In an interview on WGAN this morning, One-Term-Wonder Congressman Bruce Poliquin, doubled down on his support for the reckless and irresponsible Republican budget and offered a fresh reminder of how out-of-touch he is with the needs of hard-working Maine families. Poliquin replied “Yeah, I think so,” when asked “so as far as any cuts are concerned Bruce is everybody going to feel those too?”
Last week Poliquin described himself as “excited” after voting for his party leaders’ budget after first dodging questions about his support for the Republican.
Given Congressman Poliquin’s apparent lack of concern for the students, seniors, and hard-working families who would be hurt by the reckless and irresponsible Republican budget — we felt he could use a reminder of just how bad the impact would be in his district.
“Millionaire Congressman Poliquin may ‘think’ voting against hardworking Maine families is worth letting special interests continue to abuse the tax code and exploit loopholes,” said DCCC spokesperson Matt Thornton. “But students who would have to pay more for college, seniors who would lose the guarantee of Medicare, and families who would have a harder time buying a home all know what Poliquin selling them out really means. If Congressman Poliquin doesn’t get it now, Maine voters will make sure to remind him in 2016.”
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]
House Republican Budget Would Eliminate Tax Benefits That Provides $43 Million In Relief To 53,000 Maine Families In 2015. In 2015, 53,000 Maine families will receive $43 million in tax benefits that would be eliminated after 2017 under the House Republican budgets. [White House, 3/24/15]
House Republican Budget Would Mean 150 Fewer Maine Children Have Access To Head Start. The House Republican budget proposal, which maintains sequestration levels for domestic discretionary spending, would make it so 150 fewer Maine children have access to Head Start services. [White House, 3/24/15]
House Republican Budget Would Mean 12,100 Fewer Mainers Have Access To Job Training & Employment Services. The House Republican budget proposal, which maintains sequestration levels for domestic discretionary spending, would deny job training and employment services for 12,100 Mainers. [White House, 3/24/15]
House Republican Budget Would Increase Prescription Drug Costs For As Many As 17,300 Mainers. The House Republican budget proposal, which repeals the Affordable Care Act, would reopen the Medicare prescription drug donut hole. Closing the donut hole helped 17,300 Maine seniors and people with disabilities save an average of $870 in 2014 alone. [White House, 3/24/15]