Loebsack, Former Political Science Professor, Silent as Pelosi Prepares to Ram Through Unconstitutional Health Care Bill Without a Vote

OTTUMWA, Iowa – Rep. David Loebsack, a political science professor with years of graduate level studies about the American political system and government, “should have the guts to stand up to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and demand an up-or-down vote on legislation creating a government-run health-care system,” Republican congressional candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks said today.

“David Loebsack earned his PhD in political science after years of graduate level studies learning about government and the American political system. He was a professor who taught political science at Cornell College. Given his background, we can reasonably assume Dr. Loebsack became well aware of how a bill becomes law, as written over 200 years ago in the United States Constitution,” Miller-Meeks said. “This week, as sneaky, last-ditch procedural efforts by Nancy Pelosi are put forward to avoid an up-or-down vote on a government-run health system, one would expect Dave Loebsack, PhD, would speak up and tell Democrat leaders they are wrong. Instead, Loebsack has remained silent.”

Miller-Meeks added, “You don’t need to be a college professor to understand that Congress is required to pass a bill before it becomes law. If Loebsack wants to stick taxpayers with a trillion dollar health system that raises insurance premiums and creates massive new bureaucracies, he should have the guts to demand Pelosi hold an up-or-down vote on the bill, and then stand by his record. It’s astounding that he won’t publicly say a word to Speaker Pelosi to stop this unprecedented, blatantly obvious unconstitutional move, particularly given his extensive education on the topic. He refuses to stand up to his own party leaders even when he knows something is totally wrong. That’s probably why he’s voted with Nancy Pelosi over 97% of the time.”

Pelosi is struggling to get the 216 votes needed to pass the treasury-busting government take-over of the U.S. health care system. The so-called “Slaughter Rule” has been put forward as a means of “deeming” the Senate health care bill as passed in the House, without an actual vote by members of Congress. The move, one numerous experts agree violates the Constitution and will put the law up to extensive legal challenges, is nothing more than a political ploy to protect vulnerable Democrat incumbents from actually casting a vote on a health care bill most Americans – and, right now, most members of Congress – don’t want.

“Iowans deserve a representative in Washington who will not only give you straight talk, but be part of the solution for reducing health costs, increasing accessibility and protecting the high quality of care we have come to expect and deserve,” said Miller-Meeks. “I pledge to be that fair, honest and commonsense voice for eastern Iowa in Washington that will put Iowa taxpayers first.”

Miller-Meeks, the 2008 GOP nominee in the Second District, announced her candidacy for the 2010 nomination in December. Growing up poor, she worked her way through college, became an Army nurse and soon after graduated medical school. She is a retired lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserve, a former president of the Iowa Medical Society, and recently owned and operated a small business (an ophthalmology practice) up until last year when she gave it up to run full-time for Congress. She and her family live in Ottumwa.

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