September 2, 2022

Thank you for subscribing to my District Download, a weekly update on what's happening in Washington, D.C. and across Eastern and Southeastern Ohio. 

I hope everyone has an enjoyable Labor Day Weekend and gets to spend time relaxing with family and friends. And, I know many of you will be doing the same thing as me on Saturday night - watching Ohio State kick-off the season against Notre Dame. 

Biden's Student Loan Bailout

The announcement by President Biden to cancel student loan debt was deeply cynical, self-serving, and very likely illegal.

Ultimately, student loan debt will be repaid by someone. If it’s not paid back by the person who borrowed the money, then that someone is you, the taxpayer, who will pay it back.

The government should not transfer the financial burden of a student’s voluntary decision to take out college loans onto American taxpayers who had no input in that decision, especially considering this decision will primarily benefit wealthier individuals who took out loans for advanced degrees.

The millions of Americans who repaid their student loans, borrowed responsibly, chose not to go to college because of the expense, or joined the military to help earn their degree will be on the hook to pay for this massive bailout. This decision will also worsen the inflation that Americans who live within their means are already struggling with.

Additionally, the announcement to forgive current student loan debt won’t do a thing to address the skyrocketing costs of college. It’s both irresponsible and fundamentally unfair.

Watch my response to Biden's disastrous announcement here or below.

Time in Tuscarawas County

I spent Wednesday in Tuscarawas County. 

My first stop was at Dover Light & Power, which has provided dependable, reliable, and affordable coal-fired electricity for its residents for over a century. Their service began in 1910 by providing street lighting during limited hours. Now, Dover Light & Power provides electricity to nearly 14,000 residents and almost 1,000 businesses, with about 3.5 miles of transmission lines and about 92 miles of distribution lines.

Whether it’s here in Dover or elsewhere, many of us take for granted that we can “flip the switch” and electricity makes everything work.

With the vast amount of energy shortages being projected and currently happening around our nation, it is critical that we unleash America's vast energy resources to generate reliable, affordable electricity.

Thank you to Interim Mayor Shane Gunnoe, other local elected officials, and Plant Superintendent Jason Hall and his team for showing me around and answering my questions.

Visit to Dover Light & Power on August 31st.

I then spoke at the launching of "Project Hope" at the Tuscarawas county courthouse.

It is no secret that the United States is still in the midst of an opioid epidemic. The effects from this crisis can be felt in virtually every community across the country. Ohio, particularly Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, has been hit particularly hard. There isn’t a day that goes by that I do not hear or read another heartbreaking story.

I believe Congress has a role in ensuring that all prescribers are equipped with education in pain management so they can provide effective pain treatments for patients and timely intervention for those who are addicted.

However, this is not a problem we as a country are going to be able to arrest, incarcerate, spend, or legislate our way out of…we, as Americans, must work together to end this epidemic once and for all.

Organizations like Project Hope are fundamental in spreading awareness about opioids and helping folks get the help they need to overcome their battles with addiction.  

Speaking at the launching of Project Hope on August 31st. 

Rounding out the day in Tuscarawas County, I attended the county Farm Bureau’s annual dinner.

For those that don’t know my background, I grew up on a struggling family farm. I learned firsthand the lessons of hard work and sacrifice, and the important impact that family farms have on communities across the country.

Farmers feed America, and in Ohio, agriculture is the number one industry. Eastern and Southeastern Ohio are blessed with a diverse range of farms and farmers. 

Unfortunately, there are some folks in Washington who would end the family farm by taxing sons and daughters who want to continue the family business. 

America’s tax policy has at times been in direct conflict with the desire to preserve and protect our nation’s family-owned farms and ranches. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Trump in 2017, made positive changes to the estate tax, and we’ve got make that permanent. I am an original co-sponsor of the Death Tax Repeal Act in the current Congress.

Costs of essential supplies such as fertilizers and seeds have more than doubled over the last year, causing growers to reconsider whether or not they will harvest this fall, and which crops they will plant next year. This is in large part due to the consequences of out-of-control inflation caused by President Biden’s reckless economic policies and remnants of COVID-19 supply chain issues.

I'll continue to stand up for our farmers in Washington, D.C.

Biden's Disgrace of a Speech 

Last night, when millions of Americans, regardless of their politics, gathered together to watch the kick-off of the college football season, President Biden decided to talk about the soul of America. How cynical! This is the same Joe Biden who campaigned on the promise to unify our nation, but then recently called the 74 million Americans who voted for Donald Trump “semi-fascists.” He then doubled down with his disgusting rhetoric and proclaimed Trump voters a threat to our nation.

These 74 million Americans - moms, dads, firefighters, farmers, teachers, military, police, small business owners, Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, grandmas, grandpas, and some who fought actual fascists in World War II - were belittled by their President. That’s not unity, and that’s not leadership…it’s pathetic, and he’s a complete and utter failure as President.

Canfield Fair

Thursday morning marked the opening of the Canfield Fair, and I was honored to speak at the opening ceremonies. Established in 1846 and now 176 years old, it is the largest county fair in Ohio, the 2nd largest fair in Ohio - 2nd only to the state fair - and the 3rd largest county fair in the United States.

The only downside to the Canfield Fair is that it marks the end of summer, but what a great way to end the season: tens-of-thousands of people eating great food, enjoying rides, spending time with kids, and hearing tremendous musicians perform all week. If you get a chance, check it out…you’ll be glad you did.

At the opening of the Canfield Fair on September 1.

 

Thank you again for subscribing to my weekly District Download. If you have something on your mind, you can contact me at one of the numbers below, or send me an email by clicking on this link here to contact me. It is my pleasure to serve you, and I hope to see you around Eastern and Southeastern Ohio soon. 

Click Here to Unsubscribe