For Immediate Release
August 1, 2016
Contact: Press@CatherineCortezMasto.com
Desperate ad repeats claims that were called “BS” and “mostly false” by Nevada reporters
Ad also edits DREAMers out of a photo with Cortez Masto
Las Vegas, NV – Today, the Koch Brothers aired a new ad that repeated the same false and discredited attacks against Catherine Cortez Masto. The ad attacks Cortez Masto for doing her job as Attorney General by enforcing the law to protect Nevada passengers. Beyond repeating claims that have been called “BS” and “mostly false” by Nevada reporters, the ad actually edits Nevada DREAMers out of a photo Cortez Masto took with them; fitting, considering they support a candidate for Senate who voted to tear immigrant families apart.
“Congressman Heck’s allies are so desperate to attack Catherine Cortez Masto that they have to resort to repeating debunked lies about her record and editing DREAMers out of photos,” said Zach Hudson, spokesperson for Catherine Cortez Masto for Senate. “The truth is: as Attorney General, Catherine Cortez Masto traveled to ensure Nevada was doing everything possible to combat human trafficking and stop international money laundering. In contrast, in Washington, Congressman Heck voted to allow members of Congress like himself to fly on private jets on the taxpayers’ dime. Nevadans will see through Congressman Heck’s billionaire benefactors’ lies this November and elect Catherine Cortez Masto to be our next Senator to focus on solving problems.”
Cortez Masto Met With Latino High School Students And DREAMers And Talked About Higher Education And The Dream Act. “I was honored to spend my morning with Latino high school students from across southern Nevada to discuss the importance of college affordability, the DREAM Act, and finally passing comprehensive immigration reform so Nevada’s immigrant families never have to worry about their families getting torn apart. These students are our future. What an amazing group of bright, engaged, and fun young people. So much energy in one picture!” [Cortez Masto Facebook, 7/22/16]
Cortez Masto Took A Selfie With Them. [Cortez Masto Facebook, 7/22/16]
Freedom Partners Attack Ad Photo-Shopped Out Students In Picture With Cortez Masto And Replaced Them With A Beach. [Freedom Partners Ad Nineteen Dollars, YouTube, 8/1/16]
View complete fact check of the ad below:
FREEDOM PARTNERS ACTION FUND “NINETEEN DOLLARS” AD FACT CHECK 8/1/16
CLAIM
RESPONSE
Voiceover:Nineteen dollars an hour, that’s what the average Uber driver makes to pay the bills.
Visual:Green Traffic Light
Text:Nineteen Dollars An Hour
Text:Average Uber Driver Earns $19 An Hour, TechCrunch 1/22/15
Visual: View of Someone Driving A Car
THE TRUTH: LAS VEGAS UBER DRIVERS MAKE ON AVERAGE $10 AN HOUR
Las Vegas Now: Uber Drivers We Spoke To Make An Average Of $10 An Hour Before Deducting Expenses. “The drivers 8 News NOW spoke with are in agreement that the average driver makes $10 per hour, if they are lucky. That is before deducting expenses for gas, maintenance or insurance. ‘They contract us as independent contractors, 1099s,” one driver said. “We are not taxed or anything along those lines, so all the expenses are on us. Yet, we’re at the mercy of their control.’” [Las Vegas Now, 5/6/16]
Uber Driver: You Can’t Make A Living Like This.“‘From MGM to the airport, the taxi company make $20 to $22. The Uber driver makes $3.84. It doesn’t make any sense,’ one driver said. Word quickly spread among Uber drivers that 8 News NOW was looking into the fare cuts. Within minutes, drivers lined up for a chance to voice their frustration. […] ‘For nearly five hours of work, you got $29 before fees were taken out,’ one driver said. ‘You’re not going to make a living like this,’ another added.” [Las Vegas Now, 5/6/16]
KTNV: It’s Hard For Uber Drivers To Make A Living.“The problem, according to Garcia, is Uber has cut prices so much it’s difficult for drivers like him to make a living. ‘It’s very tough,’ said Garcia, the sole breadwinner who supports a wife, three kids, and two grandkids. ‘I have to work twice as much, and I don’t give my family the quality I used to have,’ Garcia said.” [KTNV, 5/27/16]
KTNV: Driving For Uber Is Driving Uber Drivers To The Poorhouse. “Garcia has fallen behind on his rent. His water could get cut off any day. He said driving for Uber is driving him to the poorhouse. He is now supplementing his income by working for Uber’s competitor Lyft. ‘It’s not worth it,’ Garcia said.” [KTNV, 5/27/16]
KTNV: Uber Driver Threatened To Strike. “Garcia said he would like to organize the thousands of Uber drivers Las Vegas to strike for better wages.” [KTNV,5/27/16]
THE TRUTH: CONGRESSMEN HECK ALLIES CONTINUE PATTERN OF FALSE AND MISLEADING ADS AGAINST CORTEZ MASTO THAT WERE CALLED “BULLSHIT” AND RATED “MOSTLY FALSE”…
Jon Ralston: Freedom Partners Uber Ad Is “Bullshit” – Uber Is Still Here. In June 2016, Jon Ralston tweeted: “@FreedomPartners digital ad on @CatherineForNV is brutal but BS: It says she ‘drove them out of town,’ but Uber is still here.’ [Twitter, Jon Ralston, 6/24/16]
Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Steve Sebelius On Uber Ad: Cortez Masto Had The Gall To Actually Enforce The Law. In June 2016, Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Steve Sebelius tweeted: “Shorter @FreedomPartners on @CatherineForNV: ‘As attorney general, she had the gall to actually enforce NV transpo laws as written!’” [Twitter, Steve Sebelius, 6/24/16]
Headline: Politifact: Freedom Partners Ad Attacking Cortez Masto On Uber “Mostly False.” [Politifact,7/7/16]
Poltifact: Uber’s Normal Strategy “Of Legally Questionable” Launches Were “A More Difficult Bar To Clear In Nevada.“ "But Uber’s normal strategy of legally questionable, high-profile launches was a more difficult bar to clear in Nevada, where the closely-regulated taxi market is ruled by incredibly strict regulations. The rules include an explicit prohibition in state law on any company entering the market unless it can prove it wouldn’t ‘adversely affect other carriers operating in the territory.’ Nevada also has a confusing regulatory structure for overseeing cab drivers. The Nevada Taxicab Authority oversees Las Vegas, while the Transportation Authority regulates the rest of the state. Both regulators fall under the Department of Business and Industry, which Director Bruce Breslow said attempted to negotiate Uber’s entry into the market before it suddenly launched statewide on Oct. 24, 2014.” [Politifact, 7/7/16]
Politifact: Uber Argued That the Existing Rules Didn’t Apply To Them, Which Lead To State Officials Cracking Down On Them. “Despite being told by regulators that Uber would need to apply under existing rules for new taxi companies, the company argued its non-traditional business model didn’t fall under decades-old state regulations. State officials disagreed, and quickly cracked down. Uber drivers caught by regulators were immediately cited and their cars impounded, and the Attorney General’s office quickly filed suit to shut Uber down.” [Politifact, 7/7/16]
Politifact: Cortez Masto Filed The Restraining Order In Three Separate Courts To Get A Statewide Injunction.“The ad claims Cortez Masto went after Uber "three times” until the company was driven out of the state — a reference to three attempted requests for temporary restraining orders filed on the same day Uber launched. The requests, which were filed in Carson City, Reno and Las Vegas, created a legal mess with several justices attempting to claim the case, including one Las Vegas-based justice suggesting that the Attorney General’s office was “jumping around to different jurisdictions trying to get a ruling.’… Former Chief Deputy Attorney General Gina Session oversaw the Uber case. She said the office filed in three courts because they were pressed for time and weren’t totally sure if an injunction filed in one jurisdiction would apply statewide — especially because Nevada has two geographically-based regulatory bodies covering the taxi industry. (Uber launched unexpectedly on a Friday).” [Politifact, 7/7/16]
Former Nevada Transportation Authority Chairman: “Massive Size Of Uber’s Workforce Dwarfed The Enforcement Capabilities Of State Regulators” And Prompted Court Action. “Former Nevada Transportation Authority chairman Andrew MacKay said the massive size of Uber’s workforce dwarfed the enforcement capabilities of state regulators, meaning the only real maneuver available was a court-ordered restraining order. MacKay, who disclosed that he’s supporting Republican Joe Heck in the state’s Senate race, detailed some of the issues with Uber in a three-page affidavit describing the more stringent requirements of Nevada’s cab companies.” [Politifact,7/7/16]
Heck Supporter And Former Nevada Transportation Authority Chairman Said It’s Possible Cortez Masto Could Have Ignored The Will Of The State, But It Would Have Been Highly Unusual, “I Couldn’t Foresee The AG Or Any AG Not Enforcing State Law.” “Former Nevada Transportation Authority chairman Andrew MacKay said the massive size of Uber’s workforce dwarfed the enforcement capabilities of state regulators, meaning the only real maneuver available was a court-ordered restraining order. MacKay, who disclosed that he’s supporting Republican Joe Heck in the state’s Senate race, detailed some of the issues with Uber in a three-page affidavit describing the more stringent requirements of Nevada’s cab companies. […] MacKay, chairman of the state’s ‘client’ in the case against Uber, said it’s theoretically possible that Cortez Masto could have ignored the will of the state and not filed suit, but it would have been highly unusual. ‘I couldn’t foresee the AG or any AG not enforcing state law,’ MacKay said.” [Politifact, 7/7/16]
Politifact Rated The Uber Attack Ad Mostly False “Because The Ad Takes Things Out Of Context.” “ Freedom Partners got a couple of the details right in the amount of taxi industry donations and Cortez Masto’s aggressive legal actions against Uber. But there’s a convincing argument that Uber at the very least bent the rules, and it’s clear that Cortez Masto didn’t have some sort of individual vendetta against the ride-hailing company — her office was working with state regulators who specifically requested the attorney general take action. The ad also neglects to mention how Uber only temporarily left town. The ridesharing service is very much up and running through Nevada a year after its initial skirmish with the state. Because this ad takes things out of context, we rate it Mostly False.” [Politifact, 7/7/16]
