Connie Mack Agrees: We Should Phase Out Medicare, Social Security
At a Tea Party event in Central Florida, Connie Mack agreed with an event attendee who suggested we eliminate the corporate income tax and eventually phase out Medicare and Social Security. Wonder how this will play with Florida voters?
BRIDGE BRIEFING: Romney's Record on Issues Impacting the African American Community
Romney Administration
Romney Failed To Appoint Minorities To Top Positions In His Administration As Governor. According to the Associated Press, “A new report faults Governor Romney for failing to appoint minorities, particularly Latinos and Asian-Americans, to top positions in his administration. Of 163 top-level positions, fewer than eleven percent were held by minorities. That’s according to the report by the McCormack Graduate School’s Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at U-Mass Boston. Latino appointments made up one-point-eight percent of the total number of posts, even though Latinos make up seven percent of the state’s population. Asian-Americans make up four percent of the state population, but hold fewer than one percent of total top-level positions. A Romney spokesman defended the governor’s record -- saying approximately 52 percent of all employees in the administration are women, and 22 percent are minority.” [Associated Press, 12/6/06]Romney: "It's Not A Tax Hike. It Is A Fee."
With Romney & other Republicans attacking Obamacare as a tax increase, it's worth looking at how Romney viewed an identical policy when he was governor. Here's brand new video from the Mass. archives in which Romney says of the tax penalty for not purchasing health insurance: "It's not a tax hike. It is a fee, an assessment."
MEMO: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Sarah Steelman’s Record On Taxes And Fees
After Sarah Steelman stated categorically that she “never voted for a tax increase” during a debate on June 11, 2012, her record on taxes has become a major campaign issue. American Bridge was quick to point out an obvious tax increase that John Brunner missed when leveling his attack. He even went so far as to launch a website attacking Steelman on her tax record. But none of these attacks come anywhere close to a comprehensive look at Steelman’s record of voting for taxes and fees on Missourians. After an exhaustive review of her voting record, American Bridge has compiled numerous examples of votes for taxes and fees in direct contradiction to Steelman’s ridiculous claim. A few highlights:
- Steelman voted 23 times in favor of sales taxes - Steelman voted 23 times in favor of tourism taxes - Steelman voted 8 times in favor of waste fees - Steelman voted 6 times in favor of transportation taxes - Steelman voted to authorize increasing the Senior Citizens Service Fund Tax - Steelman co-sponsored an education bill that increased the sales tax by 1%, state corporate income tax to 6.75%, and state personal income tax to 6.5% - And many more
Steelman may talk a good game on taxes, but her record tells an entirely different story.Steelman "Never Voted For A Tax Increase"?
On Monday, Republican Senate candidate Sarah Steelman made a sweeping (and incorrect) claim about her voting record in the Missouri state senate when she stated that she “never voted for a tax increase.” This has sparked a heated back and forth between Steelman and one of her primary opponents, John Brunner, who took a swing and missed when the attack spiraled downward into an argument about semantics. Brunner argues that Steelman voted to make a temporary tax permanent. Steelman counters that Brunner “does not understand the legislative process.” And while that may be true, it is less because he is mischaracterizing the vote Steelman cast and more because there is a much clearer example of Steelman voting to raise taxes. In 2002, Steelman voted to create a brand new tax. Here is text from the legislation Steelman supported:
“In addition to all other fees and taxes required or paid, a tax is hereby imposed upon licensed retail pharmacies for the privilege of providing outpatient prescription drugs in this state. The tax is imposed upon the Missouri gross retail prescription receipts earned from filling outpatient retail prescriptions.”
