“Today we remember and pay tribute to our fellow Americans who did not come home from combat, and those brave patriots who suffered as prisoners of war,” said Chairman Priebus. “On this day when we see the
black and white POW/MIA flag flying, we should pause and reaffirm our commitment to bringing these Americans home.”
 
“Our veterans and armed forces deserve our deepest appreciation, and today we’re praying for them and for the families of the missing,” said Co-Chairman Day. “We must never forget our heroes. God Bless our proud military men and women and their families.”

 
###

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Obama Administration: Delays, Delays, Delays And More Delays

In November 2011, The Obama Administration Announced It Was Reconsidering Keystone’s Route, Pushing A Decision Beyond The 2012 Election. “The State Department announced on Thursday that it will explore a new route for the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, pushing a final decision on the controversial project past the 2012 election.” (Aamer Madhani And Wendy Koch, “Controversial Canada-To-Texas Keystone Pipeline Delayed,” USA Today, 11/11/11)

In January 2012, Obama Rejected The Keystone Pipeline Application, But Left The Possibility For A New Proposal.  “President Obama, denouncing a ‘rushed and arbitrary deadline’ set by congressional Republicans, announced Wednesday that he was rejecting a Canadian firm’s application for a permit to build and operate the Keystone XL pipeline, a massive project that would have stretched from Canada’s oil sands to refineries in Texas. Obama said that the Feb. 21 deadline, set by Congress as part of the two-month payroll tax cut extension, made it impossible to adequately review the project proposed by TransCanada. But he left the door open to the possibility that a new proposal might pass regulatory muster.” (Juliet Eilperin And Steven Mufson, “Obama Administration Rejects Keystone XL,” The Washington Post, 1/18/12)

In March 2012, After Personal Lobbying By Obama, The Senate Rejected Legislation To Expedite Keystone Construction. “In the wake of lobbying by President Obama and Senate Democratic leaders, the Senate Thursday defeated legislation to speed up construction of a U-S.-Canadian oil pipeline. The White House victory came after the president started personally calling Democratic senators Wednesday night. The vote underscored the extent to which rising gas prices and energy supply have become a central political issue.” (Juliet Eilperin And Ed O’keefe, “Senate Rejects Expediting Keystone Pipeline,” The Washington Post, 3/8/12)

In April 2014, The Administration Indefinitely Extended Its Review Of The Keystone Pipeline. “The Obama administration says it is indefinitely extending its long-awaited review of the Keystone XL pipeline — providing a Good Friday jolt to one of the president’s most wrenching environmental decisions.” (Andrew Restuccia And Darren Goode, “Keystone Decision Delayed Yet Again,” Politico, 4/18/14)

• “The Obama Administration Pulled A Classic Campaign-Year Move Friday: It Punted On The Keystone XL Pipeline.” (Andrew Restuccia, “Keystone Non-Decision Keeps Some Democrats On The Hot Seat,” Politico, 4/18/14)

Obama Continues To Obstruct Keystone Despite State Department Reports Favoring The Pipeline

The Release Of The State Department’s Environmental Impact Report “Removes A Major Excuse For Delay.” “But the release Friday of a long-awaited government report removes a major excuse for delay, ramping up pressure on the president to make a call.” (Nedra Pickler And Josh Lederman, “Obama Running Out Of Reasons To Reject Keystone XL,” The Associated Press, 2/1/14)

• The State Department Report “Discounted Most Of The Environmental Community’s Warnings” About Keystone. “The new State Department report that discounted most of the environmental community’s warnings about the Keystone XL oil pipeline puts the final decision on the project closer to Obama’s desk, after years in which he’s been able to dodge rendering a verdict.” (Darren Goode And Darren Samuelsohn, “Keystone Foes Pinning Final Hopes On Obama,” Politico, 2/1/14)

MSNBC’S Mika Brzezinski: There Have Been Numerous State Department Reviews In Support Of Keystone—The Delay Is “Hard To Defend.” BRZEZINSKI: “There’ve been like four State Department reviews approving or opening the door for it to move forward. It’s hard to defend.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 4/21/14)

SO WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION APPROVING THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE? MONEY AND POLITICS

Approval Of The Pipeline Would Have Potentially Dampened The Enthusiasm Of Wealthy Anti-Keystone Donors Such As Billionaire Tom Steyer. “Approval of the pipeline would also have risked dampening the enthusiasm of wealthy donors such as billionaire investor Tom Steyer, who is spending tens of millions of dollars to boost environmentally-friendly candidates.” (Jeff Mason and Steve Holland, “Keystone XL Delay Could Give Boost To Obama’s Political Base,” Reuters, 4/20/14)

• Steyer Has Pledged To Spend $100 Million To Help Democrats In November And His Top Issue Is Stopping Keystone. “But there are at least 100 million reasons why the president has held up the decision. Those reasons live in the bank account of hedge fund manager Tom Steyer who has pledged to spend $100 million helping Democrats avoid disaster in a 2014 midterm election where their Senate majority is in serious jeopardy. Steyer’s No. 1 issue? Stopping the Keystone pipeline.” (Ben White, “Why Obama’s Keystone Opposition Reeks Of Politics,” CNBC, 4/21/14)

CNBC Headline: “Why Obama’s Keystone Opposition Reeks Of Politics” (Ben White, “Why Obama’s Keystone Opposition Reeks Of Politics,” CNBC, 4/21/14)

CNBC’s John Harwood: The Keystone Delay Is “100 Percent Politics” And It Is Not The Finest Hour For The Obama Administration. JOHN HARWOOD: “On the other hand, they’ve got the donors, Tom Steyer you mentioned, others, you’ve got environmentally active voters in other places who they’re trying to get to turn out. Democrats have huge turnout problems in this election, Republican supporters have much more likely to show up. So I do think this is pretty much 100 percent politics in the delay of this decision. And it’s an administration that has got a couple years to go; they’re trying to prevent themselves from losing the Senate, you know, not get wiped out too badly in the House. And I think it’s kind of simple as that. It’s not the finest hour for the administration in terms of leadership.” (CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” 4/21/14)

And Don’t Count On Democrat Senators Who Claim To Support The Keystone Pipeline – They’re Siding With Harry Reid In Blocking It

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, With The Support Of Nearly All Senate Democrats, Used A Procedural Maneuver To Block A Vote On Keystone Pipeline. “Senate Democrats defeated Republican attempts to bring up amendments to an energy efficiency bill on Wednesday. Republicans filed a motion to table Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) amendments he used to ‘fill the tree’ but it failed on a 45-52 vote.” (Ramsey Cox, “Senate Dems Block GOP Attempt To Amend Energy Bill,” The Hill, 5/7/14)

Senators Mary Landrieu, Kay Hagan, Mark Udall And Mark Begich All Joined With Harry Reid, Killing A Vote On The Keystone XL Pipeline. (S. 2262, Roll Call Vote #132, Defeated 45-52: R 44-0; D 1-52, 5/7/14, Landrieu Voted Nay, Hagan Voted Nay, Begich Voted Nay)

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UDALL MAY TRY TO RUN, BUT HE CAN’T HIDE FROM YEARS OF SUPPORT FOR OBAMA’S AGENDA

In July, Udall Scrapped Plans To Appear With Obama At A Fundraiser In Colorado. “Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) scrapped plans to join President Obama at a fundraiser in his home state on Wednesday, saying that he needed to remain in Washington for last-minute votes. The absence of the vulnerable Colorado lawmaker will again raise questions about whether President Obama and his middling approval ratings are an asset or liability for Senate Democrats as they fight to keep control of the upper chamber this fall.” (Justin Sink, “Udall Cancels Appearance With Obama,” The Hill, 7/9/14)

Last January, Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) Refused To Say Whether He Would Have Obama Campaign For Him As He Seeks Reelection This Year. BASH: “Is he a liability for you, the president back home?  UDALL: When the President comes to Colorado, and talks about our all of the above energy approach, we’ve got lots of natural gas and solar power, that resonates with Coloradans.  When he talks about making sure our veterans are treated properly, that resonates with Coloradans.”  BASH: “Does that mean you’re going to campaign with him, or you’re going to have him campaign with you side by side?  UDALL:  “We are going to be running a strong campaign based on Colorado’s interests and Colorado’s future. my job, I think, is to protect Colorado’s way of life.” (CNN’s “The State Of The Union,” 1/28/14)

• During Several Attempts By CNN To Elicit An Answer, Udall “Evaded The Question” And Dodged Repeatedly. “When asked on CNN if the president is a liability for him here in Colorado, the senior senator evaded the question. ‘When the president comes to Colorado and talks about our all the above energy approach — we’ve got lots of natural gas, solar power, that resonates with Coloradans,’ said Udall, who went on to talk about veterans and women voters. … Only after a few more attempts did Udall say, ‘we’ll see what the president’s schedule is, we’ll see what my schedule is.’” (Kurtis Lee, “Sen. Udall Dodges Questions About Campaigning With President Obama,” The Denver Post, 1/28/14)

Udall’s Attempts To Run From Obama Are “Getting Laughs” Because He’s One Of Obama’s Biggest Supporters

The Denver Post: “U.S. Sen. Mark Udall’s Attempts To Distance Himself From President Obama And The White House Are Getting Laughs.” (Lynn Bartels, “CNN Makes Fun Of Mark Udall,” The Denver Post, 9/16/14)

• CNN’s John King Called Udall’s Attempts To Run From Obama “Poppycock.” “CNN show also noted that during Udall’s first Senate debate with his GOP challenger, Congressman Cory Gardner, Udall also tried to separate himself from the president. ‘Let me tell you, the White House when they look down the front lawn the last person they want to see coming is me,’ Udall said, as Gardner supporters at the Sept. 6 Club 20 debate hooted. ‘Poppycock,’ King said.” (Lynn Bartels, “CNN Makes Fun Of Mark Udall,” The Denver Post, 9/16/14)

Udall Voted With Obama 99 Percent Of The Time In 2013, According To The Non-Partisan Congressional Quarterly. (Presidential Support, Congressional Quarterly, 6/23/14)

• Since 2009, Udall Has Voted With Obama An Average Of 97 Percent Of The Time. (Sen. Mark Udall, Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 6/23/14)

Udall Voted With Liberal Democrats 96 Percent Of The Time In 2013. (Sen. Mark Udall, Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 6/23/14)

• Since 2009, Udall Voted With Liberal Democrats 92 Percent Of The Time. (Sen. Mark Udall, Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 6/23/14)

And Udall Was “Sweet” On Obama When He Ran For President In 2008 And 2012

Udall In October 2008 At A Campaign Rally With Obama: “Let Me Utter Two Really Sweet Words – President Obama. Will That Send A Message To The World Or What?” “And here’s Udall campaigning with Obama in 2008. At the event, Udall said, ‘Let me utter two really sweet words — President Obama. Will that send a message to the world or what?’” (Andrew Kaczynski, “Democratic Senator Who Campaigned With Obama In 2008 Won’t Say If He Will Again In 2014,” BuzzFeed, 1/29/14)

• At The 2008 Democratic National Convention, Udall Said The Country Was “Ready For Barack Obama.” UDALL: “My dad would be so proud to see a new generation gathered here in Colorado, the heart of the west, ready to lead.  Ready to make this country work again.  Ready for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.” (Mark Udall, Remarks At 2008 Democratic National Convention, 8/28/08)

Udall Said In 2012 That Obama Deserved A Second Term. UDALL: “President Obama is of course making the case, over this last nine days, about what he’d do if he is handed a second term and he would build on the successes of the last four years.  Now, we strapped the president into an airplane that heading to the ground at mach speed, he’s now righted that plane. We’ve got some lift. We are heading in the right direction. He deserves a second term.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 10/28/12)

UDALL LIED TO COLORADANS WHILE DEFENDING OBAMACARE

FLASHBACK: While Campaigning In 2008, Udall Promised Coloradans That He Wouldn’t Support A “Government-Sponsored” Health Care Solution. “The then-congressman, who was running for an open seat in the U.S. Senate, echoed arguments made by conservatives. ‘I’m not for a government-sponsored solution,” Udall said. “I’m for enhancing and improving the employer-based system that we have.’” (Lynn Bartels, “GOP Seizes On 2008 Statement By Mark Udall On Health Care Reform,” The Denver Post, 9/3/14)

