Fact Check

Get the facts on:

Political Animals Debate 5/14/10
Americans for Job Security TV Ad
Blanche Lincoln TV Ad "Finally Tells Us Something"
AP Debate 4/24/10
KATV Debate 4/23/10
Blanche Lincoln TV Ad "Won't Tell Us"
Blanche Lincoln TV Ad "Dollar Bill"
Arkansans for Common Sense TV Ad
Blanche Lincoln TV Ad "Keeping Jobs in Arkansas"
Blanche Lincoln Mailer "Dollar Bill Halter - Pharmaceuticals"

Political Animals Debate
May 14, 2010

Here are the facts:

FACT: Lincoln took $126,000 from 8 Banks under investigation.

CLAIM: “I am determined to protect Main Street from Wall Street speculators.” “All you have to do is look at what I have done, I have stood up to special interest groups.”

FACT: Lincoln Took $126,000 from 8 Banks Currently under investigation by the New York attorney general for misleading information to rating agencies.	The 8 Banks Currently under investigation, and contributions to Sen. Lincoln From the ones on Cuomo’s list. Bank of America (owns Merrill Lynch) $13,950 http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=d000000090&type=P&cycle=A&sort=A&state=AR Citigroup $13,750 http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000000071&type=P&cycle=A&sort=A&state=AR Goldman $32,000 http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000000085&type=P&state=AR&sort=A&cycle=AR Morgan Stanley $24,000 http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000000106&type=P&cycle=A&sort=A&state=AR Merrill Lynch $5,000 http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000000108&type=P&cycle=A&sort=A&state=AR Credit Suisse $18,000 http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000000134&type=P&cycle=A&sort=A&state=AR UBS $17,000 http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000020995&type=P&cycle=A&sort=A&state=AR Deutsche Bank $2,300 http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_rcvd/C00255463/ $126,000
FACT: She voted to deregulate industry.	In 1999, Blanche Lincoln voted for adoption of the conference report on S 900, which eliminated barriers erected by the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act and other laws that impeded affiliations between banking, securities, insurance and other firms. (Senate Vote No. 354, 1999)
FACT: Promised not to take money from TARP recipients.	In a memo dated Sept. 7, 2009, and posted on the Lincoln campaign Web site, campaign manager Steve Patterson said the campaign would not accept contributions from TARP-assisted firms.
FACT: Blanche Lincoln took $5,500 from Goldman Sachs after pledge.	She has taken $29,000 from Goldman Sachs over all.
FACT: Promised Chamber “Surgical” Regulations.	In late March, she promised the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to try to avoid excessive regulation. “The swaps market will be regulated, but let me say this,” said Sen. Lincoln. “I don’t believe in overreaching or regulation for regulation’s sake. We must be surgical with how we regulate.”
FACT: Wants exemptions in derivatives regulation.	According to a published report, “Lincoln has said she favors exemptions for certain ‘end users,’ a term for consumers who don't represent financial institutions. Many of these companies use derivatives to protect themselves against risk rather than buy them as speculative investments, the type that was so damaging in 2008, and a number of these companies are pushing to change the bill so that they won't be required to put up the assets to clear their derivative purchases.”

FACT: Lincoln Voted for the Bailout.

CLAIM: “Wall Street has had access to capital, and it has not yet reached the small business owners and small farmers.”

FACT: Before the vote, she denied it was a bailout.

In an MSNBC interview, Sen. Lincoln said it wasn’t a bailout and that it wouldn’t provide any “golden parachutes.”

MS. O'DONNELL: … How close are you in Congress there to a deal?

SEN. LINCOLN: Well, I think we've still got a lot of talking to do. We've certainly got to work with the House Republicans who -- I don't know. It's debatable as to how far they're going to be able to come. But I think we've come far enough that we don't have to call it a bailout anymore. I think that what we can call it is that we've worked it out.

We're working out the details of how we put our markets in a position where they can begin to rebuild themselves and I think that's a significant accomplishment.

MS. O'DONNELL: And when you say it's not a bailout, you've worked it out, specifically what do you mean?

SEN. LINCOLN: Well, I think that some of the pieces of this package that we're talking about are asking for better oversight, better regulation, more transparency, ensuring that there's no golden parachutes here, protecting the taxpayers' dollars and ensure that their -- you know, when we make these installments -- and doing it in installments. Not just handing them a $700 billion check, but saying, okay, we'll do the 250 billion (dollars) first, and then there will be the authority to take the next 100 (billion dollars) if, in fact, you know, the secretary of the Treasury -- but in that second 350 billion (dollars), it's going to have to have congressional and executive approval. Making sure that we're making progress and that this is actually going to be something that's going to be a good deal for the taxpayers and that it really will stabilize the markets and give them the environment they need to rebuild themselves. (Lincoln Interview on MSNBC, 3:00 p.m. EST, 9/26/08)

FACT: Lincoln voted for the Wall Street Bailout.

In Oct. 2008, Blanche Lincoln voted for HR 1424, the $700 billion Wall Street Bailout. (Senate Vote No. 213, 10/1/08)

FACT: Lincoln voted against helping small business with health care

CLAIM: “All you have to do is look at what I have done. I have stood up to special interest groups.”

FACT: Took $892 from insurance, HMO’s.	Senator Lincoln has taken at least $891,630 from insurance & HMOs and health service providers.
FACT: HCR helped small businesses.	She also voted against reconciliation, in effect, against passing the health care reform bill that did the following for small businesses, according to CNN: - Created Small Business Health Options Programs, or SHOP exchanges, that give small businesses the buying power of large corporations; - Gives tax credits to small businesses buying health insurance through the exchanges.
FACT: Two-Faced on Radio.	In radio ads in large markets in Arkansas, she has claimed she blocked Pres. Obama’s health care bill, and then on African-American radio stations she claimed she defied tea partiers to pass “Obama’s health care plan.”
FACT: Wants it Both Ways on Reconciliation.	Consider as well Sen. Lincoln’s public statement on why she supports health care, but will vote “no” on reconciliation: I am pleased that the House approved the Senate Health Insurance reform bill that I helped craft and which I supported last year. Even with its imperfections, this bill represents the most morally and fiscally responsible approach to health reform. “Now that the Senate bill has passed both houses and the President will be signing it into law, the Senate will consider additional changes this week that were adopted by the House tonight as Budget Reconciliation. The Reconciliation package devised by the House includes matters unrelated to health care and employs a legislative process that wasn't subject to the same transparency and thorough debate that we used in the Senate. I cannot support this process.” (McLatchy News Wire, 3/22/10)
FACT: For reconciliation on Bush tax cuts.	The problem with Lincoln’s defense of her “no” vote on reconciliation is that to block a Democratic filibuster, the GOP used reconciliation to pass Bush’s budget busting tax breaks to the rich—and if that weren’t enough, Democrats, with the support of Lincoln, tried to add tuition relief and student loans to the tax cut bill and Republicans blocked it saying it wasn’t “relevant” to the taxes. (Vote on the Bush tax cuts, # 165, 5/23/01; vote on adding tuition tax breaks and increasing funding for Pell Grants, #’s 152 & 153, respectively, Lincoln voted “aye” on all three.)
FACT: Wanted to “Go Slow” in 1994.	When asked how she felt about Clinton's policies, she advocating "going slow:" "Yes, we need to do something, but we don't want to rush into something; we want to take our time and make certain what we do is right." (New York Times, 9/11/94)
FACT: Wanted to eschew complexities in 1994.	During a Congressional recess in the summer of 1994, she suggested doing just a few small things on health care. Then after the election, Congress could tackle "more complex issues." (Democrat-Gazette, 8/24/94)
FACT: First Supported then abandoned HCR in 1994.	Does this sound familiar? When the polls the public souring on reform in early 1994, Lincoln, who had been a supporter of President Clinton, suddenly declared she didn't favor his plan and told the Democratic leadership they it shouldn't count on her vote. (Democrat-Gazette, 6/19/94 & USA Today, 4/4/94)

FACT: Lincoln voted to cut Social Security benefits, and raise taxes

CLAIM: “We need to look at our programs such as Medicare and Social Security in balancing the budget.”

FACT: Lincoln voted for a 1994 budget/spending measure that would have placed Social Security on the chopping block.

