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Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras is calling on Sixth District Congressman-elect Bill Johnson to repudiate controversial statements made by a high ranking House Republican, who said that he believes it is Congress’s obligation to “serve the banks.” The statement in question was made by Congressman Spencer Bachus of Alabama. Congressman Bachus has been chosen by House Republicans to Chair the Financial Services Committee when they take power in the House next year.

“If Congressman-elect Johnson is the leader that the residents of Mahoning County are counting on him to be, then he must not only personally rebuke Congressman Bachus for making such an outrageous statement, but also call on all House Republicans to do so as well,” said Chairman Betras.

“It is clear that Congressman Bachus, is planning on aiding and abetting House Speaker-to-be John Boehner in his quest to revert us back to a time when our nation’s leaders made it their priority to serve the interests of massive entities, such as corporations and mega banks, but paid no mind to the needs and concerns of average Americans,” Chairman Betras explained. “However, what people need to realize is, the new leaders of the Republican Party with the aid of Bill Johnson don’t just want to drag us back only three or four years. Instead, they have made it their mission to drag us back three or four generations, erasing The New Deal and all of the historic legislation that was passed in the 1960s in the process,” the Chairman lamented.

“Being that Mr. Johnson has only lived here for a few years, he must still know relatively little about Mahoning County. However, one does not need to be a lifelong resident of Mahoning County to see that, should the Republican establishment be successful in devolving us into some sort of late 19th Century America, our area will undoubtedly be one of the hardest hit. With so much at stake in these difficult times, our elected leaders must choose their sides carefully. My only question to Mr. Johnson would be, whose side are you on?”

Chairman Betras wrote a letter to Congressman elect Johnson requesting his position on this statement and well as his repudiation of the position of Congressman Bachus.

Read Chairman Betras's letter.