Target Dems Rubber-Stamp Trillion-Dollar Government Takeover of Healthcare

FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: Melissa Bean (IL-8); Sanford Bishop (GA-02); Tim Bishop (NY-01); John Boccieri  (OH-16); Leonard Boswell (IA-03); Allen Boyd (FL-02); Dennis Cardoza (CA-18); Russ Carnahan (MO-03); Chris Carney (PA-10); Gerry Connolly (VA-11); Jim Costa (CA-20); Joe Courtney (CT-02); Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03); Steve Driehaus (OH-1); Bill Foster (IL-14); Gabby Giffords (AZ-08); Alan Grayson (FL-08); John Hall (NY-19); Debbie Halvorson (IL-11); Martin Heinrich (NM-01); Baron Hill (IN-09); Jim Himes (CT-04); Rush Holt (NJ-12); Steve Kagen (WI-08); Paul Kanjorski (PA-11); Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15); Ron Kind (WI-03); Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01); Ron Klein (FL-22); Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24); Rick Larsen (WA-02); Dave Loebsack (IA-02); Dan Maffei (NY-25); Betsy Markey (CO-04); Jerry McNerney (CA-11); Alan Mollohan (WV-01); Chris Murphy (CT-05); Patrick Murphy (PA-08); Scott Murphy (NY-20); David Obey (WI-07); Bill Owens (NY-23); Ed Perlmutter (CO-07); Tom Perriello (VA-05); Gary Peters (MI-09); Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL); Nick Rahall (WV-03); Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23); John Salazar (CO-03); Loretta Sanchez (CA-47); Mark Schauer (MI-07); Kurt Schrader (OR-05); Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01); John Spratt (SC-05); Bart Stupak (MI-01); Betty Sutton (OH-13); Dina Titus (NV-03); Niki Tsongas (MA-5); Tim Walz (MN-01); Charlie Wilson (OH-06); David Wu (OR-01); and John Yarmuth KY-03).

Betsy Markey–Mezvinsky Rubber-Stamps Trillion-Dollar Government Takeover of Healthcare

Dismissing Public Opinion, Loyal Lapdog Puts Pelosi First, Voters Second

Washington – Despite a myriad of polls showing that a vote in favor of a government takeover of healthcare would be directly at odds with the interests and values of her constituents, Betsy Markey-Mezvinsky, instead chose to stand with President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Markey-Mezvinsky’s decision to back a bill that fails to lower the cost of health care, will likely come at a steep political cost in November. Not only did Markey-Mezvinsky rubber-stamp hundreds of billions of dollars in new taxes, Medicare cuts, runaway spending and unprecedented government control, her support for this toxic bill will negatively impact small businesses that are struggling to hire in the midst of a tough economic climate.

Over the past several weeks, the American people have witnessed first-hand, a process fraught with corruption and backroom deal-cutting that enticed Members of Congress into voting for this bill who would have otherwise voted in the interests of their constituents. By voting for this bill, Markey-Mezvinsky signed off on every shady backroom deal that the White House and Democrat leaders offered in exchange for votes, including the Cornhusker Kickback, Louisiana Purchase, and Florida Gator-aid.

Despite the millions of Americans that have repeatedly rejected the Democrats’ unpopular healthcare agenda, Markey-Mezvinsky and her Democrat colleagues rammed their bill through Congress anyway.

“As Americans wait for Congress to act on health care, a Fox News poll released Thursday finds 55 percent oppose the reforms being considered, while 35 percent favor them.” (Dana Blanton, “Fox News Poll: 55% Oppose Health Care Reform,” FOXNews, 3/19/10)   

“Despite repeated and intense sales efforts by the president and his allies in Congress, most Americans consistently oppose the plan that has become the centerpiece of this legislative season.

“In 15 consecutive Rasmussen Reports polls conducted over the past four months, the percentage of Americans that oppose the plan has stayed between 52% and 58%.” (Scott Rasmussen and Doug Schoen, “Why Obama Can’t Move the Health-Care Numbers,” Wall Street Journal, 3/09/2010) 

“By ignoring the overwhelming majority of her constituents, and voting in favor of Nancy Pelosi’s government takeover of healthcare, Betsy Markey-Mezvinsky has fueled a level of anger and frustration within the constituency she claims to represent,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Voting for hundreds of billions of dollars in spending, tax hikes, Medicare cuts, and unprecedented government control over our healthcare system is not reform, and Betsy Markey-Mezvinsky knows it. By putting the interests and values of President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi before the needs of Colorado voters, Markey-Mezvinsky has put her political career in great jeopardy.”

Is this the end for Markey-Mezvinsky?

“…60 percent say that they are more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes this bill and wants to start over, while just 32 percent are more likely to vote against a candidate who takes this position. This suggests clearly that a “yes” vote is problematic.  A detailed look at the research shows that representatives who change their vote from opposing it last November to supporting it now will probably be committing political hara-kiri.” (Douglas E. Schoen, “The handwriting on the wall,” Politico, 3/16/2010)

Judging from the numbers, Betsy Markey-Mezvinsky just isn’t listening. If she can’t hear the message voters are sending her now, she’ll likely hear it on Election Day.

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