West Hartford, Conn. – Linda McMahon for Senate 2010 today announced that House Republican Leader Larry Cafero has given his support to Republican Senate Nominee Linda McMahon.

“As a proud Connecticut Republican, I believe with all my heart that our state and our country are better served with a Republican representing Connecticut in our U.S. Senate,” said House Republican Leader Larry Cafero. “I am proud to have been one of Rob Simmons’ earliest supporters in his campaign for Senate.  Rob has a long, distinguished record of public service, and I believe he will continue serving this state and our country for years to come.”

“If our Republican party hopes to beat the well financed Democratic front runner, Richard Blumenthal, we need a candidate who is positioned on August 11^th to take this campaign to the November 2^nd, Election Day finish line,” continued Cafero. “I now believe Linda McMahon is that candidate. Throughout this campaign, Linda has demonstrated the grit to take the fight to a man who thinks he can win a U.S. Senate seat by hiding from the public and the press. Linda has the message, resources and the team to win in November. I am not casting my vote against Rob Simmons, I’m voting for Linda McMahon, as I believe she is the Republican Party’s best hope for victory.”

State Rep. Larry Cafero was first elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1992 and was reelected eight times. Rep. Cafero served as Deputy Republican Leader for six terms, and in 2007, was chosen by his colleagues to serve as House Republican Leader.

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010.

On the two key pieces of legislation passed this year, the health care bill and financial reform bill, top Democrats have admitted they had no idea what’s in these complex, economy-altering bills.

SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI: “[W]e have to pass the [health care] bill so that you can find out what is in it…” (“Pelosi Remarks at the 2010 Legislative Conference for National Association of Counties,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi Press Release, 3/9/10)

SEN. CHRIS DODD: “No one will know until [financial reform] is actually in place how it works .” (David Cho, Jia Lynn Yang and Brady Dennis, “Lawmakers guide Dodd-Frank bill for Wall Street reform into homestretch,” Washington Post, 6/26/10)

To allow Congress, the public, and government watchdogs more time to analyze legislation, a leading suggestion is to require that all non-emergency bills be posted online for at least 72 hours before a final vote can be scheduled. Last week, however, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer ridiculed the idea:

“House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) ridiculed on Thursday an effort pushed by Republicans to allow lawmakers more time to read legislation. Hoyer dismissed a proposal by House GOP leader John Boehner (Ohio) and other Republicans to require 72 hours to read legislation before a final vote on it is scheduled.” (Michael O’Brien, “Hoyer Ridicules Bohener’s ‘read the bill’ initiative” The Hill, 7/22/10)

Does Richard Blumenthal believe Congress and the public should have a chance to read bills before they’re passed?

Linda McMahon’s position on the Read the Bill reform has been a matter of public record for months. The Hartford Courant reported on Linda’s position in October. As Linda explains: “Businesses don’t sign contracts without knowing what they’re signing, and lawmakers shouldn’t vote on bills without knowing what they’re passing. It’s time for something different.” On Linda’s campaign website, she says: “I would support a common sense measure that would require all non-emergency bills be subject to a mandatory three-day period during which bills would be posted on the Internet prior to a vote so that Members of Congress, the press and the public can review them.”

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010.

Daily Ructions
 
McMahon, Foley Score Big Wins In Middletown Straw Poll. Result A Disappointment For Simmons.
 
Daily Ructions Blog
By Kevin Rennie
Friday, July 23, 2010
 
The Middlletown Republican Town Committee held an Iowa-like cattle call and straw poll tonight.  The 186 Republicans who paid $10 each to participate dealt a blow to the Rob Simmons campaign a couple of days after the former congressman revived his suspended campaign.  Simmons represented Middletown during his first term in Congress.
 
The three Senate candidates spoke to the crowd. Tom Foley and Oz Griebel did too, Michael Fedele was represented by running mate Mark Boughton.
 
The results:
 
For U.S. Senate:
Linda McMahon: 106
Peter Schiff: 46
Rob Simmons: 34
 
For Governor:
Michael Fedele: 18
Tom Foley: 138
Oz Griebel: 35

LINK

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010.

