Posted on 10/27/2006 3:09:32 PM PDT by Alex1977
Cites work for Veterans, Track Record in Representing Central Ohio’s Needs
Americans often tell pollsters they don’t think much of Congress but they like their representative.
That’s probably true for many residents of central Ohio. While Congress as a whole has suffered from inertia and scandals, the three members representing the Columbus area have kept their focus on issues that are in the interest of central Ohioans.
All three Republicans — Deborah Pryce, Pat Tiberi and David L. Hobson — made addressing concerns of central Ohioans a priority. They consider meeting constituents and answering their letters or e-mail as the most satisfying aspect of their public service. The Dispatch endorses all three.
When the Base Realignment and Closure committee had the Defense Supply Center Columbus and its 6,000 jobs on the chopping block last year, the three members, along with state and local officials, were instrumental in arguing that DSCC not only should be spared, but that the Defense Finance and Accounting Service on DSCC grounds should be expanded.
Thanks in part to hard work by Ohio’s delegation, the DSCC complex will house a new, $95 million ambulatorycare center for veterans in 2008.
Work is under way on a massive project to turn Rickenbacker Airport into a more efficient hub for transferring freight via trains, trucks and airplanes. Making Rickenbacker an "inland port," which should generate thousands of jobs, long has been a goal. Central Ohio’s representatives were instrumental in securing $30 million for the intermodel transportation hub.
• Voters in the 15 th District, encompassing a good part of central and western Franklin and most of Union and Madison counties, should return Deborah Pryce to Congress for her eighth term.
Pryce, who’s in a tough race against Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, has a wealth of experience. Her track record in representing central Ohio’s needs in Washington makes her the better choice.
Pryce’s influence in Congress benefits the Columbus area when funds are distributed. Over the years, Pryce has helped arrange federal support for institutions and projects such as Children’s Hospital, Battelle, Ohio State University, the Franklinton floodwall and homeland-security preparedness.
The last paragraph shows why congress critters vote for pork. It makes a difference at election time.
Why is Rep. Pryce so behind in the polls? Does this have more to do with the Ohio Governor's scandal which is affecting all Ohio Republicans at every political level?
Pork leads to editorial endorsements. As for Pryce's low standing in the polls in Ohio, that may well have something to do with the scandal surrounding Governor Taft and Congressman Ney.
In the last decade, in Connecticut, Congressman Gary Franks was elected partly on the basis of voting against pork. Two terms later he was booted out because the local newspapers pointed out that he failed to bring home the bacon.
QED.
Part of Franks' problem was that he was running in the dreadful year of 1996 where a lot of New England Republicans were wiped out when Dole abandoned the region at the end of the campaign (in MA & ME, no Republicans have been elected to the House since prior to that election to date). Another was that he was so preoccupied with wanting to run for the Senate that he didn't pay close enough attention to his district. When he finally did run for the Senate, it was an embarrassing blowout (of course, the liberal media totally ignored his candidacy).
In fact, many think in the media that Ohio goes all blue in Nov. If so, that would not be a good sign for the Prez race in '08. Pryce , I will guess, comes back to squeak through in that race by a hair of Bob Taft's bald head. The old Bob Taft!!
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