Days after having her offices in Houston, Austin and Dallas protested by tea party groups, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s campaign issued a statement calling the protests “a desperate attempt to confuse voters” backed by Gov. Rick Perry.
On Monday, members of the Katy Tea Party Patriots were among those protesting at Hutchison’s Houston office to show their anger over the senator’s vote to end debate on a defense appropriations bill, clearing the way for Senate action on health care reform legislation.
Hutchison’s office did not return calls requesting comment at the time; however, her campaign later issued a statement suggesting the protests were backed by Perry.
Hutchison is challenging incumbent Perry in the Republican primary for governor.
The statement said the Perry campaign was “deliberately lying” about her position on the federal health care reform issue.
“In a desperate attempt to confuse voters, the Perry campaign is deliberately lying about Kay’s vote on government-run healthcare. They would rather lie to Texans than have to talk about Rick Perry’s record, his HPV executive order or his Trans-Texas Corridor,” the statement said.
The campaign went on to say Hutchison was fighting “tooth and nail against government-run health care.” It also accused the Perry campaign of “making up the facts” in an attempt to mislead voters.
“Unfortunately, the Perry campaign’s tactics are nothing unusual for them. They have sought to smear each and every one of Rick Perry’s opponents in a desperate attempt to maintain a status quo in Austin that enriches lobbyists and special interests but does nothing to strengthen education, get traffic moving on our roads, lower spending or protect private property rights,” the campaign said. “But seriously, what does the Perry campaign think that Kay did wrong? They object to her voting for a critical defense bill that ensures that our military men and women at home and in Iraq and Afghanistan have the support and resources they need.”
The statement also urged voters to call the Perry campaign and tell them it was wrong to “play politics” with the military.
No one from the Perry campaign was immediately available for comment on the accusations.
Members of the Katy Tea Party Patriots took part in the protest in front of the Leland Federal Building Monday in downtown Houston where Hutchinson maintains an office.
Similar protests took place at the senator’s offices in Austin and Dallas, with tea party organizations across the state being asked to participate.
In a message sent out by e-mail, Katy Tea Party Patriots Web Assistant Milton Richards said Hutchinson “knowingly” voted to end debate on the appropriation bill to clear the way for the Senate to act on health care.
“Our senator (Hutchinson) has voted with RINOs Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to end debate of the Defense Appropriations Bill, and in doing so has knowingly removed a strategic roadblock in front of the healthcare bill,” Richards said.
The Senate health care bill passed on a 60-39 vote along party lines early this morning. All 58 Democrats and two independents votes “yes,” while all Republicans, including Hutchison, voted “no.”
Ironically, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) initially cast a “no” vote by mistake, quickly correcting his vote amid a chorus of laughter from other senators.
The Senate’s $871 billion version of health care reform must now be merged with the House of Representative’s $1 trillion version, a process that is expected to include difficult negotiations.
Key sticking points include the government-backed “public option” and whether the final version would include taxpayer-funded abortions.
By: John Pape on Thu, Dec 24, 2009
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