'Where Are the Jobs?' Protestors Ask Rep. Ryan
Wisconsin Jobs Now and supporters have been protesting Paul Ryan's Racine and Kenosha Offices the past several days in hopes to gain a meeting with the Congressman.
At the Racine and Kenosha offices of Congressman Paul Ryan, things were a little louder and busier than usual on Aug 24.
Wisconsin Jobs Now is an coalition of local groups, faith organizations and neighborhood associations that want to bring jobs to Wisconsin. With megaphones and signs, group members gathered outside Ryan's Racine office today.
“I have seen what good people and persistence can do,” said Diana Valencia, a member of the group. “The sudden drastic cuts have been such a blow to us. We need living wage jobs for citizens and we need training and education so we have people to fill those positions.”
Valencia is the Recruitment Coordinator for the GED/HSED Program with the City of Racine's Park and Recreation Department, which helps adults earn their diplomas in order to make them more employable. The state has gutted funding for this program and also reduced Valencia's work hours to 32 per week.
“These aren't just 18 to 20 year olds who partied and didn't graduate. These are 40-year-olds who find themselves having to search for employment in a different trade after 20 years of working at the same job,” Valencia stated.
When staff at Ryan's office was asked for a statement, they handed out a press release, but Conor Sweeney, a spokesperson for Congressman Ryan, did agree to a short phone interview.
“Congressman Ryan shares the frustrations of those he serves with the failures of President Obama’s economic policies. Unfortunately, ongoing disruptions at the Kenosha Constituent Service Center were preventing Congressman Ryan’s staff from serving other constituents," he said. "Those seeking to disrupt Congressman Ryan’s efforts to serve his constituents chose not to submit a scheduling request for a meeting, and rejected an invitation to take part in a conference call with Congressman Ryan.”
Janet Veum, from Wisconsin Jobs Now, responded to Sweeney's statement.
“Our people have submitted many requests. All that was received was a form letter telling them his (Ryan's) schedule is full. They can go to his only scheduled public appearance in West Allis this month, but there is a cost of $15 a head in order to attend," she said. "And the letter states that a conference call will only be scheduled if there is enough interest.”
When protesters arrived at Ryan's Kenosha office on Aug. 24, the doors were locked. Police were already in the building and the group was told they were not allowed to enter without an appointment. They decided to stay, but were not been permitted into the office all day.
“It is so ironic since all we want is a real appointment,” Veum stated. “In 2009, Paul Ryan held 17 Town Hall Meetings in the month of August. This year, nothing.”
In a press release issued Aug. 23, Ryan stated that he prides himself on being accessible.
“Residents of the First Congressional district can always communicate with me by visiting or calling my Washington DC office, one of the three permanent constituent service centers or by stopping by at the First congressional district's Mobile Office," he wrote. "My staff and I are always available to discuss concerns or problems individuals are having with the federal government and are glad to do so.”
The statement concludes by saying, “I plan on doing a number of events where I'll hear directly from my employers in the First District in order to discuss how Congress can encourage job creation and how those in Washington can begin to lift the crushing burden of debt our nation faces.”
If You Want to Contact Congressman Paul Ryan:
First Congressional District Offices:
Washington, DC Office
1233 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3031
Fax: (202) 225-3393
Janesville Constituent Services Center
20 South Main Street
Suite 10
Janesville, WI 53545
Toll-Free: 1-888-909-RYAN (7926)
Phone: (608) 752-4050
Fax: (608) 752-4711
Office Hours: M-F, 8am - 5pm
Kenosha Constituent Services Center
5455 Sheridan Road
Suite 125
Kenosha, WI 53140
Phone: (262) 654-1901
Fax: (262) 654-2156
Office Hours: M-F, 9am - 4pm
Racine Constituent Services Center
216 6th Street
Racine, WI 53403
Phone: (262) 637-0510
Fax: (262) 637-5689
Office Hours: M-F, 9am - 4pm
The Mobile Office Schedule can be found HERE
If you are interested in getting more involved with your local government, click on the name of your village:
Ardeche
2:53 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
ROB ZERBAN who is the democratic challenger in the 1st Congressional District is accessible and likes to talk to people in the district. (And, no, he will not charge anything for talking to him!)
ROB ZERBAN FOR CONGRESS! robzerban.com
Duane Michalski
8:10 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Rob Zerban is an idiot,I have met him and talked to him. He has no clue on how to fix the problems. Next...why would Rep. Ryan be at his office when he is on vacation. Oh yeah thats right, this was just a stunt for media hype...too bad is was only on patch where the same 19 people see it. (sorry Denise)
Brian Dey
6:37 am on Friday, August 26, 2011
Saw the picture in the JT. Wow, what a protest. This much attention for 8 protestors? You've got to be kidding me. And from the looks of it, only one looked interested in a protest. Not that ththeir concerns don't matter, but 8 people hardly constitutes a protest.
Brian Dey
6:41 am on Friday, August 26, 2011
Oh,and by the way, if the President can vacation during a crisis, I think it's okay for Ryan. Especially when the protest contains 8 people.
Ardeche
11:43 am on Friday, August 26, 2011
Dear Duane and Brian --
Too bad that you seem incapable of sincere discourse.
This issue is this: The only in-person event on Ryan's recess calendar is an appearance at a Rotary hall *outside* his district with a $15 entrance fee; by contrast, Ryan held more than a dozen town halls in 2009. "This is a jobs crisis in his congressional district, an emergency," says Scott Page, 37, an unemployed Kenosha resident. "Yet he's not even listening to his own constituents."
Would you not expect from *your* representative to be accessible or, at least, schedule one or two open meetings? I seem to have higher expectations of the politicians that are supposed to represent me. If you are fine with giving up your voice and input, then keep quiet and don't contribute to taking away that right for others.
