Biden spoke for 20 minutes to a packed audience of more than 500 in the Shenendehowa High School gym July 9.
The appearance was a chance for Biden to make the case in person for the administration's $787 billion stimulus plan, of whichthe American Reinvestment and Recovery Act is just one part.
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"Remember," Biden said, "the market was in free fall, the banking system on the verge of collapse, job losses were at a staggering number, and foreclosures were plaguing nearly every block in America."
Faced with the greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression, the vice president said the new administration chose to create an aggressive plan that would assist a teetering financial system and help homeowners stay in their homes.
The third part of that plan is the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. That part of the stimulus, Biden said, was created to spur economic recovery, give relief to people in dire need, and engage investment in a new infrastructure platform for the country.
He described the Obama budget as a fiscally responsible one that will cut the deficit in half by the end of the president's first term.
But as much as this was a support speech for the administration's stimulus plan Biden knew it was really about showing support for a middle class that has been economically decimated for years.
"From 2001 to 2006 there was a 20 percent growth in production, but middle class wage earners had a 3 percent loss in their income," he said.
Biden was joined at the podium by Gov. David Paterson and Rep. Murphy, who spoke before him. Paterson, who received a standing ovation when introduced, said the state has already invested $1.14 million in job creation and retention.
Murphy said when he arrived in Washington he found partners in Obama and Biden for his ideas to get the upstate economy moving.
The response to Biden's speech was mixed, based pretty much on party affiliation, though everyone admitted having the vice president in town was good for the community.
Members of the Republican party who heard Biden's speech were concerned with the amounts of money mentioned.
Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione said she enjoyed having the vice president in Saratoga County but took issue with the amount of funds being distributed.
"I don't agree with mortgaging our children's future," she said. "We seem to be throwing dollars and dollars at the problem. There are other things that could be done."
She suggested allowing people to retire at 60 with full Social Security benefits to free up jobs or allowing businesses to keep what they would pay in business taxes for five years, if they provide employees with health care.
Clifton Park Planning Board Chairman Steve Bulger also enjoyed having the town act as host to the vice president and was surprised to hear Biden mention one of the town's new senior housing projects in his speech. "Ultimately someone, somewhere, has to pay for it," Bulger said. "That is a concern for me."
The supervisor of the host town, Philip Barrett, was one of several government leaders in the audience recognized by the vice president from the podium at the start of his remarks.
"I was pleased to welcome him to our town," he said. "I thanked Mr. Biden for coming here to update us on issues facing the Capital Region and the country at large."
Democrats liked what they heard and were invigorated by Biden's speech.
Assemblyman Bob Reilly said more than $10 million of stimulus money helped with parts of the state budget, including education funding. "Thanks to the stimulus money," Reilly said, "The state was able to maintain school funding levels."
He also noted a number of construction projects in the works using Reinvestment and Recovery Act money, including replacing a bridge over the Walloomsac River in Rensselaer County, moving the intersection of two busy roads in Colonie, and resurfacing Route 9 in Halfmoon from Route 146 to Crescent Road.
In a meeting with Biden after his speech, Reilly, as chairman of the Assembly's subcommittee on Agricultural Economic Development and Farmland Protection, asked the vice president for help for area farmers.
Clifton Park Democratic Committee Chairman Todd Kerner and Vice Chairman Youssef Ballout were smiling broadly after Biden's speech.
"The president, vice president, Scott Murphy, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Bob Reilly are everything the Democratic party stands for," Kerner said. "They have as their main goal protecting and ensuring working families' security and well- being."
Saratoga County Democratic Committee Chairman Larry Bulman was another who enjoyed Biden's speech, and he thanked him for keeping his word to make a stop in Saratoga County. Bulman noted how quickly events change things. Just one year ago, he said, the biggest topic with people was the war in Iraq.
"I like that this president and vice president can focus on more than one issue at a time, and I give them credit for trying different things to help with this economy," he said. "We're in a bubble here in Saratoga County. Things are not that bad here but across the country people are really hurting."
Bulman said he was glad to see so much money coming back to New York after years of people complaining that New York sent more money to Washington than it ever got back. "Having money coming into the region and putting people back to work is a good thing."
