Vitter’s Stances on Issues Critical to Louisiana Families Mirror Those of Jindal

BATON ROUGE — Sen. David Vitter has yet to announce whether he will run for governor, but Louisiana voters that have soured on current Gov. Bobby Jindal will find little to like about Vitter’s stances on issues important to Louisiana families.

“As much as David Vitter would like to distance himself from the enormously unpopular Bobby Jindal, their voting records are enormously similar,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk. “Both Vitter and Jindal oppose expanding access to affordable health care by accepting federal Medicaid dollars. Both Vitter and Jindal oppose raising the state’s minimum wage, so Louisiana workers can receive an honest wage for an honest day’s work.

“Jindal is standing in the way of health care for hundreds of thousands of Louisianians, which would create tens of thousands of jobs and create billions in economic activity. He is standing in the way of an increase to the minimum wage, which would put more money in the pockets of hard-working Louisianians, who could then spend more in our local communities and boost our state’s economy. All indications are that Vitter would do the same. Basically, if you want a third term for Bobby Jindal, then you will love the prospect of David Vitter running for governor.”

In November, Vitter squared off against Sen. Bernie Sanders on CNN’s Crossfire and argued against expanding access to affordable health care in Louisiana. Jindal has steadfastly refused to consider accepting federal Medicaid dollars, even as GOP governors like Chris Christie, John Kasich, Jan Brewer and Rick Snyder have embraced the expansion.

Vitter and Jindal both voted in favor of an increase to the minimum wage in 2007, but Jindal last week said he opposed raising Louisiana’s minimum wage. In December, Vitter told KPLC-TV that he also opposed an increase for Louisiana’s minimum-wage workers.

For more information about Vitter’s record, visit www.vitterforgovernor.com.

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