IV Post

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Bob Filner was recently awarded an “A” grade from the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (DMI), which is widely recognized as America’s middle-class think tank. This political season, no sets of issues have garnered greater attention than those involving the struggles of America’s current and aspiring middle class.

 

With 470 Congressional seats up for election on November 4th, Americans who care about middle-class issues like health care, college affordability and the impact of free trade agreements need to know whether their representatives share these concerns. According to DMI, “one Representative, who demonstrated a sincere desire to strengthen and expand America’s middle class and voted to prove it, was Congressman Bob Filner.”

 

Upon hearing he had received an “A” grade from DMI, Congressman Bob Filner said, “I am honored to be recognized by DMI, and I applaud their efforts to inform community members and to hold elected officials accountable to their constituents. With increasing inequality of wealth across the United States, it is extremely important that we support legislation to reinforce the position of the middle-class and to provide additional educational opportunities, job skills and healthcare to those people who aspire to join the middle class. Every time I vote, I vote with my conscience, and I vote to support America!”

 

DMI Executive Director Andrea Batista Schlesinger said, “The middle-class squeeze isn’t inevitable. It is the result of decisions made by those we elect to represent us. Important legislation was voted on this year, ranging from health care and education bills that were aimed at alleviating middle-class burdens to misguided trade agreements and tax policies that were skewed towards wealthy Americans and hurt the middle class. Simply put, how Congress votes matters.”

 

When asked about the most important function of the annual DMI middle-class scorecard, Schlesinger responded, “Accountability. Members of Congress cannot tell the public they support the middle class but then cast votes against them. Thanks to TheMiddleClass.org, every American has access to their Senators’ and Representative’s voting records on the most important middle-class legislation. Without question, those who kept their word, like Rep. Bob Filner, deserve every accolade they receive.”