Udall Broke His Promise To Coloradans That They Could Keep Their Plans

In September Of 2009, Udall Promised “If You Have An Insurance  Policy You Like, A Doctor Or Medical Facility That Provides Medical Services To You, You’ll Be Able To Keep Your Doctor Or Your Plan.” “‘If you have an insurance  policy you like, a doctor or medical facility that provides medical services to you, you’ll be able to keep your doctor or your plan,’ Udall told a reporter with Fox21 News in September 2009.” (Christina Salvo, “Sen. Mark Udall Talks On Health Care Reform,” Fox 21 News, 9/2/09)

“Since 2013, There Have Been About 340,000” Health Care Plans That Have Been Cancelled In Colorado Leading Up To ObamaCare’s Implementation. “Since 2013, there have been about 340,000 policy cancelations in Colorado. Many customers received notices last fall as the Affordable Care Act was rolling out.” (Electa Draper, “Colorado Says 2,100 Health Plans Were Canceled In Last Two Months,” The Denver Post, 8/21/14)

• This Year, 6,150 Coloradans Have Had Their Health Care Plans Cancelled. “The Colorado Division of Insurance has reported that there were about 2,100 health-plan cancellations in the state over the past two months, bringing this year’s total to more than 6,150.” (Electa Draper, “Colorado Says 2,100 Health Plans Were Canceled In Last Two Months,” The Denver Post, 8/21/14)

Udall Claimed ObamaCare Was “Tailor-Made” For Small Business, But Colorado Businesses Are Being Forced To Drop Plans

Udall Boasted That ObamaCare Is “Tailor-Made” To Help Small Businesses Facing High Health Care Premiums.  UDALL: “That lack of freedom affects our economy because fostering the growth of small business is one of the keys to economic success. In our current system, Americans are afraid to follow their dreams and start a small business or travel to go to work for a new company. Small businesses run on thinner margins than their big-company counterparts, and they are being hit hardest by the rise in health care costs. In Colorado, we have a disproportionate share of small businesses. As a result, we have more citizens who are uninsured. Those who do offer benefits are finding themselves increasingly facing no-win decisions. They are faced with either hiring fewer employees or slashing benefits or dropping coverage completely or, in some cases, going out of business forever.  The proposals in front of us are tailor-made to help small businesses. The ideas in place would provide tax credits and create a simplified, well-regulated, pooled marketplace to help small businesses find cheaper and higher quality coverage.” (Sen. Mark Udall, Floor Remarks, 9/23/09)

“In Colorado, Regulators Said Small-Group Plans Covering 143,000 People Are Being Discontinued In 2014.” (Ariana Eunjung Cha, “Second Wave Of Health-Insurance Disruption Affects Small Businesses,” The Washington Post, 1/11/14)

Many Small Businesses Will Receive A Cancellation Letter In October 2014, Right Before The November Midterm Elections. “While some cancellation notices already have gone out, insurers say the bulk of the letters will be sent in October, shortly before the next open-enrollment period begins. The timing — right before the midterm elections — could be difficult for Democrats who are already fending off Republican attacks about the Affordable Care Act and its troubled rollout.” (Ariana Eunjung Cha, “Second Wave Of Health-Insurance Disruption Affects Small Businesses,” The Washington Post, 1/11/14)

• The Department Of Health And Human Services Estimated 80 Percent Of Small Business Health Plans Will Be Cancelled, Affecting As Many As 46 Million Americans. “An estimated 18 million to 24 million people in the United States have insurance through employers with fewer than 50 workers, and about 40 million have coverage through firms with fewer than 100 workers. The Department of Health and Human Services estimated in 2010 that up to 80 percent of small-group plans, defined as having fewer than 100 workers, could be discontinued by the end of 2013. But many small employers bought themselves extra time by renewing policies early through the end of 2014.” (Ariana Eunjung Cha, “Second Wave Of Health-Insurance Disruption Affects Small Businesses,” The Washington Post, 1/11/14)

Udall Claimed ObamaCare “Will Free Americans” From “Never-Ending Cost Increases” But Coloradans Are Facing Double-Digit Hikes

Udall: ObamaCare “Will Free Americans From The Shackles Of Never-Ending Cost Increases …The Fact Is … It Saves Money.” UDALL: “This week, I watched as President Obama signed into law the kind of reforms that will free Americans from the shackles of never-ending cost increases, dropped coverage and unfair practices that put profits above the provision of care. … The fact is, Mr. President, that the historic bill signed by President Obama saves lives, it saves money, and it saves Medicare.” (Press Release, “Udall: Health Insurance Reform Saves Lives, Saves Money, And Saves Medicare,” Sen. Mark Udall, 3/26/10)

According To Preliminary Filings, Colorado Residents And Businesses Are Facing Up To A 10 Percent Increase In Health Insurance Premiums. “Colorado residents and small businesses could face anywhere from a 10 percent increase in their health insurance premiums next year to a 10 percent drop in prices, according to a preliminary study of rate filings issued Monday by the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI).” (Ed Sealover, “Division Of Insurance: Colorado Health Premiums Are Both Increasing And De-Creasing Next Year,” Denver Business Journal, 6/23/14)

UDALL IS AN UNABASHED SUPPORTER OF OBAMA’S ENERGY POLICIES

Udall Sided With Obama In Obstructing The Keystone Pipeline

In June, Udall Voted Against The Keystone XL Pipeline. “Rarely has a dead-end vote caused this much trouble for U.S. Sen. Mark Udall. But on Wednesday the Colorado Democrat was forced, once again, to pick sides in the fight over the Keystone pipeline — an issue that has stalked his re-election campaign for months. A self-proclaimed moderate, Udall has tried to court both environmentalists and the energy industry as he attempts to win a second term against U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma.” (Mark K. Matthews, “Mark Udall Votes ‘No’ On Keystone, Says More Time Needed,” Denver Post, 6/18/14)

• The Denver Post: “So It’s Disappointing To See Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., Once Again Vote Against The Pipeline, As He Did Wednesday In The Senate Energy Committee.”  “So it’s disappointing to see Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., once again vote against the pipeline, as he did Wednesday in the Senate energy committee. Officially, Udall claims to have no position, his spokesman saying he “believes the technical review needs to be seen through to the end.” But nearly everyone recognizes that the delay by the federal government’s side is political, given the number of studies and how long this process has dragged on.” (Editorial, “Mark Udall’s Latest Dodge On Keystone XL Pipeline,” Denver Post, 6/18/14)

Udall Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Provided For The Approval And Construction Of The Keystone Pipeline. “To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to promote investment and job growth in United States manufacturing, oil and gas production, and refining sectors through the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.” (S. Amdt. 494 To S. Con. Res. 8, Roll Call Vote #61: Adopted 62-37, 3/22/13, Warren Voted Nay, Udall Voted Nay)

Udall Supports Obama’s War On Coal That Could Cost Coloradans Thousands Of Jobs And Hit Families With Higher Energy Prices

Udall Called Obama’s New Rules On Coal A “Good Start.” “Sen. Mark Udall was a rare embattled Democrat from an energy-rich state today to praise EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas emissions rule for power plants, calling it a ‘good start’ that can build on Colorado’s green efforts.” (“Sen. Mark Udall: EPA Rule ‘A Good Start,’” Politico, 6/2/14)

The Head Of The Colorado Mining Association Says The New EPA Regulations Could Cost Coloradans “Up To 9,000 Jobs” And Raise Their Electricity Prices “By As Much As 49 Percent.” “More pain is yet to come. Under the EPA proposal, a complex formula will determine how states meet greenhouse gas-reduction targets. But independent studies using realistic estimates of energy efficiency savings warn of what lies ahead. An analysis by NERA — an independent consulting firm — of the EPA’s regulatory model shows Colorado’s electricity prices could increase by as much as 49 percent. The proposal could also cause the loss of up to 9,000 jobs in Colorado and the West, including those at the mines, which pay wages and benefits in excess of $116,000 annually.” (Stuart Sanderson, “EPA’s Rule On Carbon Emissions Will Hurt Colorado,” The Denver Post, 7/26/14)

• 11 Coal-Fired Electric Generating Units In Colorado, Representing 1,172 Megawatts Are Already Shutting Down Or Converting Due To EPA Policies. (Coal Unit Shutdowns, American Coalition For Clean Coal Electricity, 7/28/14)

EVEN UDALL’S CONTROVERSIAL FOREIGN POLICY POSITION MIRRORS OBAMA

“Democratic Sen. Mark Udall Of Colorado Doesn’t Believe That The Islamic State Of Iraq And Syria Terror Group Is An Immediate Threat To The Homeland.” (“Dem Senator: ISIS Is Not An Immediate Threat To The Homeland,” The Associated Press, 9/4/14)

• Udall: “I Don’t Take ISIL As An Immediate Threat To The Homeland…” QUESTION: “So I hear you take it as seriously?” UDALL: “I take it as a very serious threat. I don’t take ISIL as an immediate threat to the homeland but this is why it’s so important that we’re knocking them back now with targeted air strikes and why it’s important that we’re calling on Sunni moderates and why we’re calling on the Arab governments to take a leading role in challenging what are their people for the most part.” (9News, 9/2/14)
• Udall “Received Criticism” For His Comments Downplaying The Threat Of ISIS. “Udall, who sits on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, also has received criticism for arguing that ISIS is not ‘an immediate threat to the homeland.’” (Ashley Killough, “Senator Apologizes For Invoking Names Of Slain Journalists In Policy Argument,” CNN, 9/9/14)

Obama Similarly Claimed ISIS “Doesn’t Immediately Threaten The Homeland.” OBAMA: “The good news is that we actually have a unprecedented military capacity, and since 9/11 have built up a security apparatus that makes us in the here and now pretty safe.  We have to be vigilant, but this doesn’t immediately threaten the homeland.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At DCCC Event, Newport, RI, 8/29/14)

According To A Recent CNN Poll, “Americans Are Increasingly Concerned That ISIS Represents A Direct Terror Threat.” “Americans are increasingly concerned that ISIS represents a direct terror threat, fearful that ISIS agents are living in the United States, according to a new CNN/ORC International poll. Most now support military action against the terrorist group.” (Mark Preston, “CNN Poll Finds Majority Of Americans Alarmed By ISIS,” CNN, 9/8/14)

• “Seven In 10 Americans Believe ISIS Has The Resources To Launch An Attack Against The United States…” “Seven in 10 Americans believe ISIS has the resources to launch an attack against the United States, just days before President Barack Obama plans to address the nation on the subject.” (Mark Preston, “CNN Poll Finds Majority Of Americans Alarmed By ISIS,” CNN, 9/8/14)

UDALL’S ADMIRATION FOR OBAMA IS STARTING TO HURT HIM AT THE POLLS

Recent Polls Show Udall “Falling Behind” In His Re-Election Race. “A pair of polls released show Democratic Sen. Mark Udall falling behind his Republican opponent in the tight Colorado race for his seat. A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday shows Udall trailing Rep. Cory Gardner by eight points. The poll comes less than a day after a USA Today/Suffolk University poll showed the race as a statistical dead heat, with Gardner leading the incumbent, 43% to 42%.” (Jeremy Diamond, “Udall Is Starting To Trail His GOP Opponent, Two Polls Say,” CNN, 9/18/14)

According To A Quinnipiac University Poll, Cory Gardner Leads Udall, 48-40 Percent Among Likely Voters. “Colorado U.S. Sen. Mark Udall trails U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, his Republican challenger, 48 – 40 percent among likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.” (“GOP Challenger Leads Udall In Colorado Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Than One-Third Are Voting Against Obama,” Quinnipiac University, 9/18/14)

According To A USA Today/Suffolk University Poll, Gardner Leads Udal, 43-42 Percent Among Likely Voters. “The survey shows Udall at 42%, Republican challenger Cory Gardner at 43% in what is essentially a tie. The poll of 500 likely voters, taken Saturday through Tuesday, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.” (Susan Page, “Poll: In Colorado, Obama Is A Drag On Democrats,” USA Today, 9/17/14)

Udall’s Support For Obama Has Become A Drag On His Campaign

Obama Has “Emerged As A Drag On The Re-Election Prospects Of Democratic Sen. Mark Udall And Gov. John Hickenlooper.” “In Colorado, the state where Barack Obama was first nominated for the White House, he has emerged as a drag on the re-election prospects of Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and Gov. John Hickenlooper, a USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll finds.” (Susan Page, “Poll: In Colorado, Obama Is A Drag On Democrats,” USA Today, 9/17/14)

