“Working to make her community better for families, seniors, and workers has been a lifelong mission for Gretchen. As Mayor of Saline, she worked to attract new ventures to diversify Saline’s economy and improve local schools,” said DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján. “Gretchen is prepared to win in November because she’s the only candidate who will take on special interests, fight to lower health care premiums, and increase opportunity for Michigan workers so that they can find good paying jobs here at home.”.
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To: Interested Parties
From: Amanda Sherman, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: August 7, 2018
RE: The Case Against Rep. Tim Walberg
Having spent the last 35 years of his life as a politician, it is clear Congressman Tim Walberg is woefully out of touch with the everyday struggles of the people of Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.
Tim Walberg has clearly demonstrated that his loyalties lie with Washington politicians over the best interests of working Michiganders. This includes voting for Washington Republicans’ bill to raise healthcare costs for thousands of Michiganders, to voting for every trade deal no matter the negative impact on Michigan workers, and even voting for a Tax Scam that put the future of Medicare and Social Security in jeopardy,
While Walberg fails to fight for Michiganders, Gretchen Driskell has dedicated her career to standing up for seniors, workers, and families in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. As Mayor of Saline, she balanced 14 budgets, worked to successfully attract new ventures to diversify Saline’s economy and to build Saline’s reputation as a place to do business. Throughout her time serving her community, Gretchen has never lost sight of the issues that matter most to them and has made it her mission to get out and hear from people where they live.
The people of Michigan’s 7th Congressional District are sick and tired of not having a representative in Congress who understands their priorities and is willing to fight for them. Gretchen Driskell has a proven record of standing up for her community, while Rep. Walberg stands up for the Washington Establishment.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Headline: ‘Last-term Tim’ chanted by angry health care protesters at congressman’s office [M Live, 7/9/17]
“Despite running in a comfortably Republican district where Trump won by 17 points, Walberg has never won more than 55 percent of the vote since being elected. In fact, he lost his reelection campaign in 2008 precisely because he was caught napping in an otherwise safe seat.” [National Journal, 7/4/18]
“Driskell, a former state lawmaker from Saline, brought in $100,000 more than Walberg, raising $408,200 to his $304,600,” [The Detroit News, 7/16/18]
REP. TIM WALBERG: FAILING MICHIGANDERS
Failed to Protect Health Care for Michiganders
The protests and pleas from dozens of Michigan’s children, families, and seniors terrified of losing access to the affordable health care they depend on fell on deaf ears with Walberg. Walberg voted for the Washington Republican Establishment’s health care bill that would have taken health insurance away from 33,800 people in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, raised their premiums, imposed an age tax on older Americans, and done nothing to lower the price of prescription drugs.
If that wasn’t enough, Walberg doubled down on endangering Michigander’s health care by supporting the GOP Tax Scam, which the nonpartisan CBO found will increase health care premiums and could put the future of Social Security and Medicare at risk by blowing a $1.9 trillion hole in the national debt.
Fails to Fight for Michigan Workers
Instead of standing up and fighting for the Michigan workers who spend every day working hard to put food on the table and pay the bills, Tim Walberg has repeatedly sold them out in favor of big businesses and special interests. During his time in Congress, Walberg has voted for every single trade deal, including a deal that EPI estimates lost the US almost 100,000 jobs. Instead of supporting Michigan workers’ right to earn a living wage, Walberg led the charge to stop over 100,000 Michiganders -who make between $455-$900 a week – from earning overtime pay. Finally, Walberg voted for a GOP Tax Scam that gives 83% of its benefits to the wealthiest 1% of Americans — all while millions of middle-class families will pay more in the long run.
Became a Just Another DC Politician
Instead of listening to the people he supposedly represents on critical issues like health care, Walberg defers to Speaker Ryan and the Washington Republican Establishment when it comes time to vote. He has voted with his party leaders 94% of the time and regularly to the detriment of his constituents. This is especially galling given that for over his 35 years as a politician he has been paid more than $3 million in taxpayer money. Walberg isn’t just getting a taxpayer salary, he is also taking $66,000 a year in a taxpayer pension from his time as a Michigan State Representative. One has to be amazed at how someone who has gotten rich on the taxpayer’s dime has the gall to support an agenda that make it harder for Michiganders to afford health care and pay their bills.
THE PATH TO VICTORY
It is abundantly clear that when it matters the most Congressman Tim Walberg is failing the people of Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. They want a representative like Gretchen Driskell who is from their community and will work on their behalf.
While this is a rematch of 2016, it is clear that some key elements are different this time around. There is widespread enthusiasm across the district for change, and Tim Walberg isn’t ready for the tough election to come, being labeled by his own party as one of the “Worst House Republican Slackers”.
Gretchen Driskell, on the other hand, is putting in the work, outraised Walberg the last three fundraising quarters and is traveling all over the district. Polling from earlier this year shows Driskell within 4 points of Walberg – which is far more competitive than any polling available in the 2016 cycle.
Facing an independent, solution-oriented leader in Gretchen Driskell, it’s clear that Tim Walberg is in for the fight of his career.
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