Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22, 2010

CONTACT: JAMES SLEPIAN

Canton, OH—Since word first spread last week that John Boccieri was considering voting in favor of the Obama-Pelosi health care plan, Jim Renacci’s congressional campaign witnessed a rapid rise in campaign contributions from concerned voters, both within Ohio and across the country. Following Boccieri’s Friday morning press conference, during which he verified that he would in fact support the Obama-Pelosi plan, the already steady stream of donations to the Renacci campaign quickly evolved into a tsunami—as outraged voters pumped nearly $40,000 into Renacci’s war chest on Friday alone. 

 

In total, on-line, mail and in-person contributions to the campaign topped $50,000 between Wednesday evening and close of business on Friday. Donations continued to pour in over the weekend as John Boccieri made his flip-flop on health care official, by casting one of the deciding votes in favor of Obama-Care on Sunday. 

 

“Voters in the 16^th district and across the country are furious with John Boccieri for his decision to once again fall in line with Nancy Pelosi and cast a deciding vote for this reckless and unconscionable piece of legislation. At a time when Americans can afford it least, this bill will raise the cost of healthcare for working families and take a wrecking ball to what’s left of our economy. John Boccieri and his Democratic colleagues have pursued a failed agenda in Washington while ignoring the will of their constituents at home, and now the American people are fighting back—with their voices, their votes and their wallets,” Renacci spokesman James Slepian said.

 

 

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For more information please visit RenacciForCongress.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 21, 2010

CONTACT: JAMES SLEPIAN

330 618 2412

 

Canton, OH—Earlier tonight, Jim Renacci issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Obama-Pelosi health care bill and John Boccieri’s role as one of the deciding votes.

 

“Today’s passage of the Obama-Pelosi health care bill in the U.S. House of Representatives stands as a new low for a Democrat-controlled Congress that had already secured its place in history as a breeding ground for some of the most misguided, thoughtless and reckless policies this nation has ever seen. As millions remain jobless and a majority of Americans continue to oppose this legislation, Democrats in Washington have thwarted the will of the American people by ramming through a bill that will raise premiums on families, increase taxes and devastate what remains of our already tattered economy. While our system is clearly in need of reform to lower costs for all Americans, not only does this bill fail to decrease costs, but it burdens American families with a $2,100 annual increase on premiums and $570 billion in higher taxes. At no time in modern history have we witnessed one political party amass and abuse its power more rapidly, and deny and deride the will of the American people more contemptuously, than the Democratic Party has in the past 14 months.”

 

“Here in northeast Ohio, our district has witnessed the unemployment rate double in the past year, which now exceeds 14% in some areas. Jobs are scarce, wallets are light and our residents are struggling to makes ends meet. The American people simply cannot afford the higher premiums and higher taxes that will be thrust upon us with the passage of this bill—and the situation will only worsen as thousands of employers across America are forced to cut more jobs and pay lower wages in order to manage the drastic increase in health care costs they will all now face.”

 

“By joining Nancy Pelosi and serving as one of the deciding votes in passing the Obama-Pelosi health care takeover, John Boccieri has demonstrated unconscionable indifference to the will and the well being of his own constituents. While we will all suffer the consequences for the damage he has done, not only today, but throughout the past year, I take solace in the fact that in the months ahead, I can offer the people of the 16^th district a clear alternative on the ballot who understands that this district belongs to them, and not to Nancy Pelosi. Although I am deeply disheartened and disturbed by the passage of this horribly irresponsible and unwanted legislation, I remain confident that with new voices and new leadership in Congress, we can very soon begin the process of righting the wrongs of today and returning our government back to the American people.”

 

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For more information please visit RenacciForCongress.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2010

 

CONTACT: JAMES SLEPIAN

 

Canton, OH—At a press conference held earlier today, John Boccieri announced that he will be voting in favor of the health care legislation that Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi are attempting to push through the U.S. House of Representatives this week. Despite recent polls illustrating that a majority of his constituents oppose the bill, John Boccieri once again placed the demands of Nancy Pelosi over the needs and concerns of the 16^th district.

