Taken from: The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV
State Sen. Mike Oliverio had a purpose in mind when he chose the sites for his announcement that he is running for Congress. His decision to appear Monday at West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling and the U.S. Bureau of Public Debt in Parkersburg was intended to focus attention on a critical problem facing not just West Virginians but also other Americans.
Oliverio is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan for the Democratic Party nomination for Congress from the 1st District of our state. The 46-year-old Oliverio made his formal announcement Monday, with events in Wheeling, Parkersburg and at his home in Morgantown.
Elected to the Legislature in 1992, Oliverio has taken leadership roles in state politics. His service has come at a time when West Virginians and our elected representatives were forced to come to grips with decades of irresponsible spending at the state level.
Like many of his constituents, Oliverio is worried about the national debt. By this week it had reached $12.4 trillion.
Oliverio’s appearance in Parkersburg was to focus attention on the debt – which amounts to about $40,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States. His stop in Wheeling illustrated the need for Americans to do something about government spending – to achieve independence from the crushing burden of debt.
Mollohan has served 14 terms in Congress. During that period he has been part of the problem, not the solution. Just 10 years ago, the national debt stood at $5.7 trillion. During just one decade, while Mollohan was part of Congress, it has increased by nearly 120 percent.
Oliverio wants to do something about that. Given the concern expressed by voters in many other states, we believe that if he is elected to Congress, he and others may have the power to begin curbing the propensity of presidents and liberals in Congress to spend like there is no tomorrow. Clearly, such action needs to be taken soon.