Mark Greenberg, a Republican candidate in Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District race, today issued the following statement on President Barack Obama’s Reversal on the Reconciliation Process:

“This is another example of the politics of convenience that permeates the Washington establishment,” Greenberg said in a written statement. “In 2005 then-Senator Barack Obama lambasted the use of reconciliation on the Senate floor, saying that it ‘does not permit debate’ and is ‘the wrong place for policy changes.’ “Now that it suits his purpose, shutting down debate is just fine. This is the kind of political position-shuffling that causes people to lose faith in their government.”

“Under The Rules, The Reconciliation Process Does Not Permit That Debate. Reconciliation Is Therefore The Wrong Place For Policy Changes ... In Short, The Reconciliation Process Appears To Have Lost Its Proper Meaning. A Vehicle Designed For Deficit Reduction And Fiscal Responsibility Has Been Hijacked...” - (Sen. Obama, Congressional Record, S .14150, 12/20/05)

“In a memo to the heads of federal agencies and executive departments President Obama clearly stated that 'Government should be transparent,' but Reconciliation is anything but transparent and it should not be used to circumvent the will of the people,” Greenberg said. “Washington has become a place of career politicians willing to say anything and abandon principles in order to further their political agenda.”

President Obama’s 2005 comments related to the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.