Dems Would Rather Shut Down the Government Than Budge on Their Job-Killing Partisan Agenda

December 15, 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-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), Mark Critz (PA-12), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), John Garamendi (CA-03), 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-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), 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-46), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Niki Tsongas (MA-03), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Matheson’s Dem Leaders Would Rather Shut Down the Government Than Budge on Their Job-Killing Partisan Agenda
Washington Democrat Leaders Threaten Government Shutdown to Curry Favor with Left Wing Allies

Washington — Jim Matheson’s Democrat leaders have become increasingly desperate to protect their job-destroying partisan agenda and the special interests who support it. Now Matheson’s party leaders like President Obama and Harry Reid have resorted to holding funding for the federal government hostage, threatening to shut down the government this week instead of taking reasonable steps toward a compromise. Does Matheson agree with their decision to engage in shutdown politicking in order to protect uncompromising Democrat radical interests?

“Jim Matheson’s Democrat leaders are now threatening a government shutdown in a desperate attempt to appease radical left groups that don’t want Matheson to budge on his failed partisan agenda,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Matheson should either explain to his Utah constituents why this partisan bickering is necessary or speak out against these desperate political moves that epitomize what is wrong with Washington.”

On Tuesday, Democrat leaders in Washington refused to work with their colleagues across the aisle and instead threatened a government shutdown:

“With only three days left before a government shutdown, Democrats took a gamble Tuesday, strategically linking a package to extend the payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits to an all-but-agreed-upon bill that wraps up fiscal 2012 appropriations…

“But in the process, they’ve made themselves vulnerable to the attack they’ve been using all year against Republicans: that they’re holding the government hostage until they get what they want.” (Meredith Shiner and Daniel Newhauser, “Democrats Open Party to Flak With Payroll Tax Gambit,” Roll Call, 12/14/11)

And since the Democrats control Washington, the threats behind their sudden change of heart are “very real”:

“A government shutdown is a very real threat, ever since President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., agreed to tie the Omnibus appropriations bill to an agreement on extending the payroll tax holiday…

“On Sunday, it seemed as if there would be a way to avoid this.” (Jake Tapper, “Obama Administration Prepares for Government Shutdown,” ABC News’ Political Punch Blog, 12/14/11)

With his constituents in Utah disgusted by the behavior of the Democrats in charge of Washington, Jim Matheson has an obligation to either explain these outrageous actions or denounce their blatantly political motivations.

Dems Would Rather Shut Down the Government Than Budge on Their Job-Killing Partisan Agenda http://bit.ly/sseFQo #madeinwdc

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