WASHINGTON -- Rep. Donna F. Edwards' campaign for Senate criticized Rep. Chris Van Hollen on Wednesday for not signing a letter opposed to Medicare cuts included in a trade bill pending in Congress, her latest effort to draw a distinction with him in the state's high-profile contest.
At issue is a letter crafted by House liberals that calls on congressional leaders to reconsider how the trade bill pays for an expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program. The program is used to help workers displaced by trade agreements such as the one the Obama administration is negotiating with Pacific Rim nations.
Progressive groups and lawmakers support the TAA program, but they're not pleased about the idea of offsetting its expansion with cuts to Medicare. Edwards, who has questioned Van Hollen's progressive bona fides, noted that she had signed a letter opposing the funding mechanism but that Van Hollen has not.
"Congressman Van Hollen is noticeably absent from this letter standing up for the needs of Maryland's seniors," Edwards' campaign spokesman Benjamin Gerdes said in a statement on Wednesday. "Van Hollen once again seems to be willing to consider paying for the impacts of bad trade deals on the backs of Maryland's working families."
Van Hollen signed the letter on Wednesday after Edwards sent the press release raising the issue. A spokesman said that Van Hollen is engaged in "the more serious work of finding a solution" and accused Edwards of "trying to score cheap political points."
"It's official: the Edwards campaign has entered the silly season," Van Hollen campaign spokesman Erik Dorey said in a statement. "Chris opposes this cut or any cuts to seniors' retirement security. He's led the fight for years against GOP efforts to end Medicare as we know it, and Congresswoman Edwards knows it. He's engaged in the more serious work of finding a solution instead of trying to score cheap political points."
The Senate passed legislation in May that would expedite approval of the administration's trade agreement, giving the president an up-or-down vote on the deal without amendments. The expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program was added to the Senate bill to sway wavering Democrats, many of whom are wary of massive, multi-national trade agreements.
While it passed the Senate, the underlying fast-track legislation faces a more daunting challenge in the House, where liberals have aligned with conservatives to oppose the bill.
"While it is clear we need Trade Adjustment Assistance, it is not clear why the offset should be extended [with] budget limitations on Medicare, as proposed," according to the letter, signed by 61 Democrats. "More than 50 million seniors rely on Medicare; we should be investing in the trust fund, not using savings to fund other programs."
Edwards has come out swinging in the Maryland Senate race, repeatedly seeking to draw distinctions with Van Hollen, including on trade. She has noted instances in which Van Hollen, a Montgomery County Democrat, supported trade agreements that she opposed, including with Colombia, South Korea and Panama.
The Van Hollen campaign has pointed to letters signed by the congressman last year in which he raised concerns about the trade agreements. Campaign aides have also noted Van Hollen has a 95 percent lifetime score from the AFL-CIO, which has opposed the trade deals.
Edwards and Van Hollen have both said they oppose the current fast-tracking bill.