Hypocrisy Watch: Representative Jim Gerlach Puts Politics First on Supplemental Funding

By THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

Today Congress voted on the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, which includes funding for American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as money to fight the H1N1 flu pandemic. When he had the choice, Representative Jim Gerlach sided with Republican leaders in playing politics with this urgently needed money.

“Republicans never hesitated to criticize any Democrat who voted against the previous supplemental bills, but now that they are trying to score political points, their stance conveniently changed,” said Ryan Rudominer, National Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Today, Representative Gerlach chose to play politics with this important money for the troops and to fight the H1N1 flu pandemic.”

BACKGROUND

On the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 [H.R. 2346], Representative Gerlach supported the Republican leadership’s hypocrisy and voted no. [H.R. 2346, #348, 6/16/09]

Republican Leader John Boehner (OH-08) Then: In 2008, Boehner said that “a signable supplemental emergency spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan with additional items” should be passed quickly because “our troops need the resources.” [Boehner Press Conference, 6/12/08]

“I have been as critical about the IMF as many, but given the crisis we have around the world, the U.S. needs to provide leadership,” the Ohio Republican told the [Newark, NJ] Star Ledger in Oct. 1998. “The only real avenue is the IMF.” [Politico, 6/16/09]
· Republican Leader John Boehner (OH-08) Now: “Boehner Says a ‘No’ Vote on War Spending Bill Protects the Troops” [CQ Today, 6/16/09]

“Boehner now derides the inclusion of IMF cash in the bill, calling it a ‘global bailout,’ despite President Obama’s request that Congress make a down payment on the $100 billion he’s committed to keeping the financial crisis from swamping developing countries, including Pakistan. [Politico, 6/16/09]

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