Dems Prioritize Failed Subsidies Ahead of Much-Needed Disaster Relief

September 23, 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), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Lois Capps (CA-23), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Kathy Castor (FL-11), Ben Chandler (KY-06), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-20), Jerry Costello (IL-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), 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), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Matheson Prioritizes Failed Subsidies Ahead of Much-Needed Disaster Relief
Utah Democrat Votes to Protect Controversial Fund Hours Before Solyndra Execs Refuse to Explain Why Stimulus Poster-Child Collapsed

Washington — Jim Matheson just voted to continue subsidizing more companies like Solyndra, the failed solar company which was the poster-child for the Democrats’ jobs plan, instead of providing that money for much-needed disaster relief. Now Matheson and President Obama are running out of excuses for their disastrous $800 billion stimulus, especially after over half a billion dollars in taxpayer money was wasted on the now-bankrupt Solyndra. Since Solyndra’s executives invoked their Fifth Amendment rights today at a House Energy and Commerce hearing, does Matheson have any excuses for why he just defended giving taxpayer money to companies like this?

“President Obama and Jim Matheson don’t seem to have any answers for why their $800 billion stimulus continues to see a bad economy become worse, yet they are already asking for a second round of their failed spending spree,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Can Matheson explain why he thinks subsidizing failed companies like Solyndra is more important than disaster relief, or will he simply plead the Fifth as well?”

Jim Matheson voted against cutting $100 million from the controversial fund that gave over half a billion dollars in taxpayer money to Solyndra to provide much-needed disaster relief instead. (H.R. 2608, Roll Call #727, Passed 219-203: R 213-24; D 6-179, 9/23/11)

Once the poster-child for the Democrats’ stimulus program, Solyndra is now indicative of the stimulus plan’s failure:

“Solyndra, a California-based company that produces solar panels, was the poster-child for the Obama administration’s green energy program until it collapsed in bankruptcy in late August. Two years before, the Department of Energy appeared to rush to give the company a $535 million federal loan guarantee, without waiting for final copies of outside reviews of the deal meant to protect the taxpayers’ money.” (Lee Ferran, “Jon Stewart on Solyndra, the ‘Custom-Tailored Obama Scandal,'” ABC News, 9/16/11)

At a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing today, Solyndra executives invoked their Fifth Amendment rights instead of providing explanations:

“But behind the pomp and pageantry, Solyndra was rotting inside, hemorrhaging cash so quickly that within weeks of Mr. Obama’s visit, the company canceled plans to offer shares to the public. Barely a year later, Solyndra has become one of the administration’s most costly fumbles after the company declared bankruptcy, laid off 1,100 workers and was raided by F.B.I. agents seeking evidence of possible fraud.

Solyndra’s two top officers are to appear Friday before a House investigative committee where, their lawyers say, they will assert their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.” (Eric Lipton and John M. Broder, “In Rush to Assist Solyndra, U.S. Missed Warning Signs,” The New York Times, 9/22/11)

Jim Matheson will need to explain to his constituents in Utah why he thinks protecting subsidies for companies like Solyndra is more important than much-needed disaster relief. Since Matheson and Obama are asking for even more stimulus spending now, will Matheson explain why a second round of these failed policies will be different, or will he also simply plead the Fifth?

Dems Prioritize Failed Subsidies Ahead of Much-Needed Disaster Relief http://ow.ly/6CYuH #madeinwdc

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