At the end of the day, the American people ...

At the end of the day, the American people seem to be falling out of love with President Barack Obama when you look at RasmussenReports.com Presidential Approval Index. Obama's numbers are slipping in Virginia and Ohio. What once appeared to be an invincible Democratic lock might be showing signs of weakness. Still too early to tell, but the trending is interesting.

Along similar lines, Bryan Schaaf and I wrote a story about U.S. Rep. John Boccieri's vote on cap and tax; he was not sold on it before the vote but ended up supporting it (see the story here and high-quality video here). Most of those motivated to comment on the story opposed the vote.

Boccieri remains popular among many I talk to because he spends a lot of time in Wayne County and is accessible.

CNSNEWS.com talks with Boccieri and others

CNSNEWS.com caught up with U.S. Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH) and others recently to ask about how they would vote on the cap and trade legislation, which depending upon whom you believe, will solve global warming (oh, I mean, climate change, consultants have said quit using the phrase "global warming" because of all the negative connotations, wonder why) and create millions of green jobs, or it will cost Americans thousands of dollars a year in higher energy costs and cripple American business.

Boccieri recently sat down with some of the staff from The Daily Record to talk about why he voted for the legislation. The story and video from that interview (which included managing editor Lance White, reporter Bryan Schaaf and me) will appear in an upcoming edition of the newspaper.

However, the video below is from CNSNEWS.com and was taken before the vote. Boccieri is first up.

Back in the saddle, again

As I acclimate myself to a life of reporting again, it has been fun getting out and seeing everyone. I forget how much things can change in a moment's notice. One minute I am jotting down information during a bid preview meeting (about the old terminal being demolished at Wayne County Airport), then I am trying to figure out what the process is to fill a vacant seat on Wooster City Council and then participating in a conference call with U.S. Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH) about bipartisan legislation he was introducing, along with U.S. Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY), that would make permanent research and development tax credits, along with a bonus for companies that manufacture at least 50 percent of their products in the United States.

Oh, yeah. Boccieri got game!

Yes, Congressman John Boccieri, D-Alliance, who represents Ohio's 16 District, did challenge President Barack Obama to a basketball game. And, yes, when Obama asked the freshman congressman if he had game, Boccieri replied, "Sir, I do my talking on the court." So reports Bryan Schaaf in Saturday's edition of The Daily Record. See the story here. Boccieri, and others from Ohio's delegation, traveled with Obama on Air Force One Friday on a trip from the nation's capital to Ohio's capital.

Boccieri on Air Force One with President Barack Obama

Congressman John Boccieri had the opportunity to fly with President Barack Obama on Air Force One from Washington, D.C., to Columbus on Friday. Bryan Schaaf has a story in Saturday's edition of The Daily Record. You will want to read what Boccieri had to say when the president asked if he could play basketball.

Boccieri votes to help families avoid foreclosure

Ohio Ranks Among Top Five States Nationwide For Highest Total Home Foreclosures

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative John Boccieri (D-Alliance) today voted to help families stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure. Boccieri voted for the Helping Families Save Their Home Act which passed the House with a vote of 243 to 191. Boccieri issued the following statement:

“Today’s great recession is rooted in the housing crisis and Ohio suffers disproportionately with home foreclosure. To successfully rebuild our economy, we must address the crisis in our housing market. We began that process today by giving responsible homeowners the tools they need to avoid foreclosure.

“The bill would help refinance loans into lower interest rates for some families in traditional mortgages who owe more on their house than its current appraised value; modify loans for some families stuck in sub-prime mortgages; give bankruptcy judges the chance to modify existing mortgages; and give lenders more confidence to modify loans by protecting them from some lawsuits.

“With more than 6,400 homeowners filing for foreclosure last year in the 16th Congressional District, the majority of them in Stark County, this bill would help prevent further foreclosure.

“The success of our communities begins at home. We all stand to lose if we don’t stop the decline in housing prices. Stabilizing the housing market is key to rebuilding America’s economy.”

Regular or decaf?

BOCCIERI LAUNCHES ‘COFFEE WITH CONGRESSMAN BOCCIERI’

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman John Boccieri (D-Alliance) today announced the launch of his Coffee with Congressman Boccieri outreach effort. These coffee hours are designed to give constituents visiting the nation’s capitol the opportunity to casually converse with Congressman Boccieri about their concerns. This is Boccieri’s latest addition to an ambitious outreach program designed to best represent his constituents in the 16th Congressional district.

Representative Boccieri’s first coffee hour will take place tomorrow, Thursday, March 5 in his Washington office. Constituents visiting Washington DC are welcome to drop by to visit with Boccieri to talk about issues important to them. Additional monthly coffee hours will follow.

Who: Congressman John Boccieri (D-Alliance), 16th Congressional district constituents visiting Washington DC

What: Congressman John Boccieri will launch his Coffee with Congressman Boccieri, the latest addition in an outreach program designed to best represent 16th Congressional district constituents

Where: Congressman Boccieri’s Washington DC Office
1516 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

When: Thursday, March 5th, 8:30 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.

Boccieri Q&A on economic recovery plan

"Eighth Wonder of the World" - Boccieri on economic recovery

John Boccieri speaking about health care

John Boccieri's comments regarding Obama address

Here are Congressman John Boccieri's (D-Alliance) comments on President Barack Obama's address before a joint session of Congress. Boccieri represents Ohio's 16th District, which includes parts or all of Wayne, Ashland, Medina and Stark counties. Boccieri follows a very popular representative, Ralph Regula, a Republican from Navarre. Since his election and swearing in, Boccieri has almost been a regular in Wooster and Wayne County, spending nearly a whole week here talking with business leaders, educators, researchers, scientists and residents. We wonder if his district representative, Chris Cupples (a Wooster High grad and resident), had anything to do with it.

Boccieri's maiden voyage on House floor

Here is our Congressman John Boccieri, D-Alliance, who represents Ohio's 16 District, on his first speech on the House floor in Washington, D.C. In it, Boccieri speaks about why it was important to vote for the stimulus plan.

Are the glasses half empty?

Boccieri making an early impression

David Griffin, president of Tekfor USA in Wooster, talked with Mayor Bob Breneman and U.S. Rep. John Boccieri Monday about the possibility of the auto parts manufacturer increasing output in the second half of 2009 and into 2010 -- this in a recession. Boccieri took some heat in his race for the 16th Congressional House seat because he did not live in the district at the time. He since moved to Alliance. However, he has been in Wooster so much, I wouldn't be surprised if Breneman handed him a city income tax form. Boccieri talked to business leaders at Rotary Monday, then visited Griffin and his staff at Tekfor before heading out to Will-Burt in Orrville later in the day. He plans on speaking about alternative energy during the Ohio Grape and Wine Conference at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center on Tuesday and with some university presidents Thursday at The College of Wooster.

First poll results are in

Readers of this blog said U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, a Democrat who represents Ohio's 16th Congressional District, did the right thing to vote for the stimulus plan in the U.S. House.

The people have spoken.