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"Why Isn’t the IRA More of a Political Winner for Democrats?" originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment.
Summary
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is creating jobs and investments in communities like Jeffersonville, Ohio, with the opening of a $3.5 billion battery plant. However, the political benefits for lawmakers supporting the IRA are minimal, as local awareness of federal policies is low and voters focus more on immediate economic concerns. Despite its significance, the IRA’s accomplishments are underreported in the media, leading to a disconnect between policy impact and political recognition.
Highlights -📊
- IRA Job Creation: The IRA is projected to create 2,200 jobs in Jeffersonville, Ohio. 🔧
- Political Disconnect: Elected officials see little electoral benefit from supporting the IRA. 📉
- Local Awareness: Many locals are unaware of the federal role in new investments. 🌍
- Economic Focus: Ohio voters prioritize immediate economic insecurity over long-term benefits. 💰
- Media Underreporting: Media outlets are not adequately covering IRA successes. 📰
- Future Potential: More projects linked to the IRA are anticipated in Ohio. 🚀
- Historic Legislation: The IRA is the largest climate and carbon-free energy law globally. 🌎
The Inflation Reduction Act is delivering jobs and investment to communities around the country, but the elected officials who supported the law are getting little political benefit.
I saw this when working on my story about the U.S. Senate race in Ohio between Democrat Sherrod Brown, the incumbent, and Republican Bernie Moreno. But the dynamic is not limited to Ohio—reporting from other races shows negligible political gains for candidates who supported the IRA, as in Nevada.
In places that stand to benefit from the IRA, such as Jeffersonville, Ohio, there is an almost complete lack of awareness or acknowledgement of the role of federal policy. The rural village is about to be transformed by the opening of a $3.5 billion battery manufacturing plant operated by Honda and LG, which brings with it a projected 2,200 jobs.
Read the full post at Inside Climate News.
