Campo for Congress

7th District Republican Candidate Calls for Transparency in Legislation

INDIANAPOLIS—Gabrielle Campo, 7th Congressional District Candidate, released the following statement after Andre Carson flip-flopped on his vote on the economic "rescue" bill passed by Congress last week:

"As evident by the markets' historic lows, the corporate bailout and political pork did not quench the financial fears that so many in our district face. Uncertainty within the markets has made lenders afraid to lend money, underscoring the price paid by Hoosiers because of politics as usual. Congressman Andre Carson folded under political pressure when he flipped his vote on the second draft of the bail out. (Carson also reportedly had accepted more than $137,400 from the financial industry.) The second bill will likely lead to purchase of assets above market value, putting taxpayers on the line for the difference. To make this decision easier for politicians, the bill was pumped with pork.

I believe it was irresponsible for my opponent to have voted for a $700,000,000,000.000 bill sold to the American taxpayer as a financial bail-out in order to add on many ingredients that had nothing to do with helping those affected by the financial crisis. These ingredients include tax credits for makers of wooden arrows, provisions for rum excise tax to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and a seven-year cost recovery period for motorsports racing track facility. The politics as usual recipe calls for mixing together add-on elements to sweeten the taste of $700,000,0000,000.00 taxpayer bill to be paid for corporate mistakes.

Our district cannot afford to pay for recipes from the same politics as usual cookbook. If a bill is supposed to address bailing out companies, then let it plainly address the situation. Our financial turmoil needed action; it did not need added pork. It needed capital injection, regulations, and people taking responsibility.

If the bill is supposed to give tax credits for makers of wooden arrows, let it do just that. You and I should know how much government we are paying for and we should know exactly what our representatives are supporting. When they add on other issues to sweeten the deal we do not have a clear view of the legislation. Americans expect transparency and fairness. This is what I stand for; this is what we deserve. It is time to change our political recipes. We deserve a healthy House.”

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