At least 140 people protest congressman’s vote outside Boccieri’s office

CANTON — More than 140 people didn’t want to wait until Election Day next year to tell John Boccieri that they no longer wanted him to be their congressman.

On Friday, they staged a loud lunchtime protest — organized by local Republican activist Jason Wise — outside Boccieri’s downtown office at Tuscarawas Street W and Cleveland Avenue SW.

Several protesters went to the building’s seventh floor to deliver their criticisms of what they perceived to be his positions and pink sheets titled “Termination of Representation” to Boccieri’s chief of staff, Anthony Trevena, who thanked them for their input.

“He’s not really representing me any more,” Charles Stockdale, 18, of Bethlehem Township, told Trevena.

“I don’t feel John Boccieri is listening to us,” said Jim Stanley, 62, of Jackson Township. “He’s listening to (U.S. House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and the power brokers in Washington.”

Stanley referred to Boccieri’s June 26 vote for the climate and energy bill or cap-and-trade bill, which would set limits on plants on carbon dioxide emissions that are blamed for global warming.

“No regulation. No taxation,” yelled Stanley. “Check our energy bills. They’re going to go sky-high with crap and tax.”

The crowd, carrying signs and flags, broke into a chant of “Bye Bye Boccieri,” cheering when motorists on Tuscarawas honked.

Many demonstrators believed the cap-and-trade bill, if passed by the U.S Senate, would increase the cost of electricity. They criticized Boccieri for saying in March that the bill “in its present form, cap and trade would be devastating to Ohio” and then voting for it. And they accused him of not reading legislation.

Boccieri, D-Alliance, who was in Washington, D.C., says federal investments in alternative energy would prevent a surge in energy bills before the cap-and-trade system is fully phased in during a 15-year period. Saying he reads every bill he votes on, he said the bill won his support after House leaders made changes he sought, such as a $30 billion loan fund, so local businesses could get loans to make products that would support an alternative- energy economy that would create jobs and wean the country off foreign oil.

Leslie Evans, 68, of Lake Township, criticized Boccieri’s support for the stimulus bill.

“Have you noticed the unemployment keeps going up?”

Boccieri said the stimulus was not supposed to be a “cure-all,” but a “backstop” to prevent an economic collapse. He said the bill already has cut people’s income taxes and that effects of money for roads were just starting to be felt.

Chris Grewe, 24, of Beach City, opposes the new health care bill in the U.S. House, because it would create a government-run public health insurance organization, an idea he claims Boccieri supports.

“Private companies can’t compete with the government’s ability to print money and run deficits,” Grewe said.

Boccieri said he wants a health-insurance bill that reduces costs, extends coverage to the uninsured and does not tax health-insurance benefits. He said he’s still getting feedback from constituents and local health care providers and is still undecided on the public option and the bill, which was unveiled this week.

The congressman didn’t seem fazed by the public display of disaffection.

“People are exercising their right that I put my life on the line for,” the Air Force reservist said.

 
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