Lincoln was one of just 37 House members to vote for the Stenholm Amendment (to HR 4604) to set caps on all entitlement spending (including Social Security) for FY 1996-2000 that would result in some $150 billion in cuts below projections. The amendment would also require automatic cuts in all programs (including Social Security) if Congress failed to pass reconciliation legislation to prevent spending from exceeding the caps. (H.AMDT.772 to H.R.4604; Roll Call 344, 7/21/94)

FACT: Lincoln Supported Bill Clinton’s $240 Billion Tax Increase in 1993 (hiked Social Security tax along with others)

On Aug. 5, 1993, Blanche Lincoln voted for the omnibus budget bill that increased taxes by $240 billion. Under the 1993 tax hike, the proportion of Social Security benefits that are subjected to taxation was increased from 50 percent to 85 percent. (Roll Call 406, 8/5/93; Arkansas-Democrat-Gazette, 7/3/98; New York Times, 7/17/00)

FACT: Lincoln is to blame for 205,905 jobs lost, because she supported trade deals

CLAIM: “One of the biggest ways to increase manufacturing is to open up markets.”

FACT: Lincoln voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).	In November of 1993, the House voted 234-200 in favor of HR 3450, a bill to approve NAFTA and make the necessary changes to U.S. statutory law to implement it. [House Vote No. 575, 7/28/93)
FACT: Arkansas has lost jobs due to NAFTA.	According to the Economic Policy Institute, Arkansas lost 10,321 jobs from 1993-2 04 is a result of NAFTA, making it one of the 10 hardest-hit states. (Economic Policy Institute, Jul. 20, 2000)
FACT: In 2000, Lincoln voted to remove restraints on trade between the U.S. and China.	"China is not a perfect country; unacceptable human rights abuses still occur, and the government continually seeks to stifle winds of change," Lincoln said. "But the opportunity we have as a nation to make an impact on the people of China only exists if we build a relationship with the country and its people. In order to plant the seeds of democracy in China, we must engage the country, not isolate it." [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 9/20/00; Senate Vote No. 251, 9/19/00]
FACT: Jobs lost in trade deficits.	From 2001-07, Arkansas lost more than 21,000 jobs due to growing trade deficits with China. (Economic Policy Institute, EPI Briefing Paper, Jul. 28, 2008)
FACT: Jobs lost because of NAFTA.	Arkansas lost nearly 206,000 jobs from 1994-2002 as a result of NAFTA, trade with China and other trade deals. (Public Citizen, “Fool Me Twice” Report, Mar. 2005)
FACT: Lincoln voted for the Central America free trade agreement (CAFTA) in 2005.	In June of 2005, the Senate voted 54-45 to approve S. 1307, a bill to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. Blanche Lincoln voted for the bill. [Senate Vote No. 170, 6/30/05]
FACT: Blanche Lincoln voted for tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.	Blanche Lincoln voted against S.Amdt. 3134 to S. 1637, a bill striking $39 billion in tax breaks on overseas income from the bill, and providing for a nine percent tax deduction for domestic manufacturers. (Senate Vote No. 90, 5/11/04)

FACT: Lincoln has flip flopped on Cap & Trade

CLAIM: “It is important to realize we are addicted to fossil fuels, as we move forward to build a green economy.”

FACT: Lincoln Did Co-Sponsor a Cap & Trade Bill

In 2007, Blanche Lincoln co-sponsored S 280, a bill to provide for a program to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances, to support the deployment of new climate change-related technologies, and to ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances, and for other purposes. The bill did not make it to the floor for a vote. (S 280, 2007)

S. 280, introduced January 12, 2007, by Senator Lieberman, would cap emissions of the six greenhouse gases specified in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at reduced levels from the electric generation, transportation, industrial, and commercial sectors — sectors that account for about 85% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The reductions would be implemented in four phases, with an emissions cap in 2012 based on the affected facilities’ 2004 emissions (for an entity that has a single unit that emits more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent); the cap steadily declines until it is equal to one-third of the facilities’ 2004 levels. The program would be implemented through an expansive allowance trading program to maximize opportunities for cost-effective reductions, and credits obtained from increases in carbon sequestration, reductions from non-covered sources, and acquisition of allowances from foreign sources could be used to comply with 30% of reduction requirements. The bill also contains an extensive new infrastructure to encourage innovation and new technologies. (CRS Report for Congress, Greenhouse Gas Reduction: Cap-and-Trade Bills in the 110th Congress, Jan. 31, 2008 )

FACT: Changed position in 2009

On Aug. 4, 2009, she announced her opposition to the House-passed cap & trade bill. (Press Release, Aug. 4, 2009)

FACT: Lincoln labels groups “extremist” when they don’t like her

CLAIM: “Labor unions are running ads against me, because they are not getting 100% of what they want.”

FACT: LCV an “Extremist Group.”	When the League of Conservation Voters listed Blanche Lincoln on their Dirty Dozen list this year, she called them an “extremist group.”
FACT: Lincoln Calls Labor “Extreme…Outside Group.”	During this primary, Sen. Lincoln has attacked labor unions as “extreme” and an “outside group.” “I know that I am the target of both political extremes but that’s what makes this campaign so important to all of us. This Senate seat belongs to Arkansas, not to outside groups that are angry I don’t answer to them.”
FACT: Loved Labor When They Endorsed Her.	But in 2004, Sen. Lincoln said, “I’m honored to receive the endorsement today from the Arkansas AFL-CIO for my work in the Senate to improve the lives of Arkansas working families.”

FACT: Lincoln ads called a lie, false, a stretch, dishonest, a smear

CLAIM: “My biggest effort was to elevate the campaign. I have not run a negative campaign.”

FACT: AP Called attack “a stretch.”

(The Associated Press, Apr. 19, 2010)

FACT: Brummett says “Blanche goes bogus,” and that her attacks on Bill Halter’s record were “dishonest” and “a smear.”

(Arkansas News, Mar. 30, 2010)

FACT: FDR’s Grandson called Social Security Attack “a lie … false”.

Statement by James Roosevelt, grandson of Social Security founder President Franklin D. Roosevelt and former associate commissioner for Retirement Policy for the Social Security Administration:

"I've seen the ad, and I can tell you as a friend and a colleague of Bill Halter's it's a lie. My grandfather, President Roosevelt, founded Social Security – and Bill Halter has fought for that legacy. Bill Halter served under President Bill Clinton and I worked with him at the Social Security Administration to protect Social Security and fight privatization.

I know personally and professionally that Bill Halter is opposed to Social Security privatization and this charge is false. I was proud to work with him then and I am proud to stand with him now when it comes to Social Security." (Press Release, Bill Halter for U.S. Senate, Apr. 14, 2010)

FACT: Lincoln called Stimulus a “Drop in the Bucket”

CLAIM: “I believe in putting people back to work, and this is exactly what I have done with the recovery package.”

FACT: Lincoln called the $787 Billion Stimulus a “Drop in the Bucket.”

“To those who say the projects are increasing the national debt, she says, ‘The fact is, the stimulus money is a drop in the bucket.’” (Seth Blomeley, “Stimulus Helping, Lincoln Says,” The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Feb. 22, 2010)

FACT: Lincoln voted to “Waive” the Pay-Go rules in order to pass the Democrats’$15 Billion Jobs Bill

“Cardin, D-Md., motion to waive the Budget Act and budget resolutions with respect to the Gregg, R-N.H., point of order against the Reid, D-Nev., motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill with a Reid substitute amendment no. 3310. The Reid substitute would exempt employers from paying Social Security payroll taxes for certain new hires made in 2010 and would expand the Build America Bonds program. It also would extend the authorization for the Highway Trust Fund and certain transportation safety programs through Dec. 31, 2010. It would extend through 2010 the ability of small businesses to deduct $250,000 of qualified property purchases from income taxes in the year of purchase.” (H.R. 2847, CQ Vote #24: Motion Agreed To 62-34: R 6-33; D 54-1; I 2-0, 2/24/10, Lincoln Voted Yea)

FACT: Lincoln voted for stupid earmarks

CLAIM: “I certainly attest to standing up for Arkansas.”

