To the Editor:

I commend Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., for his support of H.R. 1586, the “Education, Jobs, and Medicaid Assistance Act.”

According to Reuters, this bill provides $26 billion to the states to save the jobs of teachers, firefighters, police officers and nurses. It will be paid for by closing tax loopholes which make it profitable for multinational corporations to send American jobs overseas. It will not increase the deficit but will actually reduce the deficit by $1.4 billion over the next 10 years.  

This is a wonderful bill. It protects education, public safety, saves jobs, ensures health care for those who cannot afford it, and lowers the deficit. How could any congressperson vote against it?  Unfortunately, just about all Republicans did, including Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. I have searched to find their reasons. All I could find was a statement by the leader of the House Republicans, John Boehner, who called this bill a “bailout” to “special interests.” People who educate our children and keep our communities safe are “special interests?”

I hope someone asks Rep. Shuler’s opponent in the upcoming election if he would have voted in lockstep with his Republican colleagues against this bill.

Carole Larivee

Waynesville