Womack’s priorities not serving Arkansas

Last year I attended one of Steve Womack’s town halls. His arrogant tone, his dismissive attitude, and lack of empathy was shocking. This led me to research his congressional record and investigate if he was conscientiously serving his constituents and actually voting to achieve “a common good.” My findings were sobering.

Womack serves as the House Budget Committee chair and his budget clearly reflects Republican biases and priorities. His budget, very quietly unveiled in June, calls for $537 billion in cuts to Medicare, $1.5 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, and $4 billion in cuts to Social Security over the next decade. Will this budget help Arkansans?

As deficit hawks, Republicans have strangled budgets, through sequestration, to prove that ‘government doesn’t work’ so they can privatize agencies for the benefit of their big donors. Womack joined Republicans to pass their tax reduction bill—which will add $1.5 trillion to our national debt. Eighty-seven percent of the bill reduced taxes on the super wealthy and corporations—their donors—while providing crumbs for constituents like you and me. Did his vote help Arkansans?

Arkansas has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation, and, before implementation of the Affordable Care Act, had one of the highest uninsured rates. Yet, Womack voted to eliminate the ACA and replace it with a significantly inferior program. Not only were lives at risk, but also the ability of our rural hospitals to survive. Did his vote help Arkansans?

Womack represents the most beautiful and highly visited corner of the Natural State. Yet, his record of support on environmental issues, as measured by League of Conservation Voters, is 0%. Womack’s votes show that he has no concern for water or air pollution. Does that record help Arkansans?

A staggering 97.3 percent of Womack’s campaign contributions come from large corporate donors or dark money political action committees. That would explain why, over an eight-year period, he voted for corporate-endorsed legislation 100 percent of the time while voting to tax the middle class 92 percent of the time. He also opposed women’s rights legislation, countering Russian interference, taxing the wealthy, consumer protection, taxing business, LGBT rights, and humane immigration policies, every time. Did his votes help Arkansans?

You have another choice on Nov. 6. Join a grassroots coalition supporting Josh Mahony, a candidate who has an outstanding record of community service, who accepts no corporate money, and who pledges to support programs for ordinary Arkansans.

The current administration has heaped greed, corruption, and chaos upon us…and done nothing to help Arkansans. We must bring change to Washington AND Arkansas. Your vote matters! SUZANNE CHILDERS

Holiday Island