Altmire: 'Hundreds' of constituents told me they're against bailout

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (R-McCandless), shortly after voting against a $700 billion bailout plan for Wall Street, indicated in a statement Monday he will oppose a bailout of any kind.

"I agree the economy is struggling, but the free market works properly only if there is a downside to risk," Altmire said. "It is not the government's role to reward bad decisions or nullify the downside to investment risks."

"Hundreds" of constituents told him they opposed the plan, Altmire said.

"They wonder why Washington is so quick to act to help those on Wall Street, yet nothing is done to help them," he said. "The times ahead are going to require tough decisions, but we should not start by asking American families and small businesses to pay for the mistakes of Wall Street. The $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan is not the right response to this crisis."

Asked whether Altmire will vote for another bailout if one is put forward, spokesman Erik Komendant said it's "unclear what the next steps will be."

He said he had no further comment.

"I think the statement speaks for itself," he told PolitickerPA.com.

Voting in favor of a politically unpopular bill could sink Altmire's re-election chances this fall, when he faces a rematch against the congresswoman he unseated in 2006, Republican Melissa Hart. Internal polling from Hart's campaign shows her down by 5 percentage points, and she is confident a more favorable political climate in 2006 will boost her to victory.