Budget Issues

Impact of the Republican Budget on Medicare

According to the Energy and Commerce Committee, Ryans budget affected Congressman Gibbss district in the following ways:

Increase prescription drug costs for 8,200 Medicare beneficiaries in the district who enter the Part D donut hole, forcing them to pay an extra $80 million for drugs over the next decade. Eliminate new preventive care benefits for 111,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the district. Deny 460,000 individuals age 54 and younger in the district access to Medicares guaranteed benefits. Increase the out-of-pocket costs of health coverage by over $6,000 per year in 2022 and by almost $12,000 per year in 2032 for the 107,000 individuals in the district who are between the ages of 44 and 54. Require the 107,000 individuals in the district between the ages of 44 and 54 to save an additional $25.0 billion for their retirement an average of $182,000 to $287,000 per individual to pay for the increased cost of health coverage over their lifetimes. Younger residents of the district will have to save even higher amounts to cover their additional medical costs. Raise the Medicare eligibility age by at least one year to age 66 or more for 58,000 individuals in the district who are age 44 to 49 and by two years to age 67 for 352,000 individuals in the district who are age 43 or younger. [Committee on Energy and Commerce, June 2011]

Urged Other Lawmakers to Oppose Budget Plan that Cut Appalachian Regional Commission In February 2011, Gibbs sent a letter to 35 fellow Republicans opposing the plan to cut funding for Appalachian Regional Commission and the Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration. The cuts to the Appalachian Regional Commission were included in the Republican Study Committee plan to cut $2.5 trillion from the budget in the next 10 years. Gibbs said, I do not support the proposed elimination of the Appalachian Regional Commission. The ARC is critical to our region -- a region that is traditionally underfunded." Gibbs said "abolishing the ARC is unacceptable. [Zanesville Times Recorder, 2/13/2011] Said Government Might Shut Down In February 2011, Gibbs chose not to dispel rumors that the federal government might shut down if a continuing resolution is not agree to in the chambers of Congress. He said, Government could shut down. Hopefully not thats not our intent. Our intent is to cut spending. [Mount Vernon News, 2/23/11] Gibbs: Cut for the Military Isnt Sacred Anymore At a town hall in Dover, Gibbs was questioned about the cuts being made in the House and why the military seemed to be off limits for cuts and Gibbs responded saying, The military isnt sacred anymore. Gibbs said he favored reductions in defense spending, as long as money still was in place to support U.S. troops and veterans. [Dover New Philadelphia Times Reporter, 3/08/11]

Called Obama Budget a Roadmap to Greece

In February, 2012, Gibbs called Obamas budget proposal a roadmap to Greece. [The Times Reporter,
2/25/12]

Business and Consumer Issues Campaign Finance Issues

Member of the NRCC Patriot Program Gibbs was named to the NRCC Patriot Program in September 2011, the Republican campaign committees list of vulnerable members who need additional financial assistance.
Gibbs Agreed an Audit of the Chamber of Commerces Finances Would Hold Outside Groups Accountable In October 2010, Gibbs conceded that he wouldnt have a problem with the Federal Election Commission having the ability to go in and audit [outside groups] and make sure that they had the firewall. [ThinkProgress, 10/14/10] Took $17,000 from Corporations and Special Interests in January-February 2012 In the first month and a half of 2012, according to the Canton Repository, Contributions [to Gibbs war chest included]: $5,000 from Chesapeake Energys political action committee, $4,000 from the campaign fund of U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, RColumbus, $3,000 from the American Bankers Association PAC, $2,000 from UPS PAC, $1,000 from Belden Brick chairman William H. Belden, Jr., $1,500 from the Timken Co. Good Government Fund, $1,000 from Cynthia Elsasser of Zoar, $2,500 from the National Beer Wholesalers Association and $1,000 from the Proctor & Gamble Co. Good Government Fund. [Canton Repository, 2/28/12]