FACT: Voted for $50 Million for Indoor Rain Forrest in Iowa.	On Jan. 22, 2004, the Senate ADOPTED (65-28) the conference report on HR 2673, the FY 2004 agriculture appropriations bill that included $50 million in funding for an indoor rain forest in Iowa. Blanche Lincoln voted AYE. (Roll Call 3, 2004)
FACT: For $246 Million Tax Break for Hollywood Movie Makers.	On Feb. 3, 2009, the Senate PASSED (52-45) S Amdt 109 to HR 1, which removed a $246 million tax earmark for Hollywood production companies. Blanche Lincoln voted NAY. (Roll Call 34, 2009; Porkbusters – Tom Coburn)
FACT: For $200,000 for Durham Museum Photo Archive in Omaha.	On Jul. 6, 2009, the Senate PASSED (70-23) a point of order against S Amdt 1365 to HR 2918, to strike a $200,000 earmark or the Durham Museum Photo Archive Project, located in Omaha, Nebraska, on the basis that the pork project is unconstitutional. An AYE vote is to support funding for the earmark. Blanche Lincoln voted AYE. (Roll Call 216, 2009; Porkbusters – Tom Coburn)
FACT: For Funding Plethora of Wasteful Projects.	On Mar. 19, 2009, the Senate TABLED (70-27) S Amdt. 683 to HR 146, which eliminated frivolous pork projects in the omnibus spending bill, including federal funding for a birthday party for St. Augustine, Florida, botanical gardens in Hawaii and Florida, a salmon restoration project in California, a study of Alexander Hamilton’s boyhood estate in the Virgin Islands, and historic shipwreck exploration. Blanche Lincoln voted AYE. (Roll Call 105, 2009; Porkbusters – Tom Coburn)
FACT: For $450,000 to Fund International Peace Garden in North Dakota.	On Sep. 12, 2007, the Senate TABLED (63-32) S Amdt. 2812 to HR 3074, a motion to strike $450,000 in funding for the International Peace Garden in Dunseith, North Dakota. (Roll Call 335, 2007; Porkbusters – Tom Coburn)
FACT: For $500,000 for Baseball Stadium in Montana.	On Sep. 12, 2007, the Senate TABLED (63-32) S Amdt. 2813 to HR 3074, a motion to strike $500,000 in funding for the construction of a new baseball stadium in Billings, Montana. Blanche Lincoln voted AYE. (Roll Call 335, 2007; Porkbusters – Tom Coburn)
FACT: For $1 Million for Woodstock Museum Over Children’s Health.	On Nov. 18, 2007, the Senate FAILED (42-52) to table S Amdt. 3321 to HR 3043, which provided additional funding for children’s health care by eliminating a $1 million earmark for a museum dedicated to the 1969 Woodstock concert. Sen. Lincoln voted AYE. (Roll Call 377, 2007; Porkbusters – Tom Coburn)
FACT: Against Cutting Funds for Bridge to Nowhere.	On Oct. 20, 2005, the Senate FAILED (15-82) to pass an amendment to redirect $452 million in funding for the Gravina “Bridge to Nowhere” and the Knik Arm Bridge, costing a combined $452 million to reconstruction of the Twin Spans Bridge connecting New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana. Blanche Lincoln voted NAY. (Roll Call 262, 2005)

FACT: Lincoln said one thing, but did another

CLAIM: “I voted for health care reform”

FACT: Took $376 from drug makers.	Senator Lincoln has taken at least $375,374 from prescription drug manufacturers.
FACT: Hypocritical on Donut Hole.	She has said she voted to close the so-called “donut hole” in the Medicare prescription drug plan, but voted against reconciliation on the health care reform bill, her last chance to do so.

FACT: Lincoln voted for Off-Shore drilling

CLAIM: “I think it is important with any legislation, we do not put our industries at risk.”

FACT: Blanche Lincoln has voted at least 10 times for more offshore drilling.	- On Jun. 14, 2007, Blanche Lincoln voted for S.Amdt. 1566 to S.Amdt. 1502 to H.R. 6, to authorize the State of Virginia to petition for authorization to conduct natural gas exploration and drilling activities in the coastal zone of the State. (Senate Vote 212, 6/14/07) - In Jul. 2006, Blanche Lincoln voted three times to open about 8.34 million acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling. Senate vote 217 to invoke cloture, passed 86-12, Senate vote 218, to invoke cloture, passed 72-23, Senate vote 219, final passage, passed 71-25, Lincoln voted yes on all three. (Senate Vote 217, 7/26/06; Vote 218, 7/31/06; Vote 219, 8/1/06; Seattle Times, Aug. 2, 2006) - On Jul. 29, 2005, Blanche Lincoln voted to adopt the conference report on HR 6, the Bush-Cheney 2005 energy bill,which included at least $500 million in subsidies over a 10-year period -- with the option to double the amount -- for research into deep-water oil and gas drilling. The bill also includes royalty relief for deep-water drilling projects, a strategy that helped jump-start production in the Gulf during the 1990s. (Senate Vote 213, 2005; Washington Post, Jul. 29, 2005) - On Jun. 21, 2005, Blanche Lincoln voted against S.Amdt. 783 to H.R. 6, an amendment to strike funds for a study to inventory oil and gas reserves on the Outer Continental Shelf. Opponents argued that it was drilling supporters who wanted this information to expand off shore exploration. (Senate Vote 143, 2005) - On Nov. 11, 2003, Blanche Lincoln voted to invoke cloture on the Energy Policy Act of 2003, which allowed for drilling in the ANWR and the Gulf and handed out tax breaks for oil companies. (Senate Vote 456, 11/21/03) - On Jun. 12, 2003, Blanche Lincoln voted against S.Amdt. 884 to S. 14, a motion to block funding for an oil and gas inventory for the Outer Continental Shelf. (Senate Vote 221, 6/12/03) - On Nov. 18, 1995, Blanche Lincoln voted against a motion to recommit S 395 to the conference committee with instructions to eliminate the provisions waiving royalty payments by oil and gas companies to the federal government for companies exploring deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. (House Vote 771, 11/18/95) - On Nov. 18, 1995, Blanche Lincoln voted to adopt the conference report on S 395, dealing mostly with energy and power agreements in Alaska but containing a provision that waives federal royalty payments by oil and gas companies currently exploring the possibility of deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. (House Vote 772, 11/18/95)
FACT: Blanche Lincoln voted against a 2005 measure to tax the windfall profits of oil companies in order to fund a tax break for every taxpayer.	In November of 2005, the Senate voted 33-65 to reject a procedural motion in favor of the Schumer Amendment to the FY06 Tax Reconciliation bill (S 2020) that would have imposed a temporary tax on oil company profits from the sale of crude oil. The funds would be used to provide every taxpayer with a $100 non-refundable tax credit for 2005 for each person in their household. Blanche Lincoln voted against the motion. (Senate Vote 341, 11/17/05)
FACT: Blanche Lincoln voted to protect the oil companies from higher oil royalty payments.	In September of 1999, the Senate voted 51-47 to approve a Hutchison Amendment to the FY2000 Interior Appropriations bill (HR 2466) to prevent the Minerals Management Service from implementing a proposed new oil royalty valuation system for drilling on federal lands until September 30, 2000. Lincoln voted with the majority. Blanche Lincoln voted for the amendment. (Senate Vote 290, 9/23/99)
FACT: Blanche Lincoln has taken more than $537,000 from oil & gas companies.	(Opensecrets.org)

Americans for Job Security TV Ad
May 3, 2010

Here are the facts:

Narrator:
As a corporate board member, Bill Halter outsourced American jobs to Bangalore India.

Bill Halter Sat on Board of web Methods, Inc. From 2003-2007. According to SEC filings and Bill Halter’s financial disclosures, Halter sat on the board of webMethods, Inc from 2003 until 2007. According to the Washington Post, in 2004, webMethods “opened its 58-person India Development Center in Bangalore, and chopped millions of dollars from its budget as a result.”

FACT: The SEC Records do not indicate anything about “sending jobs to India.” Webmethods is a global company with offices all over the world, and they opened up a development center in India. (SEC Form 10-K, 2006)

FACT: The Sep. 18, 2006 Washington Post article talks about an acquisition in India and the opening of a development center in India in 2004, but makes no mention of sending American jobs overseas. (Washington Post, Sep. 18, 2006)

Halter Signed SEC Report Acknowledging Increased Use of Outsourcing to India.

The company's 10-k from 2006 acknowledges their outsourcing to India: "Research and development expense for fiscal year 2006 decreased $4.3 million, or 10%, compared to fiscal year 2005. The decrease was primarily due to a $4.6 million decrease in personnel costs and related overhead charges, primarily as a result of the increased utilization of our product development center in Bangalore, India during fiscal year 2005, which has lower personnel costs and operating expenses than our product development centers in the United States." Halter signed the report on June 26, 2006.

FACT: The 10-K that Bill Halter signed does not say ANYWHERE in the document that the company outsourced jobs in India at the expense of American jobs. All it mentions is that jobs in India were added. (10-K, 2006)

The Attack:

Americans for Job Security attack Bill Halter in his run for United States Senate, and spend almost $1Million on behalf of Senator Lincoln

FACT: Americans for Job Security has spent upwards of $900,000 on tv ads that accuse Bill Halter of outsourcing jobs as a director for webMethods, a global tech company. (Politico.com, May 3, 2010)

FACT: Like all of the claims that allege one of Bill Halter’s companies outsourced jobs, this attack is simply false. The Lincoln campaign and outside interest groups have provide no proof that this claim is true, a fact that truth testers have noted.

