Has Matheson Met with “Army of Lobbyists” Intent on Protecting the Status Quo?

February 24, 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 Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-20), Mark Critz (PA-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Jay Inslee (WA-01), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), 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), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Mike Ross (AR-04), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), 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)

Has Matheson Met with “Army of Lobbyists” Intent on Protecting the Status Quo?
Utah Democrat Stands with Senate Counterparts and Battalion of Lobbyists Against Spending Cuts

Washington — After Jim Matheson and his fellow House Democrats voted last week against the continuing resolution containing significant spending reductions, Senate Democrats are now refusing to budge on making any immediate cuts to the federal budget, instead choosing to hide behind their threats of a government shutdown. In addition, Matheson’s Senate Democrat counterparts have also been working closely with a veritable army of lobbyists and the special interests they represent to stand firm against shrinking the size of the bloated government. Given his recent efforts to oppose fiscal responsibility, has Matheson been meeting with these lobbyists just as his Senate colleagues have?

“Jim Matheson should be open about whether he is meeting with the hundreds of special interest lobbyists who have been working closely with his Senate counterparts to halt budget reform efforts,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “After voting against urgently needed budget cuts last week, Matheson demonstrated he has not been listening to his constituents in Utah. As Matheson continues to support burdening middle class taxpayers across the country with more and more debt, it’s only fair for him to reveal who he has been taking his marching orders from.”

Last month, Senate Democrats called upon some 400 lobbyists and interest groups in a “call to arms” against fiscal reform:

“In an e-mail obtained by ABC News, a top staffer for the key Senate Appropriations subcommittee called for a meeting of lobbyists and interest groups that would be affected by expected cuts to the Labor and Heath and Human Services budget. The Jan. 24 meeting was attended by approximately 400 people, sources told ABC, and served as a ‘call to arms’ for those determined to fight Republican budget cuts.” (Joanthan Karl and Matthew Jaffe, “Lawmakers Rally Lobbyists in ‘Call To Arms’ For Upcoming Spending Fight,” ABC News, 2/4/11)

Jim Matheson is now squarely aligned with his fellow House Democrats, Senate Democrats and their army of lobbyists in opposition to getting the size of government down to manageable levels. Since Matheson has made his choice to ignore taxpayers in Utah, he should also disclose whether he has instead met with any of the hundreds of lobbyists fighting the same fight against reform alongside his Senate counterparts.

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