Crime & Public Safety Issues

Gibbs Continued With Safer Town Hall Meetings After Arizona Shootings In a January 2011 radio interview, Gibbs stated he would continue to schedule town hall meetings but with more safety regulations. Im scheduling three town hall meetings in my district for the first week of february and well try to take some measures to make sure the people that attend those town hall meetings can feel safe and secure. He also called the shooting a lone wolf, an isolated incident. [WVIZ WCRN, 1/17/11]

Debt Ceiling Defense Issues

Gibbs: Cut for the Military Isnt Sacred Anymore At a town hall in Dover, Gibbs was questioned about the cuts being made in the House and why the military seemed to be off limits for cuts and Gibbs responded saying, The military isnt sacred anymore. Gibbs said he favored reductions in defense spending, as long as money still was in place to support U.S. troops and veterans. [Dover New Philadelphia Times Reporter, 3/08/11]

Said Defense is Governments Number One Responsibility In February 2012, Gibbs said The No. 1 responsibility of the government is defense. If were not strong, were opening the door to more issues with terrorists and rogue nations. [The Times-Reporter, 2/18/12]

Economic and Financial Issues

Doubted Hopeful Economic Data

In February, 2012, Gibbs expressed doubt in Obama portrayal of economic data. The Times Reporter reported Things arent as healthy as the president portrays the unemployment situation, he said. He also cited the number of people on federal public assistance programs, which he referred to as dependency programs. [The Times Reporter, 2/25/12]

Education Issues Energy Issues

Supported Drilling for Natural Gas in Ohio In March 2011, Gibbs said he supports drilling for natural gas in the Utica and Marcellus shale deposits, which underlie eastern Ohio. Questioned about the threat of groundwater and surface water contamination from drilling, he answered, If done right, I think the groundwater contamination should be nil. He said that with the proper regulation, drilling for gas could be accomplished safely. [Dover New Philadelphia Times Reporter, 3/08/11]

Environmental Issues
Favored Hydraulic Fracturing In 2011, Gibbs said he favored hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," in which natural oil is drilled for through fractures in rocks. He said that if constructed correctly, contamination of the drinking water supply would be slim to none. [Chillicothe Gazette, 2/02/11] Accused Environmental Groups of Conspiracy At the town hall meeting, Gibbs accused environmental groups of elevating the cost of energy to make alternatives like wind and solar energy more palatable. "I would argue there's an agenda to raise the cost of energy," Gibbs said when asked about opposition from the EPA. He added that coal power is economical and available in Ohio, and he would support that technology over solar energy, which is "less economical." [Chillicothe Gazette, 2/02/11] Said as Subcommittee Chairman, He Will Hold Army Corps of Engineers Accountable Gibbs said that as chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, one of his goals is to hold the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accountable for the 1,100 projects under way, including one to build a lock on the Ohio River that has taken 27 years. [Dover New Philadelphia Times Reporter, 3/08/11]

Supported Drilling for Natural Gas in Ohio In March 2011, Gibbs said he supports drilling for natural gas in the Utica and Marcellus shale deposits, which underlie eastern Ohio. Questioned about the threat of groundwater and surface water contamination from drilling, he answered, If done right, I think the groundwater contamination should be nil. He said that with the proper regulation, drilling for gas could be accomplished safely. [Dover New Philadelphia Times Reporter, 3/08/11] Said the EPA Had Gone Rogue In May 2011, Gibbs spoke out against EPA and what he claimed to be their increasing regulations. Gibbs campaigned on a business-now, environment-later platform. "EPA just keeps raising the bar, and the home plate just keeps moving. It gets to the point where it's just so unattainable that you have to wonder. People just get frustrated, and they can't afford it. There has to be -- we have to find a balanceI mean, some of these things you're talking about are a kick back to levels that maybe were never there anyways." [New York Times, 5/3/11] Said Water Infrastructure in Need of Repair, Looks for Funding Tools In February 2012, Gibbs said Our nations water and wastewater infrastructure is aging, deteriorating, and in need of repair, replacement, and upgrading. He continued, The cost of addressing our nation's clean water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years could exceed $400 billion. He solution to the issue was a variety of financing tools available for the infrastructure financing toolbox. [WaterWorld.com, 2/28/12] Blamed Regulation and Unfunded Mandates

