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.VIDEO: Josh Mandel: Ohio’s Artful Dodger
Washington DC - Josh Mandel has been developing quite the reputation for dodging questions, refusing to take positions, and flat-out lying as he campaigns for the Senate. In addition to our previously released video highlighting Mandel’s refusal to comment on the FBI investigation into his campaign contributions, American Bridge is releasing a video of Mandel dodging yet another question: why did he start running for the Senate just after taking office as Ohio Treasurer? Spoiler alert: despite talking for a very long time, he never answers the question.
BRIDGE BRIEF: Romney On The DREAM Act
Romney Said He Would Veto “The DREAM Act.” According to the Des Moines Register, “Romney said he would veto the ‘Dream Act’ if Congress passed it. The controversial proposal would open paths to legal residency for illegal immigrants who were brought into the country as children, stayed out of trouble and entered college or served in the military.” [Des Moines Register, 12/31/11]
Romney Promised To Veto The DREAM Act. According to Huffington Post, “Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney doubled down on Monday on his opposition to the DREAM Act, a bill that would aid undocumented young people and that is heavily supported by the Latino community. ‘I’ve indicated I would veto the DREAM Act if provisions included in that act say that people who were here illegally -- if they go to school here long enough, if they get a degree here -- then they can become permanent residents,’ he said during a GOP debate in South Carolina, in response to a question about how his immigration views would play with Latino voters. ‘I think that’s a mistake.’ Romney previously said he would veto the bill to provide legal status to some undocumented immigrants as long as they came to the U.S. as children, kept a clean criminal record and either attended college or joined the military.” [Huffington Post, 1/16/12]
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]MEMO: Berg Went To Washington
It’s a long way from North Dakota to Washington, DC. But not quite so far that after nearly 30 years in the North Dakota House of Representatives, it took less than eighteen months for Rep. Rick Berg to fit right in as a DC insider. Unfortunately for Berg, it’s also not so far that his actions in DC don’t make it back to North Dakota voters. Berg has developed a habit of telling North Dakotans one thing, but doing the opposite in DC when he thinks no one’s watching. This means siding with his party to cast votes that hurt the people back home he’s supposed to be representing. From rural hospitals to essential air service, Berg’s votes to cut funding would jeopardize the well-being of North Dakota residents. He supported the Paul Ryan budget to please the Republican leadership, but abandoned North Dakota farmers who would suffer from the cuts to crop insurance and farm programs. The Ryan budget would also end Medicare as we know it. And twice Berg joined his party to cast votes to block the House from even considering the Senate’s bipartisan version of the Violence Against Women Act. Rep. Berg is asking for a promotion to the Senate. But when voters see his record of putting his Republican pals before North Dakotans, what he’ll get instead is sent packing for the long trip back home. See the research after the jump.
MEMO: The Record George Allen Wants You To Forget
To: Interested Parties From: Matt Thornton, Senior Communications Adviser, American Bridge 21st Century Date: 6/12/2012 RE: The record George Allen wants you to forget In 2006, Virginia voters unceremoniously ousted George Allen from office. Six years later, Allen has portrayed himself as a Tea Party proselyte in his bid to return to the Senate. But even a cursory look at his record as senator and governor should be enough to convince voters that Allen is a big spender who can’t be trusted to address our nation’s budget problems responsibly. Despite his rhetoric about "reigning in" state spending, Allen increased Virginia’s budget by billions, contributing to unprecedented deficits. As senator, he supported the budget-busting policies of the Bush administration which are among the primary drivers of our annual deficits. Though Allen is responsible for helping create the nation’s budget woes, he now supports policies that would exacerbate the problem by cutting taxes for the nation’s wealthiest citizens and most profitable corporations. And while Allen has been an unabashed advocate of spending, deficits, and earmarks, he can’t seem to take a tangible position on important issues like paycheck fairness. George Allen may have convinced Republican primary voters that he deserves another shot, but come November he’ll receive a message from independents in terms that he can understand: when you drop the ball that many times, you don’t get to go back in the game. View full memo after the jump/
MEMO: Rehberg's Decades Of Disservice
During his three decades in office, Congressman Dennis Rehberg has continually taken positions against the will of the voters of Montana and has gained more notoriety for his antics than any legislative accomplishments. Some of his most recent lowlights include:
- Supporting a massive land grab by the Federal government which would give the Department of Homeland Security unprecedented control over Montana land. - Voting to give himself five pay raises at taxpayers’ expense despite pledging not to. - Suing the Billings Fire Department. - Having a cozy relationship with lobbyists then failing to report the campaign donations he received from lobbyists on legally required transparency forms. - Supporting vast government overreach including the PATRIOT Act and REAL ID.
As the general election has now begun, Montana voters will see that Dennis Rehberg doesn’t stand with them and despite his past as a gymnast, he will not be able to twist and turn his way out of his true record.Memo: Heather Wilson's Real Record
To: Interested Parties From: Rodell Mollineau, President, American Bridge 21st Century Re: Heather Wilson's Real Record Date: 6-5-12 Four years after her first Senate bid ended in a primary defeat, Heather Wilson has managed to at least gain her party’s support this time around. Unfortunately for her, that means general election voters statewide will be introduced to her record for the first time. What they’ll find is a corrupt former member of Congress, willing to use her official position to advance partisan politics at any cost. Wilson’s tenure in the House of Representatives was notable for her proximity to the Bush White House. A member of both the House Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,Wilson attempted to stall and bury a Congressional investigation into the intelligence failures leading up to the Iraq War. She was later implicated in the Bush White House's politically motivated firing of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. This earned her a spot on the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)’s 2007 “Most Corrupt” list. After leaving Congress, Wilson maintained her close connection to the architect of Bush’s partisan politics by serving as a board member for Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS. Wilson was also recently discovered to have been named in a pay-to-play investigation conducted by the New Mexico Attorney general’s office, stemming from her previous time in D.C. The last thing New Mexico voters want is a return to the policies or politics of the Bush administration. That’s why Heather Wilson will find herself 0 for 2 in Senate bids come November.
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 ]Tell Mitt Romney: Fire "The Donald"
Donald Trump and his birther conspiracies just helped Mitt Romney raise more than $2 million at a fundraiser in Las Vegas. Even by Vegas standards, that’s an awfully big pay off -- but every single dollar Romney raised is tainted with the dishonesty and bigotry of Trump’s lies. It’s hard to imagine a worse gamble, and it’s time for Mitt Romney to put his love of firing people into action. Join us in calling for Mitt Romney to fire The Donald.
