More Proof Dems’ Solyndra Stimulus Was About Political Payback, Not Jobs

February 6, 2012

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-24), 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-21), John Garamendi (CA-03), 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-09), 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-09), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-16), John Tierney (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Niki Tsongas (MA-03), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

More Proof Matheson’s Solyndra Stimulus Was About Political Payback, Not Jobs
Utah Democrat’s $535 Million Stimulus Gamble Rewarded Politically-Connected Investors While Leaving Workers and Taxpayers With Nothing

Washington — It is increasingly clear that American taxpayers and the former workers for the now-bankrupt Solyndra company are the losers in the wake of Jim Matheson’s $535 million stimulus gamble. In fact, it seems the only winners in Matheson’s Solyndra stimulus scheme were Democrat donors who invested heavily in the company and were the first to be protected while workers were laid off and taxpayers were left to foot the bill.

“Jim Matheson and his fellow Democrats’ priorities have become clear in the wake of their Solyndra stimulus scandal, after it bailed out wealthy Democrat investors while leaving taxpayers with the bill and American workers out to dry,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “The last thing hardworking taxpayers in Utah want from Matheson is more failed stimulus spending, more pink slips and more debt.”

Former workers at the Solyndra plant are now suing the company for structuring its bankruptcy to benefit wealthy investors and not the workers themselves:

“The employees suing the failed solar-panel maker for not giving them enough notice before its abrupt shutdown last summer are now accusing Solyndra of running its bankruptcy for the benefit of secured lender Argonaut Ventures I LLC.” (Jacqueline Palank, “Ex-Solyndra Workers Blast Company, Lender,” The Wall Street Journal‘s Bankruptcy Beat Blog, 2/2/12)

Those wealthy investors just happen to include major Democrat donors:

“The Obama administration restructured a half-billion dollar federal loan to a troubled solar energy company in such a way that private investors — including a fundraiser for President Barack Obama — moved ahead of taxpayers for repayment in case of a default, government records show.” (Matthew Daly, “Obama admin reworked Solyndra loan to favor donor,” The Associated Press, 9/16/11)

Jim Matheson’s stimulus flop is rife with examples of political payback that left workers and taxpayers paying the price. In the wake of the failed $800 billion stimulus package, middle-class families and small businesses in Utah will demand that Matheson and his fellow Democrats offer true pro-growth policies instead of doubling down on even more Solyndra repeats.

More Proof Dems’ Solyndra Stimulus Was About Political Payback, Not Jobs http://ow.ly/8U9Fm #madeinwdc

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