Issues: Taxes

Center For Individual Freedom: “Shelf Life”

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The Center for Individual Freedom suggests that Rep. Bill Owens (D-NY) broke a campaign promise by supporting the Affordable Care Act, which the group criticizes for “slashing Medicare spending by over $700 billion.” But while the health care law reduces the growth of Medicare spending, it does not cut seniors’ benefits – and it was “benefit cuts,” not overall spending, that Owens pledged to oppose. In addition, same savings were included the Republican budget authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). The ad also falsely calls the ACA a “government takeover” and misleads about the power of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, whose members must be confirmed by the Senate and are prohibited from cutting benefits or “rationing” care.

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National Federation of Independent Business: “Commitment”

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The National Federation of Independent Business calls Iowa congressional candidate Christie Vilsack a “tax hiker,” citing her support for the Affordable Care Act. But the health care law doesn’t raise taxes on most Americans, and Vilsack has specified that she supports keeping the Bush-era tax cuts for those earning under $1 million.

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National Federation Of Independent Business: “One Clear Answer”

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The National Federation of Independent Business urges New York residents to vote against Rep. Louise Slaughter (D) because of her support for clean energy legislation and health care reform. However, the group misleadingly characterizes both policies as major middle-class tax increases. The ad also criticizes the Affordable Care Act for reducing the growth of Medicare spending, failing to acknowledge that the law’s “cuts” do not impact seniors’ benefits and were also included in Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget.

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Center For Individual Freedom: “Same”

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The Center for Individual Freedom attempts to link Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) to President Obama, citing their positions on the “failed stimulus,” increased oil drilling, and the repeal of health care reform. But the Recovery Act actually created jobs and cut taxes for millions of working Americans, while domestic energy production has increased under the Obama administration. Furthermore, the Affordable Care Act reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ current benefits – and Matheson opposed the bill when it passed in 2010.

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U.S. Chamber Of Commerce: “Jon Tester – A Failed Record In Washington”

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An ad from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce grades Montana Sen. Jon Tester’s performance, saying he’s “failed Montana” by voting for the “$1 trillion ”Affordable Care Act, which cuts $716 billion out of Medicare. In reality, the health care law reduces the deficit, and finds future savings in Medicare without cutting seniors’ benefits.

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American Action Network: “Dangerous”

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The American Action Network reaches all the way back to the 1970s to accuse Rick Nolan (D-MN) of supporting the end of Medicare. But Nolan’s opponent, Rep. Chip Cravaack, voted to “essentially end” Medicare in 2011, in a GOP budget that also retained the Affordable Care Act’s Medicare savings, over which AAN attacks Nolan. Furthermore, the bill Nolan supported forty years ago would have replaced Medicare with universal coverage for all Americans – which was the dominant school of thought among health care reformers of the era.

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American Crossroads: “Next”

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Even though the small business owners featured in American Crossroads’ latest presidential ad have benefitted from over $300,000 in government defense contracts during the Obama administration, they complain that President Obama’s “bad decisions” and regulations are harming job growth. But the ad cites a study that doesn’t address Obama’s proposals, and small business owners routinely say that regulations aren’t what’s keeping them from hiring.

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Crossroads GPS: “Shameful”

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Crossroads GPS criticizes Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) for supporting the Affordable Care Act, which the ad says “cut Medicare spending by $700 billion” and “could give bureaucrats the power to cut Medicare spending even more.” In fact, the health care law reduces the growth of Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ current benefits – and Berkley’s opponent, Sen. Dean Heller, voted for the same “cuts” when he supported the Ryan budget as a member of both the House and the Senate. Furthermore, those “bureaucrats” tasked with finding future savings must be confirmed by the Senate and are prohibited from cutting benefits or rationing care.

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Crossroads GPS: “Dang Right”

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An ad from Crossroads GPS says Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is “out of touch with Wisconsin,” claiming that she wants to give the government more control over health care and let “unelected bureaucrats” make decisions on Medicare spending cuts. In reality, Baldwin’s priority is expanding health care coverage to all Americans, and she has floated a variety of ways to do so, while the “unelected bureaucrats” are in reality a Senate-confirmed advisory board that’s prohibited from cutting Medicare benefits. The ad’s accusation that Baldwin wants to tax middle-class families also doesn’t hold water; in August she voted to extend the Bush tax cuts for income under $250,000.

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Congressional Leadership Fund: “Sutton Works For Pelosi”

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The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super-PAC associated with the American Action Network, uses Rep. Betty Sutton’s voting record to suggest that she places the interests of Rep. Nancy Pelosi above those of Ohio. To do so, they rely on misrepresentations of clean energy legislation, the Affordable Care Act, and the Recovery Act, the last of which helped prevent a deeper recession and cut taxes for families and businesses across the country.

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