Ohio Congress Watch

Here we will endeavor to keep track of our local and State elected officials. To keep them accountable, we need to follow what they're doing. Obviously we do not believe that politicians will bring about socialism, but advancing or defeating particular legislation, policies, candidates, etc. can provide material benefit to workers and make it easier to organize. The liberation of the working class will be through the conscious struggle of the working class and others, but in the absence of a revolutionary situation there are many reforms that we can use today. It also never hurts to have sympathetic elected officials wherever they may be found, but we do not pin our hopes on them to save us from the ruling class.

So let's start with the Senate. More elected officials will be added later.

U.S. Senate Members from Ohio

Senators make $174,000 per year. They are elected to 4-year terms. They are covered by Federal Employees Health Benefits, and their premiums are subsidized at 72-75% of the cost.

Sherrod Brown, Democrat, serving since 2007
* Did not sponsor a single bill until 2009.
* Cosponsored "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010", which passed.
* Cosponsored Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help prevent sexual discrimination in pay, but 60 "filibuster-proof" votes were not achieved.
* Presumably did not oppose Resolution 548 (it passed by voice vote), affirming Israel's right to "self defense" and condemning peace activists aboard the Mavi Marmara attacked by Israel.
* Voted for "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010", requiring everyone to purchase health insurance and placing some requirements on plans offered by insurers, which passed.
* For more information: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?i111:I01604:i111BROWN.html


George Voinovich, Republican, serving since 1999




U.S. House of Representatives Members from Ohio

Most House members make the same $174,000 salary as their Senate counterparts. However the Majority and Minority Leaders get $193,400, and the Speaker of the House (currently John Boehner) receives $223,500.

Bob Gibbs, District 18, Republican, serving since 2011
  • Cosponsoring several damaging bills, including:
    • A number of bills designed to weaken or repeal the "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010"
    • HR 49 to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Alaskan coast to oil and gas drilling
    • HR 68, which pull all federal funding from PBS
    • HR 97, the "Free Industry Act", that would deregulate carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride emissions. It also prohibits the very idea that climate change or global warming should be addressed.
    • Bills to limit women's abortion rights
  • See http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d112:FLD004:@1%28Rep.+Gibbs+Bob%29: for more.
    Jim Jordan, District 4, Republican
    • Cosponsoring several bills to limit women's abortion rights
    • Sponsoring HR 430 to terminate the Home Affordable Modification Program, which provides assistance to homeowners in danger of foreclosure
    • Cosponsoring HR 97, the "Free Industry Act", that would deregulate carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride emissions. It also prohibits the very idea that climate change or global warming should be addressed.
    • See http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d112:FLD004:@1%28Rep.+Jordan+Jim%29: for more.
    Robert Latta, District 5, Republican
    • Cosponsoring several bills to limit women's abortion rights 
    • Cosponsoring HR 97, the "Free Industry Act", that would deregulate carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride emissions. It also prohibits the very idea that climate change or global warming should be addressed.
    • See http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d112:FLD004:@1%28Rep.+Latta+Robert%29: for more.
    Steve Austria, District 7, Republican
    • Cosponsoring several bills to limit women's abortion rights
    • Cosponsoring HR 97, the "Free Industry Act", that would deregulate carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride emissions. It also prohibits the very idea that climate change or global warming should be addressed.
    • Cosponsoring HR 462 to eliminate the IRS 
    • See http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d112:FLD004:@1%28Rep.+Austria+Steve%29: for more.

    Patrick Tiberi, District 12, Republican
    • Cosponsoring a number of bills designed to weaken or repeal the "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010"
    • Cosponsoring several bills to limit women's abortion rights
    • Cosponsoring HR 97, the "Free Industry Act", that would deregulate carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride emissions. It also prohibits the very idea that climate change or global warming should be addressed.
    • See http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d112:FLD004:@1%28Rep.+Tiberi+Patrick%29: for more.
    James Renacci, District 16, Republican
    • Cosponsoring a number of bills designed to weaken or repeal the "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010"
    • Cosponsoring several bills to limit women's abortion rights
    • Cosponsoring HR 97, the "Free Industry Act", that would deregulate carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride emissions. It also prohibits the very idea that climate change or global warming should be addressed.
    • See http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/R?d112:FLD004:@1%28Rep.+Renacci+James%29: for more.

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