Looks Like A Flip Flop For Ross

Looks Like A Flip Flop For Ross

Double-Dealing Ways Uncovered While the Heat Turns Up On Ross

Washington– As the healthcare war continues, Mike Ross seems to be caught in the political cross-fire between conservative Blue Dogs and his forceful party bosses. Democrats’ sweeping healthcare legislation puts Ross – a fiscally conservative Dem, at odds with this reckless tax-hiking and job-killing agenda. So the question arises, how does one appease both sides? Well, Ross’s answer is simple. He will play for both teams.

Ross recently voiced his opposition to Democrats radical healthcare plan:

“‘No one knows what the public option will or will not be able to achieve,’ said Representative Mike Ross of Arkansas, a Blue Dog leader. ‘Frankly, it’s an experiment. We cannot create a public option that stacks the deck against a system that currently provides coverage to more than 160 million Americans.’” (Robert Pear, “Obama Open To A Mandate On Health Insurance,” The New York Times, 6/3/09)

Now, it seems Ross is barking a different tune, claiming the answer to his problems is to vote for the legislation in committee, appeasing his party bosses, but vote against it on the floor, appeasing his Blue Dogs. Unfortunately for Ross, his double dealing ways have been uncovered.

‘I can’t support the current revenue source, but that’s not in my committee of jurisdiction,’ Ross said, explaining how he could support potentially voting for the bill in committee but not on the floor. [Rep.] Hill also said he would vote against the final bill on the floor if it still includes a surtax.” (Alex Wayne and Drew Armstrong, “Deal With Blue Dogs Revives House Health Bill Markup,” CQ Today, 7/29/2009)

“Mike Ross was elected to Congress to stand for something and make difficult decisions. Unfortunately for Arkansas families, it seems that choosing between party leaders and his constituents is far too difficult for him,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “While the Democrats’ healthcare takeover continues to unravel and middle-class families continue to lose jobs, Arkansas needs leaders whose word means something. Mike Ross is yet another Democrat to fold to the pressure of his party bosses and prove his word is untrustworthy.”

As Democrats choose sides over the healthcare war all eyes need to be on Mike Ross. Will Ross stay true to his word and vote no on this tax-hiking and job-killing plan or will he fold to the demands of his party bosses?

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