Iowa’s Republican governor plans to greet the nation’s Democratic president tomorrow in Bettendorf.
President Obama is scheduled to visit the Alcoa plant to highlight an economic message. Many Republicans are critical of Obama’s stewardship of the economy, but Branstad says he’s going — as a matter of courtesy.
“I think anytime the president of the United States comes to your state and you get invited as the governor to attend, it’s appropriate to do so,” Branstad says. “I also have concerns about the way the president has managed the economy and if I get the opportunity, I’ll bring that up as well.”
Branstad calls Alcoa a “great corporate citizen” of the state.
“We are encouraging and supporting their growth in Iowa,” Branstad says. “In my previous time as governor, they made a major expansion when they put that cold rolling mill in and they employ, I think, 2000 people and those are good jobs and, obviously, we want them to expand a grow in Bettendorf.”
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of aluminum. It has operations in 31 counties, with almost 60,000 people on the payroll.
President Obama will tour Alcoa’s facility in the Quad Cities and, according to a White House news release, the president will “discuss the critical role that the manufacturing sector plays in the American economy.”