June 6th Press Conference

SHEPARD: RAINVILLE & WELCH ARE TWO PARTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM

US House Candidate Mark Shepard held a press conference today June 6 in front of the now-closed Specialty Filaments building on Pine Street in Burlington, where 150 Vermonters recently lost their jobs. Reporters from AP, the Free Press, WCAX and WPTZ attended.

"You've all heard the news stories about how Washington Democrats and Washington Republicans see this Vermont open seat as 'critical' to gaining or keeping power for themselves," said Shepard. "This is the problem with what's going on with this race: Washington special interests don't care at all about Vermonters, but they are using Peter Welch and Martha Rainville as pawns in this inside-the-beltway power game."

Shepard noted the amounts of out-of-state PAC money both Welch and Rainville have accepted, and cited recent examples of Laura Bush visiting on behalf of Rainville, Illinois Senator Obama visiting on behalf of Welch, and California's Nancy Pelosi giving Welch a chance to rebut the President's radio address. "None of these people care about what happens in Vermont or to Vermonters. It's bad enough to watch DC trying to buy Vermont but it's really disappointing to see our candidates buy into DC, hook line and sinker."

"For months it seemed all Rainville and Welch talked about is whether Donald Rumsfeld should have a job tomorrow or not. I think Vermonters are more concerned with whether they'll have a job themselves tomorrow or not."

Shepard pointed to the empty building behind him.

"This is why I got into politics six years ago. I saw in my business and in my life that the politicians we were electing were disconnected from the real lives of the people they were supposed to be representing, and I wanted to change that. Vermonters deserve a candidate they can call their own. One who won't play the establishment game. One who can understand and represent the best interests of the working people of Vermont."

"D.C. has something the other candidates think they need to get elected big out-of-state PAC money. Someone has to take the lead and say "no" to the sort of control DC is trying to exert on Vermont. So today I am announcing that I will not take any DC special interest PAC money, either before or after the September primary. I am giving Vermonters a choice for the U.S. Congress race: a candidate for Vermont issues and priorities. With money come strings, and I want my strings to be attached to the people."

"I am a sixth generation Vermonter. I grew up on a farm in Vermont. I learned a blue collar trade in Vermont. I run a small business in Vermont. I'm raising a family in Vermont. I've been elected to the Senate in Vermont. And I will work hard for Vermonters to become their next representative in the U.S. House."

"... many politicians talk the talk about doing something tangible about new jobs and it doesn't go much further. Sen. Shepard walked the walk."
"Sen. Shepard's big accomplishment, and it is a significant one, lies in the major role he played in bringing the Bennington Microtech Center into being."

Bennington Banner State Senator Endorsement Editorial, October 29, 2004

Copyright © 2006, Shepard for Congress Committee. All rights reserved.