Obama Demands Stance on Stimulus Part 2: Where are House Dems?

October 6, 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), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-20), 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)

Obama Demands Stance on Stimulus Part 2: Where’s Costa?
California Democrat Needs to Explain His Position on the Second Stimulus Plan, Per President Obama’s Request Today

Washington — After President Obama today demanded Members of Congress explain their positions on his second stimulus plan, it would stand to reason that his Democrat ally Jim Costa should comply. President Obama’s second stimulus plan still has zero co-sponsors in the House, after being introduced by Democrat Caucus Chairman John Larson (D-CT). With the economy still struggling under Democrat leadership in Washington, Costa should explain whether or not he thinks more wasteful stimulus spending and job-destroying taxes are the remedies in the wake of the first stimulus plan’s failure.

“President Obama is right that Jim Costa should be able to explain what his plan for job creation is, the most pressing issue on the minds of his California constituents,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Costa needs to say whether his solution to fixing the struggling post-stimulus economy is simply even more stimulus spending fueled by more job-killing taxes.”

In his press conference on Thursday, President Obama demanded positions and explanations from Congress on his second stimulus plan. Currently the bill has zero co-sponsors in the House (H.R. 12, Introduced 9/21/11):

“President Barack Obama defiantly challenged lawmakers Thursday to vote for his jobs plan or explain why not. ‘This is not a game,’ he declared…

“Obama attempted to use Thursday’s news conference to increase pressure on his Capitol Hill opponents heading into the first vote on the jobs bill that he proposed a month ago. He has been promoting it around the country ever since, often traveling into swing states or the home states of key Republicans such as House Speaker John Boehner.

“‘If it turns out that Republicans are opposed to the bill, they need to explain to me, and mostly importantly their constituents, what they would do,’ Obama said.” (Ben Feller, “Obama challenges GOP senators: Vote for jobs bill,” Associated Press, 10/6/11)

Jim Costa’s constituents in California are watching the troubling economic signs and wondering where their Representative stands on this issue. President Obama is correct – Costa needs to explain whether he believes that a second stimulus with more job-killing tax hikes is his own plan to fix the struggling post-stimulus economy.

Obama Demands Stance on Stimulus Part 2: Where are House Dems? http://ow.ly/6PF2i #madeinwdc

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