TERRE HAUTE —
U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Evansville, was in Terre Haute on Tuesday to officially launch his 2012 re-election campaign for Indiana’s 8th Congressional District.
Speaking to about 40 people at the Meadows Banquet Center, Bucshon, who is facing a primary challenge from Republican Kristi Risk, said President Obama’s policies are “failing the American people.
“This is the slowest recovery from a recession that we’ve ever had,” Bucshon told supporters. “That’s because the president, and his policies, and the people that promote his policies, are failing the American people.”
Bucshon said Congress has had some success cutting federal discretionary spending in the past year. However, he said, Republicans have been unable to get the Obama administration to address entitlement spending, which Bucshon calls the “60 percent of the federal government that’s on auto pilot.”
Bucshon, 49, was also critical of proposals to raise taxes and increase “stimulus” spending.
At the district level, Bucshon called attention to his efforts to retain a U.S. Postal Service distribution center in Terre Haute in the face of proposed cuts by the USPS. He also said his office, along with Sens. Richard Lugar and Dan Coats, fought to secure federal funding for the Feather Creek project in Clinton.
“The Post Office is very important to our community,” Bucshon said. “We know that they need to address their long-term fiscal problem, but closing distribution centers and small post offices here in the Midwest is not going to solve their problem,” he said.
Bucshon said his “number one” goal for a second term would be to address the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.” He also said he has been fighting against plans for an “Independent Payment Advisory Board” to determine provider payments for Medicare in 2014. Bucshon also said he has worked hard for the repeal of a medical device tax that is part of the president’s health care plan.
“This state has a huge medical device industry, over 20,000 employees,” Bucshon said.
Mayor Duke Bennett, who urged support for Bucshon, introduced the Congressman to a small, informal gathering.
“Now’s not the time to make a change,” Bennett said.
Risk, 40, an Owen County Republican, has been receiving endorsements from Tea Party groups. She narrowly lost the 2010 GOP primary to Bucshon, 33 percent to 29 percent.
“We need to get our spending under control,” Bucshon said. He also spoke against regulations that he said would harm Indiana farmers and would essentially close down the state’s coal industry. The freshman congressman also called for simplification of the federal tax code.
Speaking of the primary race, Bucshon told the media after his address that he is “very optimistic.”
“I have a lot of support amongst all groups, including the Tea Party groups, throughout the district. I think I have a solid record to run on and I think we’ve done well communicating well with every county in the district.”
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
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Related Photos
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Running: Larry Buschon announced Tuesday that he will seek re-election as representative of the Indiana’s 8th Congressional District.
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Approval: A small gathering of Republican Party faithful were on hand Tuesday afternoon to hear Larry Buschon announce that he will seek a second term as representative of Indiana’s 8th District.
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Buschon touts his efforts in campaign kickoff
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