News · Press Release

Chameleon Watch – Poliquin Pulls a Fast One on Party’s Budget

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That was quick. After joining Speaker Boehner and other Republican leaders for a press conference yesterday to tout their latest radical budget in Washington, Congressman Poliquin has tried to hide his support for it by having his staff tell Maine press that he has not endorsed and is still reviewing the proposal.

It’s a remarkable claim given that Congressman Poliquin said he supported the very similar Ryan budget during the 2014 campaign  and said to the New York Times yesterday regarding the budget, “We must do this.”  This is just the latest example of Bruce Poliquin doing one thing in Washington and saying another in Maine.

“It’s laughable for Congressman Poliquin to stand with his party leaders in Washington at a press conference to praise the Republican budget, and then turn around and tell Mainers he’s ‘still reviewing the plan,’” said DCCC spokesperson Matt Thornton. “If he’s not trying to hide from the realities of the terrible budget proposal he just endorsed, then why the sudden change of heart? Did he wander into the wrong press conference?”

Republican Budget Would Hurt Maine Families

House GOP Leaders Promoted Poliquin’s Appearance “To Discuss Our #BetterBudget.” Yesterday, the House Republican leadership tweeted: “Today @RepPoliquin joins House Leadership to discuss our #BetterBudget for an #OpportunityEconomy.” [House Republicans, via Twitter, 3/17/15]

House Republican Budget Would Turn Medicare Into Voucher Program, Denying 336,336 Individuals in ME-02 Access To Medicare’s Guaranteed Benefits. The Republican Budget Committee “estimates nearly $150 billion in savings by turning Medicare into a voucher program for anyone 56 years old or younger, an idea previously proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the former Budget Committee chairman. Republicans say their ‘premium support program’ would help control Medicare costs.” The House GOP plan would move Medicare to a voucher program by 2024. There are 336,336 residents in the ME-02 district under the age of 45. [Politico, 3/17/15; Census, accessed 3/17/15]

House Republican Budget Would Cut Pell Grants, Individuals in ME-02 Received Over $28 Million In Pell Grants in FY 2015.  According to New York Times the Republican Budget would “cut the size of Pell Grants, the popular federal financial aid program for higher education.” According to USASpending.gov, Maine’s Second District received more than $28 million in Pell grant funding in FY2015. [New York Times, 3/17/15; usaspending.gov, accessed 3/17/15]





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