 

“Like a majority of residents in the 16^th district, I am saddened, disheartened and angered that John Boccieri has again demonstrated that his voice and his vote in Congress belongs to Nancy Pelosi, rather than those he was elected to serve. At a time when the people of northeast Ohio desperately needed their Congressman to stand up for them and to stand against a trillion dollar government takeover of health care that will further cripple our economy and raise premiums on families, John Boccieri has failed us all. As Democratic leaders in Washington continue to buy votes for this bill through shady backroom deals and political payoffs, one has to wonder exactly what John Boccieri was promised in exchange for his decision to sell-out his own district and flip-flop on this disastrous piece of legislation,” Boccieri’s Republican opponent Jim Renacci said.

 

Since John Boccieri assumed office, the unemployment rate in Ohio’s 16^th district has doubled, and now exceeds 14% in some areas. As employers continue to cut jobs, countless businesses across the state and the nation have cited the massive increase in health care costs they would incur as a result of this legislation as a primary factor in their inability to hire new workers. Many employers have stated that they would be forced to continue cutting jobs and reducing wages in order to meet the cost demands they will face if Obama-Care becomes law. In addition, the Congressional Budget Office reported that the Obama-Pelosi plan will increase health care premiums on families by an average of $2,100 annually, and increase total spending on health care as well.

 

“Our district is hemorrhaging jobs and our residents cannot afford the higher premiums and higher taxes that we will all now face if this bill becomes law. As northeast Ohio continues to grow hungry for new jobs and economic growth, employers will be unable to sustain the few jobs we have left or continue to pay the wages our workers so desperately need. John Boccieri’s shameful decision to vote for this bill is the height of legislative recklessness, and collectively we will all suffer for it,” Renacci added.  

 

 

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For more information please visit RenacciForCongress.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2010

CONTACT: JAMES SLEPIAN

 

 

 

 

Canton—Today, Jim Renacci launched a new radio ad highlighting his steadfast opposition to the Obama-Pelosi health care bill and blasting John Boccieri for his recent statements which indicate that Boccieri is strongly considering voting for the legislation. During the past several weeks, Boccieri has said that he is “encouraged” by the Obama-Pelosi plan, with several media outlets reporting that Boccieri may cast a deciding vote to pass the nearly $1 trillion government overhaul of health care. 

 

“At a time when 640,000 Ohioans are out of work and the unemployment rate has doubled since John Boccieri took office, the fact that he is even considering voting for this reckless government overhaul of health care—legislation that will pile on another trillion dollars in spending, raise premiums for families and further devastate our economy, is inexcusable. Once again, John Boccieri is demonstrating that his loyalty lies not with the people of the 16^th district, but with Nancy Pelosi and the far left interest groups that line his campaign coffers,” Jim Renacci said today.

 

In a recent survey, as reported by the Washington Post, a majority of voters in Ohio’s 16^th district oppose the Obama-Pelosi health care plan. Additionally, 77 percent of those polled in the district believe that the Democrat-backed health care bill will increase their taxes.   Since taking office, John Boccieri has been a reliable ally for Washington’s liberal leadership, voting with Nancy Pelosi 94 percent of the time.

 

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For more information, please visit RenacciForCongress.com

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 2010

CONTACT: JAMES SLEPIAN

 

Canton, OH—Today, the Medina County Republican Party announced that it has officially endorsed Jim Renacci to represent the 16^th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Party’s Executive Committee voted to endorse Renacci’s candidacy at its board meeting last week. 

 

“Of the four candidates seeking the Republican nomination to take on John Boccieri in the fall, Jim Renacci is clearly the strongest among them. His 25 year record as a job creator, a sound steward of the economy, and a proven conservative distinguish him from the other candidates and we are proud to endorse Jim Renacci as the 16^th district’s next Congressman,” Medina County Republican Party Chairman Bill Heck said.

 

A 27 year resident of the 16^th district, Jim Renacci has created over 1,500 new jobs in the region as a small business owner and served as City Council President and as Mayor of Wadsworth. During his time as Mayor, Renacci balanced the city’s $80 million budget and converted its multi-million dollar deficit into a surplus, without raising taxes.

