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.

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

Watch the videos:

• Senator Clinton
• Senator Obama

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

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?

“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.

You can read it after the break.

Wilson Helps Connect Taxpayer with Unclaimed IRS Funds

Washington, D.C. – On Congressman Charlie Wilson’s recent district tour, Mary Ann Borch introduced herself to Wilson after his economic listening session in Pomeroy. She told the Congressman that thanks to his website, she recovered $3,500 in unclaimed funds from the IRS. Wilson enjoys sharing good news and has asked her permission to share the story she told him.

“This past December I sent out a press release to the media announcing that up to 119 taxpayers in Ohio’s Sixth District had money coming to them from the Internal Revenue Service. They probably didn’t even know the IRS owed them money,” Wilson said.

There are a variety of reasons that tax refunds get marked “undeliverable” and returned to the IRS every year. Perhaps a resident moved or made a mistake with their return address. The IRS reported the average unclaimed refund was $953 and that the funds would be delivered as soon as taxpayers updated their addresses with the IRS.

“The Media took my press release from there,” Wilson said. “Many TV and radio stations and local newspapers in Ohio’s Sixth District ran stories about the unclaimed funds and directed people to my website to see if their name was on the list.”

About that time Mary Ann Borch of Athens County got a phone call.

“A stranger called me to say he was driving to work and heard a piece on the radio about the website that Charlie Wilson had about unclaimed funds,” Borch said.

The caller explained that he heard a story about the unclaimed funds. When he got to work he logged onto Wilson’s website and saw a zip code he recognized. It was Borch’s. He didn’t know Mary Ann Borch, but figured since she was a neighbor, he’d look her up and let her know she was on the IRS unclaimed funds list.

Meanwhile, Borch’s husband was sure the caller was trying to scam the Borch family. “My husband’s yelling in the background, ‘hang up!’” Borch said.

Long story short, Borch took the caller’s advice, went to Wilson’s website and found out the IRS had thousands of dollars in unclaimed funds for her.

“I followed the directions and it told me right away that I was getting back 3500!” Borch said.

“My parents had died in August 2005 and as the executor of their estate I had money coming and going, taking their funds, paying lawyers,” Borch explained. With all of the many transactions going on, Borch didn’t realize she was owed money.

“It sure was nice to have it. My son’s going back to college and every bit helps,” Borch said.

In addition to checking the list on Wilson’s website, taxpayers can check to see if they’re on the unclaimed funds list by calling the IRS toll-free Refund Hotline at 1-800-829-1954.

“Check for yourself. Check for your neighbors. My thanks to the media for helping to get the word out and my thanks to good neighbors like the man who called Mary Ann Borch,” Wilson said.

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).

“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.

For Mahoning & Columbiana Counties
March 17, 2008
12:30 – 1:30pm
Wilson’s District Office in Canfield
4137 Boardman Canfield Rd, Suite #101 Canfield OH 44406

For Jefferson & Belmont Counties
March 18, 2008
12:00 – 1:00pm
Jefferson Community College Rm. 1301
4000 Sunset Blvd
Steubenville Ohio 43952

For Monroe & Noble Counties
March 19, 2008
12:00 – 1:00pm
United Steelworkers Union Hall
43734 Marietta Rd.
Caldwell, OH 43724

For Washington County
March 19, 2008
5:00 – 6:00pm
Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Hall
201 Front Street
Marietta, OH 45750

For Athens & Meigs Counties
March 20, 2008
11:00am – 12:00pm
Meigs County Public Library
Public Meeting Room
214 W. Main Street
Pomeroy OH 45769

For Lawrence, Galia & Scioto Counties
March 20, 2008
5:00 – 6:00pm
Park Avenue Apartments
2nd Floor Senior Center (Above Congress Wilson’s District Office)
202 Park Avenue
Ironton, OH 45638

“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).

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.

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.

List of tax preparation resources compiled by Wilson’s office:

In the Canfield/Wellsville area:

AARP Sites:

1) Canfield Library, 43 W. Main St., Canfield, Ohio 44406 (330) 533-8420

2) Austin Library, 600 S. Raccoon Rd, Austintown, Ohio 44515 (330) 792-7224

3) Boardman Library, 7680 Glenwood Ave, Youngstown, Ohio 44512 (330) 726-2492

4) Senior Citizens Center, 1110 5^th Ave, Youngstown, Ohio 44504 (330) 744-5071

5) Struthers Public Library, 95 Poland Ave, Struthers, Ohio 44471 (330) 726-2492

6) Columbiana County Office on Aging 785 State St., Salem, Ohio 44460 (330) 332-1163

The Ohio Benefit Bank Sites:

1) Lutheran Social Services of the Mahoning Valley, 420 Clearmount Drive, Youngstown, Ohio (330) 740-0344

2) Stepping into the Future, Inc., 2905 Glenwood Ave., Youngstown, Ohio (330) 259-0279

3) Good Hope Lutheran Church, 12030 Market St., North Lima, Ohio (330) 549-2406

4) Pointman International Ministries, 243 Main Street, Leetonia, Ohio (330) 427-6909

In the Bridgeport area:

AARP Sites: (None in Jefferson Co.)

1) Ohio Valley Mall, Unit 295, St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950 (740) 695-4526

2) Colerain Senior Center, State Rt. 250, Colerain, Ohio 43916 (740) 633-6823

3) Bellaire Senior Center, 3396 Belmont St., Bellaire, Ohio 43906 (740) 676-9473

4) Shadyside Municipal Bldg., Community Rm #6, East 39^th Street, Shadyside, Ohio 43947 (740) 676-5972

The Ohio Benefit Bank Sites:

1) St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 611 Walnut Street, Martins Ferry, Ohio (740) 633-3611

2) Community Action Commission of Belmont County, 153 ½ West Main St., St. Clairsville, Ohio (740) 695-0293

3) Jefferson County Community Action Council, 114 North 4^th St., Steubenville, Ohio (740) 282-0971

In the Marietta area:

AARP Sites:

1) Beverly Public Library, McIntosh St., Beverly, Ohio 45750 (740) 984-4060

2) O’Neill Senior Center, 333 4^th Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750 (740) 373-3914

The Ohio Benefit Bank Sites:

1) Caring Connection, 411 Scammel St., Marietta, Ohio (740) 376-9903

2) The Appalachian Nutrition Network, 121 Putnam Street, Suite 108, Marietta, Ohio (740) 376-0088

3) Caldwell Choice Food Pantry, 315 Main Street, Caldwell, Ohio (740) 732-7570

In the Ironton area:

AARP Sites:

1) Park Avenue Apartments – Senior Living (the building our office is located within), 202 Park Ave., Ironton, Ohio 45638 (740) 533-1863

2) Southern Branch Library, 317 Solida Rd, South Point, Ohio 45680 (740) 377-2288

3) Chesapeake Branch Library, 11054 County Rd. 1, Chesapeake, Ohio 45619

The Ohio Benefit Bank Sites:

1) Jackson-Vinton Community Action-Head Start, 1467 State Rt. 93 South, Jackson, Ohio (740) 286-8441

On the Internet:

1) A free internet tax return service can be found on The Ohio Benefit Bank Web site: www.governor.ohio.gov/obb

2) More information on the AARP program can be found at http://www.aarp.org/money/taxaide

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.

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

“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.

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.