Recognition of Most Valuable 2008 Progressives Includes Ohio Congresswoman, Economic Analysis Group

Recognition of Most Valuable 2008 Progressives Includes Ohio Congresswoman, Economic Analysis Group

Nation Magazine Applauds Marcy Kaptur, Policy Matters Ohio for National, Regional Leadership, Backbone

with John Michael Spinelli

Op-Editude

Columbus, Ohio: The Nation, a progressive magazine that has issued one clarion call after another on a variety of topics, domestic and international, over the last eight years of the reckless and damaging presidency of George W. Bush, issued an end-of-year list of picks of most valuable progressives.

The article posted by John Nichols, whose work focuses on the "political, social, economic and cultural activism that mainstream media commonly ignore," named Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Toledo as the most valuable House member.

Nichols also culled out Policy Matters Ohio, an economic, non-partisan, non-profit think tank group based in Cleveland, as its most valuable pick for state or regional group. PMO was applauded for its work on tax policy and education, among other issues key to Ohio's economy and budgeting.

The Nation on Kaptur:

"When Democratic leaders in the House buckled in the face of Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson's call for a no-strings-attached bailout for big banks, it was Kaptur who rallied the opposition--successfully blocking Paulson's first proposal in the House and forcing minor improvements in the plan. Ultimately, Paulson got most of what he asked for – and the banks pocketed hundreds of billions without aiding beleaguered homeowners or stalling the downward spiral of the economy. Kaptur warned that this would happen, as part of an ongoing critique of the bailout scheme. Throughout the fight, the Toledo Democrat's speeches on the House floor were as visionary as they were populist--making the longest-serving woman in the House something of a YouTube phenomenon. For this, she will get no credit from Democratic party leaders. That's too bad, as her record on economic issues--especially trade and agricultural policy--is one of consistently being right when just about everyone else was wrong. To a greater extent than anyone else in the House, she has defined the distinction between Main Street and Wall Street as something more than a slogan; and she is one of the few Democrats who actually understands that the only economic "fix" for America will be the one that begins on Main Street."

The Nation on Policy Matters Ohio:

"Bridging the gap between sometimes esoteric national debates about economic issues and the real-life challenges faced by people living in Cleveland, Youngstown and Dayton, Policy Matters Ohio is a non-profit research and advocacy organization that pushes the envelope on debates about tax policy and the funding of essential education and safety-net programs. Intellectually rigorous, yet always accessible in its approach, this group has produced more than 160 reports that have given Ohio's progressive activists and legislators the tools they need to challenge corporate spin and pressure tactics. In tight economic times, groups such as Policy Matters Ohio are absolutely essential players in life-and-death debates about how state and local governmental agencies should respond to revenue shortfalls and rising demands for services. PMO's founding executive director, Amy Hanauer, is great at making the link between the initiatives of national groups with which she works--the Economic Policy Institute, Demos and the Apollo Alliance--and local and legislative policymakers in Ohio, moving progressive priorities out of Washington to the communities where good ideas can and must be turned into practical programs."

During my Ohio Statehouse reporting days, I covered Congresswoman Kaptur on numerous occasions in Columbus as she conducted press conferences in the minority caucus room, where it was not unusual for her to be in the company of other individuals or elected public officials who were relevant to the topic at hand.

As an important member of the US House Appropriations Committee, Kaptur, who will acquire more leverage now that Democrats are firmly in charge of the people's house, has always put the the concerns of her constituents over the interests of corporations. As Nichols points out, she played a leadership role in forcing Bush Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, a former power player on Wall Street who wanted no questions asked and little oversight in shelling out $700 billion to banks to lend, to think differently about what he wanted the so-called TARP funds to do.

Covering the state legislature as I did for three years when Republicans controlled all branches of government, I soon realized that testimony offered on various bills by PMO representatives made more sense than others. Unfortunately, PMO's guidance was rejected out of hand by Republican leadership because it didn't endorse their now-failed economic policies, which have driven both Ohio and the nation into a deep ditch.

As a reporter I found their research to be well researched, well-documented and focused on why lawmakers should have pursued avenues other than ones that mirrored the dictates of big business and their loyalists, who sought to pay fewer taxes and lower wages to their workers.

Had Ohio legislators given more consideration to what PMO had told them to do to keep their economy humming and their budget topped up, Buckeyes might not be hurting as much as they are today, hoping for a Hail Mary Pass from President-elect Barack Obama that can help lift it out of its deep doldrums.

The message from New York Times columnist Paul Krugman that Republicans better evolve [especially for the ones who don't believe in the Theory of Evolution] or go extinct. Krugman's thesis is that America isn't the same one Republicans controlled for a generation, based on a so-called "Southern Strategy" that was ultimately pinned to racist agendas. From the feel-good days of Ronald Reagan to the out-in-the-cold nights of the nearly finished Bush years, the tide has changed, as this year's state and national elections showed with big gains by Democrats from statehouses to the White House.

The Nation and other progressive sources and voices can take heart that a post-election alignment to Democrats has taken place, despite the reluctance of the mainstream media to come to the same conclusion.

The MVPs Nichols listed will move to the front of the class as Obama and his new, expanded Democratic Congress help workers up instead of forcing them down, as the soon to be minority Republican Party did for so many years.

John Michael Spinelli is an economic development professional and former Ohio Statehouse political reporter and business columnist. He is also Director of Ohio Operations for Tubular Rail Inc. To send a tip of comment, email ohionewsbureau@gmail.com