Doherty Rips Cicilline for "Threatening" Defense Jobs

Doherty Rips Cicilline for "Threatening" Defense Jobs

Republican Congressional candidate Brendan Doherty on Wednesday called on Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation to set an example for fellow Washington insiders by putting an end to the partisan bickering that has hamstrung efforts to address effectively the federal budget crisis.

Doherty pointed specifically to recent comments made in response to the failure of the Congressional Super Committee to agree to a plan of action. Because the joint committee could not reach an agreement Monday, $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts are expected to begin in January 2013. Medicare and Social Security will not be included.

“Political grandstanding and partisan bickering have no place in this discussion,” stated Doherty. “Washington’s continuing failure to give honest answers or take real action to address our debt crisis threatens not only the day to day livelihood of hard-working taxpayers, but with every passing day, increases the burdens that we are shifting to our grandchildren and future generations. The finger pointing and ultimatums only work to perpetuate the gridlock in Washington.”

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Doherty Rips Cicilline

After the Super Committee conceded that it had failed to reach an agreement, several members of the Congressional Delegation called it unfortunate that a compromise could not be reached. Senator Jack Reed went as far as to blame Republicans for the impasse.

"This summer I voted for a law to reduce the budget deficit by $2.2 trillion,” Reed said. “The difficulty in achieving even more savings was the Republican insistence on extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Allowing them to expire for those families making over $250,000 saves roughly $800 billion. The Super Committee process failed because there was no compromise to be had on that issue and so the law requires automatic cuts beginning in 2013. That is tough medicine, but if someone wants to change that law they need to come to the table with replacement savings."

But Doherty’s criticism was mostly directed Congressman David Cicilline, the man he hopes to unseat next November. Doherty referred specifically to comments from Cicilline made referencing the possibility of cuts in defense spending.

“I am appalled that David Cicilline would play chicken with Rhode Island defense industry jobs and celebrate the threat of drastic cuts in defense spending, risking the livelihood of thousand of Rhode Islanders in the First Congressional district as a means to achieve a partisan political victory,” Doherty said.

Doherty went on the say Super Committee process was a way to “delay responsible action on the budget.”

“As Rhode Island’s Representative, I will provide the leadership to help ensure that any reduction in defense spending is achieved responsibly and that our military personnel are treated favorably, while protecting Rhode Island jobs,” he said.

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