USA Today: “The Negative Back-And-Forth Is Apparent When The Poll Asked Respondents What Came To Mind When They Heard The Candidates’ Names. For Udall, The Most Frequent Specific Responses Were ‘Obama Follower/Puppet,’ ‘Liberal’ And ‘Dishonest/Untrustworthy.’” (Susan Page, “Poll: In Colorado, Obama Is A Drag On Democrats,” USA Today, 9/17/14)

According To A Quinnipiac Poll, 37 Percent Of Likely Voters In Colorado Say Their Vote For Senate “Is A Vote Against President Barack Obama.” “Their U.S. Senate vote is a vote against President Barack Obama, 37 percent of Colorado likely voters say, while 13 percent say it is a vote for the president and 49 percent say Obama is not much of a factor.” (“GOP Challenger Leads Udall In Colorado Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Than One-Third Are Voting Against Obama,” Quinnipiac University, 9/18/14)

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Biden, Right Before His First Gaffe Of The Week: “No One Ever Doubts That I Mean What I Say. The Problem Is I Sometimes Say All That I Mean.” (Jeff Simon, “Joe Biden Stepped In It. Again.” The Washington Post, 9/17/14)

OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS THIS WEEK, BIDEN HAS COMMITTED FOUR DIFFERENT GAFFES

Biden Referred To Lenders Of “Bad Loans” To People Serving In The Military As “Shylocks,” A Derogatory Term For Jews. BIDEN: “‘That’s one of the things that he finds was most in need when he was over there in Iraq for a year,’ Biden said, ‘that people would come to him and talk about what was happening to them at home in terms of foreclosures, in terms of bad loans that were being…I mean these Shylocks who took advantage of, um, these women and men while overseas.’” (Ashley Killough, “Jewish Group Chides Biden For Using ‘Offensive’ Term,” CNN, 9/17/14)

• Abraham Foxman, Anti-Defamation League National Director: “Shylock Represents The Medieval Stereotype About Jews And Remains An Offensive Characterization To This Day. The Vice President Should Have Been More Careful.” (Ashley Killough, “Jewish Group Chides Biden For Using ‘Offensive’ Term,” CNN, 9/17/14)

While Recalling A Meeting With The First Prime Minister Of Singapore, Biden Referred To Him As “The Wisest Man In The Orient.” “‘On the way back from Mumbai to go meet with President Xi in China, I stopped in Singapore to meet with a guy named Lee Kuan Yew, who most foreign policy experts around the world say is the wisest man in the Orient,’ explained Biden in his remarks at a kick-off rally for the Nuns on the Bus ‘We the People, We the Voters’ bus tour.” (Sean Sullivan, “Joe Biden Pulls Off A Gaffe Hat Trick,” The Washington Post’s Post Politics Blog, 9/17/14)

• The Word “Orient” Is Not Just Outdated But Is Seen As Offensive When Used In Reference To People. “The word ‘Orient’ is considered widely outdated and could be perceived as offensive, or insensitive, especially when used in reference to people.” (Shushannah Walshe, “Joe Biden Refers To Asia As ‘The Orient,’” ABC’s The Note Blog, 9/17/14)

At A Diner, Biden Talked About The Possibility Of Committing Ground Troops To Fight ISIS In Iraq, After Obama Had Rejected Such The Option Earlier In The Day. “After leaving a rally in Des Moines, Biden unexpectedly made news at a diner when he seemingly opened the door to committing ground troops to fight the Islamic State in Iraq, an option the Obama administration has diligently batted down as it has moved to expand air strikes in the region — and that President Obama himself rejected anew in remarks at MacDill Air Force Base Wednesday. ‘The American forces that have been deployed to Iraq do not and will not have a combat mission,’ he said.” (Sean Sullivan, “Joe Biden Pulls Off A Gaffe Hat Trick,” The Washington Post’s Post Politics Blog, 9/17/14)

Speaking To A British Newspaper, Biden Said He Was “A Little Worried” That Everywhere Prince Harry Went Biden’s Wife Accompanied Him, Asking The Reporter “You Know What I Mean?” “‘No, not just the vote tomorrow,’ he said. ‘But my wife was with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games. And I read in the Guardian, or one of them, and it says – I’m paraphrasing – everywhere Prince Harry went, he had this blonde woman on his arm. The vice-president’s wife! I’m a little worried here, you know what I mean?’ The vice-president, everyone in Washington knows, has a propensity to put his foot in his mouth.” (Paul Lewis, “Joe Biden: ‘My Wife Was With Prince Harry. I’m A Little Worried – You Know What I Mean?,” The Guardian, 9/17/14)

• According To The Guardian, Biden’s Comments Hinted “At Harry’s Reputation As Something Of A Cad.” “Vice-president tells the Guardian’s Paul Lewis about his wife’s weekend with the prince – and hints at Harry’s reputation as something of a cad” (Paul Lewis, “Joe Biden: ‘My Wife Was With Prince Harry. I’m A Little Worried – You Know What I Mean?,” The Guardian, 9/17/14)

FOR BIDEN, THIS WEEK JUST ADDS TO A LONG LIST OF GAFFES AND INSENSITIVE REMARKS

Throughout His Career, Biden Has Made Many Racially And Culturally Insensitive Remarks

In October 2012, At A Restaurant In Florida, Biden Asked A Patron, “Are You Indian?” “According to the pool report, a man came up to Biden as he was greeting patrons shouting, ‘You’ve got to get a picture with some guys!’ Biden turned to the group of guys, then, according to the pool report, Biden asked one of them, ‘Are you Indian?’ ‘American!’ the man responded. ‘No, I mean first generation,’ Biden replied, ‘with the further explanation of what he was saying being inaudible to the pool.’” (Zeke Miller, “Joe Biden: ‘Are You Indian?’ Man: ‘American!’” BuzzFeed, 10/31/12)

Campaigning In Iowa In 2012, Biden Introduced Himself As “Joe Finnegan” To A Woman With An Irish Last Name. “Karen Foley, 35, approached and introduced herself, saying, ‘Hi, nice to meet you.’  VPOTUS chatted for a minute or two with her.  Later Ms. Foley told pooler that VPOTUS jokingly introduced himself, saying ‘I’m Joe Finnegan’ because her own last name is Irish.  ‘I said, ‘No you’re not.  I know who you are.’  He said, ‘You’re very pretty.’  After Ms. Foley said she was a state employee in the Department of Human Services, she said, ‘He said he didn’t want to keep us from our lunch and soak up taxpayer money.’’”  (Alexander Burns, “From Bidenopoulos To Finnegan,” Politico’s 44, 10/4/12)

Visiting A Restaurant In August 2012, Joe Biden Greeted Greek Americans By Saying, “I’m Joe Bidenopoulos.” “The vice president strode into a local restaurant here with a message for the Greek-Americans enjoying their lunch: ‘I’m Joe Bidenopoulos.’” (Jennifer Epstein, “VP: ‘I’m Joe Bidenopoulos,’” Politico’s “44,” 8/31/12)

At A Campaign Event In Virginia In 2012, Biden Told The Audience That Republicans Would “Put You All Back In Chains.” “Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday that a Republican-led effort to loosen new regulations on Wall Street would put voters ‘back in chains.’ ‘Romney wants to, he said in the first 100 days, he’s gonna let the big banks again write their own rules,’ Biden said of the GOP nominee’s proposals to roll back the Obama administration’s financial reforms. ‘Unchain Wall Street!’ Lowering his voice, Biden added, ‘They’re going to put you all back in chains.’ Danville city is about 48 percent black, according to 2011 census numbers. The audience of about 800 at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research here in Danville reflected the area’s demography.” (Carrie Dann, “Biden Tells Audience Banks Would Put Them ‘Back In Chains,’” NBC News’ “First Read,” 8/14/12)

In January 2012, Biden Imitated An Indian Accent When Talking About Call Center Jobs. “In a speech in New Hampshire on Thursday, while talking about call center jobs, United States vice president Joe Biden appeared to slip into an ‘Indian’ accent before thinking better of it and stopping in mid-sentence.”  (Heather Timmons, “Oh No, Joe! The Indian Accent Comes Again,” The New York Times’ “India Ink,” 6/5/12)

In 2011, Biden Endorsed China’s One Child Policy, Which Includes Forced-Sterilization And Abortion. “Vice President Biden has emphatically backed away from his apparent endorsement of China’s one-child policy. …The one-child policy has rested on coercion, including forced sterilization and abortion, as well as incentives.” (Editorial, “Mr. Biden Stumbles In China, Twice,” The Washington Post, 8/24/11)

• Biden: “Your Policy Has Been One Which I Fully Understand – I’m Not Second Guessing – Of One Child Per Family.”  (Vice President Joe Biden, Remarks On U.S.-China Relations At Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, 8/21/11)

During A Debate In 2007, Biden Said He Traveled To The “Black Sections” Of His Town To Promote AIDs Testing And Condom Use. BIDEN: “I spent last summer going through the black sections of my town, holding rallies in parks, trying to get black men to understand it is not unmanly to wear a condom, getting women to understand they can say no, getting people in the position where testing matters. I got tested for AIDS.” (Sen. Joe Biden, PBS All American Forum At Howard University, Washington, DC, 6/28/07)

• “At That, Obama Shot Biden A You’ve-Got-To-Be-Kidding Glance.” (Michael Finnegan and Peter Nicholas, “Democrats Court Black Audience,” Los Angeles Times, 6/29/07)

The Day Biden Announced His 2008 Presidential Bid, He Called Obama “The First Mainstream African-American Who Is Articulate And Bright And Clean And A Nice-Looking Guy.” “Senator Joe Biden, D-Del., the loquacious chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who launched his presidential campaign today, may be experiencing an ailment not entirely unknown to him: foot in mouth disease. Biden is taking some heat for comments he made to the New York Observer, in which he said of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., a rival for the nomination: ‘I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that’s a storybook, man.’” (Jake Tapper, “A Biden Problem: Foot In Mouth,” ABC News, 1/31/07)

• Biden Was Forced To Defend His Statement Immediately After Announcing His Bid For The White House. “Biden got right to the matter that has threatened his candidacy before it even gets off the ground. The Delaware senator spent his first day as an official candidate …explaining his statement that Obama is ‘the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean,’ raising questions about how he viewed other blacks (sic) candidates.” (Nedra Pickler, “Biden Tells Dems He Regrets Obama Remark,” The Associated Press, 2/3/07)

On Fox News In 2006, Biden Bragged That His “State Was A Slave State.” BIDEN: “You don’t know my state. My state was a slave state, my state is a border state, my state is the eighth largest black population in the country. My state is anything from a northeast liberal state.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 8/27/06)

In January 2006, Biden Made Insensitive Comments About Indian-Americans, Claiming An Indian Accent Is Required To Go To 7-Elevens In Delaware. BIDEN: “You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin Donuts [in Delaware] unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.” (Mark Leibovich, “Political Memo; Voters Hearing Countless Ways Of Saying ‘Sorry,’” The New York Times, 9/1/06)

And Biden Has Made Many Inappropriate Gaffes And Jokes

In 2012, Biden Told An Awkward Joke About The “Thin Walls” in His Family’s Home While Addressing La Raza’s Annual Conference. “‘It was wonderful for children,’ Biden began. ‘By the way — having your grandpop living with you, having your great aunt, your uncle, for real. Those walls were awful thin. I wonder how the hell my parents did it. But that’s a different story. I know you don’t know anything about that. I know none of you in your families have done the same thing.’” (Matthew Larotonda, “Biden’s Awkward Sex Joke: Big Family, Thin Walls,” ABC News’ “OTUS,” 7/10/12)

In July 2010, When Asked If We Have Any Spies As “Hot” As Russian Spy Anna Chapman, Biden Said “Let Me Be Clear. It Wasn’t My Idea To Send Her Back.”  NBC’S JAY LENO: “Yeah, OK. Now, show — now, this Russian woman here — let me ask you something, and you would know this, Mr. Vice President. Do we have any spies that hot?” BIDEN: “Let me make it clear. It wasn’t my idea to send her back. I thought maybe they’d take Rush Limbaugh or something. That would’ve been a good move.” (NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” 7/9/10) 

In Aprils 2010, Biden, Referring To His Wife: “I’ve Been Sleeping With A Teacher For A Long Time.” “Hosting a National Teacher of the Year reception at the Naval Observatory Monday night, Biden reminded a crowd of some 70 attendees just how intimately familiar he is with education. ‘I’ve been sleeping with a teacher for a long time,’ Biden said, according to the pool report, alluding to his wife Jill. ‘But it’s always been the same teacher.’”(Alexander Burns, “VP: ‘Sleeping With A Teacher,” Politico, 4/27/10)

