Oops

Chris Kelly — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:14:47 -0700

Don't try to edit posts before your first cup of coffee. I was trying to get the Schoolhouse Rock clip to work but ended up pulling the post off the frontpage. Paging DrTruth.

OH-03: Turner makes up controversy, Rangel fires back

Chris Kelly — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:15:11 -0700

Promoted from the forums because I love catching GOP'ers lying, especially in Jerid's hometown -DrTruth

Cross-posted from Jane Mitakides for Congress

What’s a Congressman to do, when the only legislation he’s passed during five years on the job renamed a Dayton park, when he votes as a right-wing partisan 87% of the time, and if he has a 30% rating with veterans groups? Especially when he’s being challenged by a strong candidate, in a now-blue district that went 55% for Ted Strickland?

Well, he could just make something up. Unless of course, the Chairman of Ways and Means catches him!

Turner accused of causing needless worry
Democrats say questions he raised about Delphi worker eligibility for tax rebates were unfounded.
By Lynn Hulsey Staff Writer Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Democrats are accusing U.S. Rep. Mike Turner of needlessly worrying former Delphi workers.
At issue are questions Turner raised about the workers' eligibility for economic stimulus rebates after he'd already voted for the bill that ensured the workers would get the money.
On Monday, March 31, Turner, R-Centerville, denied he misled anyone. He said he was responding to concerns from constituents and trying to change the bill to get rebate checks into workers' hands more quickly.
However, J. Jioni Palmer, spokesman for the House Ways and Means committee, said Turner sent no legislative language to the committee prior to final approval by Congress.
Turner's Third District Democratic opponent, Washington Twp. businesswoman Jane Mitakides, accused Turner of trying to create the "illusion of working for the people of this district."
"The notion that these rebates were at risk and then somehow salvaged was absolutely misleading," said Mitakides. "It's the legislative equivalent of turning in someone else's homework and taking credit for it."
[...]
On Feb. 1, a day after Turner voted for the House bill, he announced he'd sent a letter to House Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., and three other House and Senate leaders in response to concerns by former Delphi workers.
"I am writing to request that clarifying language be added to the Economic Stimulus package that ensures tax rebates will be given to workers" displaced by foreign trade, wrote Turner. He said workers' buyout payments should not count as income.
[...]
The next day Rangel wrote to Turner and said Turner's Feb. 1 letter was unnecessary because the problem "did not exist in the legislation that passed the House" with Turner's support.
"I'm hopeful that the misunderstanding did not cause alarm among Delphi workers who may have questioned their rebate eligibility," Rangel wrote.
[...]

Mike Turner did nothing but try to gain political points from a controversy he created. He voted for the bill before he had problems with it, yet offered no legislative language – because none was necessary. Maybe the Congressman from the Ohio 3rd needs a little lesson in the legislative process? May I suggest the following?

Buckeye State Blog - OH-03: Turner makes up controversy, Rangel fires back - Comments

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OH-03: Turner makes up controversy, Rangel fires back