…AND PREVIOUS ATTACKS HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY DEBUNKED BY INDEPENDENT FACT-CHECKERS
Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Steve Sebelius: Two Recent Ads From The Koch Brothers-Backed Freedom Partners Action Fund PAC Targeting Cortez Masto Arranged Perfectly True Facts To Lead To A False Conclusion.“Anybody who’s ever been to a courthouse knows its possible to arrange perfectly true facts to lead a jury to a false conclusion. It’s no different in the court of public opinion. Take two recent ads from the Koch brothers-backed Freedom Partners Action Fund PAC targeting Democratic former Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, who’s now running for Senate. The ads allege she hired a well-connected Washington, D.C., law firm to sue Bank of America during the foreclosure crisis. The firm earned millions in fees. Partners in the firm later gave Cortez Masto campaign contributions. Therefore, corruption!” [Las Vegas Review Journal, Column, 5/10/16]
Las Vegas Review Journal’s Steve Sebelius: “Sounds Much More Like Cortez Masto Doing Her Job Than Cozying Up To A Washington Special Interest For Personal Profit.” “So, while it’s true Cortez Masto recommended the hiring of a law firm that earned money representing the state and whose partners later contributed to her campaign, it’s also true the firm successfully forced one of the largest banks in the country to pay the state millions to compensate for alleged wrongdoing. That sounds much more like Cortez Masto doing her job than cozying up to a Washington special interest for personal profit. In fact, you’d have to very carefully arrange the facts to lead people to that conclusion. That’s why you always have to wait until you’ve heard the entire story, in court and out.” [Las Vegas Review Journal, Column, 5/10/16]
PolitiFact Nevada: NRSC Claim That Cortez Masto Took Pay Increases Is “A Highly Misleading Claim.”“The NRSC said Cortez Masto ‘was happy to line her own pockets with taxpayer dollars when state employees were slammed with frozen salaries,’ but this is a highly misleading claim. The state increased Cortez Masto’s salary during a time of pay freezes for Nevada’s state workers. She was unable to legally reject the pay increase, so she donated $38,000 back to the state during her last four years in office. We rate the claim Mostly False.” [PolitiFact Nevada, 2/3/16]
PolitiFact Nevada: It’s Clear That As Attorney General, Cortez Masto Didn’t “Pad Her Pockets” While State Workers Suffered – She Received Essentially The Same Salary During Her Eight Years In Office. “According to information collected from TransparentNevada.com and records request from the state Controller’s office, PolitiFact Nevada put together this spreadsheet of salaries, donations and what percentage of salary was donated back to the state. As shown, it’s clear that as Attorney General, Cortez Masto didn’t ‘pad her pockets’ while state workers suffered – rather, she received essentially the same salary (not counting benefits) during her eight years in office when donations are subtracted out.” [PolitiFact Nevada, 2/3/16]
Washington Post Fact Check: NRSC “Exaggerated Charges” And Used “Misleading Language” To Frighten Voters Into Thinking Cortez Masto Made A Foreign Policy Blunder. In September 2015, Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler wrote, “This is an ad designed to frighten voters into thinking that Masto has made a tragic foreign-policy blunder that will lead to nuclear conflict. But the images would be justified only if the case were as compelling as the NRSC suggests. Instead, the organization has exaggerated the charges and used misleading language to make its case. With a few tweaks in the wording and less stark images, the NRSC could make a reasonable argument that supporting the nuclear deal is a mistake. But this effort is a miss.” [Washington Post Fact Check, NRSC Ad “There’s No Going Back,” 10/6/15]
Washington Post Fact Check: As Cortez Masto Noted The Iran Deal Blocks Two Routes To A Nuclear A Weapon. In September 2015, Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler wrote, “In her statement, Masto noted that estimates suggest Iran is currently two to three months from obtaining a nuclear weapon — and that this agreement would block its path for 15 years. Under the accord, Iran gives up most of its highly enriched uranium and curbs its production of plutonium — two routes to a nuclear weapon. It will give up a lot of nuclear equipment and has agreed to limits on uranium enrichment. But after 15 years, many of the restraints will end. […] Ultimately, this is a matter of opinion — and responsible experts on both sides of the debate have valid arguments. There is no way of knowing now whether the accord will forever block Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon. But the ad concludes with images suggesting that nuclear war is around the corner.” [Washington Post Fact Check, NRSC Ad “There’s No Going Back,” 10/6/15]
Voiceover:But after taking $70,000 from taxi companies Catherine Cortez Masto drove Uber out of Nevada.