“In the Senate, some liberal Democrats such as Sen. Tom Harkin (Iowa) would like to see the Bush tax cuts expire for families earning $200,000 a year, or even less.” (Alexander Bolton, “Democrats may stop Bush-era tax cuts for wealthy from expiring,” The Hill, 7/22/10)

“Sen. Byron Dorgan (N.D.), chairman of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, concurred, saying, ‘I don’t think there’s any magic in the number, whether it’s $250,000, $200,000 or $225,000. … The larger question is whether we’ll be able to extend the tax cuts for middle-income folks,’ Dorgan said.” (Alexander Bolton, “Dems: We’re not bound by president’s tax vow,” The Hill, 6/23/10)

“[L]awmakers must discuss ‘whether we can afford to permanently extend [middle-class tax cuts] …,’ [House Majority Leader Steny] Hoyer said today in a speech in Washington.” (James Rowley , “Hoyer Says Extending Bush’s U.S. Middle-Class Tax Cuts May Be Unaffordable,” Bloomberg, 6/22/10)

“Democrats are looking at the possibility of raising taxes on families below the $250,000-a-year threshold promised by President Barack Obama during the election. … ‘You could go lower, too — why not $200,000?’ said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).” (Alexander Bolton, “Dems: We’re not bound by president’s tax vow,” The Hill, 6/23/10)

Will Blumenthal stand strong with Democrats who believe we should raise taxes on families earning less than $250,000?

Linda McMahon’s position on taxes has been a matter of public record for months. Her stand against scheduled tax increases is central to her plan to put Connecticut back to work.

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010.

“For eight months, Rob Simmons promised Connecticut Republicans that he would not primary if he lost the convention. He lost the convention, then immediately announced he would primary. Hours later, he dismissed his staff and announced he wouldn’t primary. Over the past two months, he’s been engaged in a very strange and erratic effort to reconcile his promise not to run with his desire to return to Washington. Today, we are as confused as everyone else.

“Rob Simmons has said many times he’s a man of his word, and we take him at his word. Should he decide to officially un-curtail his campaign, we’re prepared for that, as we have been since September 2009.

“Until that happens, following Rob Simmons’ on-again, off-again campaign is a little like trying to keep up with an Abbott and Costello routine… Who’s on first?”

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010.

Gallup: 53% of Americans Say Economy/Unemployment are the most important problems facing the country

West Hartford, Conn. – U.S. Senate candidate Dick Blumenthal this week acknowledged that he doesn’t understand why the unemployment rate is nearly 10 percent. Blumenthal’s stunning admission comes on the heels of a Gallup survey that found most Americans continue to cite concerns over the state of the economy and the nearly double-digit unemployment rate as the most important problems facing the nation.

“Dick Blumenthal can’t pretend to have solutions on unemployment when he doesn’t understand the root causes of job losses,” said Linda McMahon for Senate 2010 spokesman Ed Patru. “Connecticut families are looking first and foremost for leadership on the issue of job creation and its becoming clearer by the week that Dick Blumenthal is ill-equipped and embarrassingly underprepared to provide it.”

Scott Benjamin of the Litchfield County Times this week interviewed Attorney General Blumenthal. From the report: “In an interview following his presentation, Mr. Blumenthal said he couldn’t provide ‘a three-sentence analysis’ on why unemployment over the last year has been at the highest levels since 1982.” (Litchfield County Times, 7/19/10)

Blumenthal’s startling revelation comes just five months after Blumenthal hailed lawsuits as an effective tool for job creation. “Our lawsuits, our legal actions, actually create jobs because businesses actually welcome it,” announced Blumenthal in a televised March debate. (Hartford Courant/Fox 61, Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Debate, 3/1/10)

“Dick Blumenthal is a career politician who has never created a private sector job, so perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that he’s not only completely baffled by what is causing the nearly 10 percent unemployment rate, but also totally clueless on how to fix it,” added Patru. “Dick Blumenthal has proven over the years he knows how to hold a press conference and he certainly knows how to file a lawsuit, but the problem in Washington is not a lack of lawyers or politicians – it’s a lack of understanding how jobs are created. It’s a lack of understanding that bigger government stifles small businesses. It’s a lack of understanding that higher taxes and more litigation don’t create a single job.”

