American Action Network: “Search”

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The American Action Network attacks California congressional candidate Jose Hernandez (D) for supporting the “failed stimulus,” which actually created jobs, cut taxes for working Americans, and helped prevent an even worse recession. The ad also dishonestly attempts to brand Hernandez as a carpetbagger who only moved to California from Texas in order to run for Congress, omitting crucial details: Hernandez lived in Texas because he worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center as an astronaut, and he has deep roots in the California valley he seeks to represent.

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American Action Network: “3 Wishes”

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In an ad urging voters to “make Kathy Hochul go away” on November 6, the American Action Network attacks the first-term Democrat from New York, claiming she voted to raise taxes “almost 50 percent” and increase spending “even more.” But the ad’s citations make clear that it’s referring to Hochul’s time on the Hamburg, New York town board, and the increases in question occurred over the course of 13 years. In fact, when the town budget is adjusted for inflation, spending actually increased a mere 8.5 percent during Hochul’s service. The ad also claims Hochul “voted for the job-killing health care law” and to increase small business taxes. But Hochul wasn’t in Congress when the health care law passed, and she voted to preserve tax cuts on the middle class while ending them for top earners, few of whom are true small businesses.

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Americans for Tax Reform: “Tax Raising Politician Sean Maloney (NY-18)”

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Americans for Tax Reform targets New York congressional candidate Sean Maloney’s (D) support for ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, which the group claims will hurt small businesses and kill jobs. However, conservatives rely on a dubious definition of “small business,” and allowing the top tax bracket to return to its pre-Bush level would not affect many actual employers. In addition, ATR’s charge that phasing out the tax breaks would cause job losses is based on a flawed study that assumes the revenue will not go toward deficit reduction, which is exactly what Maloney and other Democrats have proposed.

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Crossroads GPS: “Damaged”

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Parroting a piece from a conservative Nevada think tank’s publication, a Crossroads GPS ad accuses state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford (D), who is running for U.S. Congress, of robbing $4.2 million from a college savings trust fund. As usual, there’s more to the story: Horsford chaired a bipartisan committee that voted unanimously to move funding into a scholarship program for current students after finding out that it would not be able to make full payments to its current beneficiaries. The college savings plan that was originally designated to receive some of the money – a fund managed by the Nevada Treasurer that helps families manage payments for future education – remains funded at 108 percent, even without the originally-planned extra infusions.

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Americans for Tax Reform: “Charlie Wilson – Boxer”

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Grover Norquist’s anti-tax organization, Americans for Tax Reform, released an ad blaming Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-OH) for the country’s spending and debt. The ad derides the bipartisan bank bailout, which helped avoid an economic depression, and the Recovery Act without mentioning the conditions that made both actions necessary. The ad’s emphasis on the debt is disingenuous given Norquist’s rigid “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” which commits signers to oppose tax increases and undermines any balanced solution to the nation’s fiscal troubles.

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Americans for Tax Reform: “Wrong Prescription for Georgia”

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Americans for Tax Reform attacks Rep. John Barrow (D-GA) over the Affordable Care Act, distorting the law’s impact and Barrow’s positions. The truth is that Barrow voted against the ACA when it passed in 2010, but he has also opposed GOP repeal efforts, citing the need to preserve several of the law’s most important and popular provisions. Indeed, repeal would have negative consequences for millions of Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions and young adults who are covered by their parents’ plans. Furthermore, the ACA does not raise taxes on most Americans, and it reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ benefits.

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Americans for Tax Reform: “Wrong Prescription for Colorado”

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Americans for Tax Reform attacks congressional candidate Sal Pace (D-CO) for supporting the Affordable Care Act, relying on a series of distortions about the law’s impact. In reality, the ACA does not raise taxes on most Americans, and it actually reduces the burden on many middle-class families. Moreover, the law reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ benefits – in fact, Pace’s opponent, Rep. Scott Tipton (R), voted to preserve the “cuts” as part of the House GOP budget – and the Senate-confirmed board responsible for finding additional savings is forbidden from cutting benefits or rationing care.

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Americans for Tax Reform: “Wrong Prescription for Pennsylvania”

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Americans for Tax Reform attacks Rep. Mark Critz (D-PA) for opposing repeal of the Affordable Care Act, relying on a series of distortions about the law’s impact. In reality, the ACA does not raise taxes on most Americans, and it actually lessens the burden on many middle-class families. Moreover, the law reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ benefits, and the Senate-confirmed board responsible for finding additional savings is forbidden from cutting benefits or rationing care. Repealing the health care law would have negative consequences for millions of Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions or young adults who are covered by their parents’ insurance plans.

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