NEW DSCC AD: Kelly Ayotte Votes With The Special Interests, And That’s Just Not Right for New Hampshire

V/O: This is where the oil billionaire Koch Brothers hosted a fundraiser for Kelly Ayotte.

GFX: Metropolitan

Club, NYC

NH1, 10/20/15

AYOTTE BENEFITTED FROM FUNDRAISER SHE ATTENDED AT NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN CLUB HOSTED BY DAVID KOCH

Ayotte Attended And Benefitted From A $10,000-A-Plate Fundraiser Hosted By David Koch In New York City. “Big money donor David Koch hosted a $10,000-a-plate fundraiser in Manhattan Monday night for four, Republican Senate candidates including Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH according to published reports. Koch’s hometown favorite is August Wolf, a GOP hopeful running against Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, The Connecticut Mirror reported. But other benefactors of the event were GOP Senators Roy Blunt of Missouri, Jerry Moran of Kansas and Ayotte, the newspaper reported Monday. Ayotte finished the most recent quarter impressively with more than $5 million in the bank.” [NH1, 10/20/15]

·         Event Took Place At The Metropolitan Club In New York City. “An Evening with United States Senators and Candidate […] David H. Koch and John K. Castle Cordially invite you to attend An Evening with Senator Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire […] The Metropolitan Club, One East 60^th Street New York, NY” [Invitation to An Evening with United State Senators, Accessed 10/20/16]

THE KOCH BROTHERS WERE BILLIONAIRE OIL MOGULS

Bloomberg: “Oil’s Rise Pushed The Combined Net Worth” Of The Koch Brothers “To $100 Billion.” “Oil’s rise pushed the combined net worth of Charles and David Koch, the billionaire brothers who run Wichita, Kansas-based Koch Industries Inc., to $100 billion as the commodity headed for its biggest two-week rally since March 1998.” [Bloomberg, 2/6/15]

·         Headline: “Koch Brothers Worth $100 Billion Lead Oil Moguls On The Rise” [Bloomberg, 2/6/15]

V/O: This is where Ayotte voted with the Koch brothers 90% of the time.

GFX: Up to 90% with Big Oil Koch Brothers

-AFP Scorecard

AYOTTE VOTED WITH THE KOCH BROTHERS 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME DURING HER FIRST FOUR YEARS IN WASHINGTON

Ayotte Voted With The Koch Brothers 90% Of The Time From 2011-2014:

·         For The 113^th Congress, Kelly Ayotte Had A Score Of 90% On The Americans For Prosperity Legislative Scorecard. Ayotte voted with AFP on 18 out of 20 scored votes in the 113^th Congress. [AFP Scorecard, Accessed 8/29/15]

·         For The 112^th Congress, Kelly Ayotte Had A Score Of 89% On The Americans For Prosperity Legislative Scorecard. Ayotte voted with AFP on 31 out of 35 scored votes in the 112^th Congress. [AFP Scorecard, Accessed 8/29/15]

V/O: Ayotte’s campaigns collected millions from corporate interests. And voted for them, not you.

GFX: Outside Special Interest Spent $40 Million

to Boost Ayotte

-WMUR, 7/11/16

AYOTTE RECEIVED OVER $2 MILLION FROM THE SECURITIES & INVESTMENT INDUSTRY

The Securities & Investment Industry Was Top Contributing Industry To Ayotte Over Her Federal Career With Over $2 Million In Campaign Contributions. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the “Securities & Investment” industry was the top contributing industry to Ayotte over her career as a Federal candidate. The industry has contributed $2,090,614 to her campaigns. [Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 10/20/16]

OUTSIDE GROUPS HAVE SPENT $15 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF AYOTTE, INCLUDING MILLIONS FROM CORPORATE SPECIAL INTERESTS

As Of August 2016, $40 Million Had Been Spent By Outside Groups On Behalf Of Ayotte. “As of Tuesday, more than $40 million had been spent on independent expenditures by super PACs and issues groups in support of, and attacking, each candidate. […] Of that total, $24.2 million was spent by Republican groups on behalf of Ayotte, mostly attacking Hassan. Approximately $5 million of that amount was spent in 2015, much of it even before Hassan announced for the Senate. That $24.2 million does not include the $15.8 million ad campaign announced on Thursday, Sept. 1 by the pro-Republican Granite State Solutions.” [WMUR, 7/11/16]

