WASHINGTON — In a series of votes that once again defined her Senate career as a reliable rubber-stamp for President Obama, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) last night voted to impose a permanent new tax on Michigan business owners to pay for another temporary stimulus bill, while also blocking a Republican effort to ensure captured terrorists are not offered the same rights as common criminals.  And she did this all within a one-hour period of time.

“Debbie Stabenow preaches fiscal responsibility back home in Michigan, but she votes like a typical tax-and-spend, big government liberal when she’s in Washington,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today. “This vote defined a clear difference in next year’s Senate race – Stabenow believes it’s the federal government that creates jobs with higher taxes and more spending, while Republicans believe it’s time for Democrats in Washington to get their boots off the backs of America’s small businesses.”

Stabenow voted in support of Obama’s latest stimulus bill despite concerns raised by a coalition of business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, who noted that 80% of those impacted by the Democrats’ new tax are business owners and it would have a negative impact on investment income to grow businesses and create jobs.  Democrats also reversed their own positions, including President Obama, who said in 2009 that the last thing Congress should do is raise taxes in a recession.

In a separate vote last night, Stabenow also stood with her liberal leaders in blocking a Republican effort, sponsored by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to ensure that captured terrorists are not offered the same due process rights as common criminals.  As the Washington Post reported, the Democrats’ vote to kill this measure handed “a victory” to President Obama.

“Once again, Debbie Stabenow stood behind President Obama, instead of standing up for Michigan voters who believe captured terrorists should be treated like enemy combatants instead of common criminals.  This is the liberal mindset at its worst, but Debbie Stabenow apparently believes that captured terrorists should be treated nicely,” Wilcox concluded.

FLASHBACK….

Stabenow Said The “Stimulus” Made “Significant Investments… So That The Jobs Are Here.” STABENOW: “We have significant investments that move us in that direction that not only make sure we are growing fuels and that we are operating in a more efficient manner, but that we are building the green technologies here so that the jobs are here in America.” (Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congressional Record, 2/3/09, p. S1386)

·         Reality: 2.2 Million Jobs Have Been Lost Since Obama Took Office. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 10/7/11)