Gerry Connolly Shows Up Two Years Too Late

February 11, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Dan Boren (OK-02), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Ben Chandler (KY-06), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Costa (CA-20), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Jay Inslee (WA-01), Steve Israel (NY-02), Dale Kildee (MI-05), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Chris Murphy (CT-05), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Mike Ross (AR-04), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Betty Sutton (OH-13), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), Anthony Weiner (NY-09), David Wu (OR-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Gerry Connolly Shows Up Two Years Too Late

Virginia Democrat Has Long Record of Supporting Big-Government Policies that Continue to Impede Job Creation

Washington — With Americans’ concerns over job creation at a record high, Gerry Connolly and his fellow Democrats found themselves fleeing from their own records of excessive spending and regulation today when they suddenly voted to identify and review regulations that hurt economic growth. However, Connolly’s abrupt change of heart is somewhat suspect when you consider his history of supporting spending and regulation that businesses have long identified as impediments to creating jobs.

“Gerry Connolly’s constituents increasingly list jobs as their number one concern, which is why they should be reminded of his long record of supporting the very same big-government policies he voted against today,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Connolly’s newfound change of heart is the clearest sign yet that he is running scared as he faces the race of his political career in 2012. Unfortunately for him, it will do little to mask his recent support of wasteful spending and burdensome rules that are halting job creation for Virginia’s small businesses.”

Connolly has a long record of supporting big-government policies which impeded job creation for American small businesses:

Connolly voted in favor of ObamaCare. (H.R. 3590, Roll Call Vote #165, Passed 219-212, Connolly Voted Yea; H.R. 4872, Roll Call Vote #167, Passed 220-211, Connolly Voted Yea)

Connolly voted in favor of Cap and Trade. (H.R. 2454, Roll Call Vote #477, Passed 219-212, Connolly Voted Yea)

Connolly voted in favor of the failed stimulus program. (H.R. 1, Roll Call Vote #70, Passed 246-183, Connolly Voted Yea)

Meanwhile, voters are more concerned than they have been in 28 years on the issues of unemployment and jobs:

“Thirty-five percent of Americans name unemployment as the most important problem facing the U.S., the highest percentage since the economic slowdown began and higher than at any point since October 1983 (41%). Unemployment is the most important problem for the second month in a row, with the economy ranking second and healthcare third.” (Jeffrey M. Jones, “Unemployment Solidifies Position as Most Important Problem,” Gallup, 2/11/11)

Gerry Connolly now finds himself in an awkward position, as his constituents in Virginia realize the policies he supported have actually hurt job creation instead. Therefore, Connolly and his Democrat allies now have to run away from the failed policies they once championed, and hope that voters forget the damage their spending and regulation has done to the economy. Too bad for Connolly, voters will not forget the record unemployment rate or the economic uncertainty middle-class families and small businesses are facing.

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