 

“I am honored and grateful to have received the endorsement of the Medina County Republican Party. As I continue to campaign across all four counties in our district and talk with voters about my platform to restore fiscal responsibility and common sense conservatism to Washington, I hope to continue to earn the support and confidence of my fellow residents. At a time when our district and our country desperately need new, accountable leadership in Washington, I am proud and humbled to have earned this powerful endorsement and am committed to serving as a voice and a vote for the 16^th district in Washington,” Jim Renacci said.

 

 

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For more information please contact Renacciforcongress.com

March 10, 2010

CONTACT: JAMES SLEPIAN

330 618 2412

 

Canton—Today, the House Conservatives Fund, a federal political action committee dedicated to electing principled conservatives, endorsed Jim Renacci for congress in Ohio’s 16^th district. Jim Renacci was one of only ten candidates nationwide to earn the organization’s endorsement. 

 

In a statement released earlier today, the House Conservatives Fund’s honorary chairman, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), praised those earning the endorsement, including Renacci, as proven conservatives who can win in both the primary and the general election. McHenry added that the organization exclusively supports principled Republicans who “won’t vote for tax increases, who are pro-growth and who are pro-family.”

 

“I am truly honored and proud to have earned this very meaningful endorsement from the House Conservatives Fund. As I continue to campaign across the 16th district on a message of common sense conservatism and fiscal responsibility, I remain humbled and thankful for the rapidly growing support for my candidacy to unseat John Boccieri this fall. At a time when Washington so desperately needs strong voices for conservatism to stand up to the failed Obama-Pelosi agenda, I am proud to join those here in Ohio and across America who are committed to restoring the principles of small government, fiscal responsibility and accountability to Washington,” Jim Renacci said.

 

 

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For more information please visit Renacciforcongress.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2010

CONTACT: JAMES SLEPIAN

 

Canton, OH— In the wake of findings by a House Ethics panel last Thursday that Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), had violated ethics rules by accepting trips to the Caribbean that were financed by corporate lobbyists, the Renacci for Congress campaign called on John Boccieri return or donate to charity the $53,200 in campaign contributions he has accepted from Rangel. 

 

“As if John Boccieri’s voting record isn’t troubling enough, the fact that his campaign coffers have been fueled by the fruits of Washington’s culture of corruption raises further questions about his judgment and his ethics. For years, Charlie Rangel has been the subject of countless ethics probes, including investigations into tax fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds, but through it all, John Boccieri has kept his hand firmly rooted in Rangel’s pocket. The time has come for John Boccieri to finally put his constituents ahead of his own political ambitions. For the sake of salvaging the integrity of his office, he owes it to the people of this district to immediately return or donate to charity every cent of the nearly $54,000 he’s accepted from Charlie Rangel,” Renacci spokesman James Slepian said.

 

Between June of 2007 and February of 2008, Boccieri received a total of $9,000 from Rangel’s National Leadership PAC and Rangel’s campaign committee. In August of 2008, Boccieri accepted another $44,200 from the Rangel Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee that Boccieri shared with Rangel. In addition to accepting Rangel’s tainted money, last fall Boccieri voted against a measure (H.R. 805) to immediately strip Rangel of his chairmanship of the Ways & Means Committee. Boccieri has also refused to join many of his fellow Democrats who have not only returned Rangel’s money but who have bucked Party leadership and called for Rangel to resign his chairmanship in light of last week’s findings by the House ethics panel.

 

“Considering the amount of money that Charlie Rangel has funneled to John Boccieri’s campaign, coupled with Boccieri’s unwavering loyalty to Nancy Pelosi, it unfortunately comes as no surprise that he has failed to join the bi-partisan chorus in Congress that is calling for Rangel to resign. At a time when our country and our district are in desperate need of leadership, John Boccieri’s inaction is extremely disheartening—and as the voters continue to watch and listen, his silence on this matter is deafening,” Slepian added.

 

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For more information visit RenacciForCongress.com