Although the company said it saved costs by opening a Bangalore office, it's a stretch to say the firm shipped American jobs overseas. The company said in a 2006 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it had cut costs by increasing the proportion of its product development staff based in Bangalore, India. The company's filings, however, do not refer to the loss of any American jobs in connection with opening the Bangalore office. (Associated Press, May 3, 2010)

Lincoln has raised the outsourcing claims against Halter over a company where he once served on the board of directors. Although the company said it saved costs by opening a Bangalore office, there is no evidence that it cut American jobs to do so. (Associated Press, May 1, 2010)

FACT: In an April 24 debate in Little Rock, while responding to a question about third-party players in the Senate race, Sen. Lincoln said, "I'd be loving to make sure (sic) that people would tell who they are instead of making cagy names, or putting them at the bottom of their ads, or their postcards, or anything else." (Apr. 24 Debate)

FACT: Blanche Lincoln has not asked Americans for Job Security to disclose their donors. Her campaign manager says she “doesn’t have a dog in this fight.”

On Tuesday, Lincoln spokesman Katie Laning Niebaum declined to say why Lincoln hasn’t called for Americans for Job Security to reveal their donors, given the senator’s remark April 24.

Niebaum said that Lincoln supports the DISCLOSE Act, which Niebaum said would require corporations, unions and other organizations that make political expenditures to disclose their donors.

She also said Lincoln “believes the group should identify their contributors.” She did not say that Lincoln would ask them to do so. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, May 11, 2010)

Lincoln campaign manager Steve Patterson said Lincoln doesn't "have a dog in this fight." The complaint seems to be a way for Halter to avoid questions about the Indian jobs, Patterson said.

"The fact is that, as a business executive, Bill Halter elected to create jobs in India - not in the United States - in order to increase profits for his company," Patterson said. "Maybe he should just admit it was a mistake to outsource those jobs to India. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, May 8, 2010)

FACT: Blanche Lincoln condemned Americans for Job Security’s racially offensive ad that has Indian actors thanking Bill Halter for sending jobs to India.

"I condemn the television ad reportedly scheduled to air in Arkansas sponsored by a group called Americans for Job Security," U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., said. "It is offensive and doesn't belong in Arkansas. As a victim myself of constant negative attack ads by outside third party groups since early March, I deeply regret that their participation in this campaign isn't more constructive." (Blanche Lincoln Press Release, May 1, 2010)

FACT: Blanche Lincoln’s campaign sent out a similar mailer with attacking Bill Halter for sending jobs to India that prominently features a picture of the Taj Mahal.

We asked Lincoln spokesman Charlie Gocio what the distinction was between the Americans For Job Security ad, which the Lincoln campaign has distanced itself from, and this mailer that uses the quintessentially Indian image of the Taj Mahal to attack Bill Halter? And we asked, how is the current attack against Halter substantially different from the Americans For Job Security ad?

"Sen. Lincoln believes Bill Halter should be held accountable for his record leading a company that outsourced jobs to India," Gocio replied. "The Lincoln campaign has presented that information in a straight forward manner with documentation, while a third party group - with whom the Lincoln campaign has no contact - chose to present that information using Indian actors in a way that Sen. Lincoln believes is offensive. She has condemned the ad. To imply that the Lincoln campaign mailer mirrors an ad mocking a nationality is a misrepresentation of the mailer." (Talking Points Memo, May 5, 2010)

Blanche Lincoln TV Ad "Finally Tells Us Something"
Apr. 28, 2010

Here are the facts:

Narrator:
"Bill Halter wants to raise Social Security taxes and cut benefits"

FACT: Bill Halter has worked to protect Social Security.

Statement by James Roosevelt, grandson of Social Security founder President Franklin D. Roosevelt and former associate commissioner for Retirement Policy for the Social Security Administration:

“I know personally and professionally that Bill Halter is opposed to Social Security privatization and this charge is false. I was proud to work with him then and I am proud to stand with him now when it comes to Social Security."

Statement by Chuck Loveless, past Chairman of Americans United to Protect Social Security:

“In 2005-2006 I had the pleasure of working alongside Bill Halter as he helped Americans United to Protect Social Security and its efforts to protect Social Security while he was Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, and even afterwards when he joined the effort as a volunteer.

“Bill tirelessly traveled the country on his own initiative to educate seniors, fight privatization, and protect Social Security. Countless seniors across our country who got to know him, appreciate how much he did to protect Social Security, and saw first-hand how committed he has been to protecting Social Security. Any statement to the contrary isn't accurate.”

"You know where Blanche Lincoln stands … Blanche Lincoln will never vote to privatize Social Security"

FACT: Blanche Lincoln expressed interest in privatization in 2000. "We should look at possible ways of investing some of the trust fund to bring us higher earnings, but not allow individuals to take a percentage of their payroll tax out of the fund," Lincoln said. "That could cause collapse of the system." (Lincoln Journal Star, Oct. 11, 2000)

FACT: Blanche Lincoln showed interest in a partial privatization plan in 1998. Lincoln: "I am interested in studying the proposal of Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan which allows workers in the future to participate in partial voluntary investment accounts." (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Oct. 28, 1998)

"or cut benefits"

FACT: Lincoln Supported Bill Clinton’s $240 Billion Tax Increase in 1993 (hiked SS tax along with others). On Aug. 5, 1993, Blanche Lincoln voted for the omnibus budget bill, which increase taxes by $240 billion. Under the 1993 tax hike, the proportion of Social Security benefits that are subjected to taxation was increased from 50 percent to 85 percent. (Roll Call 406, 8/5/93; Arkansas-Democrat-Gazette, 7/3/98; New York Times, 7/17/00)

FACT: Lincoln voted for a 1994 budget/spending measure that would have placed Social Security on the chopping block. Lincoln was one of just 37 House members to vote for the Stenholm Amendment (to HR 4604) to set caps on all entitlement spending (including Social Security) for FY 1996-2000 that would result in some $150 billion in cuts below projections. The amendment would also require automatic cuts in all programs (including Social Security) if Congress failed to pass reconciliation legislation to prevent spending from exceeding the caps. (H.AMDT.772 to H.R.4604; Roll Call 344, 7/21/94)

FACT: Blanche Lincoln opposed cutting the Social Security tax. On Jul. 13, 2000, Blanche Lincoln voted against the Grams amendment to HR 8, which repealed the increase in tax on Social Security benefits. (Senate Vote No. 188, 2000)

Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Association Debate
Apr. 24, 2010

Here are the facts:

FACT: Lincoln was against regulation before she was for it

CLAIM: “I think we could have done it better. I think there were probably attempts to where we could have done it better.”

FACT: She voted to deregulate industry.	In 1999, Blanche Lincoln voted for adoption of the conference report on S 900, which eliminated barriers erected by the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act and other laws that impeded affiliations between banking, securities, insurance and other firms. (Senate Vote No. 354, 1999)
FACT: Promised not to take money from TARP recipients.	In a memo dated Sept. 7, 2009, and posted on the Lincoln campaign Web site, campaign manager Steve Patterson said the campaign would not accept contributions from TARP-assisted firms.
FACT: Blanche Lincoln took $5,500 from Goldman Sachs after pledge.	She has taken $29,000 from Goldman Sachs overall.
FACT: Promised Chamber “Surgical” Regulations.	In late March, she promised the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to try to avoid excessive regulation. “The swaps market will be regulated, but let me say this,” said Sen. Lincoln. “I don’t believe in overreaching or regulation for regulation’s sake. We must be surgical with how we regulate.” (Washington Post, April 1, 2010)
FACT: Wants exemptions in derivatives regulation.	According to a published report, “Lincoln has said she favors exemptions for certain ‘end users,’ a term for consumers who don't represent financial institutions. Many of these companies use derivatives to protect themselves against risk rather than buy them as speculative investments, the type that was so damaging in 2008, and a number of these companies are pushing to change the bill so that they won't be required to put up the assets to clear their derivative purchases.”( Posted by Tim Fernholz on April 12, 2010 3:45 PM, www.prospect.org)

FACT: Lincoln Voted for TARP

CLAIM: “My bill protects the people of Main Street.”

FACT: Before the vote, she denied it was a bailout.

In an MSNBC interview, Sen. Lincoln said it wasn’t a bailout and that it wouldn’t provide any “golden parachutes.”

