Issues: Small Business

U.S. Chamber Of Commerce: “NY-18 Sean Maloney – Wrong”

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a conservative group that received millions of dollars from insurance companies to fight health care reform, has released an ad attacking New York House candidate Sean Maloney for supporting the Affordable Care Act. However, despite the ad’s claims about “more spending and higher taxes,” millions of families and small businesses across the country are now eligible for tax credits because of the health care law. In addition, the ACA reduces the deficit.

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “Tim Bishop (NY-1) – Pay More”

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce attacks Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) for voting for the Affordable Care Act and cap-and-trade legislation, misrepresenting the bills’ impact on small businesses and families. In fact, millions of small businesses are eligible for tax credits under the health care law, while clean energy legislation would have boosted the economy at minimal cost to households.

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Club For Growth Action: “Jobs”

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Club for Growth Action accuses Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) of supporting “higher taxes, government health care, and trillions in new debt,” but the conservative group provides no evidence for its allegations. That may be because the charges against Donnelly don’t match his record. Donnelly recently voted to extend tax cuts for all Americans, while the Affordable Care Act expands private-sector health coverage and reduces deficits. Furthermore, Donnelly has supported conservative proposals for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

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Crossroads GPS: “Heart”

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An ad from Crossroads GPS claims that Senate candidate Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) support for cap-and-trade policies in general translates into support for a “scheme” that would increase energy costs for small businesses and result in 50,000 job losses. But Kaine didn’t endorse a specific policy, and GPS itself can’t settle on one proposal, cherry-picking the worst estimates of two different bills. One of those bills would have boosted the economy with little additional cost to consumers, and the other allowed small businesses’ utility costs to be offset with money from the sale of emissions allowances.

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Crossroads GPS: “Severe”

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Crossroads GPS simultaneously misquotes Heidi Heitkamp and takes her comments so far out of context that they end up 180 degrees opposite her actual position. The ad falsely implies Heitkamp wishes the individual mandate (characterized here as “Obamacare’s tax on middle-class families”) were enforced with a larger penalty. In fact, Heitkamp opposes the mandate, and was relaying information from insurance experts who’d told her the size of the mandate penalty would render it ineffective.

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “CA-41: Mark Takano”

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s attack on California congressional candidate Mark Takano is premised on two parallel deceptions about taxes. The first is the common Republican claim that ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy will hurt small businesses, an argument that only makes sense if you define some of the biggest corporations and richest athletes in America as “small businesses.” The second is more specific, relying on a misrepresentation of an already-dishonest study of President Obama’s tax proposals.

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U.S. Chamber Of Commerce: “CA-7: Ami Bera”

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce attacks California congressional candidate Ami Bera (D) for supporting the Affordable Care Act, claiming the law “will increase taxes on California families” and “cut $716 billion from Medicare.” But the health care law won’t raise taxes on most Americans, and reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ current benefits. Moreover, Bera’s opponent, Rep. Dan Lungren (D), voted for the same Medicare savings as part of the GOP budget authored by Rep. Paul Ryan.

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U.S. Chamber Of Commerce: “IL-10: Brad Schneider”

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce criticizes U.S. House candidate Brad Schneider (D-IL) for supporting “government-mandated health care” and accuses him of wanting “to hit our small businesses with higher taxes.” However, the Chamber relies on the false argument that ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would have a significant impact on small businesses, when in fact it would reduce the deficit without harming the economy. The Chamber’s broader argument that taxes and regulations are holding back the economy is misleading, as the real key to job creation is increasing consumer demand.

Read more after the jump.