Another Anniversary Congressman Blunt would like to forget
Posted by Jessica Podhola in Blunt, GOP
For Immediate Release
February 16, 2010
Contact: Deirdre Murphy (202) 485-3129
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: A YEAR OF HYPOCRITICAL DC DOUBLESPEAK FROM CONGRESSMAN BLUNT
Big Spending Congressman Blunt Voted Against Jobs Bill Last Year, But Tried To Take Credit For A Project Funded By It
Club for Growth: “It’s pretty hypocritical for someone to be against the stimulus and then walk around handing out big checks … Republicans who did that should be worried”
As the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signing approaches, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is calling out big spending Congressman Roy Blunt for his blatant hypocrisy on the legislation. Last year, Washington insider Congressman Blunt took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new visitors center at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Neosho National Fish Hatchery (NFH) in southwest Missouri. However, a portion of the new visitors center was made possible by $1.04 million in federal stimulus funds, which Blunt voted against. With the stimulus providing upwards of $3.4 billion for Missouri and credited with saving or creating 16,081 Missouri jobs, does Congressman Blunt regret that he voted against the legislation?
“It took less than a year for big spending Congressman Roy Blunt to think he could trick Missouri voters with doublespeak but facts are facts – Blunt voted against the Recovery Act but is now hypocritically taking credit for a project created by the legislation,” said Deirdre Murphy, DSCC National Press Secretary. “Having been a professional politician since the Nixon Administration, you would think Blunt would know that Missouri voters are tired of politicians feeding them heaping servings of hypocrisy. Blunt won’t be able to continue saying one thing in Missouri and doing another in DC.”
Even the conservative anti-tax group Club for Growth noted, “It’s pretty hypocritical for someone to be against the stimulus and then walk around handing out big checks,” said Andrew Roth, vice president of public affairs for the conservative anti-tax group Club for Growth. “I think Republicans who did that should be worried.” [Politico, 1/28/10]
Blunt’s record on the economy and spending is not one to be proud of. Blunt rubberstamped the disastrous policies put into place by former President George W. Bush that protected Wall Street and exploded the federal deficit. And now he continues to stand in the way of commonsense efforts to jumpstart job creation. The people of Missouri can thank Blunt for thousands of lost jobs, tax credits for corporations that move their jobs overseas, and a huge trade imbalance.
2009: Blunt Voted Against the Recovery Stimulus Package. In January 2009, Blunt voted against a $787 billion stimulus package. The legislation was a combination of fast-acting tax cuts and longer-term government spending on public works projects, education, health care, energy and technology. But, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, more than 74 percent of the money will be spent within the next 18 months. [New York Times, 2/13/09; HR 1, Vote #46, 1/28/09]
Blunt’s doublespeak hasn’t stopped at the stimulus. Earlier this year Congressman Blunt:
Sought Credit for a Tornado Safe Room that He Voted Against: Congressman Blunt took credit for a tornado shelter in his district, even though he voted against the funding for it in the Homeland Security Bill. Despite Congressman Blunt’s vote, over $1.3 million is going to fund a tornado safe room for the Missouri State University campus in West Plains, Missouri. [Springfield News Leader, 1/15/10; CQ Today, 9/24/08; Vote 632 , 9/24/08; HR 2638/ Public Law 110-329]
Sought Credit for Grants to Help the Homeless that He Voted Against: Congressman Blunt also sought credit recently for nearly $900,000 in grants to help the homeless, even though he voted against the funding. [Springfield News Leader, 1/12/10; HR 3288, Vote #949, 12/10/09]
Blunt Changed His Stance on Campaign Finance After Becoming a Washington Insider: Before Congressman Roy Blunt went to Washington, he advocated for strong campaign finance reform and criticized campaigns as “a national disgrace” that featured “rich special interests buying votes and elections.” Now – after 12 years as a Washington insider – Blunt is “pleased” with the Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and special interests to unfairly influence elections. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/15/93; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/22/10]
Congressman Blunt is running against State Senator Chuck Purgason, and businessmen Mark Memoly and Bob Praprotnik in the August 2010 primary for the Republican nomination for US Senate.
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