MS. O'DONNELL: … How close are you in Congress there to a deal?

We're working out the details of how we put our markets in a position where they can begin to rebuild themselves and I think that's a significant accomplishment.

MS. O'DONNELL: And when you say it's not a bailout, you've worked it out, specifically what do you mean?

FACT: Lincoln voted for the Wall Street Bailout.

In Oct. 2008, Blanche Lincoln voted for HR 1424, the $700 billion Wall Street Bailout. (Senate Vote No. 213, 10/1/08)

FACT: Lincoln is to blame for 205,905 jobs lost, because she supported trade deals

CLAIM: “Elections are about choices, this election is about being accountable….and I am proud of my votes.”

FACT: Lincoln voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).	In November of 1993, the House voted 234-200 in favor of HR 3450, a bill to approve NAFTA and make the necessary changes to U.S. statutory law to implement it. [House Vote No. 575, 7/28/93]
FACT: Arkansas has lost jobs due to NAFTA.	According to the Economic Policy Institute, Arkansas lost 10,321 jobs from 1993-2 04 is a result of NAFTA, making it one of the 10 hardest-hit states. (Economic Policy Institute, Jul. 20, 2000)
FACT: In 2000, Lincoln voted to remove restraints on trade between the U.S. and China.	"China is not a perfect country; unacceptable human rights abuses still occur, and the government continually seeks to stifle winds of change," Lincoln said. "But the opportunity we have as a nation to make an impact on the people of China only exists if we build a relationship with the country and its people. In order to plant the seeds of democracy in China, we must engage the country, not isolate it." [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 9/20/00; Senate Vote No. 251, 9/19/00]
FACT: Jobs lost in trade deficits.	From 2001-07, Arkansas lost more than 21,000 jobs due to growing trade deficits with China. (Economic Policy Institute, EPI Briefing Paper, Jul. 28, 2008)
FACT: Jobs lost because of NAFTA.	Arkansas lost nearly 206,000 jobs from 1994-2002 as a result of NAFTA, trade with China and other trade deals. (Public Citizen, “Fool Me Twice” Report, Mar. 2005)
FACT: Lincoln voted for the Central America free trade agreement (CAFTA) in 2005.	In June of 2005, the Senate voted 54-45 to approve S. 1307, a bill to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. Blanche Lincoln voted for the bill. [Senate Vote No. 170, 6/30/05]
FACT: Blanche Lincoln voted for tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.	Blanche Lincoln voted against S.Amdt. 3134 to S. 1637, a bill striking $39 billion in tax breaks on overseas income from the bill, and providing for a nine percent tax deduction for domestic manufacturers. (Senate Vote No. 90, 5/11/04)

FACT: Lincoln labels groups “extremist” when they don’t like her

CLAIM: “I do think it is extreme when you have groups who only support if you have 100% of what they want.”

FACT: LCV an “Extremist Group.”	When the League of Conservation Voters listed Blanche Lincoln on their Dirty Dozen list this year, she called them an “extremist group.” (The Hill, Jan. 28, 2010)
FACT: Lincoln Calls Labor “Extreme…Outside Group.”	During this primary, Sen. Lincoln has attacked labor unions as “extreme” and an “outside group.” “I know that I am the target of both political extremes but that’s what makes this campaign so important to all of us. This Senate seat belongs to Arkansas, not to outside groups that are angry I don’t answer to them.”(Wall Street Journal, March 1st, 2010)
FACT: Loved Labor When They Endorsed Her.	But in 2004, Sen. Lincoln said, “I’m honored to receive the endorsement today from the Arkansas AFL-CIO for my work in the Senate to improve the lives of Arkansas working families.”(AFL-CIO News Blog, March 17th, 2010)

FACT: Lincoln voted to ship jobs overseas

CLAIM: “I think it is important we create an environment to create jobs.”

FACT: Blanche Lincoln voted for tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.

Blanche Lincoln voted against S.Amdt. 3134 to S. 1637 , an amendment striking $39 billion in tax breaks on overseas income from the bill, and providing for a nine percent tax deduction for domestic manufacturers. (Senate Vote No. 90, 5/11/04)

FACT: Lincoln has suggested no African American Nominees

CLAIM: “It is important to have diversity in our judicial system.”

FACT: Zero Black Judicial Nominees

The NAACP gave Sen. Lincoln a grade of F(Release from Arkansas NAACP, April 17th 2010)

When asked for recommendations for federal district judgeships by Pres. Barack Obama, Senator Lincoln submitted zero names of African-Americans. She'd have you believe there was a black in the original slate of nominees for four vacant judgeships. There wasn't. A black was added after a white nominee died. But that nominee, Carlton Jones, withdrew his name because he was being jerked around by being steered to a U.S. attorney's position. (Arkansas Times blog, April 24, 2010)

KATV Debate
Apr. 23, 2010

Here are the facts:

FACT: Lincoln helped create this Wall Street mess.

CLAIM: “Unfortunately criticized because I did not do that ten years ago.”

FACT: She voted to deregulate industry.	In 1999, Blanche Lincoln voted for adoption of the conference report on S 900, which eliminated barriers erected by the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act and other laws that impeded affiliations between banking, securities, insurance and other firms. (Senate Vote No. 354, 1999)
FACT: Promised not to take money from TARP recipients.	In a memo dated Sept. 7, 2009, and posted on the Lincoln campaign Web site, campaign manager Steve Patterson said the campaign would not accept contributions from TARP-assisted firms.
FACT: Blanche Lincoln took $5,500 from Goldman Sachs after pledge.	She has taken $29,000 from Goldman Sachs over all.
FACT: Promised Chamber “Surgical” Regulations.	In late March, she promised the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to try to avoid excessive regulation. “The swaps market will be regulated, but let me say this,” said Sen. Lincoln. “I don’t believe in overreaching or regulation for regulation’s sake. We must be surgical with how we regulate.”
FACT: Wants exemptions in derivatives regulation.	According to a published report, “Lincoln has said she favors exemptions for certain ‘end users,’ a term for consumers who don't represent financial institutions. Many of these companies use derivatives to protect themselves against risk rather than buy them as speculative investments, the type that was so damaging in 2008, and a number of these companies are pushing to change the bill so that they won't be required to put up the assets to clear their derivative purchases.”

FACT: Lincoln Voted for TARP

CLAIM: “I have proven I will take the tough votes.”

FACT: Before the vote, she denied it was a bailout.

In an MSNBC interview, Sen. Lincoln said it wasn’t a bailout and that it wouldn’t provide any “golden parachutes.”

MS. O'DONNELL: … How close are you in Congress there to a deal?

We're working out the details of how we put our markets in a position where they can begin to rebuild themselves and I think that's a significant accomplishment.

MS. O'DONNELL: And when you say it's not a bailout, you've worked it out, specifically what do you mean?

FACT: Lincoln voted for the Wall Street Bailout.

In Oct. 2008, Blanche Lincoln voted for HR 1424, the $700 billion Wall Street Bailout. (Senate Vote No. 213, 10/1/08)

FACT: Lincoln voted against helping small business with health care

CLAIM: “Absolutely, there is no doubt there is a lot of misinformation and noise out there on behalf of health care.”

“This year my vote for health care, once again means I will be facing a tough reelection campaign.”

