RHETORIC VS. REALITY:
Ellsworth Will Again Ignore His Voting Record
Despite His Rhetoric, Ellsworth is Wrong on Major Issues

INDIANAPOLIS (October 22, 2010) – For the second time, the candidates for United States Senate will gather for a debate on the important issues facing Hoosiers. While Dan Coats focuses on his plans to get America back on track and Hoosiers back to work, what will incumbent Congressman Brad Ellsworth focus on tonight? Most likely, his rhetoric won’t match the reality of the failed policies he’s supported.

Despite The Rhetoric, the Stimulus Has Hurt Job Creation, Not Helped

The Rhetoric

»Ellsworth told ABC News recently that the $787 billion stimulus plan “did work.” (Rick Klein, “Rep. Ellsworth: Stimulus ‘Did Work,’ But Economy ‘Still Very Fragile.’ ABC News, 10/8/10.)

»According to Ellsworth, His First Priority is “Putting People Back to Work.” (U.S. Senate Debate, 10/11/10.)

»Ellsworth Claimed “[A]ny economist will tell you, if you spend money, it will create jobs.” - One-hundred economists disagreed with Ellsworth’s assessment and sent a letter to President Barack Obama “that his economic stimulus has failed and that ‘immediate action is needed to rein in federal spending.’” (Thomas Langhorne, “Change of Direction.” Evansville Courier & Press, 2/19/09; Peter Roff, “Economists: Stimulus Not Working, Obama Must Rein in Spending.” U.S. News and World Report, 6/10/10)
The Reality
WISH-TV’s Jim Shella reported this week that the “stimulus vote hurts Ellsworth” and the incumbent Congressman is having a “tough time convincing voters that it did [work].” Here’s why:

» Nationwide Unemployment is at 9.6 percent; Indiana’s at 10.2 percent - The most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics Report released on October 8, 2010, reported that our economy shed 95,000 jobs in September keeping our unemployment rate at 9.6 percent while the broader underemployment rate rose to 17.1 percent. (Jeannine Aversa and Christopher S. Rugaber, “Jobs crisis extends to unemployed.” Associated Press, 10/8/10)

»The AP reported the “jobless rate has now topped 9.5 percent for 14 straight months, the longest stretch since the Great Depression.”(Jeannine Aversa and Christopher S. Rugaber, “Jobs crisis extends to unemployed.” Associated Press, 10/8/10)

»Former Democrat Treasury Secretary Calls Stimulus Plans “Counterproductive” – At a recent Financial Leadership conference, Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin explained that, “U.S. policy makers should focus on deficit reduction rather than an economic-stimulus package” to grow our economy. (James Sterngold, “Rubin Says U.S. Should Focus on Deficit, Not More Stimulus.” Business Week, 10/19/10.)
Despite The Rhetoric, ObamaCare Was Not “Good for Hoosiers”

The Rhetoric

»Ellsworth said, in a March 2010 statement, that ObamaCare would be “good for Hoosiers.” (Congressman Brad Ellsworth, “Ellsworth Announces 10 Benefits for 2010.” Ellsworth Congressional Website, 3/23/10.)

»Ellsworth said in March 2010 that his vote for ObamaCare “improves access to affordable insurance options.” (Congressman Brad Ellsworth, “Ellsworth on Health Care Reform: ‘In My Core I Know It’s the Right Decision for Hoosiers.’” Ellsworth Congressional Website, 3/19/10.)
The Reality

»Keeping Health Plans is Not a Guarantee - “[A]n early draft of an administration regulation estimates that many employers will be forced to make changes to their health plans under the new law. In just three years, a majority of workers – 51 percent – will be in plans subject to new federal requirements, according to the draft.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Health overhaul to force changes in employer plans.” Associated Press, 6/11/10)

»Workers at Boeing to Pay More for Health Care Due to ObamaCare – From the Associated Press came word this week that Boeing “cited [ObamaCare] as part of the reason it is asking some 90,000 nonunion workers to pay significantly more for their health plan next year.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Citing health care law, Boeing pares employee plan.” Associated Press, 10/18/10.)

