You hear it all the time about our Republican 12th District Congressman, Pat Tiberi:
"He helped me out when I needed help."
Tiberi, let's admit, does well when a constituent wants tickets for the White House tour or needs to speed up action on a passport application or straighten out similar problems with a federal agency. His official web site is encyclopedic in terms of suggestions on how to deal with federal issues and agencies. For individual problems, he's your man. In the trade, it's called being good at constituent services.
It's just when Representative Tiberi actually votes on something that affects thousands of his 12th District residents - and millions of Ohioans or Americans as a group - that he seems to forgot how to extend that helping hand.
Take the issue of extending unemployment benefits to millions of jobless workers hobbled by the current recession.
According to Congressman Pat's web site:
"With unemployment growing across the nation and in Central Ohio, rest assured I am working in Congress to make our futures a little brighter. While I know it isn’t a permanent solution, I have supported multiple temporary extensions of unemployment compensation to help families pay their bills while workers are looking for a new job."
But meanwhile, Congressman Pat's evil twin, Representative Tiberi, is listed in Today's Dispatch ("How Ohioans Voted Last Week") as voting "NO" on H.R. 4123, the extension on jobless benefits to some 2 million Americans whose benefits had run out.
So it must have been a bad bill, or maybe it was just a GOP tactic to keep the unemployed desperate and angry right up to the November elections. Either way, all but about three dozen House Republicans joined Rep. Tiberi in voting "No" to help the jobless.
But wait!! Since the Democratic Congress and President Obama eventually approved the extension, despite Republican opposition, Congressman Pat still is there to provide a handy link on his web site --constituent service, remember? -- to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. Where you find out:
"On July 22, 2010, President Obama signed legislation that extends the deadlines for the federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program and federal funding for State Extended Benefits. As a result, claimants who recently exhausted their benefits may be able to restart their claims.
Claimants should continue to file for benefits, which will be retroactive to the former program deadlines of May/June, 2010 by calling 1-866-962-4064 toll-free between 7:00 AM. and 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Saturday. Because of the late passage of this extension, claimants may notice a delay in the posting of funds to their accounts.
On July 22, 2010," http://unemployment.ohio.gov/
So to sum up, Congressman Tiberi votes against extending unemployment benefits to 2 million Americans including thousands in his own 12th District But he says on his web site that he's really in favor of such assistance, and even uses his official web site to directs constituents to state-provided information on how to qualify.
That Pat Tiberi, he's one Washington politician who really helps a guy out!
SO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A BETTER PLAN?
HERE'S SOME UPCOMING EVENTS WHICH NEED YOUR SUPPORT:
Tuesday, July 27 - Vicky Christiansen Fund raiser, 4:30-7 p.m., 172 E. Hudson St., Newark
Tuesday, July 27 - Licking County Democrat Central Committee Meeting - 7pm - County Administration Bldg
Wednesday, July 28 - Licking County Campaign HQ Kickoff featuring Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, 2:30-3:30 p.m. at county party headquarters,15 W. Church St., Newark (Will be preceded by a postcard party for Naomi Compton at 1 p.m.)
August 8-14, Hartford Fair. Booth.
August 18-21 - Pataskala Street Fair booth. (Parade on Saturday)
Glad to be able to vote for Paula Brooks as my next congressional representative from the 12th District! Bye Bye Pat!
Posted by: Grace | Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 07:00 PM