Aug 15, 2012

Andrew Roraback – Wrong for Connecticut’s Middle Class

Andrew Roraback now joins Washington Republicans and Paul Ryan's ticket to end Medicare and force seniors to pay more for their health care while giving tax breaks to millionaires. During his primary campaign race to the right-wing extreme, Roraback said he would represent the Tea Party and called himself the real conservative candidate in the race.

Andrew Roraback has the wrong priorities for Connecticut's seniors and middle class in these tough economic times. Roraback's out-of-touch record proves he can't be trusted as a moderate voice in Congress.

Andrew Roraback is Wrong for Seniors. In these tough economic times, Andrew Roraback would raise the Social Security retirement age and lower the cost-of-living-adjustment.  He supports reopening the prescription drug loophole and also voted against helping low-income patients get cheaper drugs. Roraback will also be forced to defend the Republican Party’s plan to end Medicare and force seniors to pay $6,400 more for health care.

Roraback Would Reopen the Prescription Drug Loophole. Roraback would reopen the prescription drug loophole, forcing 42,224 Medicare recipients in Connecticut to pay more for their medication. [Register Citizen, 05/16/12; Healthcare.gov accessed 8/14/2012]

Roraback Called for Adopting Social Security Reforms Outlined in Simpson-Bowles Including Raising the Retirement Age.  In 2012, Roraback called for Congress to restore solvency in Social Security and supporting recommendations in the Simpson-Bowles report. “If we are to have a social security system that is sustainable, we are going to have to look at adopting some of the recommendations contained in the Simpson-Bowles report. Simpson-Bowles Plan would raise the Social Security retirement age and would reduce Cost of Living Adjustments. [League of Women Voters, 3/08/12]

Roraback Voted Against a Prescription Drug Importation Program for Low-income Patients. In 2006, Roraback voted against an amendment to a bill to give federally qualified health centers the authority to use certain state funding for pharmaceutical drug programs for low-income patients. The amendment would requires the Department of Public Health to survey existing companies that offer to import drugs from Canada and Europe to Connecticut consumers. [SB 648, RC #281, Amendment A, 4/27/06]

Andrew Roraback Is Out of Touch. Roraback once said that he would voluntarily step down from any position he held after 10 years, but was on his 18^th year serving in the General Assembly and is currently a 6^th term state Senator.  Roraback is sympathetic to the Birther movement, supporting a public hearing on a “birther” bill. He would also allow employers to deny contraception coverage to their female employees.

Roraback Broke His Pledge to Connecticut. Roraback made a pledge to voluntarily step down from any post he held after 10 years of serving. But Roraback is currently serving his 6^th term in the State Senate after becoming a state Senator in 2001. [Republican-American, 10/25/04]

Roraback Supported Public Hearing on Birther Bill. In 2011, Roraback supported a public hearing of a bill that would mandate U.S. presidential and vice presidential candidates to provide birth certificates in order to be placed on the ballot. “I think it’s an elementary proposition,” Roraback said. [News-Times, 1/31/11]

Roraback Would Let Employers Deny Women Contraception Coverage. Roraback would let employers discriminate against women by denying them contraception coverage. [YouTube, 4/2/12; Register Citizen, 05/16/12]

Andrew Roraback Won’t Prioritize Jobs. Andrew Roraback just doesn’t get it.  Despite claiming to support an agenda of creating jobs and improving the economy, Roraback took positions opposing tax incentives for local businesses and his record showed that growing the economy was low on his list of legislative priorities. Also Roraback says we need shared sacrifice but he’d still protect millionaires over the middle class. 

Roraback Voted Against Program to Give Tax Incentives to Connecticut Business. In 2011, Roraback voted against the “First Five” incentives program that would provide financial assistance for business that created jobs and facilities within a certain timeframe. In 2011, the editorial board of the Hartford Courant praised the First Five program. [Office of Legislative Research, Major Acts Report 2011, S.B. 1001, 6/3/11; Editorial, Hartford Courant, 11/14/11]

Roraback Said Everybody Would Have to Sacrifice to Get Through Economic Crisis But Opposes An Income Tax Increase on Millionaires. In 2009, Roraback said that every citizen of Connecticut would have to sacrifice to get through the economic crisis. Roraback did not support balancing the state budget by increasing the income tax on millionaires. [News-Times, 1/7/09; Capitol Watch, 9/1/09]

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