BURR VOTES AGAINST EMERGENCY BILL TO HELP HARD-HIT NORTH CAROLINIANS
RALEIGH, NC -- Senator Richard Burr joined last night a hard-core partisan minority in voting against a commonsense measure that will extend jobless benefits and emergency health insurance for hundreds of North Carolinians. Burr was one of only 19 Republicans to vote against the short term extension, which had previously been held up for several days by Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky.
The bill also contained highway funding for three projects in western North Carolina and a fix to doctor reimbursements that will help the 1.2 million Medicare and nearly 500,000 TRICARE patients in North Carolina, as well the 85,000 medical employees in the state.
“Since he announced his candidacy for reelection less than two weeks ago, Senator Burr has voted against help for jobless workers and missed a crucial vote on a job creation bill, but he has found time to party with lobbyists and attend swanky Washington, DC fundraisers,” said Andrew Whalen, Executive Director of the North Carolina Democratic Party. “Jobs might not be a big concern at the parties Senator Burr attends on K Street, but they certainly are for people on Main Street in towns across North Carolina. Fortunately voters will have a chance to tell Senator Burr what they think about his abysmal track record this November at the polls.”
This isn’t the first time Senator Burr has let down North Carolina workers. Last year he voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which has created or saved over 2 million jobs nationwide, according to a recent report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.