• Health Care Costs Expected to Rise - A recent story by the Wall Street Journal reported, “But some companies, citing the new mandates, say costs are rising too fast: In a survey of more than 1,000 employers, Mercer, a human-resources consulting firm, found that corporate health-care costs would rise by 10% next year if firms made no changes to their plans. Many are finding that they have little choice but to switch a greater share of costs to employees.” (Avery Johnson, “Get Ready for Higher Health Care Plans.” Wall Street Journal , 10/9/10.)

»Obama’s Debt Commission Co-Chair Said ObamaCare “Didn’t Do a lot to Address Cost Factors in Health Care” – Erskine Bowles, former Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton and Co-Chair of President Obama’s Debt Commission said health care costs will not change contrary to claims by President Obama and Congressman Ellsworth and will continue to “really eat us alive.” (Jon Ward, “Obama fiscal commission co-chair pans health bill’s impact on costs.” Daily Caller, 7/15/10)
Despite The Rhetoric, Ellsworth Doesn’t Have “100 Percent” Pro-Life Record

The Rhetoric

»In the First Debate, Ellsworth Claimed a “100 Percent Pro-Life Voting Record.” (U.S. Senate Debate, 10/11/10.)
The Reality

»Ellsworth Lost Endorsement of Indiana Right to Life due to “betrayal of Indiana’s pro-life community by caving in on the federal health care vote.” – In a recent statement supporting Dan Coats, Indiana Right to Life pointed to incumbent Congressman Ellsworth’s vote for ObamaCare as a key reason he can no longer claim a “100 percent” pro-life voting record. (Indiana Right to Life Statement, 10/19/10.)

»National Right to Life Rejected Ellsworth’s Claims on ObamaCare - Karen Cross of National Right to Life said, “Ellsworth voted to enact President Obama’s pro-abortion health care legislation – legislation which will provide government funding for health plans that pay for abortion on demand, and also contains multiple provisions that will promote the rationing of lifesaving medical treatments.” (Steven Ertelt, “Indiana Senate Candidate Dan Coats Gets Support From Pro-Life Organization.” LifeNews , 5/26/10.)
Despite The Rhetoric, Ellsworth is Not “Very Fiscally Conservative”

The Rhetoric

» Ellsworth Claimed “very fiscally conservative” record in interview with WOWO
The Reality

»Under Obama-Ellsworth, National Debt Has Increased $3 Trillion in Less Than Two Years - Mark Knoller of CBS News this week reported that “The National Debt stood at $10.626 trillion the day Mr. Obama was inaugurated. The Bureau of Public Debt reported today that the National Debt had hit an all time high of $13.665 trillion.” (Mark Knoller, “National Debt Up $3 Trillion on Obama’s Watch.” CBS News, 10/18/10.)

• 2009 and 2010 Deficits Highest on Record – A Monthly Budget Review by the Congressional Budget Office reported that, “The 2010 deficit was the second-highest shortfall-and 2009 the highest-since 1945, relative to the size of the economy.” (Congressional Budget Office, “Monthly Budget Review.” 10/7/10.)

»Over Seven Times More Debt Was Piled on in the Past Four Years than in the First 200 Years of Our Nation’s History

• On June 30, 1976, just days before the 200th anniversary of our founding, national debt was roughly $620.43 Billion (U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt, http://treasurydirect.gov, Accessed 10/10/10)
• When incumbent Congressman Brad Ellsworth was sworn in – national debt was roughly $8.67 Trillion. (U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt, www.treasurydirect.gov , Accessed 10/9/10)
• As of October 7, 2010, national debt was roughly $13.61 Trillion. (U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt, www.treasurydirect.gov, Accessed 10/9/10)

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