Text:Catherine Cortez Masto$70k From Taxi Companies
Source:Campaign Finance Reports, Nevada Secretary of State
Visual:Catherine Cortez Masto Picture With Background of Dollars and Taxis
Text:Catherine Cortez Masto “Spearheaded The Legal Fight Against Uber” –Reno Gazette-Journal, 12/3/14
Text: Uber Shut Down For “Nearly A Year” –Las Vegas Review-Journal, 9/14/15
Visual:Cortez Masto Picture With Background Photo Of Red Light
NEVADANS’ KNOW: CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO DID HER JOB AND ENFORCED THE LAW FOR UBER’S ILLEGAL ACTIVITY…
Steve Sebelius: Cortez Masto Did Not Take Money To Kill Uber. “The ad cleverly implies — but doesn’t directly say — that Cortez Masto took action based on the contributions she received from taxi companies, which is false. But you’d have to understand the huge gap in the timeline to know that.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sebelius Column, 7/2/16]
Steve Sebelius: Uber Operated In Nevada Without Government Sanction. “Next, when Uber started operating in Nevada in late 2014, it did so without government sanction. (For those who don’t know, Uber uses a smartphone app to connect passengers with drivers vetted by the company, allowing people to pay for rides electronically. The company insists it’s a social media platform, not a transportation company, so it doesn’t need any stinkin’ permits, or words to that effect.)” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sebelius Column, 7/2/16]
Steve Sebelius: Cortez Masto Got Involved On Behalf Of Nevada Taxicab Authority, Which Agreed With Her Legal Strategy. “The only problem? The Nevada Taxicab Authority disagreed, and immediately began conducting sting operations on Uber drivers and even impounding their cars. The agency is represented by the attorney general’s office, which is how Cortez Masto got involved. She decided to seek an injunction to stop the company from operating until the legal issues were resolved, and the authority’s board voted to endorse her legal strategy.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sebelius Column, 7/2/16]
Steve Sebelius: A Carson City Judge “Looked At The Facts And Concluded That Uber Was Operating In Violation Of The Law.” “In fact, a Carson City judge looked at the facts and concluded that Uber was operating in violation of the law. He issued an injunction, and the company stopped operating in the state as a result.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sebelius Column, 7/2/16]
Steve Sebelius: Uber Lobbied The 2015 Legislature And Now Legally Operates In The State. “ Ultimately, however, Uber lobbied for a change in the law at the Nevada Legislature’s 2015 session and received permission to operate. Uber and other so-called transportation network companies now operate legally in the state. That’s right: The companies are still here, along with all their jobs.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sebelius Column, 7/2/16]
Steve Sebelius: “You Can’t Argue That Cortez Masto Did Anything Remotely Wrong.” “The ad’s final line: 'She put campaign donors ahead of Nevadans, and protected special interests instead of us.’ No, she didn’t… But you can’t argue that Cortez Masto did anything even remotely wrong: A state agency represented by her office presented evidence that Uber was operating illegally. She concurred. (Later, so would a District Court judge.) If she’d ignored the issue, she could have been accused of abdicating her duty.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sebelius Column, 7/2/16]
Headline: KVVU: “Judge Temporarily Puts Brakes On Uber Service In NV.” [KVVU, 10/24/14]
Nevada Judge Issued Restraining Order Against Uber For Operating Without A License At Behest Of The Nevada Transportation Authority. “Just hours after it launched, Carson City District Court Judge James Russell has stopped ride-sharing company Uber from operating in Nevada, but that’s not stopping Uber drivers who as ofSaturday night were still working in the Valley to pick up passengers. The restraining order was issued at the behest of the Nevada Transportation Authority. According to Nevada Department of Business and Authority spokeswoman Terri Williams, four Uber drivers have already been cited for operating without a license - three in Las Vegas and one in Reno.” [KVVU, 10/24/14]
Nevada Transportation Authority Unanimously Supported Taking Legal Action Against Uber. “The Nevada Transportation Authority lateThursday unanimously supported Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto’s strategy to take legal action against illegal passenger carrier activity in the state. Commissioner Keith Sakelhide wondered aloud why the board that regulates buses and limousines statewide and taxicabs outside Clark County even had to vote on the measure. ‘Is it really necessary to have an agenda item for the attorney general’s office to do its job?’ Sakelhide said. But Chairman Andrew MacKay said taking up the issue was important because ‘actions of a certain magnitude should be ratified by the full board.’ And the arrival of Uber has hit Nevada with the magnitude of a major earthquake.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/31/14]
Uber Was Openly Flouting State Transportation Laws.“But state regulators can enforce transportation laws, which means representatives of the Transportation Authority and the Nevada Taxicab Authority can cite Uber drivers and impound their cars if caught. Industry leaders told commissioners that because Uber is openly flouting state laws they should seek maximum penalties against drivers anytime they’re caught.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/31/14]
Uber Drivers Were Routinely Cited As Illegal Operators. “A spokeswoman for the state’s Business and Industry Department said 15 Uber drivers — 12 in Las Vegas and three in Reno — have been cited. Impound hearings occurred Monday and Tuesday. Citations have been routinely issued to illegal operators well before Uber arrived. ‘In the normal course of business, the (Taxicab Authority) and the (Nevada Transportation Authority) investigators do field complaints and anonymous tips related to gypsy cabs and respond accordingly,’ spokeswoman Teri Williams said in an email.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/31/14]
… AND NOW, AFTER LAWMAKERS SETUP A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, UBER IS OPERATING LEGALLY IN NEVADA
Gov. Sandoval Signed Legislation Setting Up Regulatory Framework For Ride-Hailing Companies, Like Uber And Lyft. “Gov. Brian Sandoval late Friday signed legislation authorizing ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in Nevada. Sandoval signed Assembly Bills 175 and 176, which set up a regulatory framework for transportation network companies that connect passengers with drivers through smartphone apps, and puts the companies under the authority of the Nevada Transportation Authority. Uber briefly operated in Nevada last fall until a state judge issued an injunction requested by the state.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/29/15]
Headline: KLAS: “Lyft, Uber Are Officially Operating In Nevada.” [KLAS, 9/15/15]
Nevada Transportation Authority Approved Uber And Lyft After Lawmakers Authorized Them. “The Nevada Transportation Authority approved the applications months after state lawmakers passed a law authorizing so-called transportation network companies. Uber and Lyft say it’s in compliance with all existing rules.” [KLAS, 9/15/15]
Voiceover:Nineteen dollars an hour, it’s not much for Cortez Masto. She lived large on more than $60,000 of trips and gifts from other special interests.
