House GOP’s Dysfunction, Obstruction & Distraction Threatening Job-Creating Ex-Im Bank
Here's what we know: extremists, anti-everything groups such as Club for Growth and Heritage, who were highly influential in the Republican Government Shutdown of 2013, have come out aggressively against the job-creating Bank and consequently in favor of killing American jobs. So it comes as no surprise to see Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Majority Whip Scalise and other GOP leaders following suit. Also not surprising: today House Financial Services Committee Republicans wasted valuable time slamming the Bank in an effort to pander to the extremist right wing of their Party.
But, despite all that, the chorus among GOP Members highlighting the Ex-Im Bank's impact and consequences of inaction is growing:
- Stephen Fincher: "Reforming and reauthorizing the #ExImBank will create good-paying #jobs for #Americans…"
- Blaine Luetkemeyer: "…if the Bank goes away, her business goes away. Those jobs go away."
- Frank Lucas: "The perspective on the other side [of the issue] is not ‘reform Export Import Bank,' it is ‘kill it…'"
- Rep Billy Long: "Since 2010, @ExImBankUS assistance has had a $60 million impact on #MO7 exports…"
- Dave Reichert: "Over the last 20 years, the Ex-Im Bank has returned $7 billion to the US Treasury…"
- Adam Kinzinger: "It would be devastating to not reauthorize the Ex-Im bank"
- Chris Collins: "I am befuddled by what's going on in the heads of some of the members in my own party."
Illinois Republican business entrepreneurs, who feel "abandoned" by Republicans, share the same sentiment – and Americans want an end to the Republican political games and dysfunction:
Michigan Radio (Michigan) – A federal agency that helps Michigan businesses sell overseas is in trouble
AL.com (Alabama) – Sen. Shelby and Congress need to protect Alabama jobs, renew Export-Import bank
Orange County Register (California) – Ex-Im Bank good deal for taxpayers
Erie Times-News Editorial (Pennsylvania) – Erie jobs in jeopardy without Ex-Im Bank
The Wichita Eagle (Kansas) – Local business leaders go to bat for Export-Import Bank
WilmingtonBiz (North Carolina) – Losing Ex-Im Bank Means Losing Local Jobs
1,053 Business Organizations from the United States
Op-ed by Former Ambassador Ron Kirk
Op-ed by David W. Patti, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Business Council
Hundreds of small businesses have also shared their stories and support for the Ex-Im Bank.
Mr. Speaker – as one of your whips recently stated, the "numbers are there." Bring this up for a vote now.