This is the Congresswoman who stood up for Ohio voters recently. She's not known to be a shrinking violet and has pronounced progressive attitudes yet the following headline might make one wince...
Rep. Tubbs Jones Joins With Cleveland Defense Industry Alliance to Help Preserve Cleveland Jobs.
As Jon Stewart would say..."Whaaaaaaa?" Seems Rumsfeld has jobs in her district in his sights..more below the fold...
Rep. Tubbs Jones Joins With Cleveland Defense Industry Alliance to Help Preserve Cleveland Jobs
CLEVELAND, Jan. 24 PRNewswire -- Today, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones joined with the Cleveland Defense Industry Alliance and area elected officials to highlight the accomplishments of, and rally support for, 1,200 employees who work in the downtown Cleveland office of the federal Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). She released this statement.
"In a few short months, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will recommend to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission which defense installations should close or be consolidated into another facility.
"Secretary Rumsfeld has indicated his intention to reduce overall operations and/or costs by 25 percent, either through consolidations or closures. In May, we will learn whether DFAS-Cleveland makes the cut.
"The Cleveland Defense Industry Alliance has been working behind the scenes for a year to make the case to our decision makers that the DFAS-Cleveland office should remain open here in Cleveland and take on additional workloads. Today, I am pleased to join with them in this effort.
"We feel this office's value to the military is considerable. DFAS-Cleveland is an integral part of the 'nerve center' that supports our troops on the ground in Iraq and worldwide. This site is the home of the Reserve Pay Center of Excellence, which processes payroll for the Army, Air Force and Naval Reserves and National Guard. It has a track record of innovation and success that has been recognized on more than one occasion by the Pentagon.
"Currently, Reserve and National Guard soldiers make up 40 percent of the troops on the ground in Iraq. We feel it would be a disservice to our men and women in uniform if we disrupted the system that ensures they're paid on time.
"I encourage the people of the 11th Congressional District, this region, and throughout the state of Ohio to make your views known to our Ohio Senators, George Voinovich and Mike DeWine, as well as Secretary Rumsfeld, that we want to keep the DFAS-Cleveland office open. Our troops deserve the best this country has to offer."
SOURCE Office of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones
01/24/2005 14:36 ET
So, is this a classic case of Pol being co-opted by the military/industrial complex or is it Pol standing up for her people It's not a military base, it's an accounting center. What's your call?
(and this poll deal better work this time)