Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
Local.com
Keeping Voters in 'Sites'When it comes to politics, I freely admit to standing on the outside and rarely looking in. For weeks before a major election, I hit the bookshelves instead of turning on the TV amid the endless barrage of political ads.Web sites, though, are another story; many politicians have excellent sites where constituents can obtain helpful information -- and that includes some who serve the five-county region (whether or not they got my vote).One of my favorites is that of Phil English, the U.S. representative from Pennsylvania's 3rd District. In particular, I like the "Kid's Corner" with its links to fun sites such as McGruff the Crime Dog and the U.S. Treasury's Money Central Station.Another helpful section is News and Views, where you can learn about top issues. The section on Washington, D.C., also is helpful, listing places of interest for visitors. In addition, the section presenting information on the 3rd District, complete with links to local media, is also well done.In my backyard -- the 17th District of Ohio -- is the site of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan. Ryan, too, has a special section for the kiddies, with links to everything from Discovery.com to SmokeyBear.com to the FBI site for school kids. Several of these sites, I hasten to add, I've bookmarked for our 8-year-old granddaughter, who gets a big kick out of playing on her G-ma's computer.I also like the "Constituents" section, which is divided into categories such as senior citizens, students and small business. It's easy to send Ryan an e-mail message, and each category offers links to appropriate agencies and services. If you like to follow legislation, there's a section just for you, where you can watch C-Span live. Or, just sign up for Ryan's e-newsletter.The 14th District of Ohio is represented by Steven C. LaTourette, whose includes parts of northern Trumbull County. What really caught my eye first at his Web site? Operation Toasty Toes.For those who don't know, this is a grassroots effort to make sure that, through the warm hearts of people like you and me, the feet of U.S. armed services members stationed in other countries are kept warm by hand-knitted slippers. If you'd like to pitch in, LaTourette offers a pattern for you to follow as well as instructions on what to do with the slippers once you're finished.LaTourette also offers a section for students that provides information on such topics as the annual congressional art contest, service academy appointments and internship opportunities. And while I enjoyed the Ohio State Trivia section, I'm too embarrassed to tell you my score on the congressional quiz.Ted Strickland represents Ohio's 6th District, and you'll find his Web site. A drop-down box on the home page makes it easy to get what you need, from help with a federal agency to information about the local district. Similar drop-down boxes in other sections of the site are helpful as well. A quick search option lets you find the text of bills of the 107th Congress.In the U.S. Senate, Sen. George Voinovich has an excellent site. In particular, I like the "How Can I Help?" section, where visitors can find information on everything from touring the White House to ordering flags that have flown over the Capitol. The section with links to other government Web sites includes photos added to help you find what you're looking for.Bob Robbins, a state senator from Pennsylvania's 50th District, maintains an excellent Web site. Sections are devoted to state laws, and links to resources for senior citizens, veterans and youngsters are abundant. Links to official sites for the four counties in his district -- Mercer, Lawrence, Butler and Crawford -- are a nice touch.You might want to check the Center for Digital Government, which annually picks the best government portals as well as the best Web sites for digital cities, counties and states."