Joe Biden, Harry Reid speak on campus

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 12:26 AM

United States Vice President Joe Biden poses with a supporter after his speech Friday in Lawlor Events Center. Biden was in Reno as part of a fundraising trip for U.S. Senator Harry Reid. Photo by Jay Balagna /Nevada Sagebrush.

Joe Biden, vice president of the United States, accompanied U.S. Senator Harry Reid on a visit to Lawlor Events Center to speak in an effort to gain pre-election support from Reno residents and University of Nevada, Reno students.

The speech, which about 500 people attended, according to event staff, was part of Biden’s fundraising trip to Nevada for the majority leader.

To begin the event, Reid gave a rundown of the current recession and its tremendous effect on the hard-working Americans across the country. With the passing of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Reid expressed his optimism toward future relief.

“I have no doubt that what we did will save the world of another depression,” Reid said.

Reid also described how Nevada has benefitted from the Recovery Act. Reid claimed the act saved 400 education jobs, maintained 800 transportation utility jobs, added hundreds of law enforcement officers into Nevada and aided in the creation of more green jobs in Nevada.

When the vice president took the stage, he praised Reid for his efforts in the Senate and his strong character.

“We’re in tough times and we need people that are as tough as the times,” Biden said of Reid.

Biden’s speech focused on health care reform, the economy and Reid’s achievements in the Senate. He also touched on the hard-working, genuine character of America.

“When the new administration entered office we inherited a great recession,” Biden said.

He stressed the importance of a new health care system that will provide relief for ordinary Americans who are bombarded with rising health insurance premiums. There has been a 40 percent increase in premiums in less than a decade, Biden said. He also described the present economic situation as “more complicated than Roosevelt’s dilemma in the Great Depression.”

“All this economy can do is lay the foundation blocks for what their new economy will be … (and) all this means the beginning for restoration and saving for middle class families,” Biden said.

Foreign oil dependency in the United States was another key point in Biden’s address.

“Our dependency is crippling us in terms of economy and foreign policy,” Biden said.

Biden acknowledged that although the current administration has made progress toward a full recovery, there is still much to do.

“We are laying a foundation to build on and create a new economy. We (as a government) have an overwhelming obligation,” Biden said.

There were few students in the mostly democratic crowd. Most of the students in attendance largely expressed support for Reid, Biden and their policies.

After speaking for almost an hour, the two spent time in the Silver and Blue Room at Lawlor shaking hands with supporters before leaving the university in a black motorcade.

Annie Evans, a 17-year-old student at Truckee Meadows Community College, said she attended the event with an open mind to be informed.

“I think it is really important for young people to know what is going on in the world, and not just leave it to their parents to know what’s going on,” Evans said.

Misha Ray, 20-year-old journalism major, attended the event with Michael Stannard, a 20-year-old political science major, after seeing a sign for free tickets at the Joe Crowley Student Union the week prior.

“We’re supporters of pretty much whatever they decide to do,” Ray said.

Casey Stiteler, Flipside’s director of programming, thought the speakers delivered a strong message.

“I think it makes a lot of sense for them to be in Nevada considering our economic state. Biden made a lot of really great points regarding the recovery plan,” Stiteler said.

Nevada Sagebrush reporter Jay Balagna contributed reporting to this story. Danielle Pearson and Jay Balagna can be reached at news@nevadasagebrush.com.