The top Democrat in the NH House calls out GOP Primary candidates for failing to represent the people that elected them.
CONCORD, N.H. – Today, Republican presidential candidates John Kasich, Chris Christie, and Marco Rubio are scheduled to address the New Hampshire State House. Democratic House Leader Steve Shurtleff released the following statement in response:
“Today, we are joined by three presidential candidates. As we get closer to the First-in-the-Nation primary, how someone campaigns and governs in their current job can tell you a lot and from what I’ve seen from Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, and John Kasich, I’m not impressed.
“As representatives, we are elected by our constituents to show up and vote. But Senator Rubio of Florida has one of the worst voting records in the Senate and has even said that the votes he misses in Washington don’t matter. So Rubio continues to miss foreign policy hearings, votes to fund the government, and even votes on national security. Even as he’s here in New Hampshire, he’s missing a hearing on the Iran Deal in the Senate. When it comes to a President, I’d prefer someone who shows up to his current job.
“One of our biggest responsibilities as elected officials is making sure we support law enforcement officials, but Chris Christie isn’t telling it like it is when it comes to his commitment to public safety. Christie slashed the benefits of hard-working men and women in the law enforcement community in New Jersey and has refused to meet with them. While campaigning here in New Hampshire, Christie called a police officer a “pig” in response to criticism. And perhaps most telling is that his administration created a public safety disaster on the George Washington Bridge, the busiest in the world, just to get back at a political enemy. Chris Christie has a big mouth, but his actions as governor speak louder – and he’s got New Jersey’s failed economic record and the Bridge-gate scandal to show for it.
“Former Lehman Brothers managing director John Kasich spends his time campaigning in New Hampshire threatening workers. In 2015, John Kasich visited the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and said that the Base Realignment and Closure process keeps shipyard workers “on their toes.” Kasich has also threatened Granite Stater seniors, first by touting his plan while in congress to cut and privatize their Social Security benefits even to those close to retirement, and then by dismissing a senior concerned by the cuts. It’s clear Kasich’s priorities are completely out of line with the things that are important to Granite Staters.
“We’ve seen a lot of presidential candidates over the past few months, but I remain unimpressed with today’s guests. Candidates with failed records, absenteeism, and policies that actively harm the people they represent are bad for New Hampshire and bad for the country.”
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