In case you missed it, there has been a bit of back and forth between Republican Third District Congressional Candidates Steve Womack and Gunner DeLay over a wellness center in Rogers. It all started last Wednesday (March 3) when Womack put out a press release blasting Obama’s health care proposal. In that release, Womack pledged “to work to establish a national program to partner with local communities for the construction of regional wellness centers, like the one in Rogers, so that more Arkansans can enjoy the life changing benefits of Adult Wellness Centers.”
Gunner DeLay put out a press release calling the pledge a “boondoggle” saying “if Womack followed through on his proposal it would cost taxpayers billions of dollars. If he is seriously believes that every American should have access to these kinds of regional work-out facilities he will have to substantially increase spending by both federal and local governments.”
“It’s a bit early in the game still, but today’s false attacks were, unfortunately, not unexpected,” shot back Womack. “I presume as a member of Congress Mr. DeLay would work to end “boondoggles.” To the extent he believes the Wellness Center is one of them, I know the Center’s members would be eager to “visit” with him about any of his plans to try and shut the Center down. Regardless, the people of the 3rd District can count on me to fight for the Wellness Center and others like it.”
DeLay said that a tour of the wellness center sounded good to him. “If someone is proposing a massive increase in federal government spending I think the taxpayers of the 3rd District are entitled to know how their money will be spent. That is why we have extended the invitation to tour the facility to the other candidates in this race, as well as the media,” said DeLay in accepting the invitation.
The much hyped tour finally took place yesterday. ““I think Mr. DeLay’s visit was educational,” said Womack. “First, we learned why the Wellness Center has been nationally recognized as one of the finest facilities of its kind in the country. We heard first hand of the literally life changing benefits the Center has offered many citizens. Second, Mr. DeLay learned more about my proposals.”
“I’m sure Mr. Delay would never intentionally misstate my position for political gain. But I have never said that Wellness Centers should be forced on communities as ‘unfunded mandates.’ It may have looked good in Mr. DeLay’s press release, but it wasn’t true. My idea is that federal, state and local governments should be able to voluntarily join with private sources to build these highly successful wellness centers on a regional basis,” continued Womack. “Third, while Mr. Delay offers only rhetoric about fiscal responsibility, I have a record. As Mayor, I ended deficit spending and balanced the budget without raising taxes. Record beats rhetoric every time.”
Also, on hand was Kurt Maddox who is also running for Congress. “I appreciated being a part of Mayor Womack’s tour of the RogersWellness Center and can clearly see the positive impact of such a facility,” said Maddox. “I view this debate as not about the center’s glowing reviews, but about the role of the federal government. The message I hear loud and clear from the vast majority of Arkansans is that our national government is trying to do too much.”
Got all that? Don’t worry. With 8 Republican candidates in this race, I am sure more to come.