CANTON — A local grassroots group, armed with a petition containing more than 2,400 signatures, is asking the county’s U.S. representatives to take their time with important legislation, such as health care.

“We felt a message needed to be sent to the congressmen that the public expects them to read bills before they vote on them,” said Jim Woods of Medina County Friends and Neighbors, a conservative group of local residents.

Woods said he believes many representatives voted on important legislation, such as the stimulus bill and the 2009 budget, before understanding it completely.

“They are trying to introduce massive transformational legislation that could change the very nature of the country,” Woods said.

“That’s something you don’t want to rush. You want to understand it thoroughly, and you want to have sometime for public discussion.”

MCFAN had a booth at the Medina County Fair earlier this month and collected signatures on a petition for Reps. John Boccieri, D-Alliance, and Betty Sutton, D-Copley Township. The petition asks the representatives to read legislation on which they vote, to understand it, and to post the bill on the Internet for 72 hours before voting on it.

Woods said about half the people who passed by the booth signed the petition.

“They thought the proposition was a no-brainer,” he said.

“Congressmen should understand the impact all bills would have on their constituents.”

MCFAN members delivered the petition to Boccieri’s Canton office
Tuesday and will deliver it to Sutton’s Elyria office Thursday.

“We took notes on the meeting and plan to prepare a brief on the meeting which we will deliver to him (Boccieri) in the morning,” said Jessica Kershaw, a representative for the congressman. “We are grateful that they came to visit us in the office, and we continue to encourage opinions on both sides of the health care reform bill to be heard.”

Contact Maria Kacik at (330) 721-4049 or mkacik@ohio.net.

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