FACT: Took $892 from insurance, HMO’s.	Senator Lincoln has taken at least $891,630 from insurance & HMOs and health service providers.
FACT: HCR helped small businesses.	She also voted against reconciliation, in effect, against passing the health care reform bill that did the following for small businesses, according to CNN: * Created Small Business Health Options Programs, or SHOP exchanges, that give small businesses the buying power of large corporations; * Gives tax credits to small businesses buying health insurance through the exchanges.
FACT: Two-Faced on Radio.	In radio ads in large markets in Arkansas, she has claimed she blocked Pres. Obama’s health care bill, and then on African-American radio stations she claimed she defied tea partiers to pass “Obama’s health care plan.”
FACT: Wants it Both Ways on Reconciliation.	Consider as well Sen. Lincoln’s public statement on why she supports health care, but will vote “no” on reconciliation: I am pleased that the House approved the Senate Health Insurance reform bill that I helped craft and which I supported last year. Even with its imperfections, this bill represents the most morally and fiscally responsible approach to health reform. “Now that the Senate bill has passed both houses and the President will be signing it into law, the Senate will consider additional changes this week that were adopted by the House tonight as Budget Reconciliation. The Reconciliation package devised by the House includes matters unrelated to health care and employs a legislative process that wasn't subject to the same transparency and thorough debate that we used in the Senate. I cannot support this process.” (McLatchy News Wire, 3/22/10)
FACT: For reconciliation on Bush tax cuts.	The problem with Lincoln’s defense of her “no” vote on reconciliation is that to block a Democratic filibuster, the GOP used reconciliation to pass Bush’s budget busting tax breaks to the rich—and if that weren’t enough, Democrats, with the support of Lincoln, tried to add tuition relief and student loans to the tax cut bill and Republicans blocked it saying it wasn’t “relevant” to the taxes. (Vote on the Bush tax cuts, # 165, 5/23/01; vote on adding tuition tax breaks and increasing funding for Pell Grants, #’s 152 & 153, respectively, Lincoln voted “aye” on all three.)
FACT: Wanted to “Go Slow” in 1994.	When asked how she felt about Clinton's policies, she advocating "going slow:" "Yes, we need to do something, but we don't want to rush into something; we want to take our time and make certain what we do is right." (New York Times, 9/11/94)
FACT: Wanted to eschew complexities in 1994.	During a Congressional recess in the summer of 1994, she suggested doing just a few small things on health care. Then after the election, Congress could tackle "more complex issues." (Democrat-Gazette, 8/24/94)
FACT: First Supported then abandoned HCR in 1994.	Does this sound familiar? When the polls the public souring on reform in early 1994, Lincoln, who had been a supporter of President Clinton, suddenly declared she didn't favor his plan and told the Democratic leadership they it shouldn't count on her vote. (Democrat-Gazette, 6/19/94 & USA Today, 4/4/94)

FACT: Lincoln voted to cut Social Security benefits, and raise taxes

CLAIM: “I believe keeping social security is a promise we must keep.”

FACT: Lincoln voted for a 1994 budget/spending measure that would have placed Social Security on the chopping block.

FACT: Lincoln Supported Bill Clinton’s $240 Billion Tax Increase in 1993 (hiked Social Security tax along with others)

FACT: Lincoln is to blame for 205,905 jobs lost, because she supported trade deals

CLAIM: “It is very important to have those tax credits, and I have worked hard to pass those.”

FACT: Lincoln voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).	In November of 1993, the House voted 234-200 in favor of HR 3450, a bill to approve NAFTA and make the necessary changes to U.S. statutory law to implement it. [House Vote No. 575, 7/28/93)
FACT: Arkansas has lost jobs due to NAFTA.	According to the Economic Policy Institute, Arkansas lost 10,321 jobs from 1993-2 04 is a result of NAFTA, making it one of the 10 hardest-hit states. (Economic Policy Institute, Jul. 20, 2000)
FACT: In 2000, Lincoln voted to remove restraints on trade between the U.S. and China.	"China is not a perfect country; unacceptable human rights abuses still occur, and the government continually seeks to stifle winds of change," Lincoln said. "But the opportunity we have as a nation to make an impact on the people of China only exists if we build a relationship with the country and its people. In order to plant the seeds of democracy in China, we must engage the country, not isolate it." [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 9/20/00; Senate Vote No. 251, 9/19/00]
FACT: Jobs lost in trade deficits.	From 2001-07, Arkansas lost more than 21,000 jobs due to growing trade deficits with China. (Economic Policy Institute, EPI Briefing Paper, Jul. 28, 2008)
FACT: Jobs lost because of NAFTA.	Arkansas lost nearly 206,000 jobs from 1994-2002 as a result of NAFTA, trade with China and other trade deals. (Public Citizen, “Fool Me Twice” Report, Mar. 2005)
FACT: Lincoln voted for the Central America free trade agreement (CAFTA) in 2005.	In June of 2005, the Senate voted 54-45 to approve S. 1307, a bill to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. Blanche Lincoln voted for the bill. [Senate Vote No. 170, 6/30/05]
FACT: Blanche Lincoln voted for tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.	Blanche Lincoln voted against S.Amdt. 3134 to S. 1637, a bill striking $39 billion in tax breaks on overseas income from the bill, and providing for a nine percent tax deduction for domestic manufacturers. (Senate Vote No. 90, 5/11/04)

FACT: Lincoln has flip flopped on Cap & Trade

CLAIM: “I don’t think I have changed my position.”

FACT: Lincoln Did Co-Sponsor a Cap & Trade Bill

FACT: Changed position in 2009

On Aug. 4, 2009, she announced her opposition to the House-passed cap & trade bill. (Press Release, Aug. 4, 2009)

FACT: Lincoln labels groups “extremist” when they don’t like her

CLAIM: “Special interest extremists have been shooting me from the left and the right.” … “I’ve been taking fire from both extremes.”

FACT: LCV an “Extremist Group.”	When the League of Conservation Voters listed Blanche Lincoln on their Dirty Dozen list this year, she called them an “extremist group.”
FACT: Lincoln Calls Labor “Extreme…Outside Group.”	During this primary, Sen. Lincoln has attacked labor unions as “extreme” and an “outside group.” “I know that I am the target of both political extremes but that’s what makes this campaign so important to all of us. This Senate seat belongs to Arkansas, not to outside groups that are angry I don’t answer to them.”
FACT: Loved Labor When They Endorsed Her.	But in 2004, Sen. Lincoln said, “I’m honored to receive the endorsement today from the Arkansas AFL-CIO for my work in the Senate to improve the lives of Arkansas working families.”

FACT: Lincoln ads called a lie, false, a stretch, dishonest, a smear

CLAIM: “I am disappointed by the negative tone of this campaign too, and I don’t want to be a part of that.”

FACT: AP Called attack “a stretch.”

(The Associated Press, Apr. 19, 2010)

FACT: Brummett says “Blanche goes bogus,” and that her attacks on Bill Halter’s record were “dishonest” and “a smear.”

(Arkansas News, Mar. 30, 2010)

FACT: FDR’s Grandson called Social Security Attack “a lie … false”.

Statement by James Roosevelt, grandson of Social Security founder President Franklin D. Roosevelt and former associate commissioner for Retirement Policy for the Social Security Administration:

Blanche Lincoln TV Ad "Won't Tell Us"
Apr. 23, 2010

Here are the facts:

Narrator:
"If you listen to Bill Halter in his TV ads, you'll notice he never denies outsourcing American jobs to India."

Blanche Lincoln	Bill Halter
Blanche Lincoln HAS outsourced Arkansas jobs and repeatedly broken her promises to Arkansas workers. In 1993, Blanche Lincoln voted to pass NAFTA – a free trade agreement that put more than 10,000 Arkansans out of work. (House vote No. 575, 7/28/93)*	Bill Halter and the campaign have specifically said that no jobs were lost as a result of any company activity outside of the U.S. "I'm proud that I worked with five companies that created over 1,800 jobs in America," he said. "Not a single one of those companies has moved jobs overseas." (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Mar. 28, 2010
Seven years later, Senator Lincoln voted for looser trade restriction with China; the result was another 21,000 lost jobs in Arkansas. (Senate vote No. 251, 9/19/00)	SEC Records do not indicate anything about “outsourcing jobs to India.” Webmethods is a global company with offices all over the world, and they opened up a development center in India. (SEC Form 10-K, 2006)
In all, between 1994 and 2002, one economic watchdog counted more than 200,000 lost jobs in Arkansas as a direct result of the free trade agreements Blanche Lincoln supported.
In 2004, Senator Lincoln voted in favor tax breaks for companies that shipped American jobs oversees and against tax breaks for companies that kept jobs in America. (Senate vote No. 90, 5/11/04)
The next year, Lincoln continued supporting Wall Street free-traders at the expense of Arkansans when she voted to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement. (Senate vote No. 170, 6/30/05)
Sen. Lincoln has never offered up any evidence showing that WebMethods outsourced American jobs. From the AP – “The company filings cited by Lincoln's campaign, however, do not refer to the loss of any American jobs in connection with opening the Bangalore office.” (Associated Press, Apr. 19, 2010)

Narrator:
"Just like he won’t tell us what he promised the AFL-CIO"