Text:Nineteen Dollars An Hour
Visual: Photo-shopped Picture Of Cortez Masto With A Beach Behind Her
Text:Catherine Cortez Masto
Visual:Photo Of A Plane Taking Off
Text: Cortez Masto Took $63,758 Of Special Interest Gifts, Cortez Masto Financial Disclosure Statements, 2009-2015
Visual: Table Setting with Empty Wine Glasses, Pool At A Hotel
THE TRUTH: CORTEZ MASTO WENT TO POLICY CONFERENCES ON IMPORTANT ISSUES INCLUDING SEX TRAFFICKING, ORGANIZED CRIME, & MONEY LAUNDERING
Cortez Masto Traveled To Geneva, Switzerland To Update U.N. Committee Of Efforts To Combat Sex Trafficking And Prevent Exploitation Of Children In Nevada. “Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto will travel to Geneva, Switzerland this week to update a United nations committee on efforts to combat sex trafficking and to prevent the exploitation of children in Nevada. ‘I continue with my efforts to combat the sex trafficking of both adults and children in Nevada,’ said Masto. This address comes on the heels of AG Masto’s sex trafficking summit in Las Vegas last week. The topics of discussion at the summit included how to advance enforcement responses, enhance victim services and empower survivors.” [Comstock Chronicle, 1/18/13]
Headline: Las Vegas Review-Journal: “Masto Says Trip To Mexico To Help Battle Transnational Organized Crime.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 3/27/14]
Cortez Masto: Meeting Of State Attorneys General With Their Mexican Counterparts Produced Letter Of Intent To Establish Working Group On Money Laundering Enforcement. “Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said a meeting of state attorneys general with their Mexican counterparts over two days this week has produced tangible results in the fight against transnational organized crime. The meetings in Mexico City resulted in the signing of a letter of intent with the National Banking and Secu-rities Commission of Mexico to establish a binational working group on money laundering enforcement. But she said the meetings, also attended by the attorneys general from California, Colorado, Florida and New Mexico, have also allowed personal relationships to be furthered with their counterparts in the Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, Chihuahua, Campeche, the Federal District, Zacatecas and Jalisco.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 3/27/14]
REALITY: CORTEZ MASTO SPENT LESS ON OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL THAN REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL
Cortez Masto’s Fiscal Biennium Out-Of-State Travel Budget Averaged $17,353 During Her Two Terms As Attorney General. According to an analysis of Open Nevada, the state’s transparency website, between FY2008 and FY2015, Cortez Masto’s office spent an average of $17,353 on out-of-state travel. [Open Nevada, Office Of Attorney General Travel Budget, Accessed 12/14/15]
Republican Adam Laxalt’s Office Budgeted $21,682 For His First Biennium Budget As Attorney General For Out-Of-State Travel. According to an analysis of Open Nevada, the state’s transparency website, Adam Laxalt’s first two year fiscal budget, FY2016-FY2017, allocated $21,682 for out-of-state travel. [Open Nevada, Office Of Attorney General Travel Budget, Accessed 12/14/15]
Republican George Chanos Spent $20,524 During His Biennium Budget As Attorney General For Out-Of-State Travel. According to an analysis of Open Nevada, the state’s transparency website, Republican Attorney General George Chanos spent $20,524 on out-of-state travel during his 2 year tenure of FY2006-FY2007. [Open Nevada, Office Of Attorney General Travel Budget, Accessed 12/14/15]
REALITY: FREEDOM PARTNERS IS SO DESPARATE THEY PHOTO-SHOPPED A PICTURE OF CORTEZ MASTO TO REMOVE A PICTURE OF LATINO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND DREAMERS AND REPLACED THEM WITH A BEACH
Cortez Masto Met With Latino High School Students And DREAMers And Talked About Higher Education And The Dream Act. “I was honored to spend my morning with Latino high school students from across southern Nevada to discuss the importance of college affordability, the DREAM Act, and finally passing comprehensive immigration reform so Nevada’s immigrant families never have to worry about their families getting torn apart. These students are our future. What an amazing group of bright, engaged, and fun young people. So much energy in one picture!” [Cortez Masto Facebook, 7/22/16]
Cortez Masto Took A Selfie With Them. [Cortez Masto Facebook, 7/22/16]
Freedom Partners Attack Ad Photo-Shopped Out Students In Picture With Cortez Masto And Replaced Them With A Beach. [Freedom Partners Ad Nineteen Dollars, YouTube, 8/1/16]
REALITY: CONGRESSMAN HECK VOTED TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO TRAVEL ON PRIVATE JETS ON THE TAXPAYERS DIME
2014: Heck Voted Against Democratic Substitute Budget That Prohibited Taxpayer Funds From Being Used To Lease Corporate Jets For Members Of Congress. In April 2014, Heck voted against: “The Committee on House Administration shall review the policies pertaining to the services provided to Members of Congress and House Committees, and shall identify ways to reduce any subsidies paid for the operation of the House gym, Barber- shop, Salon, and the House dining room. Further, it is the policy of this resolution that no taxpayer funds may be used to purchase first class airfare or to lease corporate jets for Members of Congress.” The substitute amendment was rejected in Committee of the Whole by a vote of 163-261. [Rep. Van Hollen (D-MD) Substitute Budget, Introduced 4/10/14; H.Amdt.616 to H.Con.Res.96, Vote 176, 4/10/14]
