The National Republican Campaign Committee attacked Democratic Rep. Nick J. Rahall on Thursday for voting against the budget proposed by House Republicans leaders, claiming it showed that Rahall is anti-coal.
But the NRCC said nothing about Republican Rep. David McKinley, who also voted against the budget popularly known as the Ryan budget after its main author, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
The NRCC press release stated the Republican budget “rejects the idea of instituting a carbon tax … which some have offered as a ‘new’ source of revenue. Such a plan would damage the economy, cost jobs and raise prices on American consumers.”
On Wednesday, Rahall announced he would vote against the Republican budget because it would slash federal spending for highway construction, public health, scientific research and community development programs in West Virginia.
“The Ryan budget would menacingly meddle with Medicare, increasing seniors’ costs and cutting their benefits,” Rahall said. “That budget, being forced through the House by the Republican leadership, would hurt our seniors — no way would I vote for that.”
The Republican budget would replace today’s “guaranteed benefits under Medicare with a voucher system for the purchase of private health insurance” and “would ax nearly $5 trillion from domestic programs and services over the next 10 years,” Rahall said.
In a statement Thursday, McKinley praised Ryan “for presenting a budget that balances in 10 years, makes necessary reforms to welfare programs, repeals Obamacare and reduces waste and duplication.”
But the Ryan budget, McKinley said, “also includes some proposals that differ from the priorities” of his congressional district in northern West Virginia:
n “A lack of needed investments in our aging infrastructure.”
n “Reducing funding to programs such as Community Development Block Grants that communities” in West Virginia need.
n Cutting education spending.
n Phasing out Essential Air Service funds that help protect small airports around the country, such as those in Clarksburg and Morgantown.
McKinley also said the Ryan budget would make changes in health-care benefits that “could negatively impact older West Virginians.” He also noted that budgets proposed by Democrats have also been defeated in House votes.
“Rather than seeking partisan battles, Congress should be focused on getting things done by working together. In the coming months I hope we can find areas of common ground to solve our problems,” McKinley said.
Ian Prior, the NRCC’s regional press secretary, defended his group’s attack on Rahall while ignoring McKinley.
“David McKinley has an unblemished pro-coal record. He has nothing to prove whatsoever. His record speaks for itself,” Prior said.
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., voted for the Ryan budget, which passed the House, 219-205.
“We must put our nation on a sound fiscal path and end our dependence on deficit spending. Families across America rely on balanced budgets to make ends meet, and our federal government must do the same,” Capito said in a statement. “By balancing the budget in 10 years, this legislation will put our nation on a path to pay off our debt and ensure a better future for our children and grandchildren.”
Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, the leading Democratic candidate against Capito in this year’s Senate race, said, “The budget, which Congresswoman Capito has now voted for four times would turn Medicare into a voucher program, forcing more than 276,000 West Virginia seniors to pay $800 to keep their Medicare.”
State Sen. Evan Jenkins, R-Cabell, who is running for Rahall’s seat in Congress, didn’t made a statement on the budget vote Thursday.
Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjnyden@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5164.