SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
CARSON CITY — Governor Jim Gibbons is not the only governor highly critical of the “bribery-like and extortion-like” actions of Senator Harry Reid as Reid makes backroom deals to rush his health care fiasco through the Senate.
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue says, “I am utterly dismayed and disappointed by the vote buying that has occurred in the United States Senate in order to pass a measure that most citizens are against. If this reform was truly the right policy for our country, we wouldn’t see waffling Senators lining up like game show contestants hoping to win today’s jackpot of a special deal from Harry Reid.”
Meanwhile, Governor Donald L. Carcieri of Rhode Island said, “The passage of this legislation may prove to be the greatest affront to our democratic process and shows a complete lack of respect of taxpayers and for the principles this nation was built on.”
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour says “As debate entered its final hours, the Senate Democratic Leadership says it has exactly the number of votes needed to pass its dreadful healthcare reform bill. Despite opposition from a majority of Americans, most Governors and other state officials, consumer groups, business leaders, and healthcare professionals, the Senate majority seems intent on cramming this monstrosity down the American people’s throats.”
“Under no circumstances did I have anything to do with Senator Nelson’s compromise,” Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman said in a written statement. “The responsibility for this special deal lies solely on the shoulders of Senator Ben Nelson.” Heineman urged Nelson to reconsider his support for the overall health care bill and said his state expects “a fair deal, not a special deal. Governors all across America are troubled by this unfunded Medicaid mandate. If the U.S. Senate plans to address the unfunded mandates issue, all states must receive fair and equal treatment.”
According to a newspaper reporter, even Senator John McCain called Reid’s deals, “Bernie Madoff gimmicks.”
Senator Reid himself admitted he had “taken care of” enough Senators when he was quoted saying, “I don’t know if there’s a senator that doesn’t have something in this bill that was important to them.”
Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons stands by his statement that, “Senator Reid is wishing Nevadans a Merry Christmas with a smile on his face and a knife in our backs.” Reid’s health plan will cost Nevada taxpayers $613,000,000 in general fund revenue which will lead to less money for education, less money to keep criminals off the streets, and less money for programs for the disabled and senior citizens.
“Senator Reid should stop this health care train right now or he will be responsible for crushing working families in Nevada with higher taxes along with fewer local and state services,” Governor Gibbons said, “Senator Reid’s tactics border on corruption and are a far cry from the political integrity the people of Nevada expect and deserve.”
