Dems Refuse to Cut Spending, But are Willing to Risk Job-Destroying Default
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), 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 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), 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), 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), John Yarmuth (KY-03)
Kentucky Democrat Votes Again to Block Fiscal Solutions, Assumes Responsibility for Further Economic Crisis
Washington — Ben Chandler rejected a second opportunity today to responsibly and effectively restore fiscal sanity to Washington in the wake of his failed Democrat spending spree. It now seems that Chandler and his fellow House Democrats are digging in further on their demands to raise taxes that would destroy jobs when middle-class families in Kentucky can’t afford it. Chandler and his Democrat colleagues are demonstrating that they are willing to risk the economy to appease the increasing pressure they feel from left-wing groups to defend their big-government spending binge.
“Ben Chandler and his fellow Democrats have been unyielding in their demands to raise job-destroying taxes, and now he is demonstrating his willingness to risk the economy to continue fueling his spending spree,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Having passed up two opportunities to avoid the consequences of default and get America’s fiscal house in order, Chandler is putting Kentucky families at risk. He will be forced to defend this vote between now and Election Day as his constituents in Kentucky deal with the costs of the Democrats’ reckless job-destroying agenda.”
After opposing the Cut, Cap and Balance Act last week (Roll Call #606, 7/16/11), Ben Chandler today opposed another bill to get our fiscal house in order, the Budget Control Act of 2011. (S. 627, Roll Call Vote #677, Passed 218-210: R 218-22; D 0-188, 7/29/11)
Left-wing activist groups have been ratcheting up the pressure on Democrats to stand firm against badly needed fiscal reform efforts that would finally force Washington to live within its means:
“It urged members to call Obama’s reelection headquarters in Chicago and other Democratic campaign organizations to condemn any deal that cut entitlements and did not raise taxes on the rich.
“‘It would be a betrayal of core Democratic values and could have serious consequences for the base’s involvement in next year’s elections,’ wrote spokesman David Fenton in describing the campaign from Moveon and several other liberal groups.
“The emergency push back campaign also warned that liberal voters are ‘making tens of thousands of calls right now to Democrats in the House and Senate….’ to criticize the President’s proposal.”
(Jim Angle, “Democrats Feel Pressure From the Left in Debt Talks,” Fox News, 7/25/11)Ben Chandler has now opposed two comprehensive plans that would provide real and responsible deficit reduction to avert a fiscal and economic catastrophe. Chandler’s reckless decision to oppose these efforts will continue to destroy jobs and heap more debt upon future generations in Kentucky.