Democrat Leaders Insist Allies Support Stimulus 2.0 Despite More Solyndra Embarrassment

October 4, 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), Mark Critz (PA-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Kathy Hochul (NY-26), 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), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), 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)

Democrat Leaders Insist Allies Like Barrow Support Stimulus 2.0 Despite More Solyndra Embarrassment
White House & Party Leaders Say Georgia Democrat is All-in on More Disastrous Stimulus Spending

Washington — More damaging details continue to surface of how badly John Barrow’s Democrat leaders managed the $800 billion stimulus, tarnishing their demands for a second serving of the same failed policies. Even with the first stimulus severely tainted by ongoing scandals, the Democrat Party Chair says Democrats want another round of stimulus spending, and the White House says Democrats are all united behind the plan. Does this mean Barrow is on board for Round Two?

“The growing scandals and weak economy should make it obvious to John Barrow that the Democrats’ stimulus failed on its promise to bring economic recovery but succeeded in wasting the tax dollars of middle-class families in Georgia,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Since his party leaders are touring the country, touting the virtues of a second stimulus and the unwavering Democrat support they have, does that mean Barrow is all-in on a second round of failed stimulus spending too?”

New documents revealed the Obama Administration ignored concerns that Solyndra could be a disastrous investment for taxpayer money, and instead rushed to throw over half a billion dollars at the company and made it their stimulus poster child:

“In one striking exchange, one of the smaller investors in Solyndra, Brad Jones of Redpoint Ventures, warned National Economic Council Director Larry Summers in December 2009 that the Energy Department didn’t seem ‘well-equipped to decide which companies should get the money and how much.’ He noted that a solar company he had invested in, an apparent reference to Solyndra, received a loan of more than half a billion dollars, despite having no profits and revenue of less than $100 million.

“‘While that is good for us, I can’t imagine it’s a good way for the government to use taxpayer money,’ Jones wrote in his e-mail.” (Carol D. Leonnig and Joe Stephens, “Donor, officials warned Obama not to visit Solyndra after financial warnings,” The Washington Post, 10/3/11)

Despite the ongoing scandals with the first stimulus, Democrat Party Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) said a second round is exactly what the Democrats want:

“The country needs another round of stimulus, said Wasserman Schultz, who was in Iowa over the weekend to appear with Iowa Democratic incumbent U.S. Reps. Bruce Braley, Dave Loebsack and Leonard Boswell as well as Democratic 4th District challenger Christie Vilsack.” (James Q. Lynch, “Dem chairwoman: GOP should work with Obama,” Quad-City Times, 10/2/11)

And White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said all Democrats are on board with the second stimulus:

“White House press secretary Jay Carney answered a question on President Obama’s jobs bill in his briefing on Friday by saying, ‘I’m not aware of any Democrat who doesn’t support the provisions that go to creating jobs, reducing taxes and that sort of thing.'” (Matt Negrin, “Carney claims all Dems like jobs bill,” Politico‘s 44 Blog, 9/30/11)

As the first stimulus continues to reveal more flaws and failure, John Barrow’s Democrat leaders are defiantly demanding Round Two. Since they claim their support includes all Democrats, does that mean Barrow is ready to endorse President Obama’s Stimulus 2.0?

Democrat Leaders Insist Allies Support Stimulus 2.0 Despite More Solyndra Embarrassment http://ow.ly/6N3vu #madeinwdc

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