In 2010, During A Title IX Speech At George Washington University, Joe Biden Referred To Women’s Lacrosse Players As “Gazelles”. BIDEN: “‘Women’s lacrosse is my favorite sport. It’s like watching gazelles.’” (Joe Biden, Title IX Speech, George Washington University, 4/20/10)

Even When He’s Promoting Obama And The Administration’s Policies, Biden Often Stumbles Over Himself

In 2013, Speaking At An Event To Highlight The Administration’s Infrastructure Plan, Biden Referred To The Panamanian President By The Wrong Name. BIDEN: “Well by, 2015, if they stay on schedule – and I’m heading down to meet with President Martinez in Panama in a couple weeks to go look at the canal and deal with some other things with Panama.” (Vice President Joe Biden, Remarks At CSX Northwest Ohio Intermodal Terminal, North Baltimore, OH, 11/6/13)

In May 2012 Biden Said He Doesn’t “Blame” West Virginia Democrats For Voting For A Felon Over Obama. BIDEN: “A brother, a sister a friend, a neighbor. When you’re out of work, man, it’s a depression. And a lot of people are still hurting because of this god-awful recession we inherited that cost 8.4 million jobs before we could really get going. And so I don’t blame people, they’re frustrated, they’re angry.”(Vice President Joe Biden, WTOV-TV, 5/17/12)

In 2010, When Obama Signed His Health Care Legislation, Biden Called It A Big F______ Deal. “And on Tuesday, immediately following his introduction of President Obama during the health care bill’s signing ceremony, he turned to the Commander in Chief and uttered the following barely-off microphone comment: ‘This is a big f______ deal.’ With his use of the F word, Biden offered the ultimate blue-collar acknowledgment of a job well done.” (“Biden’s BFD Moment” Time, 3/27/12)

During An Interview On CBS Promoting The Stimulus’ Website In February 2009, Biden Could Not Remember The Site’s “Number.” BIDEN: “You know, I’m embarrassed. Do you know the website number? You know, I should have it in front of me and I don’t. I’m actually embarrassed.”(CBS’ “Early Show,” 2/25/09) 

At A January 30, 2009 Swearing-In Ceremony Of Senior White House Staff, Biden Mocked Chief Justice John Roberts For His Presidential Oath Blunder On Inauguration Day. “‘Am I doing this again?’ Biden said, after Obama asked him to administer the oath. When Biden was told the swearing-in was for senior staff — and not cabinet members — the vice president quipped, ‘My memory is not as good as Justice Roberts,’ prompting a stern nudge from Obama.” (“Biden’s List Of Political Blunders,” Fox News, 6/28/09)

• “Mr. Obama Stood Silently Next To Mr. Biden And Appeared To Just Barely Shake His Head.” “But the new president was not amused by Mr. Biden’s crack. As some in the audience drew in breath and gave low ‘oohs,’ Mr. Obama stood silently next to Mr. Biden and appeared to just barely shake his head.” (Jon Ward, “Biden Gaffe Comes At Roberts’ Expense,” The Washington Times, 1/21/09)

In October 2008, Biden Warned A Crowd To “Gird Your Loins” Should Obama Be Elected Because “An International Crisis” Would Test Him. “‘Mark my words,’ the Democratic vice presidential nominee warned at the second of his two Seattle fundraisers Sunday. ‘It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We’re about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.’ … Biden said to Emerald City supporters, mentioning the Middle East and Russia as possibilities. … ‘Gird your loins,’ Biden told the crowd.” (Kate Barrett, “Biden To Supporters: ‘Gird Your Loins’, For The Next President “It’s Like Cleaning Augean Stables,” ABC’s Political Radar Blog, 10/20/08)

While Campaigning In 2008, Biden Called Jobs A Three Letter Word. “With the economy floundering, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., told Ohio voters today that he and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., would focus on one specific issue that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has neglected. ‘Look, John’s last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S,’ the Democratic veep nominee said at a morning rally in Athens.”(Nate Gewargis, “Oh, That Joe! (No. 29 In A Series) – Obama & Biden’s Three-Letter Word: J-O-B-S,” ABC News’ “Political Punch,” 10/15/08)

In August 2008, During His First Campaign Rally As Obama’s Vice Presidential Candidate, Biden Introduced Obama As “Barack America.” “During his first campaign rally with Obama as his vice presidential running mate on Aug. 23, 2008, Biden introduced Obama by saying, ‘A man I’m proud to call my friend. A man who will be the next President of the United States — Barack America!’” (“Biden’s List Of Political Blunders,” Fox News, 6/28/09)

It’s No Wonder Biden Consistently Flubs His Remarks, He Hasn’t Taken His Job Seriously

Biden: “It’s Easy Being Vice President — You Don’t Have To Do Anything.” “There have been some tense moments during today’s health care summit at the Blair House, but not for Vice President Joe Biden, it seems. Just moments before the afternoon session got underway, C-SPAN’s cameras picked up audio of Biden chatting casually with participants. ‘It’s easy being vice president — you don’t have to do anything.’ Whomever Biden was chatting with said, ‘It’s like being the grandpa and not the parent.’ ‘Yeah, that’s it!’ replied Biden.” (Patrick Gavin, “Joe Biden: It’s Easy Being Vice President,” Politico, 2/25/10)

• Biden Said He Wouldn’t Want To Be A Mayor Because A Mayor Is A “Real Job. You Have To Produce.” BIDEN: “I never had an interest in being a mayor ‘cause that’s a real job. You have to produce. That’s why I was able to be a senator for 36 years.’” (Jennifer Bendery, “Joe Biden: If We Lose Election, It Could Be To ‘Barrage Of Super PAC Money,’” The Huffington Post, 3/30/14)

In 2010, Biden Accidentally Claimed He Was Second In Line Of Succession To The Presidency Instead Of First. “Someone tell VP Biden he’s 1st in the line of succession to the presidency. In remarks just now, he said he was 2nd. House Speaker is 2nd.” (Mark Knoller, Twitter Feed, 9/20/10)

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In 2011, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) Claimed That Once Cover Oregon - The State’s ObamaCare Exchange – Was Completed It Would “Provide A Template For Other States To Follow.” “‘Oregon has a reputation for innovation in health care. This grant is a vote of confidence in our state’s leadership in developing the health information technology backbone needed to operate the exchange,’ Merkley said. ‘When completed, the exchange will help Oregonians compare private health insurance plans and enroll in the plan that best fits their situation as well as provide a template for other states to follow.’” (Sen. Jeff Merkley, “Merkley, Wyden Announce $48 Million To Help Oregonians Purchase Health Insurance Through Online Exchange,” Press Release, 2/17/11)

The Oregonian : Cover Oregon Has Been “A Train Wreck” Since Launching A Year Ago And Has Been “A Serial Embarrassment For Everyone Involved.” The state-sponsored online service to help Oregonians buy health insurance has been a train wreck since failing, nearly a year ago, to launch successfully and as promised. It’s been a costly and serial embarrassment to just about everyone involved, none more so than Gov. John Kitzhaber, who separately championed a restructuring of care under the Oregon Health Plan and won the financial support of federal officials to do so. Meanwhile, ugly litigation between Oregon and its prime site contractor, Oracle, has stolen most everyone’s attention. (Editorial, “With Cover Oregon, Enough Is Enough,” The Oregonian, 9/11/14)

• Facing Reelection, Merkley Is Distancing Himself From The ObamaCare Rollout. “It’s not just red-state Democrats, like Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, distancing themselves from the law. It’s blue-state senators like Oregon’s Jeff Merkley and New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen — and top blue-state recruits like Michigan’s Gary Peters and Iowa’s Bruce Braley, who voted for GOP legislation Friday that the White House said would ‘gut’ the law.” (Josh Kraushaar, “Why ObamaCare Is On Life Support,” National Journal, 11/18/13)

COVER OREGON CONTINUES TO HURT OREGONIANS

Due To Calculation Errors, Oregon Households Will “Owe Money To The Federal Government”

775 Households In Oregon Will “Owe Money To The Federal Government” After Being Given “Tax Credits That Were Too Large.” “Cover Oregon has identified 775 households that will owe money to the federal government because they were given tax credits that were too large, the agency’s director told a state legislative committee on Monday.” (Jonathan J. Cooper, “Cover Oregon: Tax Credit Error Hit At Least 775 Who Will Owe Money,” The Associated Press, 9/15/14)

• Of The More Than 42,000 Families That Received Credits, Officials “Reviewed 92 Percent Of Them For Errors.” “More than 42,000 families got tax credits beginning in January, and Cover Oregon officials have reviewed 92 percent of them for errors. Sixty-two percent of the identified tax credit errors were for less than $2 per month, but 4 percent of the affected households had errors of more than $100 per month, said Cover Oregon Executive Director Aaron Patnode.” (Jonathan J. Cooper, “Cover Oregon: Tax Credit Error Hit At Least 775 Who Will Owe Money,” The Associated Press , 9/15/14)

Cover Oregon Executive Director Aaron Patnode: “About 3,400 Households Still Need To Be Reviewed, Primarily Those With Complicated Situations Such As A Change In Coverage During The Year.” “About 3,400 households still need to be reviewed, primarily those with complicated situations such as a change in coverage during the year, Patnode said. Officials will get in touch with the customers who will owe money when they file their federal taxes.” (Jonathan J. Cooper, “Cover Oregon: Tax Credit Error Hit At Least 775 Who Will Owe Money,” The Associated Press, 9/15/14)

• “Cover Oregon Officials Have Acknowledged They Used An Incorrect Formula To Calculate Tax Credits For People Purchasing Private Health Plans Through The State’s Insurance Marketplace.” (Jonathan J. Cooper, “Cover Oregon: Tax Credit Error Hit At Least 775 Who Will Owe Money,” The Associated Press , 9/15/14)

Oregonians Are “Incorrectly Enrolled” Into The Wrong Plans

Troubles With The Oregon Health Exchanges Caused 1,400 Oregonians To Be “Incorrectly Enrolled Into The Low-Income” Health Plan. “Cover Oregon will hold a special open enrollment period for 1,400 Oregonians who were incorrectly enrolled into the low-income Oregon Health Plan by the state’s troubled health insurance exchange.” (Nick Budnick, “Cover Oregon: At Least 2,000 Oregonians Need To Change Coverage Due To Health Exchange Errors,” The Oregonian, 8/27/14)

• Due To Website Problems, Starting Aug. 31, The People Affected Will Have No Coverage And Will Be Forced To Sign Up Through A Private Insurer. “Starting Aug. 31, the people affected will have no coverage through the OHP, the state’s version of Medicaid. However, they will have the option to sign up for coverage from private insurers and to qualify for tax credits through Cover Oregon to bring down premiums.” (Nick Budnick, “Cover Oregon: At Least 2,000 Oregonians Need To Change Coverage Due To Health Exchange Errors,” The Oregonian, 8/27/14)

700 Oregonians Were “Incorrectly Enrolled In A Commercial Health Plan.” “Meanwhile, Cover Oregon is contacting at least 700 people who should have been enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, but were incorrectly enrolled in a commercial health plan instead.” (Nick Budnick, “Cover Oregon: At Least 2,000 Oregonians Need To Change Coverage Due To Health Exchange Errors,” The Oregonian, 8/27/14)

THE FAILED COVER OREGON EXCHANGE HAS ALREADY COST $250 MILLION

Cover Oregon Has Spent Nearly $250 Million In Federal Grant Money To Produce A Failed Exchange. “Cover Oregon and its partner state agency, the Oregon Health Authority, spent upwards to $250 million and never produced a fully functional website. The debacle led to intense media scrutiny and withering criticism.” (Jeff Manning, “Cover Oregon: Retention Bonuses Offered To Employees Who Stick Around,” The Oregonian, 6/24/14)

•  Oregon Received A Total Of $305 Million In Grants To Build Its ObamaCare Exchange. “The federal government has issued a total of $305 million in grants to Oregon to perform feasibility studies as well as to build, test and operate the exchange. An unknown fraction of those grants have been spent.” (Dan Mangan, “Congressmen Want Probe Of Oregon’s Obamacare Exchange,” CNBC, 2/13/14)

