Ohio Valley Politics

The Ohio Democratic Party, lacking a definite candidate to support, is launching a new radio ad attacking John McCain’s economic positions.

This ad is mainly targeted right here in Southeastern Ohio. It will be ran on country and Christian radio stations to target people outside the typical Democratic base.

One of the main points of the ad focuses on McCain’s claim that the way to avoid foreclosure is “working a second job, skipping a vacation”. I find two things really interesting about this.

1. John McCain is talking about second jobs even has he and his staff try to avoid his first job. You see, they think it could be inconvenient if McCain got caught up in any controversial moments in the Senate.
2. As a candidate of a party that claims to base itself on family values, it seems hypocritical that McCain seems hellbent on keeping families apart.  It’s hard enough for families to find time together when there’s only a single job in the equation.

You can find the script of the ad and associated documentation here. The ad itself is embedded below.

 

 "More of the Same" ODP McCain Ad [1:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (971)

The DNC is also going after McCain with a television ad.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing’s “Manufacture This” blog is pointing out that Pittsburgh television station KDKA has posted full, uncut video of both candidates speeches at Monday’s candidates forum.

Watch the videos:

• Senator Clinton
• Senator Obama

As you probably know, on Monday I had the opportunity to attend a forum put together by the Alliance for American Manufacturing that featured both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. During the event I managed to record audio of the candidates speeches. This is nothing fancy, just a small digital voice recorder sat on a table at the back of the room. It is understandable for the most part, and actually turned out much better than I expected it would.

I don’t have the Hillary speech sliced and diced yet, but it should be up this weekend.

 

 Barack Obama Speaks at the AAM Forum [38:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1720)

The House minority leader’s ironically named “Freedom Project” has some pretty strong words up against Democrats for fighting against

American workers, farmers, and business owners are currently being denied fair access to the growing South American market. Republicans want to “eliminate dozens of high tariffs” that “restrict the flow of U.S. goods and services” into Colombia. But in an unprecedented move, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats have unilaterally voted to keep those tariffs in place, harming America’s economy at a time when families are already struggling with the rising costs of fuel and food.

And before you argue that Boehner doesn’t know about the post, note that right now Boehner’s official Twitter account is highlighting the post with the following short message:

johnboehner House Democrats endanger American jobs, vote to keep tariffs on American goods in place: http://twurl.nl/se0ijl

Yes, you read that right. Boehner is accusing Democrats of costing America jobs.

I’m a little perplexed by Boehner’s accusation and I imagine many other Southeastern Ohioans might also be a little be confused by them. Therefore I’m asking Boehner to come down here to the Ohio Valley and explain himself.

I’m dead serious.

If he’s going to make these accusations with any credibility at all he needs to come down here and see the state the economy is in. He can take as long as he wants, but when he’s done I demand he hold a public townhall to explain how exactly we benefit from free trade.

So what do you say Mr. Boehner, do you have it in you to face the downsides of your actions or will you cower behind more partisan rhetoric?

No big surprises here, it would be political suicide for him to come out in support of more free trade. Still, it’s good to know where he stands and I have no doubts about his sincerity.

“On my recent economic listening tour throughout the Ohio River Valley, I heard loud and clear from working families that free trade may work on Wall Street, but it isn’t working on Main Street. Rest assured that I’m not for NAFTA, CAFTA or any other AFTA. This particular agreement is bad for many reasons. It fails to meet enforceable labor standards and does little to reduce violence against union leaders. Last year alone, 72 union members in Colombia were murdered. For the Columbian workers and for the workers back home in Ohio who are watching their jobs disappear overseas, I oppose the Columbia Free Trade Agreement.”

– Rep. Charlie Wilson

The Ohio Valley was recently dealt a severe economic blow from the loss of even more steel jobs. The talk of another free trade agreement isn’t what local residents want to hear right now.

While cleaning out my inbox I came across this press release from Congressman Charlie Wilson’s office. I don’t really have anything to add to it, but it’s still interesting.

You can read it after the break.

Continue Reading »

I still can’t believe that “super” and “IRS” could be in the same title, but it’s true. Tomorrow IRS offices around the country will be holding “Super Saturday” events, during which they will help people who normally don’t file a return fill out a 1040A to be eligible for a stimulus payment. This will be done free of charge.

Congressman Charlie Wilson’s office forwarded on the IRS press release and included this handy list of participating IRS offices in and around the 6th district.

