Congressman Joe Heck’s Koch Ties On Display

Congressman Heck Won’t Be Able to Distance Himself from Kochs, Accepting Tens of Thousands from Koch Industries & Voting with Koch Interests 90 Percent of Time

Congressman Joe Heck is taking a page out of the vulnerable-Republican-incumbent playbook and trying to rewrite his Washington record. Unfortunately, Congressman Heck can’t distance himself from the tens of thousands of dollars he accepted from Koch Industries. The Hillwrote today that “many of [Heck’s] donors are connected to the powerful network helmed by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch.”

And what have the Kochs’ gotten in return for their money? That would be Congressman Heck’s readiness to put their priorities above Nevada’s. Congressman Heck voted with Koch interests nearly 90 percent of the time this year and 100 percent of the time in 2013. He has repeatedly supported their agenda, including voting to protect tax subsidies for oil companies and tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas.

At the same time, Congressman Heck is weighed down by Donald Trump and his agreement with the Presidential frontrunner that ending birthright citizenship “should be a part of the discussion” on immigration reform.

“Just follow the money and you’ll see how Congressman Heck is just a typical politician who has sold out Nevadans to protect the billionaire special interests that bankroll his political career,” said Lauren Passalacqua, DSCC National Press Secretary. “Not only has Congressman Heck floated backwards ideas on immigration, he’s ignored the needs of Nevadans to fully support the Koch agenda and Nevada families deserve better.”

BACKGROUND

HECK HAS RECEIVED TENS OF THOUSANDS FROM KOCH INDUSTRIES PAC

Koch Industries PAC Has Contributed $35,000 To Heck Over His Congressional Career.  From 2009-2015, Koch Industries contributed $35,000 to Heck, all through PACs. [OpenSecrets, Joe Heck, Top Contributors, Career Profile, Accessed 10/21/15; FEC, Friends Of Joe Heck Congress, Accessed 12/22/15]

[FEC, Friends Of Joe Heck Congress, Accessed 12/22/15]

HECK VOTED WITH KOCH INTERESTS NEARLY 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME THIS YEAR AND 100 PERCENT OF THE TIME IN 2013

Heck Has Voted With Americans For Prosperity 88% Of The Time. According to the Americans for Prosperity website, Heck supported Americans for Prosperity’s positions 100 percent of the time during 2013. [Americans for Prosperity, Scorecard, Accessed12/22/15]

• 2013: Heck Voted With Americans For Prosperity 100% Of The Time. According to the Americans for Prosperity website, Heck supported Americans for Prosperity’s positions 100 percent of the time during 2013. [Americans for Prosperity, Scorecard, Accessed 12/22/15]

CNN: Americans For Prosperity Is “Funded By The Billionaire Industrialist Koch Brothers, Who Have Spent Millions Of Dollars To Back Conservative Causes And Candidates.” [CNN, Political Ticker, 10/29/13]

HECK HAS SUPPORTED THE KOCH BROTHERS’ AGENDA BY VOTING TO PROTECT OIL COMPANY SUBSIDIES AND TAX BREAKS FOR COMPANIES THAT MOVE JOBS OVERSEAS

Heck Voted Against Getting Rid Of Tax Breaks for Big Oil Companies. In March 2011, Heck voted against a: “Keating, D-Mass., motion to recommit the joint resolution to the Appropriations Committee with instructions that it be reported back immediately with an amendment that would prohibit any major integrated oil company from being eligible for any tax benefit or relief under related provisions of the tax code.” The motion failed, 176-249. [CQ, 3/1/11; H.J.Res. 44, Vote 153, 3/1/11]

Heck Voted Against Requiring A Tax Package To Eliminate Tax Breaks for Companies That Move Jobs and Profits Overseas. In August 2012, Heck voted against the: “Slaughter, D-N.Y., substitute amendment that would strike the text of the bill and insert congressional findings stating that the House should proceed to a tax overhaul measure that includes a progressive tax rate structure, the repeal of the alternative minimum tax, the elimination of tax breaks for companies that move jobs and profits overseas and incentives for small-business investment and growth.” The substitute amendment was rejected by a vote of 176-246. [CQ, 8/2/12; H.Amdt.1475 to H.R. 6169, Vote 550, 8/2/12]

Heck Voted Against Taking Up The Bring Jobs Home Act. In August 2012, Heck voted for the: “Sessions, R-Texas, motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and the possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 724) that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill to repeal the 2010 health care law.” A vote for the motion ordering the previous question is a vote to end debate without allowing alternative proposals, while a vote against ordering the previous question is a vote to allow the minority party to offer an alternative proposal. For this vote: “The Previous Question would amend the rule to allow for consideration of H.R. 5542 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage domestic insourcing and discourage foreign outsourcing.” The motion was agreed to by a vote of 238-184. [CQ, 7/10/12; H. Res. 724, Vote 456, 7/10/12; 112th Congress Previous Questions]

• The Bill Would Provide A 20 Percent Tax Credit For Businesses That Bring Jobs Back To The United States, Paid For By Closing Tax Loopholes For Companies That Send Jobs Overseas. “Ways and Means Committee Democrats today introduced legislation to provide tax credits to businesses that brings jobs and business operations back to America from another country. H.R. 6152: The Bring Jobs Home Act, introduced by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), provides a 20 percent tax credit for businesses that ‘insource’ jobs back to the United States and is paid for by closing tax loopholes for companies that ‘outsource’ jobs overseas and treat distributions of debt securities in a tax-free spin-off transaction in the same manner as distributions of cash or other property.” [House Ways and Means Committee, Press Release, 7/19/12]