Critz hits Rothfus/Boehner on Chinese currency

Today the Mark Critz campaign is dinging GOP opponent Keith Rothfus for a fundraiser with House Speaker John Boehner on Saturday, and specifically Boehner's blocking of a bill punishing China for undervaluing its currency.

There was bipartisan support for the bill in the Senate late last year (where it was approved 63-35) but Boehner has said it could "risk a trade war." Critz has been a vocal backer of the bill, saying it will help cut the trade deficit with China and spur job creation:

"Keith Rothfus is proud to have been endorsed by the Club for Growth and FreedomWorks, which are wealthy special interest groups that have said it is good for China to manipulate its currency, even though it gives the Chinese an unfair advantage over American companies and has cost western Pennsylvania tens of thousands of jobs," Critz spokesman Mike Mikus said. "He is on the record supporting unfair trade deals that ship jobs overseas, so it is not surprising that he would campaign with the man who is single handedly responsible for allowing China to game the system at the behest of multi-national corporations and at expense of the American worker."

What the Democrat's statement doesn't mention, though, is that President Obama has been wary of the legislation too.

Full Critz statement after the jump:

Keith Rothfus continues to pick up support from individuals and groups who want China to continue manipulating its currency which gives Chinese companies an unfair advantage over American companies and costs Pennsylvania tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs. Speaker John Boehner is single handedly preventing a vote on legislation to end China's currency manipulation, and now he is joining other opponents of holding China accountable, like FreedomWorks and Club for Growth, in supporting Rothfus. Boehner will be headlining a fundraiser for Keith Rothfus tomorrow at Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley.

"Keith Rothfus is proud to have been endorsed by the Club for Growth and FreedomWorks, which are wealthy special interest groups that have said it is good for China to manipulate its currency, even though it gives the Chinese an unfair advantage over American companies and has cost western Pennsylvania tens of thousands of jobs," Critz spokesman Mike Mikus said. "He is on the record supporting unfair trade deals that ship jobs overseas, so it is not surprising that he would campaign with the man who is single handedly responsible for allowing China to game the system at the behest of multi-national corporations and at expense of the American worker."

Speaker Boehner has refused to allow a vote on legislation to end China's practice of manipulating its currency in order to get an unfair advantage over American manufacturers even though similar legislation passed the Senate by a 63-35 margin. Boehner's stonewalling prompted Critz to submit a discharge petition last July which, upon receiving 218 signatures, would require a vote on the legislation. To date, Critz has collected 178 signatures, just 40 shy of requiring a vote.

Background:

FreedomWorks says that Americans benefit from China's currency manipulation. [FreedomWorks website, 5/10/06]

Club for Growth pressured Republican presidential candidates and lawmakers to oppose bipartisan legislation cracking down on China's currency policies. [Politico, 9/29/11]

Speaker John Boehner is blocking a vote on legislation that will crack down on China's currency manipulation. [Washington Times, 10/12/11]