Here’s US Rep Chris Murphy’s rebuttal of the latest TV ad placed by Republican Linda McMahon:
“Linda McMahon’s new attack ad is nothing more than a laundry list of tired, debunked Republican talking points. The millionaire wrestling mogul is clearly trying to distract from her own record of laying off workers, pushing tax policies that benefit her own bank account, and supporting dangerous cuts to Medicare.
In her latest attack, Linda McMahon claims that she created ‘good’ jobs in Connecticut, but in her final year as CEO of WWE in 2009, she actually laid off a full 10% of her workforce before turning around and taking $10 million in state taxpayer credits designed to create jobs. All this happened as she was denying basic health benefits to her employees and their families, as she has throughout her embarrassing career.
The overreaching claim that Chris Murphy skipped 80% of his job is equally absurd; Murphy’s vote attendance record tops 97% for his time in office.
“Linda McMahon’s record is clear: selling explicit sex, extreme violence, and the abusive, demeaning and degrading treatment of women to kids, at the expense of her own employees and at the expense of Connecticut jobs,” said Murphy spokeswoman Taylor Lavender. “Now she’s trying again to paper over her embarrassing record with lies about Chris that have been debunked over and over again. From firing 10% of her workforce and taking $10 million in state taxpayer dollars, to holding middle class tax cuts hostage, to supporting massive cuts to Medicare, McMahon’s lies can only backfire.”
Furthermore, while McMahon claims to want to cut taxes for the middle class, she would actually hold middle class tax cuts hostage to her plan to give herself a tax cut too. McMahon also continues voice her support for massive cuts to Medicare—a statement her own campaign tried to cover up just two weeks ago.
A full fact check of McMahon’s attacks is below:
| BACKGROUND | VOICEOVER | CITATION |
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Linda McMahon
showed up for her
job and created
more than 600 good
Connecticut jobs:
marketing;
accounting; IT and
more.
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January 2009: McMahon Announced WWE Would Cut Ten Percent Of Its Workforce In Order To Save $8 Million. “Sports entertainment company World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. said Friday it will cut more than 60 jobs, or about 10 percent of its staff, as part of a broader cost-reduction plan. The company behind such television shows as ‘Friday Night SmackDown’ said the cuts will occur across all areas of the more roughly 600-employee company, yielding expected annual savings of $8 million in compensation and benefit costs. Performers in World Wrestling Entertainment’s live and televised wrestling matches are hired through outside contracts, and are not directly affected by the job cuts, World Wrestling spokesman Robert Zimmerman said….’With these actions, we believe we can execute our key strategic initiatives, including our digital strategy and international expansion, in a more profitable manner,’ Chief Executive Linda McMahon said.’” [AP, 1/9/09]
– 2009: McMahons Took Home $46 Million In Dividend Payments. “WWE’s proxy statements show that the McMahons already have earned about $45 million in quarterly dividend payments in both 2006 and 2007 and about $46 million in both 2008 and 2009.” [Journal Inquirer, (North-Central Connecticut), 5/11/10]
– WWE Received Nearly $10 Million in Connecticut Tax Credits to Create Jobs. According to the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, the WWE has received $9,282,609.60 in digital media and film tax credits. [WWE Digital Media and Film Tax Credit Report, Connecticut Department Of Economic and Community Development, 9/22/10]
– “In 2009, The Year That WWE Received All $9.8 Million In Film Tax Credits, The Company Laid Off About 10 Percent Of Its Global Workforce.” “In 2009, the year that WWE received all $9.8 million in film tax credits, the company laid off about 10 percent of its global workforce, or about 60 workers. WWE received five film tax credit disbursements in July 2009 and nine in December 2009. McMahon was chief executive of WWE from 1997 until September 2009, when she stepped down to run for the senate. Her husband, Vince, currently serves as chairman and CEO.” [Hartford Courant, 10/1/10]
– Governor Rell: Production Tax Incentives Were Meant “To Create More Jobs And Promote Tourism.” “With tax incentives now in place to make the state more attractive to filmmakers, Gov. M. Jodi Rell Monday called on tourism officials to aggressively market Connecticut to film and digital media producers. In a letter to Jennifer Aniskovich, executive director of the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Rell directed her to devote the agency’s full resources to promoting the state’s motion picture and digital media incentives. The incentives, which took effect July 1, offer a 30 percent tax credit to qualifying productions that spend more than $50,000 in the state. ‘The film industry holds great promise for Connecticut’s economy and a strong new push to shoot more movies here will build on our continuing efforts to create more jobs and promote tourism,’ Rell said in a statement.” [New Haven Register, 8/22/06]
– Politico: “Pro Wrestlers Are Not Offered Health Insurance or Pensions from WWE…” According to an article in Politico, “Linda McMahon’s…Senate campaign is drawing notice for the bruised feelings and even broken bones of her opponents: an angry group of famous pro wrestlers who once worked for her…Several of the former wrestlers say they are nursing injuries from their years in the ring and are hoping to deliver a smackdown of McMahon for WWE’s lack of long-term health benefits and coarse, hype-driven image under her leadership from the 1990s until (2009)…WWE’s lack of health insurance is at the heart of the wrestlers’ grievances. They allege that McMahon and her husband…ran a billion-dollar company that provided no health insurance for the wrestlers who put their bodies on the line to help turn the WWE into an international phenomenon. The issue is of no small concern for the former athletes…a number of whom are battling debilitating injuries or ailments related to their careers in the ring. As independent contractors, pro wrestlers are not offered health insurance or pensions from WWE…Even…Jesse Ventura…said the WWE was a ‘joke’ and ‘still in the Stone Age’ because the wrestlers lack union protection.” [Politico, 12/7/09]
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But newspapers say
Chris Murphy
skipped nearly
80% of his job in
committees.