U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Spent Nearly $2 Million In Support Of Ayotte’s Re-Election. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent $350,150 in support of Ayotte and $1,560,150 against Maggie Hassan during the 2016 election cycle. [Center for Responsive Politics, Accessed 8/9/16]

U.S. News & World Report: USCOC Was A “Powerfully Lobbying And Campaign Machine That Pursues A Fairly Narrow Special-Interest Agenda Mostly For “Legacy Industries […] Like Banking And Fossil Fuels.” “Founded in 1912, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been shaped by its CEO Tom Donohue into a powerful lobbying and campaigning machine that pursues a fairly narrow special-interest agenda. It’s now the largest lobbying organization in the U.S. (ranked by budget). It mostly represents the interests of a handful of so-called “legacy industries” – industries like tobacco, banking and fossil fuels which have been around for generations and learned how to parley their earnings into political influence. The Chamber seeks favorable treatment for them, for example, through trade negotiations, tax treatment, regulations and judicial rulings.” [U.S. News & World Report, 10/22/15]

• U.S. News & World Report: Chamber Of Commerce’s Funding Came From “A Small Number Of Companies And Industries And Is Used To Advance A Relatively Narrow Special-Interest Agenda.” “Mention the Chamber of Commerce, and most people think of a benign organization comprised mostly of small business owners who meet for networking and mutual support in local chapters across the U.S. But today’s Chamber is anything but that, according to Alyssa Katz’s extensive research, recently published as ‘The Influence Machine.’ […] Indeed, the ‘entire business model of the U.S. Chamber is premised on providing secret support for lobbying and campaigns,’ says Katz. The Chamber ‘fights regulations on behalf of companies that don’t want to be publicly associated’ with the positions they are advocating. […] Katz and others report that most of the Chamber’s funding comes from a small number of companies and industries and is used to advance a relatively narrow special-interest agenda.” [U.S. News & World Report, 10/22/15]

V/O: She voted Wall Street banks billions in write offs for executive bonuses.

GFX: Ayotte

Wall St.

Bonuses

Vote 127, 3/27/15

AYOTTE VOTED AGAINST ELIMINATING DEDUCTIONS FOR CORPORATE COMPENSATION, WHICH WALL STREET BANKS SAVED BILLIONS ON

Ayotte Voted Against An Amendment To Eliminate Deductions For Corporate Compensation Greater Than $1 Million. In March 2015, Ayotte voted against: “Reed, D-R.I., amendment no. 919 that would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow for legislation that would eliminate deductions for corporate compensation greater than $1 million.” The amendment was rejected 44-54. [CQ, 3/27/15; S.Con.Res. 11, Vote 127, 3/27/15]

·         Wall Street Banks Like Goldman Sachs Utilized Tax Break To Save Billions On The Bonuses They Paid Out. “The tax deductions, which will increase the bottom line of the banks, are perfectly legal and not new. They come as compensation for 2009 has roared back after the largest banks paid back billions of dollars in federal aid, an outlay still fresh in the minds of taxpayers. As pay goes up, so do the deductions. […] The biggest tax break will go to Goldman Sachs. It expects to award its employees $23 billion in bonuses — the most in its history — after having paid back $10 billion. Because most employee compensation is a deductible expense under tax laws, Goldman Sachs, which is technically taxed at a top corporate rate of 39 percent, will save about $9 billion in federal income taxes on the bonuses it pays out for 2009, Mr. Willens said.” [New York Times, 12/31/09]

·         In 2009, Goldman Sachs Saved An Estimated $9 Billion In Federal Income Taxes For Bonuses Paid To Employees. “The tax deductions, which will increase the bottom line of the banks, are perfectly legal and not new. They come as compensation for 2009 has roared back after the largest banks paid back billions of dollars in federal aid, an outlay still fresh in the minds of taxpayers. As pay goes up, so do the deductions. […] The biggest tax break will go to Goldman Sachs. It expects to award its employees $23 billion in bonuses — the most in its history — after having paid back $10 billion. Because most employee compensation is a deductible expense under tax laws, Goldman Sachs, which is technically taxed at a top corporate rate of 39 percent, will save about $9 billion in federal income taxes on the bonuses it pays out for 2009, Mr. Willens said.” [New York Times, 12/31/09]

V/O: Voted big oil billions in tax breaks.

