AFSCME applauds passage of state-aid bill with multimillion-dollar ad buy

“These ads launch an aggressive, $2.5 million post-passage mobilization and advertising campaign over the August congressional recess that highlights the difference between members of Congress who saved jobs and those who voted to lay off nearly 1 million Americans and tried to wreck the economy for political gain,” said an AFSCME official in prepared remarks. 

The six-figure buy is aimed at the Democratic districts of Reps. Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Allen Boyd (Fla.), Frank Kratovil (Md.), Besty Markey (Colo.), Bill Owens (N.Y.), Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.), Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Baron Hill (Ind.), Mark Schauer (Mich.), Paul Hodes (N.H.), Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.), Dina Titus (Nev.), Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.), Tom Perriello (Va.) and Ohio lawmakers Mary Jo Kilroy and John Boccieri.

The ads stress that the bill’s cost will not add to the deficit, in part by restricting the use of foreign tax credits by U.S. multinational companies. The ad states limiting these tax breaks will make it harder for domestic companies to move operations offshore. 

It also highlights that public workers will benefit from the bill. 

“The national recession is endangering the jobs of thousands of teachers, police and firefighters,” it states. “Without help from Washington, there would be more layoffs in the private sector, too.” 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) contends the legislation will save or create 319,000 jobs. 

But some Republicans question that job figure, saying it is based on worst-case scenario assumptions.

“I’m sure reporters who generously reported that the state bailout bill will create hundreds of thousands of jobs will be there next month asking, ‘Where are the jobs?’ ” said a senior Republican aide. “Accountability is a lot harder than writing press releases.”