OH-16: Blunders, Distortions and Double Talk at Wooster Debate

Release:

Boccieri Lacks Basic Understanding Of Issues, Government Roles

WOOSTER - Youngstown Senator John Boccieri made a number of statements during Wednesday night's debate that reveal his lack of understanding of the issues and the workings of the federal government.

These include:

BLUNDER: Boccieri called regulatory reform a "giveaway to Wall Street."

Actually, regulatory reform is used to keep companies from giving out bad loans
that will create an unnecessary risk of taxpayers' dollars.

BLUNDER: Regarding the financial crisis, Boccieri said President Bush should have enforced SEC regulations.

It is the job of Congress to enforce regulations by creating oversight committees and hold hearings when questionable practices arise.

DISTORTION: Boccieri claims that our nation's natural gas supplies are tapped out or inaccessible.

Geological surveys have shown there are vast amounts of both natural gas and oil in ANWR and offshore. With the congressional drilling ban having expired, we can move closer to energy independence.

DISTORTION: The Youngstown area senator said the Card Check bill has a provision that allows for a secret ballot.

Even unions have formed a group to defeat this bill. The act would require
signature collection for the formation of unions, rather than a vote. He also stated
that "unions may not be necessary." To find out more go to,
http://www.unionfacts.com/articles/cardCheck.cfm

DOUBLE TALK: Boccieri says he is against the free market being involved in healthcare, however he also reiterated his position favoring a universal health care system saying it should be an employer-based system. He said he also favors a portable system.

Employer-based health care systems are in direct opposition to health care being portable between jobs. It can only be portable if health care is either entirely consumer driven or entirely government sponsored. Boccieri needs to figure out the facts. Giving employers tax incentives so that small businesses can provide competitively priced coverage, as recommended by Sen. Schuring, will allow for a portable, consumer-driven health care system.

BLUNDER: Boccieri called the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) a hindrance to trade in Northeast Ohio.

The Agreement on Agriculture of the Uruguay Round continues to be the most substantial trade liberalization agreement in agricultural products in the history of trade negotiations. The goals of the agreement were to improve market access for agricultural products, reduce domestic support of agriculture in the form of price-distorting subsidies and quotas. This is helping lower trade barriers, not creating new ones.

"Once again this shows Mr. Boccieri's failure to grasp the issues and challenges that lie ahead. Kirk Schuring has sound plans and has remained consistent on the issues, while his opponent seems to be all over the board," said PJ Wenzel, Schuring's campaign manager.