Lake Zurich, IL, Nov. 7, 2009 – Joe Walsh, Republican Candidate for Congress in the 8th District of Illinois issued the following statement in response to Rep. Melissa Bean’s votes in favor of the House health care bill and against the Stupak Amendment this evening:

“With these votes Melissa Bean has abandoned any pretense of pretending she’s a moderate any longer. In just the past year she’s been a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi on the wasteful stimulus package, the misguided cap-and-trade proposal, and now this jobs-killing ObamaCare monstrosity.” said Joe Walsh.

“This bill is the first step toward President Obama’s stated goal of creating a universal, single-payer, government run health care system in the long term. In the short term, it raises taxes on families and businesses by over $500 billion, cuts $500 billion from Medicare and reduces seniors’ options for coverage, and will kill more jobs in our struggling economy. It is wrong for taxpayers, wrong for America, and certainly wrong for the voters of the 8th District.

“The American people shouted “STOP!” at the top of their lungs. But Nancy Pelosi and Melissa Bean didn’t listen. Next November, the voters of the 8th District of Illinois are going to send Melissa Bean a message she can’t ignore. They’re going to kick Melissa Bean and her reckless-spending, Medicare-shrinking, government-run healthcare right out the door.

“Importantly, Ms. Bean also voted in the minority against the Stupak amendment which prevents federal funding of abortions in the health care bill. Beginning with the Hyde Amendment in 1976 the U.S. Congress has had a long bi-partisan tradition of preventing the government funding of elective abortions in this country. Voting against Stupak is just unconscionable.”

Joe Walsh is challenging Melissa Bean because he’s had enough of the higher taxes, skyrocketing spending, and expanding government that she supports in Washington. In fact, “HAD ENOUGH?” has become his campaign slogan as he meets with citizens, activists, and taxpayers throughout the 8th District.

Additional information about Mr. Walsh and his campaign can be found on his website at www.joewalshforcongress.com.