Readers should note that the News-Register is strongly pro-Republican and essentially ignored the Ney-Abramoff story until two months ago.
In the more than twenty years that I have represented Belmont County as a public servant, I have accepted my share of political attacks from some in our local media. On any particular issue there will always be many different viewpoints and I recognize that reasonable people can disagree.
However, what I will not accept and will not tolerate are attacks that call into question my commitment to those that I have the honor of representing in Ohio's 18th Congressional District.
In a stunning editorial in last Saturday's Wheeling Intelligencer, this newspaper suggested that by voting against the Patriot Act and voting against the budget reconciliation bill that I had somehow abandoned my conservative credentials and was not working in the best interest of my constituents.
My question for this newspaper is this - whose interests are you representing?
I voted against the Patriot Act because it has given the federal government unprecedented powers to invade the personal lives of American citizens, including even their library records. Limiting the scope and power of the federal government is a true conservative vote.
I voted against the budget reconcilation bill because it would have eliminated the Byrd Amendment which has been critical to the recovery of our domestic steel industry. I also voted against this bill because it contained serious cuts to Medicaid, school lunch programs, child support enforcement and student loans. I recognize and fully support the effort to address the federal deficit, but I do not believe that effort should be made on the backs of working American families.
I have also worked tirelessly to return money from Washington D.C. to communities in my district. Most recently, as a senior Member of the House Transportation Committee, I secured over $18 million for Belmont County alone in the recently passed highway bill. This included:
* $9,700,000 to improve the existing IR 70 interchange at US 40 and SR 331;
* $6,935,000 to construct a new interchange on IR 70 near the Ohio Valley Mall;
* $700,000 to rehabilitate tunnel and bridge on National Road Bikeway in St Clairsville;
* $600,000 to construct an additional lane on US 40 east of St. Clairsville that will alleviate congestion.
As co-chair of the House Appalachia Caucus I also helped lead the fight last month to restore proposed budget cuts to the Appalachian Regional Commission. We were successful in this effort and the ARC will actually be receiving a budget increase next year.
Now I recognize that questions have been raised in recent months regarding my association with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramhoff. It is for this reason that I have been seeking to meet with the House Ethics Committee for almost a year now. I have sent two letters to the Ethics Committee offering to answer any questions that they might have. To date, I have not received a response.
Yet, as I await the opportunity to clear my name and as I continue to get attacked by the media and my political opponents, I am working as hard as ever on behalf of those that I represent in the 18th Congressional District. From the very first day I was elected to Congress, I have said consistently that I will vote for the interests of my district and my constituents. I have done that for more than 20 years and I will continue to do that each and every day. Thank you.