mix.”
By most measurements, the current U.S. economy is strong. Inflation continues to fall. Unemployment is near historic lows. The Inflation Reduction Act invested in climate jobs and manufacturing. The infrastructure plan put big money in roads, bridges, internet and semiconductor manufacturing.
Latta also took questions on other topics.
When asked if he supports a second term for Donald Trump, Latta said the national economy was in good condition after his four years in office. The “economy came back” while Trump was in office, Latta said.
“The changes in tax laws made everything take off,” he said. If there is no intervention, that tax legislation reverts back in 2025, he added.
On the energy front, the U.S. was also in a better place with Trump, Latta said, noting that Biden “killed” the Keystone XL pipeline project.
When asked where he was during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Latta said he had just left the chambers and was in his nearby office which has a view of the Capitol building.
“I saw them break through the barriers. I saw the whole thing,” Latta said, noting that he voted to certify the election and Biden’s victory.
When asked again if he would support Trump for another term, Latta said, “We need to look forward, not back.” And when asked what would lead him to believe anything in the future with Trump would be different than the past, Latta said it’s important to see how the primary elections go next spring.
Latta also talked about the growing expenses faced by farmers, stating that 85% of people in agriculture in the U.S. also have an income off the farm. He is vehemently opposed to Chinese ownership of U.S. farm acreage.
When it was mentioned that Bowling Green residents would like to see him in the district more, holding open meetings for citizen input, Latta said he is stretched pretty thin, with the district extending from the Indiana line to suburbs of Cleveland. He said he often meets with constituents one-on-one.
A handful of local residents wanted to show their support for Latta during their lunch break at Mr. Spots.
“I’m not here to complain,” said David Drain, of Bowling Green. “I’m running for City Council and I’d like his endorsement.”
Grady Stuckman, of Bowling Green, said he met Latta earlier this year during the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
“There’s a lot of issues in our country,” Stuckman said.
W. Richardson, who lives south of Bowling Green, was there Monday to offer support.
“Keep fighting for the common man,” Richardson said.
Katherine Clark, the major shareholder of Clark Fixture Technologies in Bowling Green, wanted to talk with Latta about her company’s difficulty getting an employee retention tax credit from the IRS.
Martha Henschen, of Bowling Green, and her great-granddaughter came for the food deals.
“I remember his dad, Delbert Latta,” she said. “Sometimes I feel bad about how far we’ve moved in this community.”
One Bowling Green resident, Katelyn Elliott, voiced a different perspective.
“I think these ideas are unpopular and there should be a contrast presented,” Elliott said. She also noted Latta lost his most recent re-election in Bowling Green precincts, and that he was elected by an unconstitutional gerrymandered district.
Standing next to the Americans for Prosperity bus, Elliott held a sign reading, “Bidenomics – restore the American dream. Reaganomics – the rich get richer, the rest get a trickle.”
Trickle-down economics, introduced by Reagan and still supported by Republican lawmakers, revolves around tax cuts for the wealthy and large companies. Supporters say the benefits flow down to middle-class and working Americans, boosting economic growth more broadly.
Biden has argued that supply-side, trickle-down economics has cost jobs and hollowed out the middle class. Growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up – not the top down – has been Biden’s mantra.
