Michael Wager is running for office in Ohio’s 14th Congressional District.
1. Wager Would Have Voted For ObamaCare, And Even Thinks It’s A “Half-Measure”
Despite the numerous problems that ObamaCare is causing for Ohioans, Wager still maintains he would have voted for the law. He said “in some respects it’s still a half-measure,” suggesting he wants to go farther. Wager remains silent on the fact that ObamaCare is causing the Cleveland Clinic – the largest employer in Cleveland, the second largest employer in Ohio, and the largest provider of Medicaid in Ohio – to cut jobs and shave $330 million from its budget.
2. Wager Would “Absolutely” Campaign Alongside Nancy Pelosi And Obama
Wager said of Pelosi that he would “absolutely” campaign alongside her in the 14th district because “she stands for things I stand for.” He said in the same interview that he would also campaign with Obama.
3. Wager’s Hypocrisy On Tax Incentives
Wager claims to be against “tax incentives that ship jobs overseas,” yet he himself was a member of the board of a an investment firm that is located in the British Islands, an infamous global tax haven.Another investment firm he served on the board of had an address in Delaware that was the subject of a New York Times investigation of the state as a corporate tax haven.
4. Wager Has A Questionable Business Past
Wager presided over the Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority when officials there mishandled a deal with Eaton Corporation – Cleveland’s largest remaining Fortune 500 company at the time – that caused it to relocate outside of Cleveland, taking 700 jobs with the move.
5. Benefiting From Bankruptcy
Wager served as the reorganization counsel for Madison’s retail chain after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Wager initially promised the store would be able to “emerge within a year.” After more store closures and significant layoffs, Wager became a member of the board. That same year – two years after Wager’s promise – Madison permanently closed its doors.
Wager presided over the Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority when officials there mishandled a deal with Eaton Corporation – Cleveland’s largest remaining Fortune 500 company at the time – that caused it to relocate outside of Cleveland, taking 700 jobs with the move.
Updated October 3, 2014