Cover Oregon Officials Recently Decided To Scrap Its Exchange And Switch To The Federal Exchange. “Cover Oregon, the health exchange created under the Affordable Care Act, has faced major problems for months, and officials last month agreed to scrap their planned state-run exchange that was meant to connect residents with private insurance options.” (Damian Paletta and Devlin Barrett, “FBI Scrutinizing Health Law Implementation Flaws in Oregon,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/4/14)

• Cover Oregon’s Transition To The Federal Exchange Will Cost Up To $6 Million More In Taxpayer Money. “A consultant’s analysis for Cover Oregon recently concluded that it would cost $4 million to $6 million to move into the federal insurance marketplace, a fraction of the expense of refurbishing the exchange’s existing technology.” (Amy Goldstein, “Obama Administration Prepares To Take Over Oregon’s Broken Health Insurance Exchange,” The Washington Post , 4/24/14)

AND TO TOP IT OFF, THE COVER OREGON ROLLOUT IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY MULTIPLE FEDERAL AGENCIES

“Multiple Congressional And Government Probes … Are Already Under Way.” “Multiple congressional and government probes into what went wrong in Oregon are already under way, and it hasn’t been determined whether the failed effort was a result of incompetence or if taxpayer money was abused and mishandled.” (Damian Paletta and Devlin Barrett, “FBI Scrutinizing Health Law Implementation Flaws in Oregon,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/4/14)

The Wall Street Journal: “FBI Scrutinizing Health Law Implementation Flaws in Oregon.” (Damian Paletta and Devlin Barrett, “FBI Scrutinizing Health Law Implementation Flaws in Oregon,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/4/14)

The FBI Is Looking Into Oregon’s Failed ObamaCare Exchange Website. “The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened at least a preliminary inquiry into Cover Oregon, part of what could eventually be an alphabet soup of federal agencies delving into the high-profile failure of Oregon’s health insurance exchange.” (Nick Budnick, “FBI, Inspector General Investigators Probing Cover Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Debacle,” The Oregonian, 5/2/14)

• According To Documents, Oregon Officials May Have Misled The Federal Government On Cover Oregon’s Progress By Giving Positive Progress Reports. “Documents show Oregon may have presented a misleading picture to the federal government. On May 9, 2012, Legislative IT oversight analyst Bob Cummings wrote to the leaders of the Cover Oregon project, mentioning that he and Ying Kwong, an oversight analyst for the state Department of Administrative Services, shared the same concerns about the health insurance exchange. ‘Ying and I are very concerned about the overly positive reports that are coming out that are not consistent with what we are seeing related to project progress,’ Cummings wrote. ‘The overly positive presentation provided to the feds early this week … provided a skewed (or at least incomplete) picture of where we’re actually at given what Ying and I have seen over the past couple of months,’ Cummings wrote. ‘I recognize the need to be positive with the feds, but I saw major disconnects from what was stated and where we’re at. In addition, I was concerned about the statement that (the exchange) ‘has completed its last hurdle with the Legislature.’ This simply is not true.’” (Nick Budnick, “FBI, Inspector General Investigators Probing Cover Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Debacle,” The Oregonian, 5/2/14)

• The U.S. Attorney’s Office Has Escalated The FBI’s Preliminary Inquiry Of Cover Oregon “Into A Full-Blown Investigation .” “The federal criminal investigation of Oregon’s health insurance exchange took a step into public view Tuesday when the U.S. Attorney’s office issued broad subpoenas seeking information from Cover Oregon and the Oregon Health Authority. While the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s interest in the exchange debacle had been previously reported, the legal demands dated May 13 indicate things may have moved beyond a preliminary inquiry to a full-blown investigation.” (Jeff Manning, “Federal Investigators Issue Subpoena To Cover Oregon, Oregon Health Authority,” The Oregonian, 5/20/14)

After Receiving An Anonymous Letter, The Health And Human Services Law Enforcement Division Is Also Looking Into Cover Oregon. Another federal office that has expressed interest in the Cover Oregon debacle is the Health and Human Services’ inspector general. It employs auditors as well as a law enforcement arm, that uses special agents to focus on alleged fraud and similar investigations. In March, a Portland-based special agent for the inspector general opened an inquiry into an anonymous letter sent by state employees to lawmakers, The Oregonian has confirmed.” (Nick Budnick, “FBI, Inspector General Investigators Probing Cover Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Debacle,” The Oregonian, 5/2/14)

The Letter Detailed Cover Oregon Problems That Had Granted Full Oregon Health Plan Benefits To Ineligible Applicants. “The anonymous letter alleged that the state’s effort to deal with Cover Oregon problems had compromised the integrity of the Oregon Health Plan, including that ineligible applicants, such as undocumented immigrants, had inadvertently been granted full OHP benefits.” (Nick Budnick, “FBI, Inspector General Investigators Probing Cover Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Debacle,” The Oregonian, 5/2/14)

• “The Letter Also Claimed State Officials Ordered False Information To Be Systematically Entered Into The State’s Medicaid Information System In Order To Start Benefits.” (Nick Budnick, “FBI, Inspector General Investigators Probing Cover Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Debacle,” The Oregonian, 5/2/14)

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IN IOWA’S SENATE RACE, BRUCE BRALEY IS HIS OWN WORST ENEMY

“Democrats Never Expected That The 2014 Candidate Most Likely To Put His Foot In His Mouth Would Be Their Own Bruce Braley.” “Democrats never expected that the 2014 candidate most likely to put his foot in his mouth would be their own Bruce Braley. The national Democrats who had long touted the four-term House member as a top Senate recruit in Iowa are the same ones who privately worry that Braley’s missteps are putting his chances at holding longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin’s seat in jeopardy.” (Emily Schultheis, “Braley’s Missteps Have Democrats Worried In Iowa,” National Journal, 7/28/14)

• Democrats Had Expected “An Easy Race For Braley.” “Braley entered the race in early 2013 after the veteran Harkin announced his retirement, quickly clearing the Democratic field and posting big fundraising quarters while the big and largely unknown Republican field battled against itself. That led to expectations that this would be an easy race for Braley, which one Democratic operative with Iowa experience said were ‘unreasonable’ for such a perennially competitive state.” (Emily Schultheis, “Braley’s Missteps Have Democrats Worried In Iowa,” National Journal, 7/28/14)

“The Main Source Of Concern About Braley’s Performance Has Tended To Be The Candidate Himself.” (Maggie Haberman, “Struggling Bruce Braley Shakes Up Campaign,” Politico, 7/26/14)

• A Democratic Operative Stated That Braley Has A Penchant For “Shooting Himself In The Foot.” “Democrats were favored to win the Iowa race early on, but Braley’s penchant for ‘shooting himself in the foot,’ as one national Democratic operative put it to MSNBC, has stoked worries that the party might face an upset.” (Benjy Sarlin, “Iowa Senate Race Heats Up After Democratic Stumbles,” MSNBC, 8/14/14)

BRALEY’S ACTIONS AND COMMENTS SHOW HE’S LOST TOUCH WITH IOWA

While Attending A Private Fundraiser, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) Mocked Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) Saying He Is “A Farmer From Iowa Who Never Went To Law School.” “Video shot at a private fundraiser for Bruce Braley caught the Iowa Democrat warning that ‘a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school’ might become the next judiciary committee chairman. (Jennifer Jacobs, “Video Captures Braley Criticizing Grassley As ‘A Farmer From Iowa’,” Des Moines Register, 3/25/14)

Braley Made The Comments While Addressing A Room Full Of Trial Lawyers At A Fundraiser In Texas. “Braley says in the video, apparently to a room of trial lawyers in at a fundraiser in Texas: ‘To put this in stark contrast, if you help me win this race, you may have someone with your background, your experience, your voice, someone’s who’s been literally fighting tort reform for 30 years in a visible and public way on the Senate Judiciary Committee or you might have a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school, never practiced law, serving as the next chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Because if Democrats lose the majority, Chuck Grassley will be the next chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.’” (Jennifer Jacobs, “Video Captures Braley Criticizing Grassley As ‘A Farmer From Iowa’,” Des Moines Register, 3/25/14)

Braley’s Comments Will Ruffle A Lot Of Feathers In Iowa As “Virtually Everyone In The State Has Family Or Professional Ties To Farmers And The Rural Economy.” “Still, virtually everyone in the state has family or professional ties to farmers and the rural economy. That’s what makes so potentially damaging the statement made by Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Braley captured on video during a private fundraiser he attended in Texas.” (John McCormick, “Braley v Grassley: Iowa Trial Lawyer’s `Farmer’ Slap Starts Brushfire,” Bloomberg, 3/25/14)

• Braley’s Remarks Played Directly Into The Narrative That “He’s A Wealthy Trial Lawyer Who’s Out Of Touch With The Average Iowan And Farmers.” “Braley’s remark plays directly into the narrative Republicans have long pushed about him: that he’s a wealthy trial lawyer who’s out of touch with the average Iowan and farmers. The footage will be fodder for campaign ads this fall, when the GOP hopes to make a race where Braley has had the edge into a tougher battle.” (Cameron Joseph, “Braley’s ‘Farmer From Iowa’ Remarks Could Spell Election Trouble For Party,” The Hill, 5/26/14)

This Isn’t The First Time Braley Has Made Out-Of-Touch Comments

During The October Government Shutdown, Braley Complained That There Was No Towel Service In The House Gym. LYNN SWEET: “Let me ask you this, there’s now a bill out there by Congressman Patrick Murphy of Florida and Bill Foster of Illinois to remove the essential status for the employees of the House gym so that you just don’t have the personnel there. What do you think of that?” BRALEY: “They must not have been down to the gym lately. There’s hardly anybody working down there. There’s no towel service. So we’re doing our own laundry down there.” ( Bill Press Show, 10/9/13)

• Braley’s “Whiny” Comments “Sparked National News Coverage.” “A remark that Democrat Bruce Braley made about the towel service at his gym has sparked national news coverage, and outrage among Republicans and some other politics watchers who interpreted his words as whiny.” (Jennifer Jacobs, “Democrat Bruce Braley’s ‘Towel Service’ Comment Creates Hubbub,” The Des Moines Register , 10/10/13)

Braley Even Filed A Formal Complaint Against His Neighbor Over Their Chickens Wandering Onto His Property

Braley Filed A Formal Complaint With The Homeowners’ Associations Of The Vacation Home In Order To Keep Their Neighbors’ Chickens Off Their Property. “The battle for control of the U.S. Senate could come down to a dispute between two neighbors in this heartland hamlet over four plump, wander-prone hens. This spring, Pauline Hampton’s chickens roamed onto Bruce and Carolyn Braley’s vacation property on tranquil Holiday Lake. Hampton said she did not know this until she walked over one day to offer Carolyn a dozen fresh eggs. To which she said her neighbor replied, ‘We aren’t going to accept your eggs – and we have filed a formal complaint against you.’ Carolyn took her complaint to their neighborhood homeowners’ association board meeting in May. Her husband, Bruce, then called the association’s lawyer, Thomas Lacina, to say that he believed ‘chickens are not pets and should not be permitted at Holiday Lake,’ and that he wanted to ‘avoid a litigious situation,’ according to an e-mail Lacina wrote.” (Phillip Rucker, “In Iowa, A Dispute Over Neighbor’s Chickens Threatens Braley’s Senate Bid,” The Washington Post , 8/7/14)

Braley’s Attorney Contacted The Homeowners Association And Even Raised The Prospect Of A “Litigious Situation.” “An attorney for Bruce Braley wrote an email to the board in May, which a Republican media outlet obtained and printed, saying the congressman wants to avoid a ‘litigious situation,’ but that the chickens ‘should not be permitted.’ CNN reached out to Braley’s attorney to confirm the authenticity of the email, but he declined to speak on the matter.” (Adam P. Levy, “Iowa Chickens Vs. Senate Candidate’s Yard,” CNN, 9/17/14)

Pauline Hampton, Braley’s Neighbor: The Braley’s “Are Not Neighborly” And “In Iowa, We Are Very Well Known For Being Friendly, And If One Has A Problem With Another, We Always Talk To Them Face-To-Face.” “Even if Braley didn’t threaten a suit, some around Holiday Lake bristled at his tactics. ‘They are not neighborly,’ said Hampton, a mental health therapist who uses the hens as therapy animals. ‘In Iowa, we are very well known for being friendly, and if one has a problem with another, we always talk to them face-to-face. This kind of floored me.’” (Phillip Rucker, “In Iowa, A Dispute Over Neighbor’s Chickens Threatens Braley’s Senate Bid,” The Washington Post , 8/7/14)

