�Bush Legacy Project� TV Ad to Air in KC as President Swings Through Show Me State to Raise Campaign

Posted Feb 01, 2008 at 05:53pm

From tax cuts for the rich that never trickled down in this struggling economy, to blank checks to keep U.S. troops stuck in the crosshairs of the civil war in Iraq, to standing in the way of legislation to give Missouri’s middle class a chance to get ahead – Bush in Town to Reward One of His Most Loyal Enablers in Congress

Click here to view ad script (PDF)

Washington D.C. – On the eve of President Bush’s visit to Missouri tomorrow to attend a private fundraiser for Rep. Sam Graves in Parkville, Americans United for Change, the group best known for leading the successful fight to defeat the President’s effort to privatize Social Security, will air a new TV ad in the Kansas City media market as part of its new Bush Legacy Project – a multi-million dollar paid media, grassroots, and online effort with the goal of cementing into history what the last 7 years of the Bush/Conservative ideology has wrought on America, from the looming economic recession, the endless war in Iraq, shortchanged domestic priorities like children’s and veterans’ healthcare, millions more Americans uninsured, stagnant wages, a mortgage crisis, the middle class squeeze, exploding deficit, and the list goes on.

The TV ad – which premiered nationally on Monday before the President’s State of the Union address – is being aired locally in Kansas City during the President’s visit there to highlight not just that the Bush Legacy has been a disaster for America and for Missouri, but that those in Congress like Sam Graves who rubberstamped Bush’s failed policies deserve credit for the impact their votes have had on the state of the union today. *See below for Rep. Grave’s long record of enabling this President’s disastrous policies, both foreign and domestic. *See also this special report -- Sam Graves: Bad for Kids in the 6th District (PDF)– from Americans United ally Missouri Pro-Vote.

“Credit must be given where its due, and President Bush could not have taken this country down a tortured path towards economic recession without the enablers in Congress like Sam Graves who rubberstamped massive tax cuts for the rich that never managed to trickle down to the middle class working folks who really needed them,” said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Americans United for Change. “President Bush would not still be able to spend $10 billion a month keeping our brave troops stuck in the crosshairs of an endless civil war in Iraq if he wasn’t handed a blank check to do just that time and again from Rep. Graves. And but for a handful of Republicans in Congress like Sam Graves that voted to sustain the President’s veto of SCHIP expansion -- 4 million more children in need including 56,900 more in Missouri would have the healthcare they deserve today. From voting against the first boost to the minimum wage in a decade to voting against fixing a broken system for forming unions so Missouri workers can bargain for better pay and retirement security – Sam Graves has consistently stood with Bush and in the way of meaningful legislation to give Missouri’s middle class families a chance to get ahead.”

“But Congressman Graves’ votes aren’t about Bush – they are about a failed and failing conservative ideology that the country has thoroughly rejected: neo-conservative foreign policy, trickle down economics, endless war -- all supported by the Bush Republicans – all rejected by the America people. It’s all a matter of public record – a record the public has grown disgusted with,” added Funk.

SAM Graves: RUBBERSTAMP FOR Bush's Failed Policies

Congressman Graves has consistently supported Bush's failed policies. From the war in Iraq to SCHIP and labor issues, Graves has contributed to the abysmal Bush legacy

Supported the War In Iraq

Graves voted to authorize the President to use force against Iraq. Congressman Graves supported legislation that would allow the president to use the military "against the continuing threat" posed by the Iraqi regime. The resolution authorized Mr. Bush to use the armed forces "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate" to defend the nation against "the continuing threat posed by Iraq," and to enforce "all relevant" United Nations Security Council resolutions on Iraq. It required him to report to Congress within 48 hours of any military action. The resolution encouraged the president to try to work through the United Nations before acting alone thought it left him with broad latitude. The resolution passed, 296-133. [HJ RES 114, Vote #455 (D 81-126, R 215-6), 10/2/02; New York Times, 10/11/02]

Graves voted against setting timetables for withdrawing from Iraq. Congressman Graves voted against a resolution declaring that setting an "artificial timetable" for withdrawing the U.S. military from Iraq would be "inconsistent with achieving victory." The resolution also called Iraq's December 2005 election a "crucial victory" for Iraq that would not have been possible without the presence of U.S. troops. [HRS 612, Vote #648 (D 59-108, R 220-0), 12/16/05]

Graves voted against the President reporting progress in Iraq and meeting benchmarks. Congressman Graves voted against a bill that would provide $42.8 billion in fiscal 2007 emergency spending for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and require another congressional vote in late July to release the remaining $52.8 billion for the Pentagon. It would withhold funds until the president reports by July 13 on progress the Iraqi government has made toward meeting specified benchmarks and goals set by the bill and Congress has adopted a joint resolution releasing the "fenced off" funds. The measure would provide $6.8 billion for hurricane recovery and relief, $3.3 billion for military healthcare costs and $2.25 billion for homeland security anti-terrorism programs. It also would raise the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour over two years and provide $4.8 billion in small-business tax incentives. [HR 2206, Vote #333, 5/10/07]