GFX:  Ayotte

Wall St.

Bonuses

Vote 127, 3/27/15

Voting for

Big Oil

Vote 72, 5/17/11; Vote 63, 3/29/12

AYOTTE VOTED TO PROTECT TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SPECIAL TAX BREAKS FOR THE LARGEST OIL & GAS COMPANIES

2011: Ayotte Voted Against A Bill That Would Have Closed $21 Billion In Tax Loopholes For Oil Companies With Annual Receipts Of More Than $1 Billion. On May 17, 2011, Ayotte voted against: “a Reid, D-Nev., motion to proceed to consideration of the bill that would repeal various tax provisions for oil companies that have gross annual receipts of more than $1 billion and that produce an average 500,000 barrels or more each day.” The motion was rejected 52-48. [CQ, 5/17/11; S. 940, Vote 72, 5/17/11]

• Bill Would Have Applied To BP, Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron And Conoco Phillips, And Would Have Produced $21 Billion Towards Paying Down Deficit. “In the 52-to-48 vote, 3 Democrats joined 45 Republicans in opposing the bill, which was supported by the Obama administration and fiscal watchdog groups that saw the tax help for the oil industry as wasteful. Forty-eight Democrats, two independents and two Republicans backed it. […] Under the proposal, Democrats would have eliminated five different tax breaks enjoyed by the multinational oil companies, producing an estimated $21 billion over 10 years. […] The bill would have applied to BP, Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron and ConocoPhillips.” [New York Times, 5/17/11]

2012: Ayotte Voted Against Closing $24 Billion In Tax Loopholes For Large Oil And Gas Companies.  On March 29, 2012, Ayotte voted against: “a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the bill that would roll back certain tax preferences for large oil and gas companies. The bill would use revenue generated from eliminating certain oil and gas tax incentives to pay for an extension of some renewable-energy tax credits and incentives.” The motion was rejected 51-47. [CQ, 3/29/12; S. 2204, Vote 63, 3/29/12]

• Senate Republicans Blocked Bill To Strip $24 Billion In Tax Subsidies From The Country’s Largest Oil Companies.” “Senate Republicans, including Scott Brown of Massachusetts, today foiled President Obama’s plan to strip $24 billion in tax subsidies from the country’s largest oil companies, potentially fueling an election-year issue among voters disgruntled by escalating gas prices.” [Boston Globe, 3/29/12]

• Boston Globe Headline: “Senate Defeats Bill to Strip Subsidies from Oil Companies” [Boston Globe, 3/29/12]

V/O: But Kelly Ayotte voted against letting families refinance student loans

GFX: Ayotte

Against

Refinancing Student Loans

Vote 149, 4/15/15

AYOTTE VOTED AGAINST ALLOWING STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS TO REFINANCE

Ayotte Voted Against Allowing Student Loan Borrowers To Refinance Student Loans Paid For By Requiring Millionaires To Pay 30% Minimum Effective Tax Rate. In April 2015, Ayotte voted against: “Warren, D-Mass., motion to instruct conferees to insist that the conference report include language that would allow student loan borrowers with outstanding loans to refinance at the equivalent interest rates that were offered to federal student loan borrowers during the 2013-2014 school year and to fully offset the cost of such a program by requiring millionaires to pay at least a 30 percent effective federal tax rate.” The motion rejected by a vote of 45-52. [CQ, 4/15/15; S Con Res 11, Vote 149, 4/15/15]

V/O: And against lowering the cost of prescription drugs

GFX: Ayotte

Against

Lower Cost Rx Drugs

Vote 105, 5/24/12

AYOTTE VOTED AGAINST AMENDMENT HELPING CHEAPER GENERIC DRUGS GET TO MARKET SOONER

Ayotte Voted Against Amendment To Allow Generic Drug Makers To Share Part Of Market Exclusivity Period Given To Original Generic Patent Holder If It Entered Into A Delay Agreement. In May 2012, Ayotte voted against: “Bingaman, D-N.M., amendment no. 2111 that would allow companies that produce generic drugs to share some of the 180-day marketing exclusivity period given to the original generic patent holder if that holder enters into a delay agreement.” The amendment was rejected 28-67. [CQ, 5/24/12; S.Amdt. 2111 to S. 3187, Vote 105, 5/24/12]

