Halter Lies Continue With More False Attacks on Senator Lincoln

Corporate Millionaire Bill Halter Continues to Distort Blanche Lincoln’s Record of Standing Up For Working Arkansas Families

Today Bill Halter continued to spread lies about Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s record, claiming she has hurt working Arkansans and stood up for special interests.  This is just a latest in a string of blatantly false representations of Senator Lincoln’s record of fighting for Arkansans. Senator Lincoln has stood up to Wall Street, voting to end TARP and cut back executive pay at organizations receiving bailout funds.  Senator Lincoln has also fought for Arkansas jobs, voting to end the preferential tax treatment for companies that send jobs overseas.  Bill Halter likes to cherry-pick Senator Lincoln’s record, attacking her for her support for financial reform in 1999 that passed the Senate by a vote of 90-8 and that President Clinton, Halter’s former boss, heralded as “truly historic.” Get the facts here:

Sen. Lincoln has Stood Up To Wall Street Banks…

Lincoln Voted Against Authorizing Further Funds for Wall Street Bailout. In 2009, Senator Lincoln voted for a resolution disapproving of the Troubled Asset Relief Program that would have prevented the release of $350 billion in bailout funds. Lincoln argued, “The program has provided little to no benefit to mainstream American businesses, consumers or homeowners. [Senate Vote #5, 1/15/2009; Lincoln Press Release, 1/15/2009]

Lincoln Voted To Terminate the Failed Troubled Asset Relief Program. In 2010, Lincoln voted for an amendment to terminate the Troubled Asset Relief Program and that the repayed funds be used to pay down the debt. [Senate Vote #2, 1/21/2010]

Senator Lincoln Introduced Bill to Stop Recycling of TARP Funds. In 2009, Senator Lincoln introduced a bill that “would require any TARP funds returned to the U.S. Department of the Treasury to be placed in the general fund in order to pay down the nation’s debt.” [Lincoln Press Release, 6/12/2009]

Senator Lincoln Pushed for Stricter Limits on Executive Compensation. During the TARP debate in the fall of 2008, Senator Lincoln pushed for stricter limits on executive compensation. [Senator Lincoln Letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, 9/26/2008; Letter to Secretary Henry Paulson, 11/14/2008]

Senator Lincoln Cosponsored Legislation to Limit Executive Pay. In 2008, Senator Lincoln cosponsored legislation that would limit the amount of compensation of executives at institutions receiving TARP money. [S.3693, Introduced 11/19/2008]

Senator Lincoln Introduced Legislation To End Special Tax Treatment of Executives’  Pay at Bailed-Out Companies. In 2009, Senator Lincoln joined a bipartisan effort introducing legislation that would require companies and their executives who received TARP funds to pay an excise tax on bonuses. [S.651, Introduced 3/19/2009]

Sen. Lincoln Has Fought for Jobs of Working Arkansans…

Senator Lincoln helped secure an expected 400 new jobs in Fort Smith. Lincoln worked with other federal, state, and local officials to encourage Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas Inc. (MPSA) to select Fort Smith as the location for its new wind turbine manufacturing facility. Mitsubishi plans to invest $100 million in the facility, which could employ as many as 400 people.  Construction is planned to start by early 2011.  [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 12/19/2009]

Senator Lincoln Successfully Pressured President to Provide Relief to Domestic Tire Industry Workers and Keep Arkansas Jobs. In 2009, Senator Lincoln successfully pressured President Obama to increase tariffs on tire imports from China to provide relief to domestic tire industry workers and protecting 1,700 jobs in Texarkana, AR. [Lincoln Press Release, 6/29/2009; Reuters, 9/11/2009; Texarkana Gazette, 6/3/2009]

Senator Lincoln Has Repeatedly Stood Up to Protect Workers Whose Jobs are Sent Overseas and To Repeal Tax Privileges for Companies Who Profit From Outsourcing. [Vote #63, 3/17/2005; Vote #83, 5/5/2004; Vote #80, 5/4/2004; Vote #41, 3/11/2004; #32, 3/4/2004]

As the new Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Lincoln is using her position to put 700 Arkansans back to work. In January, she forced the Department of Agriculture to deliver a $4 million increase in funding for the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests, which will put more than 700 Arkansans back to work while helping to restore the health of our forests and to keep our mills running. [Lincoln press release, 1/19/2010]

Sen. Lincoln is fighting for manufacturing jobs, like the 1,800 people employed by Whirlpool in Fort Smith. Sen. Lincoln has secured Senate passage of tax relief legislation that provides a tax credit to U.S. producers of energy efficient appliances.  The tax credit would help Arkansas manufacturers such as Whirlpool in Fort Smith, which employs 1,800 people.  [Lincoln press release, 3/8/2010, 3/10/2010, 4/1/2010]

Sen. Lincoln Does Not Accept Contributions From Organizations Receiving Money Under TARP…

Effective January 1,2009, Sen. Lincoln’s campaign ceased accepting contributions from executives, employees or Political Action Committees associated with TARP-assisted financial institutions headquartered outside the state of Arkansas.

Halter Allies Air False Ad Claiming Senator Lincoln Cost Worker Her Job at Whirpool. Bill Halter’s union sponsors have recently begun airing a false and irresponsible ad featuring a former Whirlpool-Ft. Smith worker who claims her job was sent to Mexico.  However, according to Whirlpool, the worker was not laid off when the ad claims and she recently turned down an offer to return to Whirlpool, opting to continue attending college under benefits Lincoln helped make possible.  Read more here.

Halter Lied About Sen. Lincoln’s Record on Health Care. On MSNBC, Halter claimed Senator Lincoln had been “indecisive” about her position on health care and unclear with Arkansas voters.  Yet, after years of advocacy for the uninsured, Blanche Lincoln’s record on health care and the public option is clear…It’s Bill Halter who in just a few weeks of campaigning has demonstrated he’s all over the map on a government-funded public option.  Read more here.

Halter Has Repeatedly Misrepresented Senator Lincoln’s Record on TARP, But Still Refuses to Take a Position. Bill Halter continues to attack Senator Lincoln as standing up for Wall Street and bailing out banks, but has ignored her fight to terminate the TARP program and rein in excessive payments to CEOs. It’s Bill Halter who refuses to be held accountable to Arkansas voters, continuing to dodge the question of how he would have voted on the bailout.  Just today, according to the Associated Press, “Halter…wouldn’t say how he would have voted on the measure.” Read more here. [Associated Press, 4/12/2010]

Halter Claimed Lincoln Put Special Interests Before the People of Arkansas. In a blast email, Bill Halter attacked Sen. Lincoln’s proven record on health care, claiming she is standing up for special interests instead of working people in Arkansas.  But Sen. Lincoln has stood up time and time again for the people of Arkansas, while D.C. labor unions continue to fight Bill Halter’s battles. Read more here.