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October 25, 2012

FLASHPOINT: Standing up for middle-class Hoosiers

Dave Crooks Candidate for Congress



Having spent the past 18 months traveling the 8th district, I’ve had a chance to meet with thousands of voters and listen to their concerns. One thing is clear: Hoosiers are worried about our economic future. I share the same concern.

Having been raised in a working-class household, I know firsthand the struggles of Hoosier families. My dad worked at a local power plant, my brother was a coal miner, and my mom and sister worked at a factory until it closed and their jobs were shipped to Malaysia.

My parents taught me early on the value of hard work. That’s how I was able to work my way up from working at a local radio station after school to building my own media business.

I’ve balanced budgets and met payroll. I’ve taken failing businesses out of the red and turned a profit while creating jobs here in Indiana. I understand what small businesses and middle-class families are going through, and I’m fed up with what we’re seeing in Washington, D.C.

With sky-rocketing debt and federal spending out of control, Washington politicians are more out of touch than ever before. Democrats don’t want to get serious about cutting spending, and Republicans like Congressman Bucshon continue to support tax breaks for companies that outsource American jobs.

So how can Congressman Bucshon look middle-class families in the eyes and promise he’s got an agenda to help create new jobs, and protect our interests?

This is the same congressman who has been undermining our workers and our businesses by supporting policies that encourage more outsourcing, while doing little to help our small businesses to stay afloat. This is the same Congressman who voted for new NAFTA-style trade deals and voted against a bipartisan measure that would force China to play by the rules. This is the same Congressman who supports tax breaks for companies that abandon our country and move to places like Mexico and China.

What’s worse is that Congressman Bucshon wants to pay for these tax breaks by asking middle-class families and seniors to foot the bill. He voted time and time again to end the Medicare guarantee by voting to change the current program into voucher system that will force future retirees to pay an extra $6,400 per year for their Medicare benefits.

My family and yours have paid into Medicare for years, and it’s wrong to undermine our retirement security because politicians in Washington are out of control and out of touch.

I’m running for Congress because I believe that we need to get both sides to the bargaining table. I will take on Democrats to cut spending responsibly. I will stand up to unfair trade deals that shortchange Hoosier workers. I will support tariffs on China until it competes fairly, and I will fight to make sure our seniors’ benefits aren’t the first item on the chopping block.

Elections have consequences. In this election, voters have a choice between a congressman who will continue to support policies that undermine our economic security and hurt American workers, or a small business owner who will stand up to the special interests and work to strengthen the middle-class.



Dave Crooks is a small business owner, former State Representative and candidate for United States Congress. Dave lives with his wife Shelley in Washington, Ind. They have three children, Mackenzie, Jared and Jacob.

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