Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15th-Democrat) and others have noticed that Stivers has remained mum about the explosions, the lives lost, and damage to the gulf. Why would Stivers stay quiet?
Examiner.com has some background on Steve Stivers history of reducing corporate liability and his pro-business stance. Kilroy's campaign manager, Josh Levin, released a statement concerning Steve Stivers and his silence on the oil tragedy.
The Examiner has Levin's statement:
"Steve Stivers spent most of his career trying to protect the interests of corporate giants," Levin said in his email. "When the spill happened, Mary Jo Kilroy stood up to protect taxpayers and demand that BP be held accountable, but we haven't heard a word from Steve Stivers."
Levin said Stivers both supports offshore drilling and is a BP stockholder. Moreover, his history of working to reduce regulation and limit liabilities for major corporations is clear. In 2004, Levin noted, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that he exchanged an "exultant high-five" with a lobbyist after the passage of a bill to limit damages in lawsuits.
"Stivers lobbied for the big banks, and as a Senator he was a champion for corporate interests that wanted to limit their liabilities," Levin said, adding, "Steve Stivers wanted to protect some manufacturers from paying for damages caused by their actions - would he do the same for BP?"
Levin said Stivers both supports offshore drilling and is a BP stockholder. Moreover, his history of working to reduce regulation and limit liabilities for major corporations is clear. In 2004, Levin noted, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that he exchanged an "exultant high-five" with a lobbyist after the passage of a bill to limit damages in lawsuits.
"Stivers lobbied for the big banks, and as a Senator he was a champion for corporate interests that wanted to limit their liabilities," Levin said, adding, "Steve Stivers wanted to protect some manufacturers from paying for damages caused by their actions - would he do the same for BP?"
Steve Stivers has displayed a lack of interest and engagement on the entire oil disaster. I think it is very troubling. Stivers hasn't even offered a statement to express sympathy to the families of those killed by the explosion of the drilling rig. Is Stivers more concerned with his BP stock profits than the deaths of oil rig workers? Is Stivers more interested in reducing BP's liability than cleaning up the environment? Is this another example of how Steve Stivers would protect corporations instead of people and the environment?
People in Ohio's 15th congressional district have to ask themselves if Steve Stivers and his pro-corporation, pro-bank profits, anti-consumer, and anti-environmental views are what they want in Congress.
We may need to call Steve Stivers at his campaign office (614-358-0800) and find out where he stands on the BP oil disaster. Does he feel the same way as Rep. Joe Barton that the White House was involved in a "shakedown" of BP? Is Stivers on the side of regular people or BP and corporations?
(For more additional information about the lack of a response from Steve Stivers, please check the link to the Examiner for the complete story.)