March 20, 2010
McHenry has done nothing to help jobs
Patrick McHenry has always promised jobs and a better economy- but has he really delivered on that promise? When he took office in 2005, for example, the unemployment rate in the most populated county, Catawba, was 6.9%. It remained in that general range for several years. By Dec. 2009, however, that number had more than doubled to 14.4%. McHenry claims that free trade agreements are to blame. (“Bad trade deals have been the cause of the significant job losses experienced in our region over the last 15 years”) – but where does the banking and the real estate collapse, which led to double-digit unemployment rates during the last year, factor into his explanation?
According to his websites, Patrick McHenry is a member of the “powerful” House Financial Services Committee, “which deals with legislation related to banking, insurance and real estate.” Since McHenry is a “powerful member”, doesn’t that make him pretty responsible for Congress’ part in the banking/real estate collapse? Should he have not at least worked to prevent this crash, or at least mention some of the issues beforehand?
Patrick McHenry also claims that as a member of said committee, he “plans to capitalize on western North Carolina’s strong ties to banking in order to bring new financial services jobs to the district.” Have you noticed new “financial service” jobs – or any other jobs – created in the 10th District recently? One thing we do know for sure, McHenry has received thousands of dollars in contributions from banking and real estate interests during his tenure in Congress. The only “capitalizing” he’s done with NC’s strong ties to banking have been to line his own pocket. No matter how Patrick McHenry spins it, the citizens of the 10th District are far worse off now than when he took office in 2005.
