 | The Truth About Bouchard's Newest Misleading Attack Ad |
It may be inconvenient for Mike Bouchard, but..
- Debbie Stabenow Does Not Support Social Security for Illegal Aliens
- Debbie Stabenow Has Voted to Lower Social Security Taxes and Stop the GOP Privatization Plan
- Debbie Stabenow Has Voted to Strengthen Our Borders
- Bouchard "Biggest Spender" Claim Based on a GOP Senator's Personal Views, Not on Facts
For Mike and everyone else, here's the Facts:
FACT: Debbie Stabenow does not support Social Security for illegal immigrants. In fact, on the vote in question (SA 3985, vote #130, 5/18/06), she was joined by Bouchard endorsers Senators Sam Brownback (KS) and John McCain (R-AZ). Do these Republicans support social security for illegal immigrants, Mike?
FACT: Debbie Stabenow voted to lower Social Security taxes – Multiple Times: Multiple times, Debbie Stabenow has voted for lower taxes on Social Security. In 2003, she voted for a plan that according to Congressional Quarterly specifically "would have repealed a 1993 provision taxing 85 percent of the Social Security benefits of individuals and couples above a modest income level" and two more times to push for lower taxes on Social Security benefits. In 2005, she voted again for lower taxes on Social Security. (CQ Daily Monitor, 5/15/03; SA 426, vote #101, 3/25/03; SA 589, vote #148, 5/15/03; SA 556, vote #149, 5/15/03; SA 243, vote #73, 3/17/05)
Debbie Stabenow also was proud to fight "GOP efforts to offer Social Security privatization options," a plan that Democrats were able to stop. (Detroit Free Press, 10/13/05)
FACT: Debbie Stabenow supports strengthening our borders. The vote consistently cited by the Bouchard campaign as "proof" that she wants to weaken our borders (HR 5441, Vote #200, 7/16/06) would have cut other critical Homeland Security programs, including Northern Border security, across the board by over 5%. As Republican Judd Gregg said of the vote,
"Although I am very sympathetic to the purpose of the policy behind this amendment, the simple fact is that this sort of across-the-board cut would wreak havoc on this department and potentially mean significant reductions in a number of critical areas. This department does not have a lot of activity that is not critical to our homeland security, and a 5.5 percent cut across the board would have a devastating impact. So I have to oppose this amendment." (Senator Judd Gregg, Congressional Record, S7487, 7/13/06)
Senator Stabenow was joined in this vote by 28 Republican colleagues, including John McCain (R-AZ), on this vote. Does over half the GOP caucus, including John McCain, want to weaken our borders, Mike?
Debbie Stabenow has consistently voted to strengthen our borders, including supporting fencing and other necessary measures along our Southern Border. Here's the real Stabenow Record:
- Stabenow supports Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act Stabenow supports passage of a bill that would strengthen our borders, secure our visa entry system, and enhance our ability to deter potential terrorists. It would require planes and passenger ships traveling from other countries to give immigration officials lists of passengers and crewmembers before arriving. It also would create a database of suspected terrorists that federal agencies could use to screen visa applicants, and require schools to tell government officials if foreign students do not report for class. All visas, passports and other travel documents would be required to contain biometric data. (HR 3525, Vote #75, 4/18/02)
- Stabenow voted in support of an increase in funding for border security Stabenow voted for an amendment to H.R. 1268, the FY05 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. Amendment would increase funding for border security by $389.6 million. (HR 1268, Vote # 105, 4/20/2005)
- Stabenow voted in support of funding for homeland security with increased border security spending Stabenow voted for passage of a bill that would provide $31.9 billion in fiscal 2006 for the Homeland Security Department, including $7.9 billion for the Coast Guard, $6 billion for border security, $5.1 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, not including assumed fees, and $3.8 billion for investigating and enforcing immigration and customs laws. (HR 2360, Vote # 189, 7/14/05)
- Stabenow supported increased funding for border security Stabenow voted for an amendment that would add $1.9 billion for border patrol vehicles, aircraft, fencing and new stations as well as for Homeland Security Department personnel and Coast Guard border patrol efforts. (HR 4939, Vote #95, 4/26/06)
- Stabenow supported emergency appropriations for border security, Iraq, Afghanistan, hurricane relief and pandemic flu preparations Stabenow voted for passage of the bill that would appropriate roughly $109 billion in emergency supplemental funding for fiscal 2006. It would provide $70.9 billion in fiscal 2006 funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and foreign aid. It would provide more than $28 billion for hurricane relief, approximately $2.6 billion for pandemic flu preparations and $1.9 billion for border security efforts. (HR 4939, Vote #112, 5/4/06)
- Stabenow supports construction of a fence along Southwest United States Border Stabenow voted for an amendment that would increase the fencing and vehicle barriers along the southwest border of the United States. It would require within two years of enactment the construction of 370 miles of triple-layered fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along that border. (S 2611, Vote #126, 5/17/06)
- Stabenow supports the use of the National Guard for border security activities Stabenow voted for an amendment that would authorize any state governor, with approval from the secretary of Defense, to order units or personnel of that state's National Guard to spend annual training duty engaged in border security activities in states along U.S.-Mexico border. (S 2611, Vote # 137, 5/22/06)
- Stabenow supports Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 Stabenow voted for passage of a bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes, including funding for the Southern Border fence. (HR 5441, Vote #203, 7/13/06)
FACT: Bouchard Claim that Debbie Stabenow is the "Biggest Spender" in the Senate is based on personal notes a GOP Senator scribbles in his desk. Mike Bouchard's statement is based on the claims of one of his supporters, Senator Tom Coburn from Oklahoma. Coburn's claim is based solely on notes he keeps "tucked away" in his senate desk on all of his colleagues. One could question the note-taking skills and attention to detail of Tom Coburn, a Senator who was infamously seen doing a crossword puzzle during the Supreme Court nomination hearings for John Roberts. (Human Events Online, accessed 10/12/06; Washington Post, 9/13/05)