Campaign 2010

Mar 10, 2011

Rep. Allen West Endorses Government Shutdown

Representative Allen West Endorses Government Shutdown, Endangering Social Security, Medicare and Aid to Israel

In an interview with Fox News last night, Representative Allen West (FL-22) endorsed a controversial plan to shut down the government, putting in jeopardy thousands of Social Security and Medicare recipients in South Florida and even jeopardizing military assistance to our allies like Israel. When asked about whether West would back the dangerous plan to endanger benefits and aid, West said “you’re absolutely right.” Florida is home to over 450,000 Social Security recipients including over 35,000 in Broward and nearly 20,000 in Palm Beach Counties and West’s district is home to 64,262 veterans.

“While Representative Allen West might think it’s ‘absolutely right’ to shut down government and endanger Social Security and Medicare, the people of South Florida know his dangerous, radical agenda is all wrong,” said Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “If Representative Allen West successfully shut down government, over 450,000 Florida seniors would find their Social Security in jeopardy, over 50,000 veterans could see the benefits they’ve earned slip away and vital assistance to our ally Israel may be lost.”

Background

  • During an interview on Fox News’s Glenn Beck Show, Representative Allen West said it would be “absolutely right” to shut down government if House Republicans could achieve all their political goals in the budget debate. [Fox News, 3/9/11]

                                                                                                          

  • According to the most current data available from the Social Security Administration, there are 464,260 Social Security recipients in Florida. [Social Security Administration, SSI recipients by state 2009, accessed 2/25/11]

 

  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida’s 22 Congressional District has an estimated 64,262 civilian veterans. The State of Florida has an estimated 1,685,421 civilian veterans.  [U.S. Census Bureau, 2005-2009 American Community Survey]

 

  • The United States provides approximately $3 billion annually in aid to Israel.  [AP, 1/28/11]

 

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