Republican Ted Cruz is not pro-business

If Ted Cruz is the new face of conservatism, pro-business Republicans might want to find a new party.

Let’s start with the Senate immigration bill, which was backed by the Chamber of Commerce and the business community at large, but is now nothing short of heresy for Republican candidates.

Investment in education, research and infrastructure boasts a proud history in this country and is foundational for a strong economy moving forward. Pretending this is just more “big government” is naive and dangerous.

Cruz and friends displayed their most deranged, incoherent, anti-business behavior while manufacturing the debt-ceiling crises. Remember, refusing to raise the debt ceiling does not stop new spending; it stops us from paying bills already incurred (aka defaulting on our debt). Economists agree: Telling world markets that we can’t be trusted to pay our debts is insane. One can’t claim to be pro-business while pushing for international economic crisis. Being anti-government and pro-business are not the same thing.

And why not mention Cruz’s penchant for government shutdown, which in 2013 cost taxpayers $2 billion. More recently, his posse threatened shutdown again over reimbursing Planned Parenthood for breast exams, pregnancy tests and other nonabortion services for people on Medicaid.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Republican Ted Cruz is not pro-business."