·         Alliance For Retired Americans: Bingaman Amendment Would Prohibit Pay For Delay Agreements “That Delay Access To Generic Drugs.” “Senator Bingaman, D-NM, introduced an amendment to a drug company user fee bill that would prohibit brand name and generic drug companies from entering into agreements that delay access to generic drugs by the public.” [Alliance for Retired Americans, Congressional Voting Record, January 2012—January 2013]

o   Alliance For Retired Americans: “Studies Have Shown These ‘Pay For Delay’ Agreements Create Artificially High Drug Prices.” “Studies have shown these ‘pay for delay’ agreements create artificially high drug prices. The amendment failed 28-67. A YES vote is the pro-retiree vote. S. 3187, Roll Call No. 105, May 24, 2012.” [Alliance for Retired Americans, Congressional Voting Record, January 2012—January 2013]

AYOTTE VOTED TO GIVE THE PRESIDENT TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY, WHICH WOULD FAST TRACK THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, WHICH COULD DELAY ACCESS TO GENERIC DRUGS

Ayotte Voted To Advance A Bill That Would Give The President Trade Promotion Authority. In May 2015, Ayotte voted for a: “Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the McConnell, R-Ky., motion to proceed to the bill that would set specific conditions on the president of the United States when negotiating foreign trade agreements and grant Congress final approval on any agreement reached by the participating parties without amendment in an up or down vote.”  The motion was rejected 52-45. [CQ, 5/12/15; HR 1314, Vote 176, 5/12/15]

·         The Hill: Trade Promotion Authority Will “Expedite” The Process By Which Congress Approves Trade Deals And “Greatly” Increasing The Chances The President Concluding Negotiations On The Trans-Pacific Partnership. “The Senate voted Wednesday to approve fast-track authority, securing a big second-term legislative win for President Obama after a months-long struggle. […] Labor unions and liberal Democrats had fought hard against the authority and are likely to now turn their attention toward stopping the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal Obama is negotiating with 11 other Pacific Rim nations. Fast-track, or trade promotion authority, will allow the White House to send trade deals to Congress for up-or-down votes. The Senate will not be able to filibuster them, and lawmakers will not have the power to amend them. The expedited process, which lasts until 2018 and can be extended until 2021, greatly increases Obama’s chances of concluding negotiations on the TPP, which is a top goal of the president’s.” [The Hill, 6/24/15]

Doctors Without Borders Said That Trans-Pacific Partnership Would Delay Access To Generic Competition From Brand Name Drugs. “The intellectual-property provisions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement will drive up global drug prices and make it harder to treat diseases in developing countries, Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) says.  A month after the final text of the TPP was released, the medical humanitarian organization has completed its analysis of the portions of the massive trade pact that will affect drug costs. Despite changes from earlier leaked versions of the text, there are still serious problems, Judit Rius, MSF’s U.S. legal policy adviser, said. ‘This is catastrophic. This is very negative. The impact is going to be at multiple levels,’ Ms. Rius said in an interview. ‘First of all, it is going to delay access to generic competition [for brand-name drugs], which is a proven intervention to reduce the price of medicines.’  For generic drug makers, she said, the TPP will create additional legal barriers that will get in the way of making new products, and that will stunt the industry.” [Globe and Mail, 12/6/15]

·         Headline: “Drug Prices Expected To Rise As Result Of TPP Deal” [Globe and Mail, 12/6/15]

Economics Nobel Laurate: “The T.P.P. Could Block Cheaper Generic Drugs From The Market.”  In an op-ed for the New York Times, Nobel laureate in Economics Joseph Stiglitz wrote, “Trade agreements are negotiated by the office of the United States Trade Representative, supposedly on behalf of the American people. Historically, though, the trade representative’s office has aligned itself with corporate interests. If big pharmaceutical companies hold sway — as the leaked documents indicate they do — the T.P.P. could block cheaper generic drugs from the market. Big Pharma’s profits would rise, at the expense of the health of patients and the budgets of consumers and governments.” [New York Times, Joseph Stiglitz, 1/30/15]

V/O: Kelly Ayotte’s not working for New Hampshire.

GFX: Ayotte. She’s not working for us.

V/O: DSCC is responsible for the content of this advertising.

GFX: PAID FOR BY DSCC WWW.DSCC.ORG AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE. DSCC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THIS ADVERTISING.