NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday February 7, 2008

John McCain abandons Arizona families on campaign trail

Sen. John McCain missed a crucial vote last night on an economic stimulus plan to give American families tax rebates to jumpstart the economy.

Despite being a supporter of the plan, McCain just didn’t show up to vote. The plan failed by one vote.

“John McCain abandoned Arizona families who are counting on this tax rebate,” said Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party. “I know McCain says he doesn’t understand the economy, but even he thought this package was a good idea. Given his absence yesterday, McCain obviously thought it was more important to campaign than to do the right thing for Arizona families.”

McCain has skipped 251 out of 446 votes, more than any other senator except Sen. Tim Johnson, who had a brain hemmorhage. Supporters justify McCain’s absence, saying that he shows up at work for important votes.

“You can’t campaign around the country for president and catch every vote,” McCain’s southern Arizona campaign manager told the Tucson Citizen. “He’s there when he needs to be there. He’s there when the vote is important. He still weighs heavily on the compromises that are reached in the Senate.” (http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/75699.php)

“McCain needed to be in the Senate last night, and he wasn’t,” Bittner said. “I wonder how many more times he’ll choose his campaign over the American people.”