Blanche Lincoln	Bill Halter
In the 1992 general election, Blanche Lincoln accepted the AFL-CIO's endorsement. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Aug. 16, 1998)	Bill Halter has been very clear what he has promised to working Arkansans. At his 4/15/10 press conference, Bill Halter said "On trade agreements, unless they are fair to American workers and American companies, I'm not going to be voting for them." The Lincoln campaign conveniently edited that out of their video. (Apr. 15, 2010 Press Conference)
Blanche Lincoln sought out AFL-CIO endorsement in 1998. Though the Arkansas AFL-CIO failed to gather the two-third vote for an endorsement of Blanche Lincoln, she said she was still happy to have the majority of their support. She also stated “she had worked hard on their behalf.” "But I do have a relatively decent voting record with them," she said. "I think I've worked hard on their behalf." (Associated Press, Aug. 15, 1998)	FACT: Bill Halter is running for Senate so that working families, not special interests have a voice. He said he wants to "try to put a United States senator on the side of Arkansas families and stand up to special-interest groups. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Mar. 3, 2010)
Blanche Lincoln accepted the AFL-CIO’s endorsement in 2004. (Associated Press, Sep. 16, 2004)	Washington is broken. It's working for the special interests, not Arkansas families," Halter said in a statement released Monday morning. (Associated Press, Mar. 2, 2010)
Since 2000, Blanche Lincoln has taken more than $580,000 in labor money, including AFL-CIO contributions. (FEC)	"I'm running to put Washington back on the side of Arkansas families and explicitly taking on special interest groups that have systematically stymied some important changes." (New York Times, Mar. 8, 2010)
	"I’ve come to deliver a message personally…It’s time to put Arkansas families first. I'm Bill Halter and I approve this message because it's past time we have a senator who will stand up to special interest and put Arkansas families first. Now, I'm running for the Senate to take on Washington special interests.” (Bill Halter Campaign Ads)

Narrator:
"Or how he would have voted on the public option"

Blanche Lincoln	Bill Halter
Blanche Lincoln waffled on health care reform. Blanche Lincoln claims that she supported health care reform, but she voted AGAINST the health care reconciliation bill and said that she considered filibustering it in an attempt to kill it. (Senate Vote No. 105, HR 4872, 3/25/10)	Bill Halter has been very clear about his views on health care reform. Halter, on the public option: "…let me tell you what I favor. I favor the public having an option to voluntarily buy into a program like Medicare."
Blanche Lincoln was on both sides of the public option, opposing the concept but for allowing a mechanism to trigger it. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Oct. 30, 2009)	Halter, on whether he'd favor of health care reform with a public option if he were in the Senate right now: "Yes. And I think this whole idea that somehow reconciliation is somehow a bad process or a rigged process or a new process that's geared just for these circumstances is totally undermined by the facts. ... A great many different reforms and changes to our health care delivery system had been passed through reconciliation." (MSNBC, Rachel Maddow, Mar. 3, 2010)
"The problem is Medicare is a very generous plan, so expensive that it became obvious people would not buy into it," she said. (ADG, Mar. 3, 2010)	Halter has also said he supports a form of a public option that would allow people to buy in to a program like Medicare. (AP, Mar. 5, 2010)
	He did "say he disagreed with" Sen. Blanche Lincoln's (D) "opposition to a public option provision in health care reform legislation." (Arkansas News, Mar. 11, 2010)
	Halter issued a statement drawing a bright line on the issue: "I want to be perfectly clear with Arkansas voters, I support passing health care with a majority vote. And you can count on me to be decisive and clear about where I stand." (Politico.com, Mar. 10, 2010)

Narrator:
"Or on the Wall Street bailout"

Blanche Lincoln	Bill Halter
In 1999, Senator Lincoln voted to deregulate Wall Street and eliminate the rules that prevented large investment houses from making such risky bets in the first place. (Senate vote No. 354, 1999)	I would not have voted for that Wall Street bailout bill without stricter accountability. (MSNBC, March 3, 2010)
Blanche Lincoln is trying to misrepresent her Wall Street bailout position to voters. In her ads, Blanche Lincoln says she voted “against giving MORE money to Wall Street” but neglects to mention that she voted for the initial $700 billion, no-strings-attached bailout. (Blanche Lincoln Campaign Ad; (Senate Vote No. 213 on HR 1424, 10/1/08)	I never would have voted a Wall Street without stricter accountability. (MSNBC, March 1, 2010)
Blanche Lincoln has taken more than $1.1 million in contributions from Wall Street interests. (Opensecrets.org; FEC)
Blanche Lincoln has waffled on her support from Goldman Sachs. Blanche Lincoln said she wouldn’t take any contributions from TARP recipients in 2009, then took $4,500 later that year from Goldman Sachs after that pledge was made. After the SEC indicted Goldman Sachs in Apr. 2010, she said she wouldn’t return the contributions. However, the next day she cancelled a planned fundraiser with Goldman executives and said she would no longer take any contributions from the company or its employees. (Politico.com, Apr. 21, 2010)

Narrator:
"And when asked about his company being sued for cheating investors, he responds with lawyer language."

Blanche Lincoln	Bill Halter
FACT: This is a smear allegation by Blanche Lincoln. John Brummett of the Arkansas News said this about attacks on Bill Halter’s career as a businessman: “Lincoln’s first salvo was dishonest. The second was a smear.” (Arkansas News, Mar. 30, 2010)	Bill Halter has never been accused of any wrongdoing in any of his business roles.
	Bill Halter is not named ANYWHERE in this lawsuit, and the lawsuit was settled – there was no “successful” verdict against Threshold. The judge in the case dismissed nearly all of the plaintiff’s allegations on two separate occasions, and she only ruled that the lawsuit was allowed to proceed. Threshold made a decision to settle purely for financial reasons. In the settlement, Threshold admitted no wrongdoing, saying they settled to avoid the expense and distraction of a long litigation and the related uncertainties. (Case #: 4:07-cv-04972-CW, US District Court, California Northern District)

Blanche Lincoln TV Ad "Dollar Bill"
Apr. 15, 2010

Here are the facts:

Narrator: "One of his companies outsourced jobs to India because of lower personnel costs."	FACT: SEC Records do not indicate anything about “outsourcing jobs to India.” Webmethods is a global company with offices all over the world, and they opened up a development center in India. (SEC Form 10-K, 2006) FACT: The sources Blanche Lincoln uses to claim Bill Halter outsourced jobs to India say nothing about sending American jobs to India. The Sep. 18, 2006 Washington Post article talks about an acquisition in India and the opening of a development center in India in 2004, but makes no mention of sending American jobs overseas. (Washington Post, Sep. 18, 2006) The Sep. 29, 2006 Washington Business Journal she cites is once again talking about the acquisition of a company with employees in India. (Washington Business Journal, Sep. 29, 2006) FACT: The 10-K that Bill Halter signed does not say ANYWHERE in the document that the company outsourced jobs in India at the expense of American jobs. All it mentions is that jobs in India were added. (10-K, 2006)
"Another of Bill Halter's companies sold $100 million in stock."	FACT: In the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that the company sold $102 million in stock in their IPO and follow-on offering. Bill Halter is not named ANYWHERE in this lawsuit. (Case #: 4:07-cv-04972-CW, US District Court, California Northern District)
"even though they knew their cancer drug was dangerous"	FACT: This case had NOTHING to do with "a dangerous cancer drug" or patient care– it was strictly a financial matter. (Case #: 4:07-cv-04972-CW, US District Court, California Northern District)
"The company was successfully sued for defrauding a pension fund."	FACT: Bill Halter is not named ANYWHERE in this lawsuit, and the lawsuit was settled – there was no “successful” verdict against Threshold. The judge in the case dismissed nearly all of the plaintiff’s allegations on two separate occasions, and she only ruled that the lawsuit was allowed to proceed. Threshold made a decision to settle purely for financial reasons. In the settlement, Threshold admitted no wrongdoing, saying they settled to avoid the expense and distraction of a long litigation and the related uncertainties. (Case #: 4:07-cv-04972-CW, US District Court, California Northern District)

Arkansans for Common Sense TV Ad
Apr. 12, 2010

Here are the facts:

Narrator: "Yep some want to privatize social security, and gamble our retirement on Wall Street. Like Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter. As head of Social Security he called for "investing a share of social security revenues in the stock market.""

FACT: Bill Halter, as Deputy Commissioner of Social Security, discussed Bill Clinton’s plan to invest a small portion of the money in the Social Security trust fund to invest in stocks. Bill Halter did not speak in favor of individual accounts.

"A very small portion of the fund would be used, and broad categories of stock would be purchased," Halter said. (The Metropolitan, Mar. 21, 2000)

FACT: Blanche Lincoln supported this very same type of program.

"We should look at possible ways of investing some of the trust fund to bring us higher earnings, but not allow individuals to take a percentage of their payroll tax out of the fund," Lincoln said. (Lincoln Journal Star, Oct. 11, 2000)

FACT: Bill Halter was a vocal public opponent of President Bush's privatization schemes.

