NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday March 7, 2008
McCain heads to Europe on taxpayers' dime
After receiving President Bush’s endorsement, one of Sen. John McCain’s first trips as the Republican nominee is a taxpayer-funded junket to Europe.
According to Politico.com: “Immediately following his New Hampshire trek, McCain will head overseas on a 10-day congressional delegation trip to Europe and the Middle East that will coincide with the Senate’s spring recess.” (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/8870.html , 3/6/08)
“We’ve known for a long time here in Arizona that he’s not interested in representing us anymore,” said Maria Weeg, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party. “But it’s shocking that one of the first things he’s doing as the Republican presidential nominee is leaving the country on our taxpayers’ dime.”McCain missed a crucial vote on the economic stimulus package earlier this year. In fact, McCain has one of the worst voting records in the Senate, having missed 57 percent of his votes. (“http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/’:http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers )
Even Republicans have complained about how often McCain skips votes that matter to Arizonans.
“I think if McCain wants to be a full-time candidate and not be at the Senate, he ought to consider resigning,” said Rep. Russell Pearce. (www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/184320)
“It’s rare that Russell Pearce and I agree on anything, but this is a pretty clear case of abandonment,” Weeg said.