While her constituents lose their homes, Rep. Musgrave focuses on gay marriage

Denver, CO - Last week, President Bush said Republican candidates should campaign on the supposed "strength" of the economy. This is part of a consistent effort by Republicans to claim that, despite record deficits, stagnant wages, and skyrocketing home foreclosures, the economy is strong.

Home foreclosures in Colorado are glaringly high. In September, Colorado had the highest nationwide number of foreclosures for the seventh consecutive month in a row with one foreclosure for every 408 households. This is 2.5 times higher than the national average. [RealtyTrac Inc., 10/11/06]

Nowhere is the foreclosure problem greater than in Colorado's 4th Congressional District. The city of Greeley, for example, had the highest foreclosure rate of any metropolitan area nationwide. In Weld county, a total of 393 properties were entering some stage of foreclosure in September. This is one foreclosure for every 168 households, more than six times the national average! [Denver Business Journal, 10/11/06.]

While her district is reeling from this economic disaster, what has Marilyn Musgrave done? Nothing. Indeed, Marilyn Musgrave doesn't pay attention to her constituents who are suffering from home foreclosures. Instead, she focuses on gay marriage. Just last month, Rep. Musgrave called gay marriage "the most important issue that we face today." The home foreclosures in her district, not to mention the war in Iraq or the nuclear ambitions of North Korea, apparently don't make her list.

"While her constituents suffer from the highest home forclosure rate in the country, Marilyn Musgrave focuses on gay marriage," said Democratic State Party Chair Pat Waak. "Does she not realize just how out of touch she is? People who have lost their homes don't care about gay marriage. They care about putting a roof over their heads. They care about housing and feeding their children.

"Marilyn Musgrave's priorities are so skewed, she has abdicated the trust of the people she represents. The people of the 4th congressional district need leadership on the issues that really matter to them. As her performance the past four years has shown, Marilyn Musgrave isn't capable of that leadership."