William Nagel, Another Neighbor Of Braley’s: “Neighbors Are Neighbors, And If You’ve Got A Problem With Your Neighbor, You Talk It Out.” “Another neighbor, William Nagel, who sits on the homeowners association board, said, ‘Buddy, we’re here in Iowa. We talk like men here and we act like men. Usually, a man’s word is like gold. A handshake is a contract. Neighbors are neighbors, and if you’ve got a problem with your neighbor, you talk it out.’” (Phillip Rucker, “In Iowa, A Dispute Over Neighbor’s Chickens Threatens Braley’s Senate Bid,” The Washington Post , 8/7/14)

BRALEY’S RECORD OF SUPPORT FOR OBAMACARE IS ALSO OUT-OF-TOUCH WITH IOWA

Braley Proudly Voted For ObamaCare, Saying The Law Was “Good For Iowa.” “After reading the bill, listening to my constituents and debating the bill’s provisions in Congress, I’m convinced this legislation is good for Iowa.” (Press Release, “Braley Statement On House Passage Of Health Care Reform,” Congressman Bruce Braley, 3/25/10)

• Braley: “This Legislation Will Provide Much-Needed Relief For Thousands Of Businesses In Iowa’s First District.” (Press Release, “Braley Statement On House Passage Of Health Care Reform,” Congressman Bruce Braley, 3/25/10)

Braley Promised Lower Insurance Prices After ObamaCare – But Iowans Are Experiencing The Opposite

Braley Claimed That Insurance Prices Are “Dramatically Lower” And That Iowans Would Save Money Because Of ObamaCare. BRALEY: “It took a long time for our Governor to embrace the expansion of Medicaid, and there’s a waiver request pending before the Secretary that’s kind of a hybrid, but it was passed by the Iowa legislature, which includes the Democrats in charge of the Senate. And what happened is, when the marketplace opened up the pricing on these products is dramatically lower than pricing available to consumers before the Affordable Care Act went into place.” (Bruce Braley, Bill Press Show Interview, 10/9/13)

253,000 Wellmark Customers In Iowa And South Dakota Possibly Face Higher Premiums In 2015. “Of the 253,000 people affected, 92 percent would see a rate increase of less than 5.9 percent, according to numbers provided by Wellmark. … For the remaining 7.5 percent – those who have post-ACA plans for individuals under 65 – Wellmark is asking for a rate increase between 11 percent and 14.5 percent.” (Matthew Patane, “Wellmark Seeks Insurance Rate Hikes, Won’t Join Exchange,” Des Moines Register , 6/20/14)

Thousands Of Iowans Who Bought There Insurance From CoOportunity Health Or Coventry Health Care Could See Their Health Insurance “Rise Substantially” Next Year. “Several thousand Iowans are receiving notices this week that their health insurance premiums could rise substantially next year. The letters went out to people who bought individual health insurance policies from CoOportunity Health or Coventry Health Care. The companies are the two main Iowa carriers selling insurance on the government’s new online marketplace, which is a key part of the Affordable Care Act.” (Tom Leys, “CoOportunity, Coventry Seek Health-Insurance Increases,” Des Moines Register , 6/13/14)

• “CoOportunity Health Sent Letters To 9,100 Iowa Customers Saying It Has Proposed Raising Base Rates 14.3 Percent Next Year.” (Tom Leys, “CoOportunity, Coventry Seek Health-Insurance Increases,” Des Moines Register , 6/13/14)
• “Coventry Told Customers It Plans To Raise Their Rates By Varying Amounts, Averaging 8.7 Percent.” (Tom Leys, “CoOportunity, Coventry Seek Health-Insurance Increases,” Des Moines Register , 6/13/14)

CoOporunity Customer: “It Feels Like The Ultimate Bait And Switch When An Increase Comes So Early In… Enrollment And Implementation Of The (Affordable Care Act.)” “It feels like the ultimate bait and switch when an increase comes so early in … enrollment and implementation of the (Affordable Care Act),” one CoOportunity customer wrote.” (Tom Leys, “CoOportunity, Coventry Seek Health-Insurance Increases,” Des Moines Register , 6/13/14)

BRALEY DOESN’T PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACHES WHEN IT COMES TO VETERANS

Braley: “I Fight For Veterans Every Day On The Veterans’ Affairs Committee …” (Bruce Braley, Remarks At The 2012 Iowa Democratic Party State Convention, Des Moines, IA, 6/16/12)

Braley Missed Over 75% Of The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearings

According To A Fact Check In The Gazette, Braley “Missed 78 Percent” Of Full Veterans Affairs’ Committee Hearings. “The U.S. Government Printing Office keeps minutes of all Congressional committee hearings, so it was pretty easy to check whether Braley was in attendance at the hearings, which are held mostly in Washington, D.C. We found Braley attended four of 19 hearings of the full Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which has about 25 members. This means he missed 78 percent of those full committee meetings in 2011 and 2012.” (“Fact Checker: Iowa GOP Claims Braley Missed Most Of Veterans’ Affairs Hearings,” The Gazette , 7/19/14)

Braley’s Even Attended A Fundraiser On The Same Day As A Hearing On The VA Backlog

In 2012, Braley Was Able To Attend Three Fundraisers On The Same Day He Skipped A Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearing On The VA Backlog . “At 10:19 a.m. on Sept. 20, 2012, the committee held a hearing on a backlog of disability claims and reports of problems with mental health care and stewardship of VA funding, congressional records show. The roll call shows Braley didn’t attend. … On the same day, Braley had three fundraisers on his schedule for his re-election to the U.S. House, records from the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation show. He attended all three, campaign aides confirmed to The Des Moines Register.” (Jennifer Jacobs, “Braley Under Fire For Missing VA Oversight Meetings,” Des Moines Register , 7/23/14)

BRALEY IS BEING BACKED BY MILLIONS FROM GROUPS OUTSIDE OF IOWA

Tom Steyer’s NextGen PAC Is Backing Braley And Plans To Spend Millions Attacking Joni Ernst. “In Iowa, NextGen will back Representative Bruce Braley, a Democratic candidate for the Senate who voted for a House climate change bill in 2009. The group will attack Mr. Braley’s potential Republican opponents, State Senator Joni Earnst or Mark Jacobs, a former electric energy company executive, by criticizing claims they have made questioning climate science.” (Coral Davenport, “Pushing Climate Change As An Issue This Year, But With An Eye On 2016,” The New York Times , 5/22/14)

• Steyer Has Already Spent $3 Million In Iowa In Support Of Braley. “Braley has benefitted, too, from out-of-state billionaire Tom Steyer’s NextGen Climate PAC, which has spent $3 million in Iowa, according to Federal Election Commission data. The Democratic Senate Majority PAC has spent more than $500,000 for Braley and about $1.5 million against Ernst, FEC records show.” (James Q. Lynch, “GOP Calls Democrats’ ‘Koch Problem’ Attack On Ernst ‘Just Bomb Throwing’, The Gazette , 8/27/14)

Harry Reid’s Senate Majority PAC Has Also Spent Millions Of Dollars In Support Of Braley

The Senate Majority PAC Has Spent $549,164 In Independent Expenditures, Communication Costs And Coordinated Expenses On Behalf Of Braley And $2,050,416 Against Ernst. (Center For Responsive Politics, Accessed 9/15/14)

BRALEY’S STUMBLES ARE TAKING A TOLL – HE’S TRAILING ERNST IN THE LATEST IOWA POLL

Despite Democrats Hopes That It Would Be An “Easy Race,” Ernst Is Now Leading Braley By Six Points According To A New Quinnipiac Poll. “Neutralizing the traditional Democratic lead among women voters, Republican State Sen. Joni Ernst leads U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, the Democrat, 50 – 44 percent among likely voters in the race to replace U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin in Iowa, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.” (Press Release, “Republican Up 6 Points In Iowa Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Big Gender Gap As Men Back Ernst By 17 Points,” Quinnipiac University, 9/17/14)

• Braley Is Underwater With Likely Voters, With 41 Percent Of Iowans Holding An Unfavorable View Of Him And 38 Percent Holding A Favorable View. (Quinnipiac University Poll, 1,167 LV, MoE, 2.9%, 9/10-15/2014)

When It Comes To Independents, A Key Voter Demographic, Ernst Holds A Significant Lead Over Braley By A Margin Of 50 To 43 Percent. (Quinnipiac University Poll, 1,167 LV, MoE, 2.9%, 9/10-15/2014)

28 Percent Of Iowans Think Of Their Senate Vote As A Vote Against Obama, While Only 12 Percent Think Of Their Vote As In Favor Of Obama. (Quinnipiac University Poll, 1,167 LV, MoE, 2.9%, 9/10-15/2014)

Quinnipiac University Polling Assistant Director Peter Brown: “There Is Also A Message To President Barack Obama In These Numbers. Almost Three In 10 Voters Say Theirs Is Mainly A Vote Against The President, A Troubling Number For Democrats. Only 12 Percent Say They Are Voting To Back The President.” (Press Release, “Republican Up 6 Points In Iowa Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Big Gender Gap As Men Back Ernst By 17 Points,” Quinnipiac University, 9/17/14)

The post Braley’s Bumbled Campaign appeared first on GOP.

RNC Chairman Priebus:
 
Mary Landrieu has been on the ropes all year for voting against the wishes of her constituents by being a loyal rubber stamp for President Obama. And while it’s bad enough to vote against your constituents in Washington, it is even worse to betray the public trust, and that’s what Senator Landrieu did by illegally charging taxpayers 43 times for campaign-related private air travel.
 

***

 
And instead of releasing her audit on time and with all 17 years of her travel records like she promised, Senator Landrieu turned in an incomplete report four days late in a Friday afternoon news dump.
 

***

 
The missing information from Landrieu’s report raises serious questions she and her campaign have so far refused to answer: 

1. Why did Senator Landrieu withhold her flight records from 1997-2001, when the rules were stricter
about mixing campaign and official travel? Is she hiding additional flights?
 
2. The RNC’s internal review of Landrieu’s flight records found a suspicious flight on May 31, 2000 at a cost of over $1,500 from New Orleans to Alexandria where she raised roughly $30,000 on the same day. Will she provide documentation to explain this suspicious travel?
 
3. Given that Landrieu illegally billed taxpayers for a flight in March of this year, the final month reviewed by her audit, will she – at a minimum – rule out the possibility she took additional illicit flights in the months since?
 
4. And finally, when did these inappropriate billings begin and who authorized the flights be paid for this way?  Has anyone in her office been held accountable?
 

***

 
Senator Landrieu should open all of her records up for the media to review and prove that she is still not hiding illicit flights, or she should reimburse taxpayers for all of her excessive charter travel to remove all doubt of further impropriety.
 
LA GOP Chairman Villere:
 
We here at the state party are doing all we can to try and get answers out of Senator Landrieu and hold her responsible for her actions. We filed a formal complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee several weeks ago asking them to look into Senator Landrieu’s behavior and this issue and we are amending that complaint to reflect this new information that has come out over the last several days.
 

***

 
The standard must be set and it’s important to send the message on behalf of all taxpayers that this sort of behavior is simply not OK. Taxpayers have already been taken advantage of enough by Sen. Landrieu and her Democrat colleagues without having them use taxpayers’ hard-earned money as their own private re-election piggy bank.  
 

***

 
We’re doing all we can here to hold her accountable and I expect the media, the Senate Ethics Committee and other appropriate authorities to do their part as well.

###

The post ICYMI: Press Conference Call with RNC Chairman Priebus and LA GOP Chairman Roger Villere appeared first on GOP.