2013: Heck Voted Against Democratic Substitute Budget That Prohibited Taxpayer Funds From Being Used To Lease Corporate Jets For Members Of Congress. In March 2013, Heck voted against: “The Committee on House Administration shall review the policies pertaining to the services provided to Members of Congress and House Committees, and shall identify ways to reduce any subsidies paid for the operation of the House gym, Barbershop, Salon, and the House dining room. Further, it is the policy of this resolution that no taxpayer funds may be used to purchase first class airfare or to lease corporate jets for Members of Congress.” The substitute amendment was rejected in Committee of the Whole by a vote of 165-253. [Rep. Van Hollen (D-MD) Substitute Budget, Introduced 3/20/13; H.Amdt.36 to H.Con.Res.25, Vote 87, 3/20/13]
2012: Heck Voted Against Democratic Substitute Budget That Prohibited Taxpayer Funds From Being Used To Lease Corporate Jets For Members Of Congress. In March 2012, Heck voted against: “The Committee on House Administration shall review the policies pertaining to the services provided to Members of Congress and House Committees, and shall identify ways to reduce any subsidies paid for the operation of the House gym, Barbershop, Salon, and the House dining room. Further, it is the policy of this resolution that no taxpayer funds may be used to purchase first class airfare or to lease corporate jets for Members of Congress.” The substitute amendment was rejected in Committee of the Whole by a vote of 163-262. [Rep. Van Hollen (D-MD) Substitute Budget, Introduced 3/29/12; H.Amdt.1004 to H.Con.Res.112, Vote 150, 2/29/12]
Voiceover:In Washington, would she work for us or them?
Text: Would Cortez Masto Work For Us?
Visual:Catherine Cortez Masto With Picture Of U.S. Capitol In Background
Visual:Cortez Masto Picture With Background Photo Of Shadows Shaking Hands
Text: Or Them?
THE TRUTH: HECK SPONSORED A BILL TO CUT TAXES ON THE BIG BANKS – THE SAME BIG BANKS THAT GAVE OUT BAD LOANS AND CAUSED NEVADA’S FORECLOSURE CRISIS.…
Bank Lobbyists Pushed Heck’s Bill To Repeal Nevada’s Excise Taxes On Banks. “Nevada bankers asked lawmakers on Thursday to back a bill repealing two excise taxes imposed on banks in 2003, calling them unfair levies that single out their industry. Bill Uffelman, president of the Nevada Bankers Association, said the taxes have caused a severe drop in some small rural banks’ earnings. That’s particularly difficult when banks are facing competition from credit unions that don’t pay the extra taxes, he said. […] John Sande, a lobbyist with the Nevada Bankers Association, said the bill emphasizes the discrimination in the excise tax and reiterated that financial institutions should be charged the same taxes as any other business. He was not opposed to AB290, but said, ‘It just goes to show you how unfair the existing law is.’” [Associated Press, 3/22/07]
2010: Heck Defended Bill To Cut Taxes On Banks, Argued It Put Them On Equal Footing With Other Businesses. “Heck said that he didn’t remember the vote on the tax rebate for seniors and that the tax cut for banks was meant to put them on equal footing with other businesses. ‘I have no recollection of that vote,’ he said of the tax rebate vote. The bank vote, he said, corrected a two-tier system Titus supported in 2003. ‘It didn’t make a difference if it was banks,’ Heck said. ‘It could have been somebody who was making widgets or baskets.’” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/15/10]
…AND HECK OPPOSED WALL STREET REFORMS ON BIG BANKS INTENDED TO PREVENT ANOTHER FORECLOSURE CRISIS…
Heck Voted To Create A Safe Harbor From ThePenalties Under Wall Street Reform For Banks That Originate Non-Qualified Mortgages That Do Not Comply With The Ability-To-Repay Requirements. In November 2015, Heck voted for: “Passage of the bill that would create a safe harbor from the penalties under the Dodd-Frank Act for banks that originate non-qualified mortgages that do not comply with the ability-to-repay requirements, as long as the bank retains the mortgage in its own portfolio. The bill would also create safe harbor for mortgage originators (brokers) if the mortgage lender is a depository institution and intends to hold the mortgage for the life of the loan, and the originator tells the consumer that the lender will hold the mortgage for the life of the loan. The bill would also require that prepayment penalties comply with current statutory requirements. Further, the bill would provide safe harbor to balloon payment loans, as long as these loans meet all other qualified mortgage requirements. As amended, the bill would clarify that systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) are excluded from the safe harbor provisions under the bill.” The bill passed 255-174. [CQ, 11/18/15; HR 1210, Vote 636, 11/18/15]
The Bill Would Roll Back Regulations For Mortgages That Were Created To Prevent The Bad Lending Practices That Led To The 2008 Financial Crisis – It Would Extend An Exemption To A Rule From Just Small And Rural Banks To All Banks. “The House passed legislation Wednesday that critics argue rolls back regulations for mortgages that were created to prevent the bad lending practices responsible for the financial crisis of 2008. The Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act, which was introduced by Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), passed by a 255-174 vote. The bill extends a federal exemption meant for small and rural banks to all banking institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued regulations last year that require lenders to ensure a borrower’s ability to repay a loan in order to obtain a qualified mortgage status, which provides lenders a ‘safe harbor’ protection from federal penalties and lawsuits brought by borrowers who have defaulted on their loans. But the bureau created an exemption to allow small and rural banks to achieve that qualified mortgage status without following the ability-to-repay rule, which requires a borrower’s debt-to-income ratio to be 43 percent or less. Banking organizations, which support extending the exemption, argued that the rule was too restrictive and caused mid-size community bankers to decrease or eliminate their mortgage businesses.” [The Hill, 11/18/15]