Gibbs said Numerous regulatory priorities are placing additional burdens on communities. For example, many of our nation's wastewater utilities are being forced to install extremely expensive advanced waste treatment to remove the next increment of pollutants, including nutrients.
In addition, EPA has initiated a controversial national rulemaking that could lead to communities facing the prospect of substantially increased costs for controlling pollutants from storm water runoff. These initiatives are adding additional layers of regulatory requirements and economic burdens that our communities are having to somehow deal with. [WaterWorld.com, 2/28/12]

Ethics Issues
Gibbs Hired Former Lobbyist to Work on Official Staff In March 2011, the Center for Responsive Politics released a database showing that Gibbs had hired Corry Marshall to be his LD. According to CRP, Marshall had previously lobbied for the American Public Power Association. [Center for Responsive
Politics, accessed 3/8/11]

Allowed Campaign Donor Speak at Transportation Committee Field Hearing In March 2011, Gibbs attended a Transportation Committee hearing in Columbus in which at least one witness contributed to his campaign. Brian Burgett, chief executive officer of Kokosing Construction Co., who testified at the hearing, contributed $2,400 to Gibbs during the 2010 campaign. [Columbus Dispatch, 3/13/11]

Campaign Donor Testified at Transportation Committee Field Hearing At a March 2011 field hearing for the Transportation Committee in Columbus, OH, Gibbs allowed Brian Burgett, CEO of the Kokosing Construction Company, to testify. Gibbs had received at least $2,400 from Burgett in the 2010 cycle. [Roll Call, 3/08/11]

Foreign Policy Issues Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea Health Care Issues
Claimed Health Care Reform Shifted Burden of Medicaid to Ohio During a February town hall meeting, Gibbs claimed that health care reform will eventually shift the responsibility of Medicaid back to the state of Ohio. He said Medicaid costs make up 40 percent of Ohio's budget. He said of reform, "It would double the caseload for Medicaid in Ohio." [Chillicothe Gazette, 2/02/11]

Immigration and Border Issues Israel Labor and Working Family Issues LGBT Issues Misc. Issues
Will Maintain Only One District Office In an effort to save money, Gibbs said he will open only one district office in his 16-county district. Gibbs' predecessors, Zack Space and Bob Ney, both had staff manning a Chillicothe office with regular daily office hours. [Newark Advocate, 1/28/11] Awarded Agricultural Retailers Association 2011 Legislator of the Year In February 2012, the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) awarded Gibbs 2011 Legislator of the Year. The ARA honored Gibbs for his effort to block the EPA from issuing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Clean Water Act permits for aquatic pesticide use. In addition, Rep. Gibbs sponsored the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011, which restricts the EPAs ability to second-guess or delay a states permitting and water quality certification decisions under the Clean Water Act once the EPA has already approved a states program. [ARA Release, 2/14/12] Described Himself as a Fiscal, Moral and Constitutional Conservative According to The Times-Reporter, Gibbs describes himself as a fiscal conservative, a moral conservative and a constitutional conservative. [The Times-Reporter, 2/18/12] Called Obama the Food Stamp President

In February 2012 while speaking at the Stark County Republican Partys Annual McKinley banquet, Gibbs said Obamas policies are acting like a wet blanket over our economy. He also parroted Gingrichs line, calling Obama the food stamp President. Gibbs called on Washington to reform entitlements, regulations and the tax code, promising that the economy would take off like a rocket. [Canton Rep 2/23/12]

Second Amendment Rights Stem Cells Tax Issues

Called Fair Tax More Constitutional than a Progressive Tax According to The Times-Reporter, Gibbs supports the enactment of a consumption-based Fair Tax. The Fair Tax is more constitutional than a progressive tax system, he said. [The Times-Reporter, 2/18/12]

Tea Party
Voted with GOP Leadership and Boehner 99 Percent of the Time More than Spaces 93 Party Line Vote In May 2011, Congressional Quarterly magazine analyzed the voting record of Gibbs, who voted with Republicans 99 percent of the time despite having criticized former Rep. Zack Space for voting with Democrats 93 percent of the time. [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 5/09/11]

Transportation Issues Womens Issues