• 57 Percent Of Americans Are Disappointed In Obama’s Presidency, While Only 41 Percent Are Satisfied. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

“Mr. Obama’s Overall Job Rating Remains More Negative Than Positive.” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

50 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of The Way Obama Is Handling His Job As President, While Only 40 Percent Approve. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

“These Negative Evaluations Of The President May Have An Impact At The Ballot Box In November.” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

Obama’s Approval Rating Is Even Worse Than His Approval Rating In September Before The 2010 Midterm Elections. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

• In September 2010, 47 Percent Of Americans Disapproved Of The President, While Only 45 Percent Approved. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

Approval Of Obama’s Handling Of Domestic Issues Remains Low

53 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of Obama’s Handling Of The Economy, While Only 40 Percent Approve. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

“His Ratings On The Economy And Immigration Continue To Be Negative .” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

• “Only 30 Percent Approve Of His Handling Of Immigration And 40 Percent Approve His Handling Of The Economy.” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

60 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of Obama’s Handling Of Immigration, While A Mere 30 Percent Approve. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

55 Percent Of Americans Believe The Condition Of The National Economy Is Fairly Or Very Bad, While 44 Percent Said It’s Fairly Or Very Good. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

• Only 26 Percent Of Americans Believe The Economy Is Getting Better, While 72 Percent Said The Economy Is Staying About The Same Or Getting Worse. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

“This Poll Finds No Improvement In Overall Views Of The Health Care Law.” “This poll finds no improvement in overall views of the health care law. More Americans disapprove (51 percent) than approve (41 percent) of it, as they have since the law was passed.” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

• 51 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of ObamaCare, While Only 41 Percent Approve. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

Voters Lack Confidence In Obama’s Foreign Policy And Ability To Handle Terrorist Threats

Obama Has Received Criticism In His Dealing With ISIS And Public Approval Of His Handling Of Terrorism And Foreign Policy Has “Taken A Hit.” “Despite his speech announcing his strategy to ‘degrade and ultimately destroy’ the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) last week, President Obama receives criticism for his most recent foreign policy challenge – the situation with the ISIS militants – and his approval ratings on handling terrorism and foreign policy have also taken a hit.” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

Obama’s Handling Of Terror Threats, “Once Considered An Area Of Strength, Is Now At The Lowest Of His Presidency.” “In addition, Mr. Obama’s handling of the threat of terrorism, once considered an area of strength, is now at the lowest of his presidency.” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

• “Just 41 Percent Approve Of His Handling Of The Issue, A Drop Of 12 Points Since March.” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

“The President’s Approval Rating On Handling Foreign Policy, Now At 34 Percent, Is Also A Record Low.” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

• 58 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of Obama’s Handling Of Foreign Policy. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

Obama’s Approval On Handling Terrorism “Has Declined Across The Political Spectrum.” “Since March, the president’s approval rating on handling terrorism has declined across the political spectrum: Republicans (down 11 points), Democrats (down 16 points) and independents (down 10 points).” (Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, and Fred Backus, “Is Obama Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS?” CBS News, 9/17/14)

• 41 Percent Of Americans Approve Of The Way Obama Is Handling The Threat Of Terrorism, While 50 Percent Disapprove. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

57 Percent Of Americans Believe Obama Has Not Been Tough Enough In Dealing With ISIS Militants, While Only 31 Percent Said His Handling Of ISIS Was About Right. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

Across The Board, Voters Trust Republicans Over Democrats

If The 2014 U.S. House Of Representative Elections Were Held Today, 45 Percent Of Likely Voters Would Vote For The Republican Candidate, While 39 Percent Would Vote For The Democrat Candidate. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 854 RV, 9/12-15/14)

• Among Independent Voters, Republicans Have A 10-Point Advantage On The Generic Ballot, With 41 Percent Of Independents Favoring Republicans And 31 Percent Favoring Democrats. (Megan Thee-Brenan, “G.O.P. Gains Strength And Obama Gets Low Marks, Poll Finds,” The New York Times , 9/17/14)

Republicans Have A 7-Point Advantage Over Democrats With Undecided Likely Voters. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 854 RV, 9/12-15/14)

• 49 Percent Of Undecided Likely Voters Said They Leaned Towards Voting For The Republican Candidate In The Upcoming Election, While 42 Percent Leaned Towards Voting For The Democrat Candidate. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 854 RV, 9/12-15/14)

49 Percent Of Americans Said The Republican Party Is More Likely To Do A Better Job On The Economy, While Only 38 Percent Responded That Democrats Would Do A Better Job. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

Most Registered Voters Said The Economy Was the Most Important Issue In Deciding Who To Vote For In The November Elections. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 854 RV, 9/12-15/14)

• 38 Percent Of Registered Voters Said The Economy Was The Most Important Issue Influencing Their Vote In The Upcoming Election. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 854 RV, 9/12-15/14)

49 Percent Of Americans Believe The Republican Party Is More Likely To Do A Better Job On U.S. Foreign Policy, While Only 37 Percent Responded That Democrats Would Be Better. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

52 Percent Of Americans Trust Republicans Over Democrats To Do A Better Job Dealing With Terrorism, While Only 31 Percent Said Democrats Would Better Deal With Terrorism. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

Most Americans Continue To Think The Country Is On The Wrong Track

66 Percent Of Americans Believe The Country Is On The Wrong Track, While Only 27 Percent Believe It’s Headed In The Right Direction. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

• FLASHBACK: In September 2010, 60 Percent Of Americans Thought The Country Was Headed On The Wrong Track And 33 Percent Thought It Was Headed In The Right Direction. (The New York Times/CBS Poll, 1,009 A, 9/12-15/14)

The post CBS/NYT Poll: Widespread Disappointment And Disapproval Of Obama’s Presidency appeared first on GOP.

The post RNC Statement on Constitution Day appeared first on GOP.

BEGICH CLAIMS HE’S A THORN IN OBAMA’S SIDE, DESPITE NEAR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR HIS AGENDA

Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK): “I’ll Be A Thorn In His [Posterior]. There’s Times When I’m A Total Thorn, You Know, And He Doesn’t Appreciate It.” “When Sen. Mark Begich talks about his role in American politics, he describes himself as a sharp object, sent to Washington to jab at President Obama. ‘I’ll be a thorn in his [posterior],’ Begich (D-Alaska) said in an interview. ‘There’s times when I’m a total thorn, you know, and he doesn’t appreciate it.’” (David A Farenthold, “Senate Democrat’s Reelection Pitch To Alaskans: I’m A Thorn In Obama’s Side,” The Washington Post , 7/13/14)

But Begich’s Tough Talk Doesn’t Match With Reality – He Votes With Obama Nearly 100 Percent Of The Time

Begich Voted With Obama 97 Percent Of The Time In 2013 According To The Non-Partisan Congressional Quarterly. (Sen. Mark Begich, Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 9/15/14)

• Since 2009, Begich Has Voted With Obama 95 Percent Of The Time. (Sen. Mark Begich, Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 9/15/14)

Begich Cast A Deciding Vote For ObamaCare, Obama’s Crowning Achievement. (H.R. 3590, Roll Call Vote #396, Adopted 60-39: R 0-39; D 60-0, 12/24/09, Begich Voted Yea)

Begich Voted For Obama’s Wasteful $830 Billion Stimulus Bill. (H.R. 1, Roll Call Vote #64, Adopted 60-38: R 3-38; D 57-0, 2/13/09, Begich Voted Yea)

Begich Has Voted “For Nearly All Of Obama’s Court Picks.” “Red-state Democrats such as Sens. Mark Begich (Alaska), Mary Landrieu (La.), Kay Hagan (N.C.) and Mark Pryor (Ark.) have stressed their independence from their party, but they will have to defend their record of voting for nearly all of Obama’s court picks.” (Alexander Bolton, “Red-State Dems In Hot Seat,” The Hill, 7/15/14)

BEGICH SAYS HE’S FROM THE “PARTY OF ALASKA,” BUT SIDES WITH HARRY REID IN THE SENATE

Begich: “I Belong To The Party Of ‘A,’ And That’s A Very Simple Party. It’s The Party Of Alaska.” “In speaking with Alaskans, Begich looks for ‘the common thread that drives us to be in the state,’ he said. ‘I belong to the party of ‘A,’ and that’s a very simple party,’ Begich said. ‘It’s the party of Alaska. … I think we’re a unique breed up here in Alaska.’” (Michael Armstrong, “Begich Visits Homer, Lays Groundwork For Campaign,” Homer News , 7/2/14)

Begich Is An Acolyte Of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

Begich Is A Member Of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s Leadership Team, Serving As Chair Of The Senate’s Steering And Outreach Committee. (United States Senate Democrats, Website, democrats.senate.gov, Accessed 8/19/14)

Begich Voted With Liberal Democrats 91 Percent Of The Time In 2013. (Sen. Mark Begich, Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 9/15/14)

• Since 2009, Begich Has Voted With Liberal Democrats 92 Percent Of The Time. (Sen. Mark Begich, Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 9/15/14)

On The Campaign Trail, Begich Avoids Answering Whether He Would Support Reid For Majority Leader, Instead Saying “The Decision By The Caucus Gets Decided After The Election.” “‘First up, my job is to get reelected,’ Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) said when asked about Reid. Asked again what he would do if he wins reelection in the fall, Begich deadpanned: ‘I think I answered your question. … The decision by the caucus gets decided after the elections.’” (Manu Raju And John Bresnahan, “Harry Reid Set To Lead Democrats, In Majority Or Not,” Politico, 4/3/14)

• If Begich Is Reelected, It May All But Ensure Reid’s Return As Senate Majority Leader. “A wide cross section of the Senate Democratic Caucus said in interviews that they are willing to back Reid as either majority or minority leader in the next Congress – no matter how controversial the Nevada Democrat has become as part of the furious battle for control of the chamber this fall.” (Manu Raju And John Bresnahan, “Harry Reid Set To Lead Democrats, In Majority Or Not,” Politico, 4/3/14)

BEGICH ASSAILS “OUTSIDE” SPENDING IN ALASKA, DESPITE RECEIVING MILLIONS FROM REID’S SUPER PAC

Begich’s Campaign Claims That He “Is The Only Candidate In This Race Serious About Curbing Outside Spending In Elections.” “Democratic Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska responded Tuesday to GOP challenger Dan Sullivan’s proposal to try to limit outside spending in the battleground state. ‘Mark Begich is the only candidate in this race serious about curbing Outside spending in elections and is a co-sponsor of legislation to throw out Citizens United with a constitutional amendment to limit corporate personhood,’ his campaign said in a statement.” (Elizabeth Titus, “Begich Responds To Sullivan’s Outside-Money Plan,” Politico, 6/10/14)

• A Begich Campaign Ad Made Note Of Washington, D.C. “Outsiders” Trying To Deceive Alaskan Voters. NARRATOR: “Have you seen the ads attacking Mark Begich? First, it was a Washington, D.C., actress pretending to be an Alaskan. Now, they are saying Mark Begich supports a carbon tax, but it’s not true. Independent watchdog organizations like FactCheck.org and PolitiFact.com both called the attacks quote ‘false’ and have quote ‘nothing to do with Begich.’ It’s another typical Washington attack to try to fool Alaskans and whose is behind the ads? Two billionaire outsiders, the Koch brothers. The same profiteering Koch brothers that bought the Flint Hills refinery in Fairbanks. Ran it into the ground and announced shutting it down – laying off almost one-hundred workers. All they left behind is polluted drinking water they hadn’t cleaned up and false negative ads with fake Alaskans.” BEGICH: “I’m Mark Begich, candidate for Senate, and I approve this message because these billionaire outsiders turn their backs on Alaska. I never will.” NARRATOR: “Paid for by Alaskans for Begich.” (“Outsiders,” Alaskans For Begich, Accessed 8/12/14)

But Begich Is The Primary Beneficiary Of Outside Spending Thanks To Reid

Begich Is The Primary Beneficiary Of Outside Spending In Alaska. “A new analysis shows that the TV ads flooding Alaska’s airwaves this election cycle have predominantly come from Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Begich and his allies, as opposed to his Republican opponent, Dan Sullivan, and the groups backing him.” (Nathaniel Herz, “Ad Spending By Senate Campaigns, Outside Groups Tilts In Begich’s Favor,” Alaska Dispatch News, 9/6/14)

• Begich Has Opposed A Plan That Outside Groups Say “Would Deter The Flow Of Outside Money.” “But he has proposed a one-time agreement that his campaign and clean elections reformers say would deter the flow of outside money by forcing the candidates’ campaigns to pay a fine every time they benefit from spending by the groups. Begich, however, won’t sign, and Sparks, the campaign manager for Sullivan, said that’s ‘a conscious political decision’ because Begich is benefiting from the attack ads that the outside groups are running.” (Nathaniel Herz, “Ad Spending By Senate Campaigns, Outside Groups Tilts In Begich’s Favor,” Alaska Dispatch News, 9/4/14)

The Pro-Begich Super PAC, Put Alaska First “Has Derived Most Of Its Funding” From Reid’s Senate Majority PAC. “Meanwhile, a super PAC supporting Begich, Put Alaska First, has derived most of its funding from Senate Majority PAC, a national Democratic group working to defend vulnerable incumbents like Begich and Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.).” (Samantha Lachman, “Least Competitive Republican Senate Primary Will Decide Mark Begich Opponent,” The Huffington Post, 8/19/14)

• Senate Majority PAC Has Given “More Than $4.5 Million” To The Pro-Begich Put Alaska First Super PAC. “Lottsfeldt runs Put Alaska First, the super PAC that supports Democratic Sen. Mark Begich and has received more than $4.5 million from the Harry Reid-backed Senate Majority PAC. In fact, Senate Majority PAC is nearly his only donor.” (Andrea Drusch, “How A Pro-Begich PAC Won Freedom From Harry Reid,” National Journal, 8/18/14)

BEGICH CLAIMS HE GETS RESULTS FOR ALASKA, BUT HIS RECORD PROVES THE CONTRARY

Begich: “At The End Of The Day, What Alaskans Want To Know Is, What Have You Done, What Are You Going To Do. And I Work Across Party Lines To Get Results For Alaska.” “‘I get that he’s going to try to nationalize it, use these bumper stickers. But Alaskans want to know details,’ he said about Sullivan. ‘At the end of the day, what Alaskans want to know is, what have you done, what are you going to do. And I work across party lines to get results for Alaska.’” (Cameron Joseph, “Sen. Begich Faces Tough Reelection Challenge In GOP-Friendly Alaska,” The Hill, 6/26/14)

Begich’s Doesn’t Have A Record Of Delivering For Alaska In Washington D.C.

