From Lee Weygandt, Findlay OH: On the failed border bill

For the past eight years the leading scare topic from the Republican party has been the flow of illegal immigrants from the southern border. Billions of dollars have been spent by presidents from both parties to beef up the fence and build the wall but the lure of living in America is strong and immigrants continue to seek a place to improve their lives. America needs both security and an opportunity for productive people to immigrate here in a safe and legal path.

For the past four months, a bipartisan group of senators worked tirelessly to put together a sensible, comprehensive border security bill that would make great improvements to our national security. It checked the "must-have" boxes for both political parties and by all accounts, this compromise bill seemed to be headed for quick passage. This was until partisan party politics got in the way. One candidate for higher office complained that it would be horrible to have Congress actually pass a bill that solves a problem. Republicans in Congress quickly fell in line, flipped their support off and suddenly opposed the border security bill. Republicans want chaos on the border to use as a campaign issue and they will tirelessly tell us how unsafe we are as a result.

Shame on these politicians that their allegiance to their party and not to our country or the people they represent. Americans are not served well by party-line politics. I'm not sure that in the 17 years he's been in office Congressman Bob Latta has ever cast a vote that was not in line with his party. Senator JD Vance also played his part in sabotaging the border security bill.

Make no mistake, the Republican party is opposed to progress. If the border continues to be an issue, know that they had a chance to fix it and they chose to put their party before the security of our country.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH re: impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas

I certainly agree that the situation at our country’s southern border is serious…but I wonder how your vote to impeach Secretary Mayorkas is serving Ohio’s 5th District and the American people. Meanwhile Congress can’t reach a bipartisan agreement to deal with the problem, nor continue funding the federal government to prevent a shutdown next month, nor provide aid to Ukraine in its defense against Putin’s murderous invasion, etc. I also wonder why you would vote to impeach Secretary Mayorkas for “high crimes and misdemeanors,” but not Donald Trump when the House voted on January 13, 2021 to impeach him for Incitement of Insurrection—surely the very embodiment of a high crime. Do you simply vote the party/Trump line? I read your reasoning as to why you chose not to vote for impeachment, but I was not convinced. My family and I are very disappointed…in you, the do-nothing House of Representatives, and the Mayorkas impeachment that will solve nothing. We will remember on November 5, 2024.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH:

Senator McColley, my family and I were sorry to see that you and your GOP colleagues--with the exception of Nathan Manning of District 13 (Kudos to him!)--voted to override Governor DeWine's veto of the hateful anti-trans House Bill 68. Did none of you listen to the testimony of gender-dysphoric children, their parents, and medical professionals? How is it that you know better that you believe you can take away the rights of parents to care for their children? Are you in agreement with Sen. Roegner who claims--ignorantly, I think--that "there is no such thing as a gender spectrum?" Or HB 68 sponsor, Baptist Pastor Gary Click who preached that "if a child struggles with their identity remind them that God made them the way they are, God gave them their body, God gave their design for a purpose...these things are mental issues and spiritual issues not biological." I respect other individual's religious beliefs, but I draw the line when those beliefs are turned into laws that affect all of us, regardless of our personal beliefs. I've said enough so that you know my family and I believe you have failed to represent us as residents of the 1st District. Shame on you and the GOP for overriding Governor DeWine's HB 68 veto. Hopefully, the courts will rule 68 unconstitutional.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH:

Senator McColley, as a resident of District 1, I write to urge you to support Governor DeWine's veto of the trans-phobic House Bill 68. The Governor gave compassionate reasons for his veto and offered the legislature alternatives, but the House instead immediately chose to override the Governor. How dare Gary Click and the GOP members of the House think that government knows better than the families of gender-dysphoric children and the medical professionals who care for them. Please carefully consider the testimonies of those families and medical experts; don't take away parents' rights. On January 24 when the State Senate votes on overriding Governor DeWine's veto of HB 68, vote "No" to override. Thank you.

From Lee Weygandt, Findlay OH re: your vote to override DeWine's veto of HB68:

Our Governor spent a great deal of time studying the issue. He spoke with doctors, therapists, counselors, and families impacted. This is hateful, ignorant legislation. Your vote very likely will kill a number of kids. I cannot be more disappointed in this vote.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH:

I and my family are disappointed in you, Representative Cross and your GOP colleagues in the House for voting to override Governor DeWine's veto of HB 68--Gary Click's heartless, trans-phobic bill that will take away parental rights from families with gender dysphoric children. Governor DeWine listened to families, trans individuals, doctors, and other medical experts when he decided to veto HB 68. Apparently, neither you nor the rest of the House GOP bothered to listen...or if you did, you decided that politicians and government know better than the affected families and their medical teams. Shame on you all.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH:

This is my second communication to you about House Bill 68.
I am sorry to see that Speaker Stephens plans to override Governor DeWine's veto of HB 68 with a session set for this Wednesday, Jan 10. HB 68 ignores medical experts and the families with children who have gender dysphoria. I thought the Governor's reasoning behind his veto was quite reasonable and provided alternatives for the legislature to consider, but instead the House leadership rushed to call for an override. I urge you Representative Cross to support the Governor's veto and do not vote to override it. Thank you.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH:

I appreciated Governor DeWine's Dec. 29th press conference when he announced that he was vetoing House Bill 68. The Governor thoughtfully presented how he arrived at his decision. And despite his veto, Governor DeWine invited members of the General Assembly to meet next week to address "a number of issues that they have raised." So I urge you Representative Cross to await the outcome of those meetings. But if your fellow Republicans choose instead to try to override the veto, I ask you to support the Governor's veto and vote "No." Thank you.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH:

Congressman Latta, I was disappointed to see that you voted for the House Resolution to approve the probe attempting to find evidence that President Biden has committed an impeachable offense. What a waste of time and resources on a fishing expedition demanded by the radical fringe members of your party when there are so many other issues that Congress should be addressing for the benefit of the people of this country and our foreign allies--including funding the government and providing aid to Ukraine in its defense against the invasion by Putin.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH:

I was disturbed to learn of your joint letter with Senator Tuberville to the Washington Post opposing U. S. aid to Ukraine supporting its defense against the Russian invasion. There have been many comparisons of Putin's attempted occupation of Ukraine to Hitler's annexations of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, etc. in the 1930s. No one tried to stop Hitler until it was too late. Will Putin stop with conquering Ukraine if we abandon them now? I support continuing to provide military aid to Ukraine. I believe history will judge our country harshly if we turn our back on Ukraine. By the way, I think it ironic that you expressed concerns about continued Ukraine aid hurting America's military when the co-author of your letter Senator Tuberville spent most of 2023 causing harm to our armed forces.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH:

Dear Mr. Speaker,

I have become aware of a draft proposal put forth by Rep. Jennifer Gross called the Issue 1 Implementation Act. From what I understand, this Act seems to be unconstitutional and potentially counter to the will of the voters who passed Issue 1 on November 7. I hope you will do what you can in your power as Speaker to prevent this proposal from advancing in the House.

From Roger Kranz, Findlay OH:

Dear Representative Gross,

I respect your passionate position on abortion, but I am concerned about your draft proposal "Issue 1 Implementation Act." It seems to be unconstitutional in stripping power from the judiciary to decide issues of law. And I have to wonder if it's designed to counter the will of the voters who passed Issue 1 on November 7--including your home county of Butler by a narrow margin. Again, I respect your position, but I don't think your proposal is an appropriate response. I hope you will not pursue it further.