Missouri Democratic Party

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Week in Review: Congressman Blunt Defends Record of Siding with Big Oil and Insurance Companies Filed on November 16, 2009

For Immediate Release: November 16, 2009

Contact: Ryan Hobart (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125

Week in Review: Congressman Blunt Defends Record of Siding with Big Oil and Insurance Companies

Blunt visits Missouri to talk about his close ties to big oil and insurance special interests

Jefferson City, Mo – Congressman Roy Blunt spent last week visiting Missouri and defending his record of backing big oil and insurance special interests, and he was even confronted by fellow Republicans about the wasteful spending that has happened during his time in Washington.

Here are some of the highlights:

In an interview with KSPR in Springfield, Congressman Blunt repeatedly said “I don’t know” when he was asked if it was true that he had taken more than $1million in big oil and energy special interests’ money during his time in Congress. However, according to an article in the Springfield News Leader, Blunt has take $1,012,398 from energy and natural resources interests since 1996.

At a meeting of the West County Republicans in St. Louis, Congressman Blunt underwent what the St. Louis Beacon described as an “aggressive grilling” from fellow Republicans because of spending during his years in congress and his support for the Wall Street bank bailout and Medicare Part D. View video footage from the meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFn9JnOw1wQ

On Friday, while in Fulton, Congressman Blunt said he would side with insurance companies to help them continue to limit access to health care for those with pre-existing conditions and drive up the costs for Missouri families [AP, 11/13/09].

And on Saturday at a “Campaign for Liberty” conference in Sedalia, his primary opponent, Senator Chuck Purgason, railed against the Republican Party establishment, saying they have lost their way and condemning Congressman Blunt and his fellow Republican Congressional leadership as responsible for creating the huge deficit our country now faces.

“Congressman Blunt is beginning to find that his Washington record of support for unprecedented spending and perks for big oil and insurance special interests doesn’t sit too well with Missourians,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Brian Zuzenak. “People are not looking for more of the same old Washington insider deal-making that Congressman Blunt symbolizes, and he will have to continue to answer for his record when he visits Missouri."
Congressman Blunt, Senator Chuck Purgason and Kansas City auto consultant Mark Memoly are competing in the August 2010 primary for the Republican nomination for US Senate --30--