Hartzler says Missouri suffering because of Democratic economic policies

Former Rep. Vicky Hartzler, who is vying for the Republican nomination to oppose veteran Fourth District Congressman Ike Skelton, issued the following news release, criticizing Democratic economic policies, characterizing them as the Obama/Pelosi/Skelton policies:

Republican U.S. House candidate Vicky Hartzler said today that longtime Democrat Rep. Ike Skelton doesn't understand the threat to U.S. national security from Skelton's unswerving support for the failed economic program of President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Hartzler addressed Skelton's recent visits on military spending in the Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood areas.

Hartzler stated, "The runaway deficits and ruinous national debt of the Obama-Pelosi-Skelton program are hurting Missouri workers, farms and communities far beyond any specific defense projects supported by Mr. Skelton. Washington's out-of-control liberal spending and taxes have Skelton's unswerving support. These irresponsible and failing policies will undermine America's ability to fund national defense at proper levels, just as certainly as they are making the recession even worse, putting more people on the jobless rolls, diminishing the chance for a strong recovery, and hurting farms and businesses in every county of our Fourth District.

"Missouri had 9.5% unemployment in November of 2009 under the Obama-Pelosi-Skelton economic policies, up from 6.8% a year earlier. This means that more than 70,000 breadwinners joined Missouri's jobless lines. These policies have failed, and were certain to fail. Common sense tells us that nobody can borrow their way out of debt or spend themselves rich. This one-party liberal Congress obviously has lost touch with basic Missouri common sense. We must change course.

"Many members of the Missouri congressional delegation in both parties have worked in bipartisan partnership over many years to advance and support Missouri's permanent military installations, the National Guard, and other defense programs. Mr. Skelton and I agree on Missouri's need for effective advocacy in the House and Senate, and on a national defense that is fully prepared to meet any challenge to our security."

Skelton, elected to Congress in 1976, has voted Yes on the national energy tax (cap-and-tax), the so-called economic "stimulus" for $787 billion in government spending, record federal budget deficits, corporate bailouts and national debt.