Pelosi’s Deficit Desires Hold us Hostage but "The Times They Are A-changin'"

Speaker Pelosi hasn't got the message "Don't block at the doorway Don't block up the hall" she must feel "The chance won't come again" she is tough and resourceful but "The Times They Are A-changin'"

Washington, Jun 21 - Congress’ inability to find a permanent fix to the scheduled 21 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements is forcing an increasing number of physicians to stop participating in Medicare.

Yet on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would prevent the House from voting on a fully paid-for bill to delay the reimbursement cut unless the Senate first passes legislation that would create tens of billions of dollars in new debt. Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement in response.

“Seniors’ access to health care is being held hostage to the Democrats’ deficit spending addiction,” said Chairman Price. “Every year, more and more physicians leave Medicare because the reimbursements do not cover their costs. A 21 percent cut will turn this steady flow into a deluge. Unlike Washington, doctors’ offices cannot operate with enormous annual deficits. Slashing Medicare reimbursement rates will make it incredibly difficult for seniors to get the care they need. We owe it to every generation to find a permanent and fiscally responsible solution to the Medicare reimbursement crisis. The American people are tired of politicians looking for leverage when they should be providing leadership.” ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6.21.2010 House Republican Study Committee 424 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 226-9717 Fax: (202) 226-1633

John Koster Rick Larsen's Anti-Palin Rant an Amazing Display of Hypocrisy

Arlington, WA. - In an amazing display of hypocrisy and hyperbole, Rick Larsen's anti-Sarah Palin rant in a press release on Tuesday may have provided voters with a preview of how the 5 term incumbent intends to conduct his campaign against John Koster for Washington's 2nd Congressional district.

Larsen referred to Palin's supporters as "radicals" targeting Democrats across the country, and criticized Koster for "opening his campaign war chest to a potential landslide of out-of-state contributions that will fund his campaign to eliminate the help seniors are getting to pay for prescription drugs, privatize Social Security, and protect the lax regulations that led to the BP oil spill."

Larsen did not mention that 65% of his campaign war chest ($736,671 as of March 31) has come from political action committees (including $1000 from BP), nearly all of whom list addresses from out of state. In comparison, Koster raised $168,717 (as of March 31) with 97% coming from individual donors from Washington State.

"It appears to me that Rick Larsen is suffering from a case of Washington D.C. beltway hypocrisy and arrogance," said Larry Stickney, Koster's campaign manager. "The symptoms include condemning your opponent for doing something you are doing, and then expecting to get away with it because you're an entrenched incumbent with special privileges."

"If Rick Larsen has a problem with the Koster campaign picking up a few bucks from out of state, he should return the hundreds of thousands he has received from the Washington D.C. PAC's and special interests from around the country," Stickney continued.

"For Larsen to beat up on Sarah Palin for endorsing John Koster and call her supporters 'radicals' and insinuate that they want to mistreat senior citizens and protect polluters is laughable."

"This is the same Rick Larsen who ignores the will of his constituents and votes yes for government run health care, yes for the budget busting $787 billion stimulus package, yes for the economy stifling cap-and-trade legislation, yes to increase the national debt limit by $1.9 trillion, and yes on funding the anti-American disaster ACORN. All in all, he's voted 98% of the time with Nancy Pelosi, earned a "0% rating from the American Conservative Union , and received an "F" from the National Taxpayers Union. Who's the radical?"

TEXT and PHOTO CREDIT: Koster for Congress