Monday, January 09, 2012

Playing "Keep Away"

*  Is Republican Rep. Steve Stivers (OH-15th) playing a game of "keep away" by not visiting the urban parts of his current district? Why hasn't he visited the northern suburbs of Columbus that are in the 15th?  The election that involves the new redistricting map, isn't until the end of the year.  Why doesn't Stivers care about today's constituents?

According to the Circlevilleherald, Stivers was visiting "....part of his tour of southern counties that will be included in Ohio’s 15th House District following state restructuring...".

(Note:  I believe that the reporter actually meant "redistricting" instead of "restructuring" in the article.)

*** On Stiver's Facebook page, he has the following entry regarding President Obama's recess appointment of Richard Cordray:

COLUMBUS, Jan 4 -

Columbus, OH – The following statement can be attributed to Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH).

"This appointment is a direct attack on the U.S. Constitution that I took an oath to protect and defend. Hearings should be done through the Senate nomination process, in the open light of day.

"While I consider Rich a friend, and he is both experienced and capable, there are still larger questions about the lack of accountability of the bureau and its budget."


What a bunch of baloney!  Stivers is concerned about upholding the Constitution? Really?  Isn't concerned about the fact that the Republican controlled House of Representatives has done N-O-T-H-I-N-G to create jobs. Isn't Stivers embarrassed to be collecting a paycheck when he and the Republican Party haven't created jobs or fixed the economy????

Nearly every bill from Boehner Republican House is a political statement of some sort by using phrases like "job killer" in the actual legislation title.  Where are the jobs?  Why aren't Republicans doing some work?  They've hardly passed any bills, but they have named a lot of post offices.

Stivers and his big bank backers are upset about the appointment of a consumer watchdog like Richard Cordray. Stivers has been protecting bankers by slowly chipping away at the bank reform bills that were put in place after the great Wall Street meltdown. Even as a member of the Ohio Senate, Stivers voted against consumer protection and for predatory lenders. Stivers is basically doing the same job he did as a bank lobbyist--- protecting the interests of bankers.

President Obama was within his rights and powers to make this appointment.  He hasn't caught up to the 99 recess appointments that G.W. Bush made (NBC politics).