Poliquin spent months grandstanding while Bangor jobs were on the line, before folding under pressure only when his own job was on the line
Today, Congressman Bruce Poliquin finally folded under pressure and voted for re-authorization of the Export-Import Bank. For months, Poliquin engaged in grandstanding against the bank and even played politics with good paying Bangor jobs on the line so that he could push his own ideological agenda.
Even after it became clear that Bangor jobs could be in jeopardy, Poliquin engaged in doublespeak in order to skirt criticism for his record of opposing the bank — when pressed during a local news interview to answer for his sustained opposition, Poliquin erroneously and misleadingly stated that he had never voted against reauthorization. Shortly after, Poliquin voted against bringing reauthorization for a vote of the House Financial Services Committee, even with the knowledge that more than 80 hardworking men and women in Bangor could lose their jobs.
Indeed, it’s only after weeks of headlines tying Poliquin’s opposition to the bank to the potential job losses – and after his colleagues mounted a historic effort to bring reauthorization to a vote, without his help – that Poliquin supported reauthorization.
“Today’s vote is too little too late for Bruce Poliquin, who has already shown that he is perfectly willing to recklessly play politics with good paying Maine jobs in order to push his own agenda,” said Bryan Lesswing at the DCCC. “Mainers can’t trust Bruce Poliquin to be there when they need him – when jobs are at risk – and they deserve better than a Congressman who only acts when it’s his job that’s on the line.”
Background
Poliquin Voted Ten Times To Block Reauthorization Of The Export-Import Bank On The House Floor. [Roll Call Votes – #116, #126, #371, #379, #483, #499, #521, #569, #572, #573]
Poliquin Blocked An Effort To Vote On Reauthorization Of The Export-Import Bank At A House Finance Services Committee Markup. [CQ News, 9/30/15]
Poliquin Did Not Sign The Export- Important Reauthorization Discharge Petition. [Clerk Of the House Of Representatives, 10/9/15]