Balderson picked for transportation committee

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson has been tapped to serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Balderson, R-Zanesville, sought the assignment and said Wednesday that he was honored to be picked. The committee has jurisdiction over all modes of transpor- tation, including aviation, maritime, mass transit and railroads, and infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

“My greatest honor is bringing the voice of Ohio- ans to Washington so that our priorities are represented in Congress. Serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will allow me to put Ohio’s priorities at the forefront of our nation’s policies on land, sea and sky,” he said in a statement.

Sam Graves, R-Mo., the ranking member on the committee, said he thinks Balderson “will be a strong advocate for transportation and infrastructure improvements in central Ohio and the country.”

Gonzalez, Davidson get financial services

U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez will serve on the House Financial Services Committee — the committee with jurisdiction over banks, insurance, public housing, urban development and other financial issues.

Gonzalez, R-Rocky River, had fought hard to be on the powerful committee, begin- ning his fight to be on the committee even while he was still campaigning for his seat. With the guidance of Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Russell Twp., he reached out to Rep. Patrick McHenry, the ranking Republican on the commit- Our Washington Bureau keeps you updated on the news you need out of D.C. Join the discussion on our Ohio Politics Facebook page. tee, to ask what he needed to do to be on the committee. He also met with mem- bers the Republican Steering Committee, which chooses committee assignments, visiting members a minimum of three times. Being on the committee, he said, “was a goal that I had.”

He will join fellow Repub- lican Reps. Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington and Warren Davidson of Troy as well as Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Jeffer- son Twp. on the committee.

Ryan wins post as subcommittee chair

Also Wednesday, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, was picked to serve as a subcommittee chairman for the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which allocates federal dollars. Ryan will lead the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, which controls spending on the U.S. House of Representatives, the Library of Congress, the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Capi- tol Police. He will oversee a budget of $3.81 billion.

In a statement, Ryan said it is his goal and responsibil- ity to ensure the U.S. House of Representatives and the entire Legislative Branch have the resources we need to best serve the American people.”

He will also continue to serve on the House Appropriation Committee’s Defense Subcommittee and Mili- tary Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agen- cies Subcommittee. He will be the third most senior Dem- ocrat on the Defense Subcommittee.

GOP objects to Pelosi’s State of Union request

“With all that is going on right now, the last thing we should do is cancel the State of the Union,” he said.

And Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Cincinnati, argued Trump needs to address the country given the circumstances the federal government faces.

“When we have a shutdown, it is even more important to hear from the president,” he said.

But Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said through spokeswoman Jenny Donohue that he believes “President Trump should end his shutdown and get people back to work imme- diately today — well before the State of the Union.”

Ohio Republicans starkly objected to House Speaker

Nancy Pelosi’s request to delay the State of the Union at the end of this month.

Pelosi last week asked

President Donald Trump to either delay the speech or deliver it on paper. She said she was doing so because of security concerns related to the government shutdown, saying the Secret Service was already stressed by the shutdown and should not be tasked with security when it was not at full force.

“If Speaker Pelosi has legit- imate security concerns, Brown last week introI would like to hear about duced a bill to secure back them and address them,” pay for the federal contracsaid Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Up- tor employees who continue per Arlington. “This seems to go without pay during the like an excuse from the current shutdown. Speaker to keep the PresiBrown joined Democratic dent from making his case Sens. Tina Smith of Minnefor border security to the sota, Chris Van Hollen of American people during a Maryland, Mark Warner of State of the Union speech.” Virginia, Ben Cardin of Mary

Dallas Gerber, a spokes- land and Tim Kaine of Virman for Rep. Bob Gibbs, ginia in introducing a bill R-Lakeville, said while his that would ensure that fedboss did not think the State of eral contractors get reimthe Union should be delayed bursed for providing back because of the shutdown, pay, up to 200 percent of “we would welcome the Presthe federal poverty level for ident to the Seventh District a family of four. if he wants to hold the State The bill would also include of the Union outside DC.” accountability provisions to

Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Mariensure that taxpayers are etta, meanwhile, said if Pelosi protected. For example, conformally disinvites Trump, tractors would submit evi“I will be calling on Sen- dence of costs for review ate Majority Leader Mitch and approval by the agenMcConnell to invite President cy’s contracting officer. Trump to give his speech in The bill aims in particuthe Senate Chamber.” lar to help low-wage fed

Johnson has suggested that eral contractor employees — both chambers and the White including janitorial, food and House use the time slotted security services workers— for the State of the Union to who have been furloughed negotiate a solution to the or forced to accept reduced shutdown since all parties work hours as a result of the would be in the same room. government shutdown.

Brown seeks back pay for contractor work Brown leaves Obama’s digs, takes Glenn’s

Brown is now occupying former Sen. John Glenn’s old office. Brown has moved his D.C. offices from Hart Senate Office Building Room 713, Barack Obama’s old office,to Room 503.

Glenn served as a Democratic Senator from Ohio from 1974 to 1999. Brown, who considered Glenn a friend, eulogized him in December 2016.

“I look forward to working hard to give Ohioans a fair shake every day from this new office, which includes the Annie Glenn conference room, named after his beloved wife,” Brown said.

political/ investigative reporter for Newscenter 7. Follow him on Twitter at @JOtteWHIO. Like his Jim Otte WHIO Facebook page.

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