Graves has stood with Bush and repeatedly voted against bringing American troops home. Congressman Graves has consistently voted against bringing our troops home from Iraq. [H Con Res 63, Vote #99 (D 229-2, R 17-180), 2/16/07; HR 1591, Vote #265, 4/25/07; HR 2237, Vote #330, 5/10/07; HR 2956, Vote #624, 7/12/07]

Labor

Graves voted against increasing the federal minimum wage by $2.10. Congressman Graves voted against the Fair Minimum Wage Act which would increase the federal minimum wage by $2.10 over two years -- from the current level of $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. The minimum wage would increase 60 days after enactment, from $5.15 to $5.85 an hour. It would rise to $6.55 an hour a year later, and to $7.25 an hour the next year. [H R 2, Vote# 18, 1/10/07

Graves voted against the Employee Free Choice Act. Graves voted against the The Employee Free Choice Act would have allowed "union organizers to bypass secret-ballot elections if a majority of eligible employees sign a petition in support of union formation. It would establish a system of mediation and arbitration that would apply when an employer and union are unable to agree on their first contract. Employers would be required to pay three times the amount of back pay that an employee is due if the employee is illegally fired or discriminated against during an organizational or first contract drive." [H R 800 Vote #118, 3/1/07; CQ vote description]

SCHIP

Congressman Graves voted against expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program for 4 million more children in need. [HR 976, Vote #906, 9/25/07; passed 265-157]

Congressman Graves refused to overturn Bush's veto of legislation to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program for 4 million more children in need. [HR 976, Vote #982, 10/18/07; failed 273-156]

Congressman Graves voted against a revised SCHIP expansion bill that included strengthened language to address any and all concerns about undocumented immigrants, adults and children from high-income families benefiting from the program. [HR 3963, Vote #1009, 10/25/07; passed 265-142]

Congressman Graves refused to overturn Bush's veto a second time. [HR 3683, Vote #22, 1/23/08]

HEADLINE: Graves uses false arguments to justify SCHIP vote [The Kansas City Star, 10/11/07]

Supported Bush Tax Cuts

Graves Voted To Increase The Deficit By Extending Tax Credit To The Wealthy. In 2004, Graves voted for the child tax credit bill, which over the next ten years will add $228 billion to the national debt. The $1,000 credit per child was made permanent and extended to higher-income taxpayers: couples that earn up to $250,000 now qualify for the credit. Previously the income cap was $110,000. The bill passed the House 271-139. [HR 4359, Vote #209, 5/20/2004; CQ Weekly, 5/22/04; Washington Post, 5/27/04]

Graves Supported Bush's 2004 Multitrillion-Dollar Tax Breaks for Wealthy. In March 2004, Graves supported Bush's budget that permanently locked in multitrillion-dollar tax breaks that mostly benefit the nation's wealthiest. According to the AFL-CIO, "To finance these taxes cuts for millionaires and billionaires, the Republican budget resolution--which mirrored Bush's proposal--inflated the record-high $477 billion U.S. deficit and by $120 billion shortchanged or cut funds for the domestic programs working families need most--from job creation to health care, transportation and education. It also accelerated the repeal of the estate tax and made permanent tax cuts--such as the estate tax repeal, the capital gains and dividend rate cuts and the reduction in marginal rates--that provide huge benefits to families with the highest incomes." [H Con Res 393, Vote #92, 3/25/04; 2004 AFL-CIO Scorecard]

Graves Voted For $350 Billion Tax Cut For The Rich While Giving 50 Million Households Nothing. In 2003, Graves voted for an irresponsible tax cut package that deepened the nation's fiscal crisis and left middle-income households out in the cold. Some 53 percent of all U.S. households -- or 74 million -- will receive a tax cut of $100 or less in 2003 from the bill. Additionally, 36 percent of households -- or 50 million -- will receive no tax cut whatsoever in 2003, while tax filers who make $1 million or more per year will receive an average tax cut in 2003 of $93,500. The bill passed 231-200. [HR 2, Vote #225, 5/23/03; Center for Budget & Policy Priorities, 5/28/03]

Graves Voted For $550 Billion Tax Cut Favoring Corporations & Wealthy At Expense Of Middle Class. In 2003, Graves voted for tax cuts that would give the majority of the benefit to the wealthiest people in the country. Taxpayers with incomes of more than $1 million would receive average tax cuts of $93,500 in 2003, while the middle fifth of households would receive an average tax cut of just $217. Additionally, the top five percent of households in the country would get 72 percent of the tax cut benefits from the capital gains/dividend proposal. Meanwhile, the total cost of the plan if extended as promised would be between $865 billion and $1.1 trillion through 2013, twice as costly as advertised. The bill passed 222-203. [HR 2, Vote #182, 5/9/03; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/21/03]

Graves Voted For Billions In Tax Breaks For Overseas Corporations. In 2001, Graves voted for a $214 billion stimulus proposal that included a $6.5 billion tax break extension for financial corporations with overseas operations. Under existing law, U.S. firms were taxed on some types of income earned by foreign corporations that they control, regardless of whether the income is distributed back to the United States. The bill passed 224-193. [HR 3529, Vote #509, 12/20/01; CBPP, 12/21/01]