“A tax is hereby imposed.” Maybe Brunner should run with that one instead of arguing about the difference between “increasing” and “extending.” Steelman Voted To Create Retail Pharmacy Tax In Order To Fund Medicaid Pharmacy Program. On May 15, 2002, Steelman voted for the Senate Substitute version of the Senate Committee Substitute version of HB 1898, a bill that created a retail pharmacy tax “for the privilege of providing outpatient prescription drugs.” The bill imposed a new retail pharmacy tax upon all licensed retail pharmacies in Missouri in order to fund the state’s Medicaid Pharmacy Program. The retail pharmacy tax was limited to 6% of a pharmacy’s monthly gross retail prescription receipts. According to the Missouri House of Representatives, “This act imposes a tax upon licensed retail pharmacies in Missouri for the privilege of providing outpatient prescription drugs. The tax rate of up to [sic] will be based on monthly gross retail prescription receipts of pharmacies, not to exceed 6%... All revenues from the tax will be deposited in the Pharmacy Tax Fund, created in the act. Moneys in the fund will be used to provide payments for services related to the Medicaid pharmacy program.” The bill was passed by a vote of 24-9. [Missouri State Senate, Daily Journal of the Senate, Day 73, 5/15/02, Page 1655; Missouri House of Representatives, Official Summary, HB 1898]BRIDGE BRIEF: The Truth About Romney & The Auto Rescue
ROMNEY SAID GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO AUTO INDUSTRY WAS FINE AFTER A MANAGED BANKRUPTCY
Romney Said He Would Have Been “Fine” With Government Support To The Auto Industry But Only After A Managed Bankruptcy. According to The Detroit News, “[During an interview] Romney said Democrats are ‘distorting’ his record on the auto bailout, whose government-imposed conditions included filing bankruptcy. ‘If they needed help coming out of bankruptcy and government support, that was fine, but I was not in favor of the government writing billions of dollars in checks prior to them going into bankruptcy,’ he said.” [Detroit News, 06/05/12]ROMNEY OPPOSED GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Romney Believed Things In Detroit Would Be Better Without Intervention. According to a Detroit News op-ed, Romney wrote “The president tells us that without his intervention things in Detroit would be worse. I believe that without his intervention things there would be better.” [Detroit News, 2/14/12] Romney Wrote That One Of The Agendas For A Free And Strong America Was To “Get The Government Out Of General Motors.” According to “No Apology” Mitt Romney wrote that one of the agendas for a free and strong America was to “Get the government out of General Motors—and other private companies.” [“No Apology” 2011 Pg. 318] Romney Believed Automakers Should Have Had Private Bankruptcy Without Federal Aid. According to the Associated Press, “Romney told a diner at the Senate Coney Island restaurant Thursday morning that the automakers should have gone through a private bankruptcy without the federal aid. The businessman and former Massachusetts governor says he believes ‘in the process of law’ rather than bailouts.” [Fox News, Associated Press, 6/9/11 ]MOTHER'S DAY MEMO: Romney's Record On Issues Important To Women And Families
As families across the country celebrate Mother’s Day and honor the women in their life, it is also a good opportunity to reflect on the policies that allow women to pursue equal pay for equal work, protect women and families from violence, and help to prevent serious illnesses. Unfortunately for women and their families, Mitt Romney has consistently advocated against these policies. With the Republican Party consistently advocating an anti-women agenda, they have found the perfect standard bearer in Mitt Romney.
MEMO: Richard Mourdock’s Extreme Record
Let’s be clear about one thing regarding Richard Mourdock’s win over Dick Lugar tonight in the Indiana Republican Senate primary: Richard Mourdock did not win; Dick Lugar lost. Assuredly, Lugar’s precipitous drop in the final weeks was propelled by his stumbles over the residency issue. But Lugar’s vulnerability stemmed from being identified as one of the Tea Party’s top targets of the 2012 election cycle. Lugar will have been felled by the same extreme fringe of the Republican Party that took down several pragmatic Republican candidates in 2010. These extremists found a mouthpiece in State Treasurer Richard Mourdock and are nominating a candidate who is well outside the mainstream of Indiana voters.
The Republican primary has been a referendum on Lugar, not an endorsement of Richard Mourdock. As Hoosiers across the state learn more about Mourdock, they will realize that his soft-spoken demeanor belies a fervent, extreme view of politics and governance that would hurt Indiana’s middle class families, students, veterans, women, seniors, and farmers.BACKGROUND ON RICHARD MOURDOCK’S EXTREMISM
Mourdock Said Auto Bailout Was Illegal. According to a Mourdock Editorial in the South Bend Tribune, “By any traditional legal analysis, fundamental elements of the Obama administration’s Chrysler bankruptcy plan were illegal. It turned 200 years of U.S. bankruptcy law on its head by awarding more value to a select group of unsecured creditors than to secured creditors. Others are apparently willing to tolerate the violation of federal bankruptcy laws simply because they liked the result: It helped their friends. But most Americans, including the Hoosier retirees who had their property stolen away, see such picking and choosing by the federal government as fundamentally un-American.” [Mourdock Editorial, South Bend Tribune, 10/9/10]
Stephen King's Message To Mitt Romney
Stephen King sticks it to Mitt Romney. You have to read this! You can read King's full column here on The Daily Beast.
In VP Search, Will Beth Myers Ask For More Than 2 Years Of Tax Returns?
In today's New York Times, Beth Myers said she will use the detailed questionnaire from John McCain's 2008 vice presidential search as a model for the Romney campaign's quest for its own VP nominee.
As part of the VP vetting process in 2008, Mitt Romney supplied John McCain's campaign with 23 years of tax returns. Will Beth Myers ask for a comparable disclosure for Gov. Romney's potential running mates? If not, why?
If so, why is it that the campaign demands candidates disclose years and years of returns for the #2 slot, yet Gov. Romney will only release a couple of years of taxes on the top of the ticket?
Something doesn't add up here.
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