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010.

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010.

West Hartford, Conn. – On Face the State last Sunday, Dennis House asked Richard Blumenthal whether he would have voted for Washington’s failed $862 billion stimulus. Blumenthal responded that he would have voted against it.

Last fall, however, Blumenthal appeared at a rally with the Vice President that was specifically held to promote the stimulus plan.

“Richard Blumenthal can’t have it both ways,” said Linda McMahon for Senate 2010 spokesman Ed Patru. “When Washington insiders come to town, he stands with them at a rally to promote the failed $862 billion stimulus, but when he’s facing a tightening race for the U.S. Senate, he claims he would have voted against it. Either Blumenthal misspoke on Face the State or he’s trying to fool voters as public opinion turns against his policies.”

Blumenthal Takes A Stand Against The Stimulus This Past Weekend

HOUSE: “As Senator, would you have voted for the most recent stimulus package?”

BLUMENTHAL: “… I would have voted against the stimulus package as it was structured.” (WFSB’s Face The State, 7/18/10)

Video

Blumenthal Stands Up For The Stimulus Last Fall With D.C. Insiders

“Biden spoke…in Fairfield to promote the stimulus.” (Daniela Altimari, “When VIPs come to town, politics and policy often mix,” Hartford Courant’s Capitol Watch Blog, 10/6/09)

“The audience included state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal…” (Daniela Altimari, “Biden Praises Chris Dodd; Touts Impact Of Stimulus Spending,” Hartford Courant, 10/6/09)

“Standing in a commuter parking lot just off the Merritt Parkway Monday, Vice President Joe Biden spoke of the impact that stimulus spending is having on communities across the state. … Biden said credit is starting to flow again, home sales are starting to rise a bit, and the recovery act is starting to yield results. ‘We’re reinvesting, getting people … back to work,’ he said.” (Daniela Altimari, “Biden Praises Chris Dodd; Touts Impact Of Stimulus Spending,” Hartford Courant, 10/6/09)

“Vice President Joseph Biden Monday touted the success of federal stimulus funds in saving and creating jobs…Biden said analysts estimate the money has already created or helped sustain 750,000 to 1.2 million jobs across the country…” (Mary O’Leary, “Biden touts stimulus in roadside visit: Vice president stumps for Dodd, Himes at parkway project site,” New Haven Register, 10/6/09)

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010

West Hartford, Conn. – Washington’s elite and bigwig union bosses are trying to force job-killing card check legislation on American workers. The bill would take away a worker’s right to secret ballot union elections, and it’s estimated that 765,000 jobs could be lost over the next two years as small businesses face costly new regulations.

The question remains, however, where does Richard Blumenthal stand on the job-killing card check bill?

Linda McMahon’s position on card check has been a matter of public record for months. Stopping card check is a key point in her plan to put Connecticut back to work.

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010.

Three Months Ago – A Full 18 Months After TARP Was Passed – Blumenthal Wasn’t So Sure

Blumenthal On TARP This Weekend:

HOUSE: “If you’re elected and President Obama says to you in January, Dick, we need another stimulus plan, another multi-million dollar plan. Would you vote for it?”

BLUMENTHAL: “I would vote against anything like the bailout plan. I opposed it.” (WFSB’s Face The State, 7/18/10)

Video

Blumenthal On TARP In April:

“Asked if he would have voted in 2008 for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, he dodged several times by saying he would have tried to amend it, then turned to an aide and said, ‘Have I taken a position on this?’ (Three hours later, he sent word that he would have voted against it.)” (David M. Halbfinger, “Hopeful In Connecticut Senate Race Hits Bumps,” New York Times, 4/15/10)

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For more information, contact the Linda McMahon for Senate Press Office, 860-244-2010.