Heck Voted To Exempt From The Prohibition Any Covered Depository Institution That Limits Its Security-Based And Other Swap Activities To Hedging And Other Similar Risk-Mitigation Activities. In October 2013, Heck voted for: “Passage of the bill that would amend a provision of the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul law that prohibits the federal bailout of swaps dealers or participants. The bill would exempt from the prohibition any covered depository institution that limits its security-based and other swap activities to hedging and other similar risk-mitigation activities. Non-structured and certain structured finance swap activities also would be exempt. Under the bill, insured depository institutions and uninsured U.S. branches of a foreign bank would be considered covered depository institutions.” The bill passed 292-122. [CQ,10/30/13; HR992, Vote 569, 10/30/13]
Bill Rolled Back Major Elements Of The Dodd-Frank Financial Regulatory Bill. “The House of Representatives, with bipartisan support, passed legislation on Wednesdaythat would roll back a major element of the 2010 law intended to strengthen the nation’s financial regulations by allowing big banks like Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase to continue to handle most types of derivatives trades in house. The bill, which passed by a 292-122 vote, would repeal a requirement in the Dodd-Frank law that big banks ‘push out’ some derivatives trading into separate units that are not backed by the government’s insurance fund.” [New York Times, 10/30/13]
A Swap Was A Type Of Securities Exchange, One Type, A Credit Default Swap, Transferred Risk From The Owner Of A Stock To The Buyer Of A Swap In Exchange For Period Payments. “Credit default swap: A swap designed to transfer credit risk, in effect a form of financial insurance. The buyer of the swap makes periodic payments to the seller in return for protection in the event of a default on a loan. […] Swap: An exchange of securities between two parties. For example, if a firm in one country has a lower fixed interest rate and one in another country has a lower floating interest rate, an interest rate swap could be mutually beneficial.” [BBC Magazine, 8/4/09]
Fortune Magazine: Credit Default Swaps “Played A Critical Role In The Unfolding Financial Crisis.” “As Congress wrestles with another bailout bill to try to contain the financial contagion, there’s a potential killer bug out there whose next movement can’t be predicted: the Credit Default Swap. In just over a decade these privately traded derivatives contracts have ballooned from nothing into a $54.6 trillion market. CDS are the fastest-growing major type of financial derivatives. More important, they’ve played a critical role in the unfolding financial crisis. First, by ostensibly providing ‘insurance’ on risky mortgage bonds, they encouraged and enabled reckless behavior during the housing bubble.” [Fortune Magazine, 9/30/08]
… WHILE TAKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Heck’s Campaigns Received $525,569 From The Securities & Investment Industry. [Open Secrets, Joe Heck Career Top Industries, Accessed 8/1/16]
Heck’s Campaigns Received $262,442 From The Insurance Industry. [Open Secrets, Joe Heck Career Top Industries, Accessed 8/1/16]
Heck’s Campaigns Received $128,339 From The Commercial Banking Industry. [Open Secrets, Joe Heck Career Top Industries, Accessed 8/1/16]
REALITY: CONGRESSMAN HECK SUPPORTED KOCH-BACKED PLAN TO PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY AND GENERATE BILLIONS IN FEES FOR WALL STREET…
Heck Proposed Allowing Workers To Invest Retirement Funds In Private Accounts, Instead Of Social Security.“The two candidates also got into an angry back-and-forth in discussing veterans benefits, Medicare and Social Security. Bilbray said Heck wants to privatize Social Security, and she said he’s done nothing to raise Medicare reimbursement rates so doctors won’t drop patients. Congress had boosted reimbursement rates, but on a year-to-year basis instead of a permanent fix. Heck, sounding exasperated, said he introduced the first bill to ‘repair Medicare’ and reintroduced it this year. He said it passed the House. As for Social Security, Heck said he has proposed allowing younger workers to invest retirement funds as they like, instead of with the government.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/20/14]
Heck: “I Believe That Any Individual Should Have The Right To Voluntarily Take Their Portion Of Social Security Withholding And Invest It As They Deem Appropriate.” In May 2010 interview Joe Heck stated, “I believe that any individual should have the right to voluntarily take their portion of Social Security withholding and invest it as they deem appropriate. It is arrogant of government to think that they can invest someone’s money better than they can. Since this would be voluntary, any individual who would exercise this option must understand that they are assuming the risk associated with private investment. The employer contribution should continue to go to the Social Security program and the benefit upon retirement calculated based on those contributions.” [Nevada News and Views, 5/4/10]