Begich’s Only Bill Signed Into Law Renamed A Federal Courthouse In Anchorage. “But he is not actually that well known for anything. In the Senate, Begich is a junior figure, moving through the chamber’s power structure at the speed of a mastodon trapped in a glacier. Over five years, just one of his bills has been passed into law. It renamed a courthouse in Anchorage.” (David Fahrenthold, “Senate Democrat’s Reelection Pitch To Alaskans: I’m A Thorn In Obama’s Side,” The Washington Post , 7/13/14)

After Six Years In The Senate, Begich Has Yet To “Have A Vote On Any Of His Amendments.” “Elected six years ago, Sen. Mark Begich is still waiting for a vote on any of his amendments. It’s a sore point for the Alaska Democrat, who already faces a difficult re-election campaign in a conservative-leaning state.” (David M. Drucker, “Why Mark Begich Still Hasn’t Gotten A Vote On Any Of His Amendments,” Washington Examiner , 7/14/14)

BEGICH PROMISED ALASKANS WOULD BE BETTER OFF UNDER OBAMACARE – A LAW THAT’S DRIVING UP COSTS AND CANCELLING PLANS

In December 2009, Begich Touted A Congressional Study That Claimed ObamaCare Would Deliver To Alaskans The Largest Reduction In Premiums. “Alaskans, who currently pay the highest health insurance costs in the nation for premiums purchased by individuals, would see among the largest insurance premium reductions, under the national health insurance reform bill pending in the U.S. Senate, according to a just-released congressional study. U.S. Sen. Mark Begich welcomed the study results, saying the high cost of health insurance premiums is one of the major complaints he hears from Alaskans in the discussion of health reform.” (Sen. Mark Begich, “Study Shows Health Reform Will Reduce Alaska Premiums,” Press Release, 12/3/09)

After Voting To Pass ObamaCare, Begich Promised That “Alaskans Who Have Health Insurance Now, And Are Happy With It, Can Keep It.” “Alaskans who have health insurance now, and are happy with it, can keep it. While the thousands of Alaskans who do not have health insurance, or have insurance they can’t really afford, will have access to an insurance exchange offering affordable health insurance choices. An estimated 52,000 Alaskans will quality for tax credits to help purchase affordable health coverage.” (Press Release, “Sen. Begich Statement On Passage Of Health Reform Bill,” Senator Mark Begich , 12/24/09)

But Alaskans Face Higher Premiums And More Health Plan Cancellations

The Alaska Division Of Insurance Announced That Alaskans Who Purchased Individual Plans Under ObamaCare Will Face A Significant Increase On Their Health Care Premiums. “On Thursday, the Alaska Division of Insurance announced hefty insurance rate increases in 2015 for Alaskans who purchased individual plans under the Affordable Care Act. As politicians spoke out to blame the increase on one another depending on their stance on the national health care law, Alaskans face more immediate questions about how and why they may be affected.” (Laurel Andrews, “Alaska Announces Hefty Individual Insurance Rate Increases For 2015,” InsuranceNewsNet , 9/5/14)

• Alaskans Who Will Buy Their Insurance Through ObamaCare “Can Expect To Pay An Increase Of More Than 30 Percent On Average For Coverage.” “Alaskans who buy health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace will see a significant rate hike for next year. The state Division of Insurance says consumers can expect to pay an increase of more than 30 percent on average for coverage.” (Annie Feidt, “Huge Increase For HealthCare.Gov Insurance Rates In Alaska,“ Alaska Public Media , 9/5/14)

Moda Health, One Of Two Health Insurers On The Alaskan Exchange, “Won’t Allow People To Keep Policies Past This Year,” Affecting About 800 Policyholders. “One of the two health insurers that are part of the federally run online marketplace in Alaska won’t allow people to keep policies past this year that are out of compliance with President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, a state official said. One of the two health insurers that are part of the federally run online marketplace in Alaska won’t allow people to keep policies past this year that are out of compliance with President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, a state official said. Lori Wing-Heier, director of Alaska’s Division of Insurance, said her best guess is that the decision by Moda Health will affect about 800 policies.” (Becky Bohrer, “Official: Moda Won’t Extend Some Alaska Policies,” The Associated Press, 9/14/14)

• In 2013, 5,400 Alaskans Received Notifications That Their Plans Would Be Cancelled Due To ObamaCare. (“Policy Notifications And Current Status, By State,” The Associated Press, 12/26/13)

BEGICH CLAIMS HE OPPOSES ENERGY POLICIES THAT DRIVE UP COSTS, BUT WONT STAND IN THE WAY OF OBAMA’S EPA

In 2013, Begich Claimed Alaskans Do Not Want An Energy Policy That “Adds More Layers Of Regulation Or More Layers Of Cost.” “Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), who is also up for reelection in an oil state, told POLITICO that his constituents ‘don’t want to have something that adds more layers of regulation or more layers of cost.’ He said policymakers should focus on measures like increasing energy efficiency, rather than capping greenhouse gas emissions. ‘If we’re just going to have the same dance we’ve had the last several years, we’re never going to get through this,’ he said.” (Andrew Restuccia and Darren Goode, “W.H. Climate Weakness: Senate Dems,” Politico, 3/25/13)

But Begich Has Avoided Taking A Position On Obama’s New EPA Regulations That Will Drive Up Costs For Alaskans

In A Statement, Begich Said He Was Skeptical About The Obama Administration’s Latest EPA Regulations But Did Not Come Out Against Them. “‘It is no secret that I have long been skeptical of this Administration and their understanding of Alaska’s unique needs when it comes to energy policy and this will be no different,’ said Begich. ‘Today’s announcement from the Administration is the first step in a long process that I will be closely monitoring to determine any impact on Alaska – especially for consumers. Alaska is ground zero for climate change and there are common sense approaches to dealing with that reality, but we must protect consumers along the way.’ ‘From the initial review of materials released today, this rule exempts all of rural Alaska, but could impact a handful of Railbelt power plants,’ said Begich. ‘My office has already asked the EPA for additional information and I will work closely with both the EPA and the State of Alaska to ensure that any final rule is flexible and protects Alaska businesses and families.’” (Press Release, “Begich Statement on New Proposed EPA Rule,” Sen. Mark Begich, 6/2/14)

• Begich Didn’t Condemn Obama’s New Emissions Rules That Would Affect Alaskans. “Begich says he wants to make sure the state has the flexibility the EPA is promising, but he’s not condemning the proposed carbon rules. ‘At least at this point it seems to us, it does not affect rural Alaska in anyway, and second as you know the goal of the state is to get 50 percent renewable energies by 2025, so it’s very possible we’re already on the way,’ Begich said.” (Liz Rushkin, “What Do The EPA’s New Carbon Rules Mean For Alaska?” Alaska Public Radio, 6/5/14)

In May, Obama Announced New Carbon Regulations, Taking Aim At The Country’s Coal-Fired Power Plants. “The Obama administration on Monday announced one of the strongest actions ever taken by the United States government to fight climate change, a proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulation to cut carbon pollution from the nation’s power plants 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. The regulation takes aim at the largest source of carbon pollution in the United States, the nation’s more than 600 coal-fired power plants.” (Coral Davenport, “Unveiling New Carbon Plan, E.P.A. Focuses On Flexibility,” The New York Times, 6/2/14)

• “In Alaska, The Plan Calls For A Cut Of Carbon Pollutants By Nearly 26 Percent Over The Next 15 Years.” (“EPA: Alaska Ordered To Cut Emissions By 26 Percent,” The Associated Press , 6/2/14)

BEGICH HAS TRIED TO MISLEAD ALASKAN VOTERS ON HIS RESIDENCY

Begich Has Made Alaska Roots The Centerpiece Of His Reelection Campaign. “The first-term senator and his allies have repeatedly raised questions about whether his opponent, former Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan (R), has deep enough ties to Alaska. Sullivan lived in the Washington, D.C. area while he worked in President George W. Bush’s administration, and Begich allies have recently returned to attacks about Sullivan claiming his Maryland home as his primary residence, which Maryland authorities say they will look into. Sullivan’s time outside Alaska has been a focal point of the campaign.” (Cameron Joseph, “Begich Listed DC Address For FEC Reimbursements,” The Hill, 9/10/14)

• Begich: “Alaska Is My Home. This Is Where I Live.” BEGICH: “No, I still live there. I still live in East Anchorage. Alaska is my home. This is where I live. This is where my family is raised. It’s a great place. And I love it because it reminds me to make sure people know that.” (Mark Begich, Remarks At Campaign BBQ, Anchorage, AK, 5/24/14)

But Begich And His Family Live In A Million-Dollar D.C. Home And Use The Home As His Address For Official Documents

Begich Has Listed The Address Of His Washington, D.C. Home On His Federal Election Commission Filings. “Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) listed the address of his Washington, D.C. home rather than his Anchorage home on Federal Election Commission filings-a choice that could muddle attacks Begich has made on whether his opponent has close enough ties to Alaska. Begich listed his Capitol Hill address for reimbursements on a number of publicly available FEC forms over the past year.”(Cameron Joseph, “Begich Listed DC Address For FEC Reimbursements,” The Hill, 9/10/14)

• Begich Also Uses His Washington, D . C . Address On His Anchorage Property Records. “This isn’t the only time Begich has opted to use his D.C. address over his one in Anchorage – he also lists his D.C. address as the mailing address on Anchorage municipal property records.” (Cameron Joseph, “Begich Listed DC Address For FEC Reimbursements,” The Hill, 9/10/14)

Begich Purchased His D.C. Home In June 2009. “In June, the family purchased a house on Capitol Hill, which will cut down on commuting time he would have faced: ‘Both of us would love to live in Virginia, but when you compute it, I would have spent – even if we lived in Alexandria or McLean – at least 40 hours a month commuting, which is equal to a whole workweek. Then you add in these weird Senate schedules, where I’d rather be able to go home have dinner and then go back to vote.’” (Daniel Libit, “Sen. Mark Begich Hits The Road: 4,500 Miles To D.C.,” Politico, 8/25/09)

• According To Property Tax Records, Begich Resides In A Capitol Hill Home In Washington, D.C. That Is Worth More Than $1 Million. (Office Of Tax And Revenue – Property Detail, The District Of Columbia, Accessed 9/10/14)
• In August Of 2009, Begich Moved His Family From Alaska To Washington, D.C. “The Begich crew began their voyage last Monday, heading north out of Anchorage to Tok, a town of 1,400 people that is located along the Alaska Highway. From there, they tripped to the town of Haines, boarded a ferry to Prince Rupert, Canada, navigated a broad stretch of the Canadian toll ways system, and finally pulled into Great Falls, Mont., on Wednesday. Begich has been in Congress for six months, but the family waited until now to embark on the 4,500-mile drive to Washington, where they recently purchased a home.” (Daniel Libit, “Sen. Mark Begich Hits The Road: 4,500 Miles To D.C.,” Politico, 8/25/09)

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