Congressman Todd Akin brought his Republican campaign for the U.S. Senate to Westminster College Tuesday and told students why he wants to defeat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.
Akin said the choice made by voters in November could swing the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and it is crucial that McCaskill be defeated "because she votes with President Barack Obama 98 percent of the time."
"I am firmly on the opposite side. In this election the people have a clear choice. Seventy one percent of the people of Missouri voted against Obamacare. Claire McCaskill cast the deciding vote in favor of Obamacare and I have voted 30 times to get rid of Obamacare. When I get in the Senate I will vote to repeal it," Akin said.
"Claire McCaskill voted 500 times to increase taxes, and I don't believe in that. Higher taxes will destroy an already fragile economy. Even former President John Kennedy understood that when he reduced taxes when he was president," Akin said.
Akin said since Democrats gained control of the U.S. Senate, no federal budget has been passed, there has been a 10 percent increase in poverty, and a 45 percent increase in food stamps. "One in six people in Missouri are receiving food stamps," he said.