“Representative Charlie Melancon’s support of Barack Obama’s reckless spending is already costing him dearly in the polls, where he finds himself a staggering 24 points behind just 9 months out from Election Day, and yet not a day goes by without Melancon trying to disguise his record with his rhetoric.  Unfortunately for Melancon, voters in Louisiana aren’t falling for his deceptions.  Melancon supported Obama’s failed stimulus plan, Obama’s deficit driving budget, Obama’s earmark littered omnibus appropriations bill, and bailouts for Wall Street and the auto-industry – a record of fiscal conservatism this certainly is not.”

Melancon 24 Points Behind In Race For U.S. Senate:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state shows Vitter leading Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon 57% to 33%. (“Election 2010: Louisiana Senate,” Rasmussen Reports, 2/12/10)

Charlie Melancon’s Latest Rhetoric On Fiscal Responsibility:

Melancon: “‘Now we need to start looking at where can we legitimately make cuts, reduce spending, and get things moving in the right direction,’…” (Sean Miller, “Melancon backs deeper spending cuts,” The Hill, 1/11/10)

But Melancon Voted For The Failed “Stimulus” Bill:

Melancon Voted In Favor Of The $825 Billion House-Passed “Stimulus” Bill. (H.R. 1, CQ Vote # 46: Adopted 244-188: R 0-177; D 224-11, 1/28/09, Melancon Voted Yea)

Melancon Was The Only La. Congressman Voting In Favor Of Aid Package. (Keith Magill, “Melancon Only La. Congressman Voting In Favor Of Aid Package,” Thibodoux Daily Comet, 1/28/09)

Melancon: “This Bill Is The Right Thing To Do For America’s Future, And I Am Proud To Support It.” (Congressman Charlie Melancon, Press Release, “Rep. Melancon Supports Economic Recovery Plan To Create And Save 50,000 Jobs In Louisiana,” 2/13/09)

And Melancon Voted For Obama’s Budget:

Melancon Voted In Favor Of Obama’s Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Resolution. (S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote #216: Adopted 233-193: R 0-176; D 233-17, 4/29/09, Melancon Voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 85, CQ Vote #192: Adopted 233-196: R 0-176; D 233-20, 4/2/09, Melancon Voted Yea)

The Budget Increases The Deficit To Levels Not Seen Since 1942. “His budget plan projects a federal deficit of $1.75 trillion for 2009, or 12.3% of the gross domestic product, a level not seen since 1942 as the U.S. plunged into World War II.” (Jonathan Weisman, “Obama Budget Pushes Sweeping Change,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/27/09)

Obama’s Budget “Would Force The Nation To Borrow Nearly $9.3 Trillion Over The Next 10 Years to fund the president’s priorities in health care, education and other areas, according to an analysis released Friday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.” (Lori Montgomery, “Obama To Pursue Budget Goals On Hill,” The Washington Post, 3/24/09)

The Wall Street Journal: “One Unstated But Clearly Implicit Goal Of [Obama’s] Budget Is To Put In Place Spending Programs That Make Ever-More Americans Dependent On Government And That Will Require A Permanently Higher Level Of Taxation To Finance.” (Editorial, “Obama Sticker Shock,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/23/09)

And Melancon Supported Obama’s Omnibus Appropriations Bill:

Melancon Voted In Favor Of The $410 Billion FY09 Omnibus Appropriation Bill. “Passage of the bill that would provide $410 billion in discretionary spending in fiscal 2009 for federal departments and agencies covered by nine unfinished fiscal 2009 spending bills. The measure incorporates the following previously separate appropriations bills from the 110th Congress: Agriculture; Commerce-Justice-Science; Energy-Water; Financial Services; Interior-Environment; Labor-HHS-Education; Legislative Branch; State-Foreign Operations; and Transportation-HUD. It would also provide $100 million for the U.S. Secret Service and block the automatic cost-of-living adjustment for members of Congress in 2010.” (H.R. 1105, CQ Vote #86: Passed 245-178: R 16-158; D 229-20, 4/25/09, Melancon Voted Yea)

“The Bill Includes An 8.5 Percent Across-The-Board Increase Over Last Year And Billions Of Dollars Worth Of Pet Projects.” (Trish Turner, “Senate Poised to Pass $410 Billion Spending Bill Tuesday,” Fox News, 3/9/09)

Taxpayers For Common Sense Identified More Than 8,500 Earmarks In The Omnibus Worth $7.7 Billion. “Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) has been going through the omnibus to pull together a total number of earmarks and dollar amount. TCS found 8,570 disclosed earmarks worth $7.7 billion. When you add the $6.6 billion in disclosed earmarks that were in the three FY09 spending bills that passed in the fall (Defense, DHS, MilCon/VA) you end up with $14.3 billion worth of disclosed earmarks in FY09.” (Taxpayers For Common Sense Website, www.taxpayer.net, Accessed 3/9/09)

And Melancon Also Supported The Massive Wall Street Bailout Packages:

Melancon Voted Twice For Appropriating Funds For The Troubled Assets Relief Program. (H.R. 3997, CQ Vote #674: Rejected 205-228: R 65-133; D 140-95, 9/29/08, Melancon Voted Yea;  H.R. 1424, CQ Vote #681: Agreed To 263-171: R 91-108; D 172-63, 10/3/08, Melancon Voted Yea)

As Of November 2009, Melancon Has Received $515,821 From Financial, Insurance, And Real Estate Sectors. (Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 11/9/09)

And Melancon Was Also Supportive Of The Auto Company Bailouts:

In December 2008, Melancon Voted For A $14 Billion Bailout Of The Auto Industry. (H.R. 7321, CQ Vote #690: Passed 237-170: R 32-150; D 205-20, 12/10/08, Melancon Voted Yea)

And That’s Why Melancon Has Been Criticized For His Votes In Support Of Obama’s Spending Spree:

Melancon Was “Ambushed By Constituents” Over His Votes For The Stimulus, Bailout Legislation, And The Obama Budget. “A newspaper headline called it ‘The Beat Down at the Sliman.’ U.S. Rep. Charles ‘Charlie’ Melancon was essentially ambushed by constituents at the historic theater in New Iberia in a meeting he held during the recent Easter recess. The Napoleonville Democrat faced a hostile crowd armed with questions, some of which were prepared on slips of paper, tucked into their pockets like six guns.” (Gerard Shields, “Melancon Survived ‘Ambush,’” The Baton Rouge Advocate, 4/26/09)

“Conservative Voters In Melancon’s District Blasted Him For Voting With His Party On The Recent Stimulus Bill, Bailout Legislation And President Barack Obama’s Budget, According The Daily Iberian Newspaper.” (Gerard Shields, “Melancon Survived ‘Ambush,’” The Baton Rouge Advocate, 4/26/09)