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Murphy Voted 97% of the Time while in Congress.
[www.govtrack.us]
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And when Chris
Murphy did show
up, he voted to cut
Medicare by $716
billion dollars…
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Time: “The Idea…Affordable Care Act Struck a Dangerous Blow to Medicare…Is Untrue…Medicare Will Remain a Wildly Popular, Public Single-Payer Health Insurance System That Provides Comprehensive Coverage to Millions of Americans.” According to a fact check by Time, “Since the Romney-Ryan campaign is hammering the Obama-Biden ticket on the Affordable Care Act’s $716 billion in cuts to Medicare, it seems to useful to put this figure in context…The idea…that the Affordable Care Act struck a dangerous blow to Medicare that will change the program in fundamental ways is untrue. Under the new law, Medicare will remain a wildly popular, public singlepayer health insurance system that provides comprehensive coverage to millions of Americans.” [Time, 8/16/12]
FactCheck.org: “Republicans Claim the…$716 Billion ‘Cuts’ to Medicare Hurt the Program’s Finances. But The Opposite Is True.” According to a fact check by FactCheck.org, “Republicans claim the president’s $716 billion ‘cuts’ to Medicare hurt the program’s finances. But the opposite is true. These cuts in the future growth of spending prolong the life of the Medicare trust fund, stretching the program’s finances out longer than they
would last otherwise.” [FactCheck.org, 8/24/12]
Washington Post: “Affordable Care Act…Does Not…Change the Basket of Benefits that Patients Have Access to…” According to an article in the Washington Post, “It’s worth noting that there’s one area these cuts don’t touch: Medicare benefits. The Affordable Care Act rolls back payment rates for hospitals and insurers. It does not, however, change the basket of benefits that patients have access to…the Ryan budget would keep these
cuts in place.” [Washington Post, 8/14/12]
In an August 2010 Interview with John Harwood, Linda McMahon Voiced Support Both for Paul Ryan’s Plan and Cuts to Medicare. In an August 2010 interview with John Harwood, Linda McMahon was asked by John Harwood, “do you support Paul Ryan’s Roadmap to…America’s Future?” “I support some of what Paul Ryan has suggested…” In a follow up question, she was asked specifically about Medicare cuts. “I’m going to have to take a look at Medicare cuts,” McMahon said. [McMahon Interview with John Harwood, 8/10/10]
2012: McMahon Refused to Rule out Medicare Cuts, Only Promising that “I’m Not Going to Cut Any Benefits to Our Seniors Who Are Relying on This Today.” According to an article in the New Haven Register under the headline, “Linda McMahon Won’t Rule out Ryan Approach to Medicare,” “Republican…Linda McMahon won’t rule out Paul Ryan’s approach to fixing Medicare, only pledging she will not vote to reduce benefits to those seniors currently benefitting from the federal health care program… ‘I’m not going to vote to cut any benefits to our seniors who are relying on this today. Are we going to have to reform our Medicare? Yes, we are, But I’m not going to vote to cut anything for our seniors who rely and depend on that today,’ McMahon said…” [New Haven Register, 8/13/12]
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…and to increase
middle class taxes
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McMahon Opposed Obama Plan To “Allow The Bush Tax Cuts To Expire For Families Earning More Than $250,000.” In July 2012, New Haven Register’s CT Senate 2012 blog wrote that McMahon was “opposed to President Barack Obama’s plan to allow the Bush tax cuts to expire for families earning more than $250,000.” [CT Senate 2012 blog, New Haven Register, 7/18/12]
– 2010: McMahon Supported Efforts To Block Tax Cuts For The Middle Class Unless The Bush Tax Cuts For The Wealthy Were Also Extended. “U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon said…she would back Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s all-or-nothing approach to preserving the Bush-era tax cuts. ‘I would push forward to maintain for everyone the tax law that’s in place now,’ said McMahon, the Republican nominee. The position leaves McMahon at odds with Democrat Richard Blumenthal and vulnerable to the Democrats’ claim that Republicans are willing to hold middle-class tax relief hostage to save the richest Americans from a scheduled tax increase. To neutralize the issue, House Republican Leader John Boehner suggested over the weekend that Republicans could vote for President Obama’s proposal extend the cuts for households earning less than $250,000 if that is the only tax relief possible before the election. But McConnell struck a hard line Monday, proposing legislation to continue the cuts for all taxpayers. With 41 votes, McConnell has the numbers to block a vote on a middle-class relief. Asked if she would take McConnell’s side over Boehner’s, McMahon said, ‘Yes.’” [Connecticut
