Dems Duck More Opportunities to Stop Job-Crushing Healthcare Law

February 18, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), 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), 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), 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), 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), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), Anthony Weiner (NY-09), David Wu (OR-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Barrow Ducks More Opportunities to Stop Job-Crushing Healthcare Law
Georgia Democrat Continues to Toe Party Line on Critical Issues of Spending and Jobs

Washington — John Barrow yesterday had more opportunities to put the brakes on the hugely unpopular job-crushing healthcare law, and he made his choice to side with Democrat leaders like Nancy Pelosi and stand by ObamaCare instead. Given the opportunity to demonstrate he had gotten the message from voters that creating jobs and cutting spending need to be top priorities, Barrow voted to continue the Democrats’ same old policies of burdening small businesses with red tape and increasing government spending instead.

“John Barrow is demonstrating time and time again that when it counts most, he will simply defer to Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat leadership instead of listening to his constituents in Georgia,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Barrow ducked more opportunities to remove the burden that ObamaCare places on small businesses struggling to grow and create jobs. As we face record debt levels that threaten to cripple the already-fragile economy, Barrow showed he will continue to place his party before his constituents.”

The healthcare law’s unpopularity has some Democrats rethinking their steadfast support:

“Unshackled by the need to get reelected, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) suggested Thursday that Democrats reopen the bitter healthcare debate, arguing that the reform law’s provisions could yield opportunities to cut the federal deficit.” (Alexander Bolton, “Sen. Conrad worries Democrats by calling to revisit the healthcare debate,” The Hill, 2/18/11)

But earlier this year, Barrow voted against a repeal of ObamaCare. (H.R. 2, Roll Call Vote #14: Passed 245-189: R 242-0; D 3-189, 1/19/11)

And yesterday, Barrow voted against two different amendments that would work to stop the job-crushing law. (H.R. 1, Amendment 83, Roll Call Vote #100: Passed 246-182: R 238-0; D 8-182, 2/18/11; H.R. 1, Amendment 575, Roll Call Vote #97: Passed 239-187; R 236-2, D 3-185, 2/18/11)

Although ObamaCare’s widespread unpopularity has some Democrats reconsidering their support for the job-destroying law, John Barrow chose again to side with Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat leadership and continue their failed policies which led to record losses last November. Barrow continues to make it clear that on the most crucial issues in Congress, he will take his cues from his Democrat leaders instead of his constituents in Georgia.

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