A Massachusetts group protests outside a fundraiser of the two "Koch Nephews" in Boston

Scott Brown and Chris Christie Face Backlash Over Anti-Equality Positions, Lack of Jobs Focus

Unemployed workers, equality advocates question how duo’s divisive social agenda will create jobs

   

BOSTON, MA – Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie faced continued constituent backlash over their misplaced priorities Monday, as more than 50 equality advocates, unemployed workers and allies protested outside a $2,500-a-head Brown campaign fundraiser at the Westin Copley Place. Demonstrators braved freezing evening temperatures to call attention to the Republican duo’s misguided focus on divisive social issues while legislative job creation efforts languish at the state and national level.

“Voters elected Scott Brown and Chris Christie because of their promises to create jobs. Yet for years, we’ve seen them focused on divisive social issues,” said Don Gorton of the grassroots equality advocacy group Join the Impact. “Brown and Christie owe their constituents an explanation: how will vetoing equality measures or restricting access to birth control create a single job?”

Brown made headlines last week when the US Senate rejected the junior senator’s bill to limit women’s access to basic health services like birth control, mammograms and cancer screenings. Not to be outdone by his fellow Republican, Governor Christie vetoed New Jersey’s popular Marriage Equality bill soon thereafter. Both spent weeks fielding interviews and making speeches to market their controversial proposals – all while fending off protests as public outcry amassed. Meanwhile, neither Brown nor Christie has taken meaningful steps to fulfill campaign promises to focus on job creation.

“While Scott Brown and Chris Christie spend their time policing bedrooms and doctors’ offices, their constituents are worried about finding work and putting food on the table,” said Darrin Howell, an organizer with MASSUNITING. “It’s beyond time for Brown and Christie to do the job they were elected to do and start focusing on the issues that really matter.”