Lugar’s Longstanding Love Affair With Earmarks
As the primary battle for the Republican Senate nomination heats up, Dick Lugar has come under increased scrutiny for his record on earmarks. And it is quite the record. Aside from sponsoring over $300 million in earmark requests in just the last 4 years, he has also actively opposed efforts to reform the system. “No matter how much he would like to forget his big-spending past, there is no doubt that Dick Lugar is a champion earmarker. Maybe that is acceptable to his neighbors in Virginia, but I doubt he would hear much support from Hoosiers,” said Matt Thornton, spokesman for American Bridge 21st Century. See the research below.
NY Times: Romney Runs As An Outsider But Makes Room For Lobbyists
On February 12, 2012, the New York Times reported:
They have hosted fund-raisers and raised millions of dollars for his campaign. They employed some of his top operatives after his first White House run, helped create the platform for his second bid and have deployed regularly to attack his Republican rivals on the campaign trail. For a candidate running against the entrenched interests of Washington, Mitt Romney keeps an awful lot of lobbyists around.
Evansville Courier & Press: Lugar's 'Home' To Be An Issue In Senate Campaign
On February 11, 2012, the Evansville Courier & Press reported:
Instead of owning a home in the Hoosier state, Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar lives in Virginia and stays in hotels when he visits the place he has represented for 36 years.
POLITICO: Lugar "In Defense" Of Country From Virginia
On February 10, 2012, POLITICO reported:
This is a terrible news clip for Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar even without his campaign's head-scratching comment.
The Hill: Hoekstra Campaign Pulls Website Tied To Controversial Super Bowl Commercial
On February 9, 2012, The Hill reported:
Former Rep. Pete Hoekstra’s (R-Mich.) campaign removed a website tied to his controversial Super Bowl ad Thursday, although his spokesman insists the Senate hopeful stands by — and will continue to air — the accompanying television spot.
WISH-TV: Where Does Sen. Lugar Live?
On February 9, 2012, WISH-TV reported:
Indiana Senator Richard Lugar lives in Virginia. It’s not a legal problem according to the Indiana Attorney General. It may be a political problem, however, if Democrats and Tea Party supporters get their way. They are all trying to make the case that Dick Lugar is disconnected from Indiana. A new web video from a Republican political action committee, American Bridge, points out that Dick Lugar is registered to vote at an Indianapolis home he sold 35 years ago.
Journal Sentinel: Thompson To Amend His Financial Disclosure Report
On February 9, 2012, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported:
Documents obtained by the Journal Sentinel from American Bridge 21st Century, a self-described progressive research and communications organization, and independently verified by the Journal Sentinel show that Thompson listed eight different companies or groups on his 2012 form but did not list them on his 2007 form even though his affiliation with the groups fell under the required reporting period.
Think Progress: Mitt Romney Is Financially Invested In The Birth Control He Seeks To Restrict
On February 8, 2012 Think Progress reported:
Now, an examination of Romney’s financial investments reveals that the very same GOP frontrunner who is now petitioning the White House to extend the regulation’s conscience clause and exclude more women from the benefits of birth control is himself invested in and profiting from pharmaceutical companies that produce the frequently prescribed and extremely common medication:
POLITICO: Romney As Cartoon Millionaire
On February 8, 2012, POLITICO reported:
Meet Mitt Romney, the parody. He’s really rich, worth between $150 million and “$200-odd million,” as he memorably put it. He thinks “corporations are people,” but doesn’t much worry about real people if they’re “very poor.” Homes? Three. Tax returns? None of your business. He invests in the same exotic places a James Bond villain might, the Cayman Islands and a Swiss bank account.
Scott “Bring Home The Pork” Brown Has Zero Earmark Credibility
This week, Senator Scott Brown has launched a number of attacks on Elizabeth Warren regarding earmarks. Overlooking the fact that Warren has never actually sponsored an earmark, Brown has - and bragged about it. “Listening to Scott Brown talk about earmarks is like listening to Gisele Bundchen talk about football,” said Matt Thornton, spokesman for American Bridge 21st Century. “The fact is, he has gladly and proudly asked for government pork, and his new-found hatred for earmarks is nothing more than an election year gimmick.”