Youngstown, OH
(Federal Bldg.)
10 E. Commerce St.
44503 IRS 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Huntington, WV
(Sidney Christie)
845 Fifth Avenue
25701 IRS 9 a.m. – 3 p.m

Parkersburg, WV
425 Juliana Street
26101 IRS 9 a.m. – 3 p.m

Wheeling, WV
1021 National Road
26003 IRS 9 a.m. – 3 p.m

Just to further emphasise, this will take place tomorrow (3/29).

Congressman Charlie Wilson will be travelling around the 6th district soon to hold a series of economic listening sessions.

“Think of these as Town Hall Meetings where you do
more of the talking than I do. I know these are tough
economic times and I want to hear from you about what’s going on with
you and your job, your family, your bills and your home. Many of these
sessions are scheduled over lunch. Pack a lunch bag, please join me and
tell me your stories. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.”

– Rep. Charlie Wilson

You can find a full list of events after the break. Continue Reading »

“I’ve got to give you some straight talk: Some of the jobs that have left the state of Michigan are not coming back. They are not. And I am sorry to tell you that.”

– John McCain [Boston Globe, 1/14/08]

These are the words of the man Republican’s want to lead a nation on the verge of an economic recession. It’s disgusting, and I can honestly say that politics have nothing to do with my feelings on this.

Southeast Ohio has a lot in common with Michigan: mainly that we’re both industrial areas that have been hit hard over the last few years. We know too damn well that some of the jobs that have left aren’t coming back. For McCain to act like this shows just how out of touch he is with the working class.

I’m sorry if I seem a little agitated, but I view this as the equivalent to telling someone who’s house has just burned down that they have a broken window. And this is just one bullet point of the four pages that the Ohio Democratic Party has put together on McCain’s economic background.

I’ve attempted to embed the document after the jump for your viewing pleasure. If that doesn’t work, you can download it (PDF). Continue Reading »

When Bill Clinton comes to Stuebenville this weekend, several of the usual faces at such events missing. Local leaders of the United Steelworkers Union have announced that they won’t be attending Clinton’s speech because they still feel betrayed by the former President’s policies on free trade.

Clinton had received a lot of support from local steelworkers during his 1992 presidential run but the relationship deteriorated shortly after Clinton was elected. In 1999 the confrontation reached a climax during the “Valley’s Rally“, when over 6,000 area residents travelled by bus to Washington to hold a march and rally.

The union had previously been supporting John Edwards, but in the wake of his withdrawal remains uncommitted.

Representatives Zack Space and Charlie Wilson are both praising the recent signing of the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act by President Bush.

Zack Space referred to the bill as “far from perfect”, but called it “a good start”. He went on to say that:

“We need to work on long-term job growth and sustainable development, but this package will help our families, seniors, and small businesses make ends meet in today’s faltering economy.

“Going forward, I will continue to work both in Congress and with officials back home to help create the conditions necessary to help our regional economy grow. We have so many great things in Ohio – transportation, workers, natural resources – that I firmly believe our economy has a very bright future.”

Congressman Wilson’s release heavily stressed that to receive a stimulus payment families must file a 2007 tax return. According to Wilson:

“Some of those families, especially those receiving Social Security and veterans’ benefits may not be used to filing a federal tax return. But they need to file a 2007 federal return to get a stimulus payment.

“I worked to make sure our seniors who only receive social security and our disabled vets did not get left out of this economic stimulus plan. Now that Congress got them included, I want to make sure they get their rebate checks.”

To help with this, Wilson’s staff and the Belmont County Community Action Commission will hold a tax preparation workshop at his Bridgeport office (800 Main Street Bridgeport, Ohio) on March 10th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

Wilson’s office has also prepared a list of other tax preparation clinics taking place in the 6th district. You can find it after the jump.

Continue Reading »

Several members of the House of Representatives, including 6th district Representative Charlie Wilson, are encouraging the Senate to include low income senior citizens in the Senate version of the economic stimulus package.

The House version of the bill has already passed without including a similar provision.

“I know there are seniors in Ohio’s Sixth District who rely solely on social security. They should not be left out of the stimulus package simply because they don’t have earned income, as the current plan requires. I’m hopeful that the Senate can craft a solution that will pass the House and that the President will sign it. People are hungry for this help.”

– Rep. Charlie Wilson

Wilson signed a letter to Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell urging their support for this position.

The letter was also signed by Dennis Kucinich, Betty Sutton, Marcy Kaptur, and several other members of congress.

