Will Target Dems Back Baucus Bill After Fellow Blue Dog Says No?
FYI a version of this release went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04); Michael Arcuri (NY-24); Marion Berry (AR-01); Leonard Boswell (IA-03); Allen Boyd (FL-02); Bobby Bright (AL-02); Dennis Cardoza (CA-18); Travis Childers (MS-01); Jim Cooper (TN-05); Jim Costa (CA-20); Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03); Lincoln Davis (TN-04); Joe Donnelly (IN-02); Brad Ellsworth (IN-08); Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08); Bart Gordon (TN-06); Parker Griffith (AL-05); Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (SD-AL); Baron Hill (IN-09); Frank Kratovil (MD-01); Jim Matheson (UT-02); Walt Minnick (ID-01); Harry Mitchell (AZ-05); Dennis Moore (KS-03); Patrick Murphy (PA-08); Glenn Nye (VA-02); Collin Peterson (MN-07); Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL); Mike Ross (AR-04); John Salazar (CO-03); Loretta Sanchez (CA-47); Heath Shuler (NC-11); Zack Space (OH-18); John Tanner (TN-08) and Gene Taylor (MS-04).
Will Mike Ross Back Baucus Bill After Fellow Blue Dog Says No?
Blue Dog Jim Marshall Speaks Out Against His Party’s Healthcare Takeover
Washington– Democrat Rep. Jim Marshall, a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, recently spoke out against Senator Baucus’ healthcare bill. Marshall’s opposition was presumably triggered by Americans’ firm resistance to a Democrat healthcare agenda that would cut Medicare, lead to higher premiums, and increase taxes on middle-class families and small businesses. With Jim Marshall becoming the first Blue Dog to unequivocally oppose the Baucus bill, Arkansas families want to know: Will Mike Ross stand up for them and follow Marshall’s lead?
“Marshall appears to be the first member of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition to firmly say that he will oppose the Baucus bill. He won’t support any other bill currently being debated by the House and Senate, Marshall said.
“I think these bills missed a critical opportunity for the country,’ he said. ‘Whatever we do has to address the rising costs. None of these plans do that very effectively.’”
“It would be great if the president would take some leadership. I don’t think he’s done that,” Marshall said.” (Thomas Day, “Marshall to resist health reform proposals,” Macon Telegraph, 10/21/2009)
The Wall Street Journal says that middle-class families will shoulder 90% of the costs of Sen. Baucus’ healthcare plan.
“As it now stands, the plan proposed by Democrats and the Obama administration would not only fail to reduce the cost burden on middle-class families, it would make that burden significantly worse.”
“Most astounding of all is what this Congress is willing to do to struggling middle-class families. The bill would impose nearly $400 billion in new taxes and fees. Nearly 90% of that burden will be shouldered by those making $200,000 or less.” (Douglas Holtz-Eakin, “The Baucus Bill Is a Tax Bill,” Wall Street Journal, 10/14/09)
The plan would also make significant cuts to Medicare:
“Except Baucus’ plan included some budgetary sleight-of-hand: He counted on $247 billion in scheduled cuts in Medicare payments to doctors.” (“Scalpel, please,” Chicago Tribune, 10/21/2009)
“Every day that goes by without a word from Mike Ross is a day that liberal Democrats celebrate his shameful acquiescence,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “It’s time for Ross to come clean with Arkansans: Why is he tacitly supporting the billions in new taxes and Medicare cuts that form the Democrats’ latest healthcare takeover? With an already struggling Arkansas economy, Mike Ross should follow his fellow Blue Dog’s lead and immediately announce opposition to a plan that will kill jobs for middle-class families and cut Medicare benefits for struggling seniors.”
Will Mike Ross stand up to his party bosses and follow in the footsteps of his Blue Dog colleague or will he inflict another tax-hiking trainwreck on Arkansas families?
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