Sean Waiss
1:02 pm on Friday, August 26, 2011
@Ardeche--
So your concern is, and I quote, "This issue is this: The only in-person event on Ryan's recess calendar is an appearance at a Rotary hall *outside* his district with a $15 entrance fee."
That's interesting. Granted, I do not have a copy of his recess calendar, but I did have lunch with him back on August 9, at Roma Lodge, which is in his district. There were probably 120 attendees at this luncheon, and not a one of them paid to enter the event. The Congressman was there, spoke for a while, stayed for photos for anyone interested, then departed for his vacation. This was not a fundraiser event for the Congressman, as the only thing he got out of it was lunch. Before you complain about him not being available for a breakfast meeting, I can tell you that his representatives say he does no breakfast meetings when he's back in his district, for the straightforward reason (and I think one of the best I've ever heard) that he prefers to have breakfast with his family and young children.
Heather Rayne Geyer
11:58 am on Friday, August 26, 2011
This group is protesting in Kenosha, Racine, Janesville and Lake Geneva. There may have been 8 people at a given time at one place...but even so, even if it were only eight people - do their concerns not matter? And no one said he shouldn't have a vacation. Of course he should - as should Obama!! But he does have an entire month if I am not mistaken.
Sean Waiss
1:18 pm on Friday, August 26, 2011
@Heather--
You've had a couple of great pieces recently, so first, compliments on your agree to disagree analysis. This is one of those situations.
Of course the opinions of eight people matter, but for the issue they want to present I have to ask, what exactly are they expecting the congressman to do about their concerns? I certainly do not want more "job stimulus" money earmarked from the Federal government, and I don't believe this congressman would ever vote for approving more of that "fiscal stimulus" debacle. The Federal government has very little to do with local employment, so why aren't these protesters picketing outside WI Representatives Turner, Vos, or Mason, or WI Senators Wanngaard or Wirch? Seems to me that the State can influence local employment much easier, and quicker, than the Feds. That's why economic incentive packages are being or have been requested by Cree/Ruud Lighting, BRP, Seda, DeltaHawk, etc. Combined, those four companies alone anticipate more than 1500 new or relocated jobs as a result of state incentives. The Federal Legislature, of which Congressman Ryan is member, has had nothing to do with bringing those jobs to our area. So I have to concur with Duane, this is only s staged event by "protesters" to get the media to cover a non-issue, and the Patch fell for it.
patchreader 123
1:42 pm on Friday, August 26, 2011
To be fair, why not make the same requests of Herb Kohl?
With unemployment in SE WI as high as it is, shouldn't he be involved as well?
He questioned Fed Chairman Bernanke on jobs and economic recovery this past July. Perhaps Sen. Kohl may have some answers.
patchreader 123
1:58 pm on Friday, August 26, 2011
Coincidentally.........
http://news.yahoo.com/bernanke-seen-stopping-short-pledge-qe3-125819344.html
Ardeche
2:10 pm on Friday, August 26, 2011
Dear Sean --
Nice spin on your part. Who was talking about a breakfast meeting? YOU brought that up to let us know of Ryan's incredible family values (which only seem to apply to his family; he does not seem too concerned about other families who were hit hard by the economic downturn such as the people that have lost their employment!) Anyway, the so-called protesters, people who have lost their job and livelihood, requested a meeting. Period. I don't think they were specific about their availability.
Secondly, Ryan seems to disagree with you on your assessment about job creation. In his own words (and as stated in the article): “I plan on doing a number of events where I'll hear directly from my employers in the First District in order to discuss how Congress can encourage job creation and how those in Washington can begin to lift the crushing burden of debt our nation faces.”
So, if I assume that Ryan is truthful about working on' job creation', why not talk to people that are most affected by it?
The logical conclusion to draw is -- he is just not interested in meeting with them. He does not want to expose himself to more angry, disheartened, and outraged constituents. Ryan's lack of compassion and comprehension of what it means to be out of work is astounding! Utterly perplexing and disconcerting!
Ardeche
4:06 pm on Friday, August 26, 2011
This is what Ryan does for the businesses within (and outside) of this current district. Unfortunately, this does not seem to benefit his (non-corporate) constituents and/or create jobs. But...it does benefit Ryan!
*Paul Ryan: Politician for Sale, Self-serving and Morally Bankrupt!*
You do not need to take my word for it. Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwxiE2OjJZw&feature=player_embedded
Brian Dey
6:56 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011
Ardeche- All I have to say is these small (extremely small) gatherings are "gotcha partisan" protests. Why is it only Paul Ryan and not Sen. Herb Kohl or Sen. Ron Johnson? Why is it not at also the local and state offices or for that matter, the same outcry from Obama? Because the eight (laughable) concerned citizans are there on behalf of Zerban in "gotcha politics". Making a scene and demanding something that is impossible in the timeframe given, and then claiming that Ryan refuses to see them is insincere and shows that it was intended as a negative media event. Ryan has held more town hall meetings than all the other Reps. combined over his time as Rep. The conclussion you cite is also laughable, as he is the only one in the country that has stuck his neck out on ANY plan in Washington and has faced thousands to explain his plan and eight Zerban operatives couldn't make any of those meetings? Give me a break. You will not find a better Rep. in Washington than Ryan and it is disingenuous to think otherwise. Where is Zeran's plan? Where is Reid's plan? Where is Dickert's plan? Where is Obama's plan? They have nothing, but Ryan has a plan and a very good one that addresses fixing the financial mess created by both Republicans and Democrats, which is stifling economic growth which is the number one reason for the high unemployment.
patchreader 123
8:00 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011
Nicely stated, Brian.