Mirror, 9/14/10]
Murphy Voted for $1,000 in Annual Tax Cuts for Middle Class. According to a press release from Murphy’s office, “With middle class tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year, today Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) voted to permanently extend those cuts for Connecticut middle class families. As the state’s economy continues to struggle to recover from this recession, Murphy voted to provide approximately $1,000 annually in tax relief for a typical middle class family.” [States News Service, 12/2/10]
Murphy Introduced Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2007. According to US Fed News, “Rep. Christopher Murphy, DConnecticut, has introduced the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2007 (H.R. 3906), legislation that would ‘amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the deduction for state and local sales tax, the deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses, the deduction for mortgage interest premiums, and the modifications to the dependent care credit.’” [US Fed News, 10/22/07]
Murphy supported the $787 Billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; Included Refundable Income Tax Credit; “Largest Tax Cut in Nation’s History.” In 2009, Murphy supported the conference report of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill was a $787 billion spending package to provide aid to states and cities, funding for transportation and infrastructure projects and expansion of the Medicaid program to cover more unemployed workers. It included $301.1 billion in personal and business tax breaks. [CQ Bill Analysis HR1; HR1, Vote #70, 3/31/09]
Supported $400 “Making Work Pay” Tax Credit The conference report of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included a refundable income tax credit for two years, beginning in 2009 and 2010. The credit was to be the lesser of 6.2 percent on an individual’s earned income or $400, $800 in the case of a joint return. [CQ Bill
Analysis HR1; CQ House Action Reports, 2/13/09]
Supported $2,500 Tax Credit for College Students The conference report of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created the American Opportunity Tax Credit, an expansion of an existing tax break called the Hope Scholarship Credit. The new credit allowed for 100 percent of the first $2,000 in tuition and related fees and 25 percent of the second $2,000 (for a total of $2,500). That increased from a maximum of $1,800 previously. [Chicago Tribune, 3/01/09]
Lower Taxes for 95% of Taxpayers Together the conference report of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 individual tax provisions would lower taxes for 95% of all taxpayers. [CQ House Action Reports, 2/13/09] “Largest Tax Cuts in American History.” According to an editorial which ran in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, “The new stimulus law contains the largest tax cuts in the nation’s history.” [Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Editorial, 2/26/09] Supported Alternative Minimum Tax Patch The conference report of the HR 1, Vote #70, 2/13/2009 Passed 246-183; R 0-176; D 246-7; I 0-0]
– Murphy Predicted Federal Stimulus Bill would Provide Tax Relief to 1.3 Million Connecticut Residents. According to the News-Times, “Area town and school leaders welcomed the news Friday that the $787 billion federal stimulus bill was on its way to providing a nearly $3 billion boost to Connecticut’s ailing budget, including a little less than $1 billion for education… U.S. Rep. Christopher Murphy, D-5th District, who voted in favor of the package, held a conference call Friday to describe the benefits of the legislation, including funding for social service programs such as emergency food and shelter, Medicaid and elderly nutrition… He predicted the bill would provide tax relief to 1.3 million Connecticut residents. A $400-per-person refundable tax credit will be phased out for workers making more than $75,000 or couples making more than $150,000.” [News-Times, 2/14/09]
– Average Connecticut Taxpayer Would Get $1,228 in Tax Relief Under the Stimulus Bill. According to a nonpartisan study of the stimulus completed by Citizens for Tax Justice, the average Connecticut taxpayer would save $1,228 in 2009. [Citizens for Tax Justice stimulus study,
February 2009]
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No wonder Chris
Murphy isn’t being
honest with you
about Linda.”
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