With national unemployment hovering near 10 percent, a number of leading Democrat Senators and candidates are abandoning failed mob banker Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL), along with embattled U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and other Democrat party bosses as they seek to implement legislation for the largest tax increase in American history later this year.
During just the last two weeks, three Democrat Senate candidates in key swing states joined a group of Giannoulias’ colleagues in Washington who oppose the Obama-Reid-Pelosi tax hike, which Giannoulias has endorsed.
“For a reminder of how painfully out-of-touch failed mob banker Alexi Giannoulias is with voters in his state, Illinoisans need look no further than what his own fellow Democrats are saying about the tax-hiking agenda that Giannoulias supports,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokeswoman Amber Marchand. “While many of Giannoulias’ fellow Democrats have stepped forward and finally acknowledged that raising taxes will hurt families and small businesses in the midst of a recession, he continues to firmly support Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi’s massive tax hike on the families, seniors, and job creators in his state.”
On Friday, Louisiana Democrat Senate candidate U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon (D-LA) became the latest Democrat to announce that he now opposes Giannoulias’ efforts to raise taxes by repealing any of the 2001 and 2003 tax relief measures. Melancon’s announcement comes on the heels of two other leading Democrat Senate candidates, Rubberstamp Robin Carnahan (D-MO) and liberal trial lawyer Jack Conway (D-KY), who recently flip-flopped on their positions.
In addition, several sitting Democrat Senators, including Budget Committee Chairman U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), have announced they will oppose Giannoulias’ efforts, while Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said recently that extending the tax cuts would strengthen a still struggling U.S. economy. Yet Giannoulias is standing with Harry Reid, insisting on a September fight in the Senate over this issue.
Background Information:
Giannoulias Would Allow The Tax Cuts To Expire. “The Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans generated some of the largest deficits in U.S. history and contributed nearly $2 trillion to our deficits. Those tax cuts were unnecessary and irresponsible, and Alexi would allow them to expire.” (Alexi Giannoulias Website, www.alexiforillinois.com, Accessed 8/23/10)
