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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bill Cassidy Ad Fact Check BATON ROUGE- Bill Cassidy's new ad conveniently misrepresents Congressman Cazayoux's positions and votes in Congress. Below is a fact check that sets the record straight. Bill Cassidy Claim #1: I'll insist on legislation that outlaws earmarks. Don Cazayoux supports earmarks, the billions politicians spend in secret. The Truth: Congressman Cazayoux believes in open and transparent government and led the way on ethics reform in the state legislature , but he believes that one of his duties as a Congressman is to fight for vital projects for his district. Constituents elect someone to represent their district's best interests, but if Bill Cassidy had his way, federal spending on infrastructure and hurricane recovery needs would be decided by bureaucrats in the federal government who have never stepped foot in Louisiana. Under Bill Cassidy's criteria, flood control projects such as the Comite River Diversion Project- which Democrats and Republicans, including Governor Bobby Jindal , have advocated on behalf of for years- would not be acceptable federal spending. ( OMB.gov ) Bill Cassidy can use all the rhetoric he wants when talking about federal spending, but he did not have a problem with the taxpayers footing the overwhelming portion of the bill for Vice President Cheney to make a trip to Baton Rouge on behalf of his campaign. Some estimates put the total cost of the trip approaching $500,000. Does that sound like someone who has the taxpayer's best interest in mind? Bill Cassidy Claim #2: [Cazayoux] even voted in Congress for a $13.6 billion tax on US production of gasoline and natural gas. The Truth: Bill Cassidy sure does have trouble with the facts. Congressman Cazayoux voted to give millions of Americans a tax break through the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Relief Act (H.R. 6275, Roll Call 455). Because Congressman Cazayoux believes that the federal government should live within its means like middle class families in the 6 th district do, the tax relief was paid for by closing corporate offshore tax loopholes and repealing subsidies for big oil. Does Bill Cassidy really believe it's more important to keep subsidies for big oil over middle class tax relief when Americans are paying $3.50 at the gallon and many families are having trouble making ends meet? You said it yourself, Dr. Cassidy: it's ok to admit it when you're wrong. Bill Cassidy Claim #3: Don Cazayoux voted to block a bill to extend tax credits to alternative energy and energy efficiency . The Truth: Congressman Cazayoux has been clear and consistent in his support for a truly comprehensive energy policy that not only expands domestic drilling, but increases the use of alternative energy. Additionally, he cast a vote in favor of a bill that lifted the offshore drilling moratorium (H.R. 2638, Roll Call 632) and he voted against his own party's energy bill (H.R. 6899, Roll Call 599) because it did not contain revenue sharing for the states- something that Louisiana fought long and hard for. One of the first votes Congressman Cazayoux cast in Congress was in favor of the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 (H.R. 6049, Roll Call 344), whose alternative energy tax credit extensions were recently signed into law by President Bush . And the specific vote that Bill Cassidy is referring to? Had that vote passed, it would have stopped debate and passage of the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, the same bill that appropriates funds for our brave men and women serving in our military (H.R. 5658, Roll Call 340). Does Bill Cassidy really believe that a bill that funds the troops didn't deserve to be debated and passed? -###- |
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