A former head of the U.S. Social Security Administration stumped in Little Rock on Thursday for Attorney General Mark Pryor and criticized proposals to allow younger workers to invest part of their payroll tax in the stock market.
…

"What do you do to fill the $1.3 trillion gap that's created by privatization proposals?" Halter said. "If you divert a sixth of the Social Security payroll tax into private accounts and out of the Social Security trust fund, you've just created more than a trillion dollar hole in the trust fund." (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Oct. 25, 2002)

Bush's plan: By siphoning 16 percent of Social Security revenues into private investment accounts, Bush's proposal would impede Social Security's ability to provide benefits over the long term, Halter said.

"It would greatly shorten the life of the trust fund," he said. "The best estimates are down to 2024 from 2037." (Wausau Daily Herald, Nov. 3, 2000)

"Given that we're trying to extend the life of the Social Security trust fund, and given that privatization proposals actually shorten the life of the Social Security trust fund by 14 years in most cases, what do you propose to make up the gap?" Halter asked.

"Particularly in light of recent experience in the market, those who want to privatize Social Security have to answer this question: If you had allowed people to invest in Enron stock with their Social Security benefits - or WorldCom, or Tyco - what kind of position would they be in today?" Halter said. (Winston-Salem Journal, Oct. 18, 2002)

FACT: Bill Halter continued to advocate his opposition to Social Security privatization in his 2006 campaign.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Halter contends privatizing Social Security would hurt Arkansas, where beneficiaries draw about $1 billion more money annually than Arkansans pay into the program.

As governor, Halter said Tuesday, he would use the "bully pulpit" to fight privatization of Social Security.

"When President Bush first proposed this, it seemed pretty popular," Halter, a former deputy commissioner of Social Security, told a luncheon meeting of the Senior Democrats of Northwest Arkansas. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Feb. 22, 2006)

Blanche Lincoln TV Ad "Keeping Jobs in Arkansas"
Mar. 26, 2010

Senator Blanche Lincoln's newest ad attacking Bill Halter distorts the Lt. Governor's record of fighting for jobs and misleads viewers about Senator Lincoln's involvement in what happened at Cooper Tire. The Lincoln campaign clearly hopes this ad will distract from Sen. Lincoln's own record of voting to send jobs overseas - more than 200,000 from Arkansas. Workers at Cooper Tire strongly rejected Lincoln's claim that she had protected their jobs.

Here are the facts:

Narrator: "As a corporate board member Bill Halter sent jobs to Bangalore India. It's in official SEC records where you can see for yourself. Halter said it would save his company millions in personnel costs."	FACT: The SEC Records do not indicate anything about "sending jobs to India." webMethods is a global company with offices all over the world, and they opened up a development center in India. (SEC Form 10-K, 2006) FACT: The sources Blanche Lincoln uses to claim Bill Halter outsourced jobs to India say nothing about sending jobs to India. The Sep. 18, 2006 Washington Post article talks about an acquisition in India and the opening of a development center in India in 2004, but makes no mention of sending American jobs overseas. (Washington Post, Sep. 18, 2006) The Sep. 29, 2006 Washington Business Journal she cites is once again talking about the acquisition of a company with employees in India. (Washington Business Journal, Sep. 29, 2006)
"Blanche Lincoln is fighting to keep jobs in America."	FACT: Arkansas lost nearly 206,000 jobs from 1994-2002 as a result of NAFTA, trade with China and other trade deals. (Public Citizen, "Fool Me Twice" Report, Mar. 2005) FACT: Lincoln voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In November of 1993, the House voted 234-200 in favor of HR 3450, a bill to approve NAFTA and make the necessary changes to U.S. statutory law to implement it. (House Vote No. 575, 7/28/93) FACT: In 2000, Lincoln voted to remove restraints on trade between the U.S. and China. "China is not a perfect country; unacceptable human-rights abuses still occur, and the government continually seeks to stifle winds of change," Lincoln said. "But the opportunity we have as a nation to make an impact on the people of China only exists if we build a relationship with the country and its people. In order to plant the seeds of democracy in China, we must engage the country, not isolate it." (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 9/20/00; Senate Vote No. 251, 9/19/00) FACT: Lincoln voted for the Central America free trade agreement (CAFTA) in 2005. In June of 2005, the Senate voted 54-45 to approve S. 1307, a bill to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. Blanche Lincoln voted for the bill. (Senate Vote No. 170, 6/30/05) FACT: Blanche Lincoln voted for tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Blanche Lincoln voted against S.Amdt. 3134 to S. 1637, a bill striking $39 billion in tax breaks on overseas income from the bill, and providing for a nine percent tax deduction for domestic manufacturers. (Senate Vote No. 90, 5/11/04)
"She saved 1,700 Cooper Tire employees from losing their jobs to Chinese imports."	FACT: Blanche Lincoln testified in support of the USW's petition for relief, but to credit her for saving jobs is not true. (Bill Halter Press Release, Mar. 26, 2010) (Blanche Lincoln Press Release, Jun. 29, 2009)
"And voted to reduce health care costs for small businesses so they can create jobs."	FACT: Lincoln Voted Against Health Care Reconciliation Bill. On Mar. 25, 2010, Blanche Lincoln voted against HR 4872, the health care reconciliation bill. (Senate Vote No. 105, 3/25/10) FACT: Blanche Lincoln voted for "poison pills" four times by voting against motions to table four separate motions to commit the bill back to committee. Sen. Max Baucus said this about the first GOP motion to commit: "I don't want to be dramatic about this, but it's a fact that this is a killer amendment," (Senate Vote No: 66,67,78,100, 3/25/10; Dow Jones Newswire, Mar. 25, 2010) FACT: In Nov. 2009, Sen. Lincoln would not commit to even allowing the debate on health care to go forward. (Roll Call, 11/16/09)

Blanche Lincoln Mailer "Dollar Bill Halter - Pharmaceuticals"
Mar. 27, 2010

Senator Blanche Lincoln's mail piece attacking Bill Halter distorts the Lt. Governor's business record.

Here are the facts:

Text:

Sued for Illegally Defrauding Investors.

Bill Halter sat on the Board of Directors for Threshold Pharmaceuticals, which was sued for defrauding investors and violating federal law. The 2007 lawsuit alleged that the company "grossly overstated" the effects of an experimental cancer drug in order to dramatically inflate their stock price and paid out $10 million to settle a class action lawsuit on the matter.

FACT: Bill Halter is not named ANYWHERE in this lawsuit. The judge in the case dismissed nearly all of the plaintiff's allegations on two separate occasions, and she only ruled that the lawsuit was allowed to proceed. Threshold made a decision to settle purely for financial reasons. In the settlement, Threshold admitted no wrongdoing, saying they settled to avoid the expense and distraction of a long litigation and the related uncertainties. (Case #: 4:07-cv-04972-CW, US District Court, California Northern District)

Bill Halter served on the board of another pharmaceutical company, InterMune, that was wrapped up in scandal. This time, the company was investigated and paid $36.9 million to the federal government, and the CEO was convicted for false claims made about a fatal lung disease treatment.

FACT: Bill Halter once again had nothing to do with this scandal. In fact, Intermune as a company was praised for the way they responded to the CEO's negligent behavior. Additionally, Bill Halter and the board removed him prior the Department of Justice investigation.

Here is what the DOJ said about Intermune:

Intermune provided substantial cooperation and assistance to the Department's investigation.
-First, Intermune disclosed the results of internal investigations that had occurred prior to the Department's investigation...
-Second, Intermune fully complied with the subpoena served by the Department and provided significant information regarding the conduct of certain former employees and officers.
-Third, Intermune made numerous presentations that were helpful to the Department's investigation.
-Fourth, Intermune made certain current employees and officers who were employed by the Company during the period of investigation available to the Department in connection with its investigation.

Intermune's management team - the great majority of whom where hired after the Investigative Period - also instituted numerous and comprehensive compliance changes, including new compliance policies, audits and internal reviews, and revised sales representative compensation programs. These compliance changes were instituted by the Company prior to the commencement of the Department's investigation. (Deferred Prosecution Agreement, Case 3:06-cr-00707-MHP, United States District Court - Northern District of California)

The Company Was Accused of Lying About Drugs and Risking Lives.

Bill Halter was a board member of Threshold, a company accused of lying about drugs and risking lives. Shouldn't he have known, and then told the public, that Threshold's drug TH-070 "had a history of promoting high liver toxicity?"

FACT: Once again, this was merely an accusation, and the case had NOTHING to do with patient care – it was strictly a financial matter. (Case #: 4:07-cv-04972-CW, US District Court, California Northern District)