The Cleveland Plain Dealer is the latest Ohio newspaper to note the devastating effects EPA emission regulations have on Ohio jobs.  The editorial highlights First Energy’s decision to close four coal plants in Ohio as a direct result of Barack Obama's misguided, growth-prohibiting federal regulations:

"These plant closures will be a punch in the gut for communities already battling sour unemployment numbers. Three of the plants are in Cleveland, Eastlake and Ashtabula, which stand to lose millions in property taxes as well as many jobs.

"FirstEnergy says that more than 500 people, 401 locally, could lose their jobs..."

Barack Obama and Sherrod Brown - who supports the president's agenda 95% of the time – have refused to take a stand in support of Ohio jobs, even as they continue to campaign across the state for reelection promising to stand up for the middle class.

According to National Economic Research Associates, a firm that evaluates economic impacts for government agencies, associations and businesses, the effect of these new rules will be devastating:

• EPA Rules (specifically Utility MACT and CSAPR) will result in 1.4 million net lost jobs nationally over the next nine years, including 53,500 jobs in Ohio.
• Utility company compliance costs for the two regulations would total $17 billion annually and electricity costs in Ohio would increase by about 13 percent.

Despite their lofty rhetoric and repeated promises, it's clear that Barack Obama and Sherrod Brown care about one thing, and one thing only, their own job security.

In November, Ohioans will make it clear that in order to focus on jobs for all Ohioans Obama and Brown will have to lose theirs.