State Sens. John Boccieri (D-New Middletown) and Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) each have a record in the Ohio legislature, in both the state Senate and the state House of Representatives. Schuring entered the House in 1993 and the Senate in 2002. Boccieri served in the House from 2001 to 2006 before being elected to the Senate.
Now, both campaigns are targeting their opponent's voting records, and saying that the other is attempting to run away.
State Sens. John Boccieri (D-New Middletown) and Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) each have a record in the Ohio legislature, in both the state Senate and the state House of Representatives. Schuring entered the House in 1993 and the Senate in 2002. Boccieri served in the House from 2001 to 2006 before being elected to the Senate.
Now, both campaigns are targeting their opponent's voting records, and saying that the other is attempting to run away.
Schuring hit Boccieri first, saying Wednesday that Boccieri is "scrambling to explain why he voted against a plan to improve Ohio's infrastructure and bolster our state's economy."
The reference is Boccieri's vote against a 2003 transportation bill. The Schuring camp says that the bill was a part of the overall transportation budget that helped fund needed improvements on U.S. 30 and Interstates 77 and 71. The Schuring camp says these three arteries are critical links to the transportation of goods and raw materials that move in and out of the Congressional District.
Schuring voted in favor of the bill in question.
"Local businesses were overwhelmingly in favor of this budget because of the way it improved Ohio's transportation system," Schuring said. "Enhancing our transportation network is critically important to our area's economy because of the increased demand for products to be delivered on time. Being on time enhances a businesses' competitiveness and ultimately creates jobs."
Schuring campaign manager PJ Wenzel said that Boccieri will say or do anything to get elected.
"Mr. Boccieri voted against necessary improvements to airport infrastructure, and every single highway project in the state of Ohio," Wenzel said. "He put partisan politics above providing basic services to our citizens and ducked his basic responsibilities as a state legislator."
But the Boccieri campaign has its own bone to pick with Schuring's voting record.
The Boccieri camp has repeatedly hit Schuring for what they call his vote to support a 6-cent raise in the Ohio gas tax in 2003. The hike in the gas tax was also part of the 2003 transportation budget, which was a $5.9 billion package, a part of which was increasing the gas tax by 2 cents per gallon over three years. The measure was supported by former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, but did not receive universal Republican support, with a total of seven Senate Republicans shunning the bill.
The measure was said to provide $250 million annually for Ohio Department of Transportation road and bridge construction projects and $289 million for local projects.
Boccieri has been hitting Schuring for his support of the measure, usually saying that the increase in the state gas tax will cost Ohioans an estimated $5 billion dollars by the time Schuring's plan for increased drilling begins to lower gas prices. The Boccieri campaign says the measure has already cost Ohioans $1 billion at the pump.
"It's disappointing that Sen. Schuring thinks massive tax hikes on the middle class are the only way to pay for our infrastructure improvements," Boccieri said. "Government needs to live within its means like working people, which is why I opposed this bloated Taft-era transportation bill that included $580 million in new fees and taxes and raised Ohio gas taxes by over $250 million per year. Senator Schuring is welcome to keep defending Bob Taft's policies and looking out for the corporate executives who fund his campaign. I'm focused on relief for the working families who are being hit hardest by our economic crisis."
Boccieri and Schuring are vying to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre) in Ohio's 16th Congressional district.