Koch Brothers’ Political Organization Recommended Partial Privatization Of Social Security. In April 2014, Americans for Prosperity released a document outlining its “recommendations for federal budget reform.” These included, “AFP supports empowering workers with a choice: stay with the tax-and-benefit system of Social Security as it is now, or save and invest your same payroll tax contributions through a personal savings account. Instead of seeing their hard-earned dollars funneled through Washington to pay for current retirees’ benefits, workers would truly own and control the accumulated funds and could invest them with a wide variety of investment funds offering different mixes of stocks and bonds and different levels of risk and reward – similar to the defined contribution 401k-style plans that many American workers already use.” [AFP, 4/8/14]
Koch Brothers-Backed Plan Would Allow Workers To Invest Social Security In Private Accounts. “But AFP’s suggested plan wouldn’t totally privatize Social Security, either. It was a voluntary plan that allowed workers to choose to invest with private accounts or avoid the risk and stick with traditional Social Security.” [FactCheck.org, 10/7/14]
381,000 Nevadans Aged 65 Or Older Received Social Security Benefits. According to the Social Security Administration report on OASDI Beneficiaries by state and county issued July 2014: 381,000 aged 65 or older received Social Security benefits, which was 16.5 percent of Nevada’s total population and 87.3 percent of Nevada seniors. [Social Security Administration Beneficiaries Report, July 2014]
Privatizing Social Security Could Be A Windfall For Wall Street, Generating Billions In Fees. “President Bush’s plan to partly privatize Social Security could be a windfall for Wall Street, generating billions of dollars in management fees for brokerages and mutual fund companies.” [NBC News, 12/28/04]
Wall Street Firms Could Reap Billions In Management Fees If Social Security Taxes Were Funneled Into Private Accounts. “The nation’s brokerages and mutual fund companies could be big winners if the government were to allow Americans to funnel some of their Social Security taxes into private investment accounts each year. Firms such as Fidelity Investments, Vanguard Group, Merrill Lynch & Co. and Schwab collectively could reap billions of dollars in management fees and commissions over the long term.” [Los Angeles Times, 1/18/05]
…AND HECK OPPOSED RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE, JUST LIKE THE KOCH BROTHERS
Heck Opposed Raising The Minimum Wage: “The Last Thing Our Economy Needs Is Another Mandate From Washington That Will Cost Us Jobs. Raising The Minimum Wage Will Not Increase Jobs.” In October 2014 Elko Daily Free Press column, Thomas Mitchell wrote, “Asked about the minimum wage issue after his Democratic opponent came out in favor of raising it not to $10.10 but to $15, Republican Rep. Joe Heck, whose 3rd Congressional District covers the southernmost reaches of the state, replied, ‘The last thing our economy needs is another mandate from Washington that will cost us jobs. Raising the minimum wage will not increase jobs, expand opportunity, or be a silver bullet to reduce poverty. Instead, it will cost mainly young and low-skilled workers the chance to get a start in the working world and learn critical job skills that will help them transition to more gainful employment.’” [Elko Daily Free Press, Thomas Mitchell Column, 10/22/14]
· Koch Brothers Political Organization Opposed Raising The Federal Minimum Wage To $10.10. In December 2013, Americans for Prosperity Federal Affairs Manager Christine Hanson wrote, “On behalf of more than two million Americans for Prosperity activists in all 50 states, I write in strong opposition to the so-called Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 (S.1737), which would gradually raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.” [Americans for Prosperity Letter to Sen. Harkin,12/17/13]
· Charles Koch: We Have To “Clear Out” The Minimum Wage. In an interview with the Witchita Eagle Charles Koch said, “We want to do a better job of raising up the disadvantaged and the poorest in this country, rather than saying ‘Oh, we’re just fine now.’ We’re not saying that at all. What we’re saying is, we need to analyze all these additional policies, these subsidies, this cronyism, this avalanche of regulations, all these things that are creating a culture of dependency. And like permitting, to start a business, in many cities, to drive a taxicab, to become a hairdresser. Anything that people with limited capital can do to raise themselves up, they keep throwing obstacles in their way. And so we’ve got to clear those out. Or the minimum wage. Or anything that reduces the mobility of labor.” [Witchita Eagle, 7/9/13]
Las Vegas Review-Journal Editorial: “Heck Has Largely Ignored Efforts To Raise Wages For Working People.” In April 2014, Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial board wrote, “As our unemployment numbers lower and our economy recovers, income inequality should be decreasing — not growing exponentially — and yet for some of our elected leaders, that is simply not a priority. Instead of building on the progress and momentum to raise wages that Nevada voters built up nearly eight years ago, Sen. Dean Heller declared the minimum wage issue ‘solved’ and Rep. Joe Heck has largely ignored efforts to raise wages for working people. As representatives of Nevada, Sen. Heller and Rep. Heck should be actively supporting what the majority of Nevadans, and the majority of Americans, are in favor of — a federal minimum wage of $10.10 an hour.” [Editorial, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 4/29/14]
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