Congressman Charlie Wilson released a statement yesterday to emphasize his support for the House version of the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act.  The act passed a House vote yesterday with bipartisan support.

In the release, Wilson made the following remarks:

“Families in the Ohio Valley Congressional District are struggling to make ends meet, and this economic downturn brought on by the subprime mortgage crisis is only making things harder for families. I’m proud we reached across the aisle and worked together in the House and with the Bush Administration to put together a plan that will boost our economy and help families as soon as possible.”

Wilson also goes on to offers his perspective as a small business owner:

“As a small business owner I know how much this is going to help. This bipartisan bill will help businesses expand and that means new jobs. A plan that makes way for new jobs is my kind of plan. It’s a sure-fire way to help our economy get back on track.”

Sorry Charlie, but I think you’ll understand if I hope demand for your business is decreasing.

Read More: The Online Office of Congressman Charlie Wilson – January 29, 2008 PRESS RELEASE: Wilson Proud to Back Economic Stimulus Plan

Rep. Charlie Wilson released a statement yesterday praising the Federal Reserves decision to cut interest rates by 3/4 of a point, the largest cut since the 80’s.

“The Federal Reserve’s decision today to further cut interest rates was a step in the right direction.  Now we need to get some relief to families as soon as possible. Unemployment, health care, groceries, gasoline and home heating oil are all up. The only thing going down is the value of homes. My offices are already getting calls from people who are asking when the economic stimulus checks might be mailed. I’m optimistic that both parties will continue to work together to quickly pass a stimulus package that puts money into their hands. Those families will then turn it around into a much-needed boost for the economy.”

– Rep. Charlie Wilson

This matches up with Wilson’s words from 1/17 on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s testimony before the House Budget Committee.

“I’m deeply concerned about our economic problems. I’ve said all along that our problem is jobs and I’m doing everything I can to bring jobs to the District. I was pleased to hear the Chairman say that they money needed to get into the hands of low and moderate income Americans. That reinforces what we’ve been saying in Congress, that economic relief needs to be timely, targeted and temporary. Making the Bush Administration’s tax cuts permanent without paying for them would be fiscally irresponsible.”

– Rep. Charlie Wilson

Wilson wasn’t the only one talking economy yesterday. Rep. Zack Space sent out a press release urging quick action on an economic stimulus package.

My inbox has been a little backed up over the last couple days. Looking through it I noticed that several press releases sent out during that time from Congressmen Space and Wilson’s office had a common theme, children.  Because of this I’m combining all of these into a single post.

First off is this statement from Charlie Wilson on his recent votes supporting several bills targeting online predators and child pornography.

“Our children are our most precious resource and we must do everything we can to protect them. This legislation takes important steps to ensure that predators can’t reach into our own homes to prey on our children.”

– Rep. Charlie Wilson

According to the release the bills were:

· H.R. 3845 – PROTECT Our Children Act of 2007

· H.R. 719 – Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2007

· H.R. 4120 – Effective Child Pornography Prosecution Act

· H.R. 4134 – Internet Crime Prevention Education Program Act, authored by Rep. Linda Sanchez

· H.R.4136 – Enhancing the Effective Prosecution of Child Pornography Act of 2007, authored by Rep. Chris Carney

· H.R. 3461 – SAFERNET (Safeguarding America’s Families by Enhancing and Reorganizing New and Efficient Technologies Act of 2007), authored by Rep. Melissa Bean

Wilson has also added a new page to his website to help parents deal with the recent batch of toy recalls during the holiday season and signed on to cosponsor the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act (H.R. 4040).

From Zack Space’s office comes an announcement that the House has passed Space’s proposal to help bolster the Head Start program in rural areas.

“The Head Start program has proven itself to be a valuable tool in starting children on their way to productive adulthood, but the program needs to do more to reach rural students. There is no reason that those children born in rural areas should have less access to such a great program simply by virtue of where they live.

“This proposal will ensure that children all over the region have a better chance at success in life through access to this program.  This is a long-term investment in the economic future of Southeastern Ohio.”

– Rep. Zack Space

According to the press release, Space’s proposals (which were included as an amendment to the Head Start reauthorization bill) will help with:

• Developing innovative and effective models of professional development for staff living in and serving populations in rural communities;
• Removing barriers to parent involvement in Head Start programs in rural communities;
• Removing barriers to providing home visiting services in rural communities; and
• Removing barriers to obtaining health screenings for Head Start participants in rural communities.