Toledo, OH – In response to Marcy Kaptur’s attack last week on his military training as a plumber, Ohio 9th District Congressional candidate, Joe Wurzelbacher, known nationally as “Joe the Plumber”, had the following comment:
“The fact that Marcy’s campaign calls me a ‘Faux Plumber’ because I was trained as a plumber in the Air Force, just shows you how out of touch she is when it comes to veterans issues.”
Veterans have had a long and ongoing struggle to have their military training acknowledged as work experience in the civilian world. As a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he was trained as a plumber, Joe understands what it’s like to look for employment when your military service has concluded.
Wurzelbacher continued, “When our young men and women volunteer for the armed services and gain valuable skills and training, we should expect that the private civilian world would honor their experience and take it into consideration when hiring. Unfortunately, that is often not the case.
“I know this firsthand, because after learning a trade and gaining skills as a plumber in the U.S. Air Force, union shops would not recognize my training. So I went to work as a plumber with an independent contractor after serving my country honorably.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment amongst veterans who have served since September 2001 is 12.1%, much higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.2%.
“In contrast to Marcy Kaptur’s attacks and ignorance on issues concerning veterans, I am working to raise awareness of this issue, and as Congressman, I will work with Congress, Veterans Affairs and allied veterans groups to ensure that our brave soldiers have easier access to employment opportunities when they return from service,” concluded Wurzelbacher.
“Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher is a Republican candidate for Congress in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District. Joe Wurzelbacher rose to national fame as “Joe the Plumber” when he challenged then-candidate Barack Obama on his plans to increase taxes for the middle class. Since 2008, Wurzelbacher has spoken nationally in support of blue collar workers, encouraging voters to get engaged in the political process.
###
