The 12th district of central Ohio that Pat Tiberi represents in Congress has been hit harder than most by this economic recession. People are losing their jobs and new occupations to replace them aren’t available. The Columbus area is in crisis.

In this environment, Paula Brooks has stepped up to challenge Patrick Tiberi for the 12th District congressional seat in 2010. Brooks has released a campaign letter criticizing Tiberi for “disengagement,” for “not doing nearly enough” to address the economic crisis in America and in Ohio:

You know I work tirelessly everyday to do everything possible for our community. That is why I KNOW I AM GOING TO WIN THIS RACE. Because this election is a choice about who will stand up for Central Ohio in Congress. When voters step into the booth on election day, they will choose who knows how to create jobs and keep our economy strong.

Unfortunately, Tiberi is NOT doing nearly enough to protect our family’s future…. This is not personal, but it is about our children’s future. Pat is a nice man, but nice is not enough when jobs are scarce. Nice doesn’t keep people in their homes, it doesn’t attract investment, and it doesn’t create jobs.

People are demanding more from Washington…. Voters are not going to reelect someone disengaged from finding solutions.… What happens in the elections of 2010 will determine whether or not we can complete the job of economic recovery and fiscal responsibility that benefits working and middle class families and sets our nation on a new, healthier course for the future.

Is Paula Brooks right? Is Pat Tiberi an inattentive congressman who has failed to address job losses in Ohio and more broadly in America?

To get right to the point, the answer is yes.

To be sure, Patrick Tiberi has talked about how important job creation is. Indeed, he’s criticized others in Congress for failing to act in this regard:

As more Ohioans lose their jobs, Democratic leaders in Congress are long past due to focus on creating jobs and getting Americans back to work…. As I’ve been saying our focus in Congress should be on creating an environment friendly to job-creation…. We need to focus on creating incentives for job creation.

Pat Tiberi can talk with the best of them. But Tiberi was elected to act, not to talk. And since he was elected to represent the 12th District of Ohio in November 2008, Tiberi has not actually done anything to foster job creation.

By this, I don’t just mean that Pat Tiberi hasn’t laid down a liberal path to job creation. He hasn’t done that. But neither has he laid down a conservative path to job creation. Tiberi hasn’t laid down a libertarian path to job creation, or any other kind of path to job creation. Tiberi hasn’t done anything in the 111th Congress related to job growth or the economy at all. In 2009, Tiberi introduced five bills before the Congress. These bills…

1. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of a treaty on Antarctica.
2. Declare September to be Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month.
3. Congratulate the Columbus Crew’s soccer championship.
4. Grant special immigration privileges to one family.
5. Review unclaimed bodies to see if they are of deceased veterans.

In 2010, Patrick Tiberi has followed up on these efforts by introducing just one more bill, to…

6. Rename a post office after Clarence D. Lumpkin

Tiberi’s inaction extends beyond complete bills to work on parts of bills. In the 111th Congress of 2009-2010, Rep. Tiberi has failed to offer a single amendment to any existing bill to insert any job creation measures or any measures that could even indirectly impact job creation.

Even in the realm of earmarks, Pat Tiberi has been silent, bringing home no special job-creating grants for his central Ohio district during the 111th Congress.

To the extent that the 2010 congressional elections hinge on the economy, it’s hard to see Patrick Tiberi’s road to victory. After criticizing others for inaction on the economy, Pat Tiberi hasn’t done a single thing to make matters better.