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GOP congressional hopeful Vaughn Ward’s campaign had this statement today in response to Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick’s announcement of an “economic blitz” across the 1st Congressional District during the Congress’ summer break, in which Minnick will host four events to connect Idaho companies and communities to federal funds in an effort to create jobs:
“Walter Minnick claims that his main focus is on creating jobs, yet his boss Nancy Pelosi continues to hurt the economy in Idaho by pushing through a stimulus bill that hasn’t created any jobs, cap and trade legislation that raises taxes on Idahoan families, and a socialized health care plan that costs more than $1.6 trillion dollars. Instead of mortgaging our children’s and grandchildren’s futures, Congress needs to focus on creating jobs through small business, providing real tax relief for Idahoan families, and fight to keep the federal government out of our daily lives.”
Minnick, a member of the conservative “Blue Dog Democrats” in the House, actually voted against the stimulus bill, one of just 11 Democrats in the House to do so. In addition to Ward, Idaho House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts is running in the GOP primary for a chance to challenge Minnick, and former GOP Rep. Bill Sali, whom Minnick defeated, is mulling a possible comeback. Ward, an Iraq war veteran, had raised $125,276 for his campaign through June 30; Roberts reported no campaign fundraising; Sali reported raising just $8,888. Minnick, who hasn’t yet announced a re-election bid, has already piled up $598,616 in campaign contributions for the 2010 election, including donations from some prominent Idaho Republicans.
Betsy Z. Russell covers Idaho news from The Spokesman-Review's bureau in Boise.
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361degrees on July 30 at 11:03 a.m.
this Vaughn Ward guy is ridicules. Everything he puts out bashes Minnick for things he isn’t even doing.
“Walter Minnick claims that his main focus is on creating jobs, yet his boss Nancy Pelosi continues to hurt the economy in Idaho by pushing through a stimulus bill that hasn’t created any jobs, cap and trade legislation that raises taxes on Idahoan families, and a socialized health care plan that costs more than $1.6 trillion dollars.”
Yes Pelosi might be doing some bad stuff that conservatives don’t agree with but let’s see here……Minnick voted no on the stimulus…..no on cap and trade…..he opposed bail outs and is most certainly going to vote no on socialized health care. This guy puts out so much crap that tries to convince conservatives that Minnick is in Pelosi’s back pocket while in reality Minnick has the most independent voting record in congress. Its shady tactics like this that makes me embarrassed to be a conservative. If you can’t beat someone with straight up facts don’t start with the BS.
idaho25 on July 30 at 4:51 p.m.
Most independent voting record in Congress huh? That's news to me. I read a few weeks ago in the Idaho Statesman that Minnick votes with Nancy Pelosi 71% of the time. Let me repeat that, 71% of the time. Doesn't sound too independent to me.
The question I have is, nothing in that statement wasn't true. Pelosi has pushed through cap and trade, Health care reform, and the stimulus.
In fact this is what Minnick has said about Cap and Trade in the past, “I support cap and trade and am willing to consider a carbon tax”. In fact, he still supports it, but just not during this economy.
The bottom line is this, as long as Minnick continues to remain in Congress, Nancy Pelosi will remain in power.
These are the real facts…
Boone on July 31 at 5:16 a.m.
Who is doing the research for Ward? The stimulus package has started funding about $200 million of NEW road projects alone at the state and local level in Idaho and Ward says it hasn't created any jobs. I guess we'll see when the first stimulus report comes out sometime this fall.
slfisher on July 31 at 7:48 a.m.
Imagine, an opposing candidate disagrees with something the incumbent is doing…
northidahonative on July 31 at 12:38 p.m.
“Walter Minnick claims that his main focus is on creating jobs, yet his boss Nancy Pelosi ”
Ward must believe that if he gets elected next year as a Republican that Boehner will be his BOSS, that fits with what we've seen from Republicans for the last 15 years, one Party, One vote, anyone who doesn't vote with the BOSS is punished.
Funny I always thought the Voters were supposed to be the Boss of elected Officials.
For those of us whose memories weren't deleted on January 20, John McCain and Sarah Palin both supported Cap and Trade last Fall.
Ward sounds like he may go far in the Republican Party, he doesn't let any facts get in his way, that's why he doesn't bother checking them.