Analysts: Kratovil's No Vote Won't Save Him

In the wake of Rep. Frank Kratovil’s second ‘no’ vote on healthcare, local political analysts are concluding that it won’t help him much:

“Maryland political analysts said Monday that Democratic Congressman Frank Kratovil's vote against health care legislation may not help him much in a tough re-election bid in a conservative-leaning district. Kratovil was one of 34 Democrats to vote against the historic bill Sunday night. The first-term Congressman, who barely won the First District seat in 2008, cited concerns about the cost of the legislation in a statement released after the vote. Kratovil and Maryland's lone Republican Congressman Roscoe Bartlett were the only two of the state's eight U.S. House members to oppose the bill. Donald F. Norris, chairman of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County's Department of Public Policy, said he doesn't think the vote will do much to help Kratovil's political future. ‘He is probably — if not the most vulnerable Democrat in the country, he is one of the most vulnerable,’ Norris said. ‘He feels he's got to do everything he can to make himself re-electable, and I don't think a vote on health care one way or another will make that much of a difference.’” (Kathleen Miller, “Md.'s Kratovil Bucks Democrats On Healthcare,” Associated Press, 3/22/10)

One reason? Marylanders know Kratovil supports government-run healthcare, if not the specific measures passed by the House:

“[Kratovil]…is on record supporting the public option for health care—though he voted against the House version of the health care bill in the end…” (Emily Esfahani Smith, “Democrat in Danger,” Weekly Standard, 2/22/10)

“I believe that a public option may help reduce costs by increasing competition and expanding consumer choice…” (“Health care,” Kratovil congressional website, accessed 3/23/10)

Kratovil signed a far-left, Big Labor-funded group’s petition calling for “a public insurance plan.”

Another reason? The folks he represents just don’t trust him – they’ve watched him cave one too many times.

He voted against Obama’s reckless stimulus:

“Maryland Rep. Frank Kratovil was one of only 11 Democrats to vote against President Barack Obama's stimulus package. The first-term congressman issued a statement following the vote saying the country is already facing the largest budget deficit and tough choices need to be made about spending taxpayer's money. Kratovil said he was not convinced the package focused enough on the programs most likely to have a short-term economic impact.” (“Md. Democrat joins GOP in vote against stimulus,” Associated Press, 2/2/09)

Then he flip-flopped and voted for it:

“Rep. Frank Kratovil joined Maryland's six other Democratic congressman in voting in favor of the $787 billion stimulus package, which has just been approved by the House of Representatives. The freshman from the Eastern Shore was one of five Democrats who switched sides and voted for the measure after having opposed it last month, when the House first approved it.” (Paul West, “Kratovil Changes Sides, Supports Stimulus Package; Bartlett Only ‘No’ Vote,” Baltimore Sun “Maryland Politics,” 2/13/09)

Kratovil told Pelosi ‘no’ when she asked him to vote for her job-killing energy tax:

“To Democratic opponents and skeptics, Pelosi seemed to be everywhere this week, lobbying for her ‘flagship’ bill - an effort expected to culminate Friday in a vote too close for anyone to guarantee one way or the other…On the floor Thursday, she buttonholed one of the most vulnerable of those marginal members, Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-Md.), who replaced a Republican last year and is a top target of Republican campaign efforts. She spoke forcefully, waving her hands. Kratovil just kept shaking his head no.” (Mike Soraghan, “Tap on the shoulder from Pelosi,” The Hill, 6/26/09)

The next day, he gave in and voted for it:

“Some Eastern Shore farmers are unhappy with Congressman Frank Kratovil for voting for a bill that would regulate greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade system.” (“Kratovil catches flak for cap-and-trade vote,” Associated Press, 8/4/09)