Feb 16, 2012
Even Allen West’s Potential Tea Party Opponent Thinks West Is Too Extreme
Although South Florida Tea Party Chairman Everett Wilkinson helped elect Congressman Allen West to the House of Representatives, Wilkinson announced yesterday that he was pondering a run for Congress against West in Florida’s 18th district. Last year, Wilkinson called Allen West’s plan to end Medicare a “public policy nightmare” that could lead to “huge Democratic wins in 2012.”
“Even Representative Allen West’s most loyal Tea Party followers acknowledge that West’s extreme record is out of touch for Florida families,” said Stephanie Formas of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “At a time when Floridians need every dollar in their pockets, West has voted to end Medicare, while protecting tax breaks for billionaires and Big Oil, and refused to support a $1,000 tax cut for middle income Florida families.”
Allen West continues to push his extreme agenda by calling a $1,000 tax break for 160 million middle income families a “short term economic Band-Aid.” Last year, West voted to block the bipartisan Senate plan to extend the payroll tax cut.
BACKGROUND
West Called the Payroll Tax Cut Extension a Short Term Band-Aid. Responding to news of a tentative deal to extend the payroll tax cut, West said, “…Let’s start doing the things that look out for our future, not just a short term economic Band-Aid.” [CNN, 2/15/12]
West Voted to Block a Bipartisan Senate Plan for a $1,000 Payroll Tax Cut for 160 Million Americans. West voted to disagree with a bipartisan Senate plan that would have extended a $1,000 payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans. [HR 3630, Vote # 946, 12/20/11; CBS News, 12/20/11; ABC News, 12/20/11]
South Florida Tea Party Chief Slammed GOP Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare Plan. “But all three are now on record slamming Republican House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan's Medicare plan. Wilkinson broke with much of the tea party movement last week when he sent an email that calls the Ryan plan a ‘public policy nightmare’ that could lead to ‘huge Democratic wins in 2012.’” [Palm Beach Post, 6/19/11]
West: Tax Cut is a “Short Term Bon-Bon.” “We’ve tried the payroll tax cuts. You get a short term bon-bon but it doesn’t give you anything long term sustainable economic growth and job growth,” said West. [YouTube, uploaded 9/9/11]
West Voted for the 2012 Republican Budget Proposal. Representative Allen West voted to end Medicare by supporting the 2012 Republican budget. [H. Con. Res. 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11]
Wall Street Journal: The House Republican Budget for 2012 Would “Essentially End Medicare.” “The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/4/11]
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