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Setting The Record Straight: RESEARCH

REID PASSED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX CUTS AS PART OF THE 2008 ECONOMIC STABILIZATION PACKAGE

The 2008 Economic Stabilization Package Contained $150 Billion In Tax Relief, Including Job-Creating Tax Breaks For Renewable Energy Production, Research And Development, Disaster Victims. In October 2008, the New York Times reported that the Senate had added legislation to the Wall Street Bailout that would "extend and expand many individual and business tax breaks, including tax credits for the production and use of renewable energy sources, like solar energy and wind power. The bill would also extend the business tax credit for research and development, expand the child tax credit, protect millions of families from the alternative minimum tax and provide tax relief to victims of recent floods, tornadoes and severe storms." The US Conference of Mayors also reported that the $150 billion tax relief package in the bailout also included provisions of interest to local governments, including clean energy bonds, energy conservation bonds and an extension of the new market tax credit. [New York Times, 10/30/08; US Conference of Mayors, 10/13/08]

Bailout Included Sales Tax Deduction That Benefits States Like Nevada. In October 2008, the Associated Press reported, "As revised by the Senate, the package extends several tax breaks popular with businesses. It would keep the alternative minimum tax from hitting 20 million middle-income Americans and provide $8 billion in tax relief for those hit by natural disasters in the Midwest, Texas and Louisiana … Another addition, to extend the deductibility of state and local taxes for people in states without income taxes, helps Florida and Texas, among others." [Associated Press, 10/1/08]

Solar Energy Industries Association: Bailout Contained Tax Credits That Will Create As Many As 41,000 Jobs In Nevada Alone. In October 2008, the Solar Energy Industries Association praised the final vote in the House to pass "historic legislation that extends the 30-percent federal investment tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations for 8 years. This landmark legislation is part of H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, designed to address the U.S. financial crisis. It is the most significant federal policy ever enacted for the solar industry." According to a September 2008 report from the SEIA, "More than 1.2 million employment opportunities, including 440,000 permanent jobs, and $232 billion in investment would be supported in the U.S. by the solar energy sector alone through 2016 if Congress extends the solar investment tax credit (ITC) for 8 years." The report said that extending the tax credits would create 41,000 jobs in Nevada, 9,000 of them permanent. [Solar Energy Industries Association, Press Release, 9/15/08; Solar Energy Industries Association, Press Release, 10/3/08]

Review-Journal: Reid Showed "Real Leadership" In Passing The Bailout. In an October 2008 editorial, the Review-Journal wrote, "Two days after a Wall Street bailout bill crashed and burned in the House, the Senate easily approved a new version of the proposal Wednesday night … And much of the credit for this action goes to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The Senate voted 74-25 - with both Nevada senators in the affirmative - to spend $700 billion to shore up the nation's financial system by allowing the government to buy bad assets from troubled banks … Monday's vote in the House had been marked by partisan bickering and the bungling of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who seemed more intent advancing her party's cause in the November elections that getting something done in the best interest of the country. Harry Reid took a more statesmanlike approach. Without pointing fingers, Sen. Reid reached across the aisle to work with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., which produced a package that garnered majority support and many expect will win approval when the House again takes up the matter today. 'Inaction is not an option,' said Sen. Reid. 'This is - I repeat - a crisis. ... We've got to get this done.' He got it done. And in doing so, Sen. Reid stepped forward to exhibit a trait that has become all too rare in Washington these days: real leadership." [Review-Journal, 10/3/08]

REID PASSED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX CUTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES IN THE RECOVERY ACT

More Than 1 Million Nevadans Received A Tax Break Under The Recovery Act's Making Work Pay Tax Cut. According to a White House report on the impact of the recovery act on Nevada, "The President's tax-cut – which covers more Americans than any in history – is putting more than $500 million back in the pockets of more than 1 million hard-working Nevada families." According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "These tax cuts would be distributed to millions of families by reducing tax withholding from workers' paychecks - the money goes directly into Americans' paychecks so they get it right away." [White House Report, 4/22/08]

Recovery Act Extended Energy Tax Credits To Consumers. According to the Department of Energy, consumers could take advantage of a number of tax credits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install certain energy-efficient products in their homes and a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install renewable energy systems in their homes. [Department of Energy, Consumer Energy Tax Incentives, What the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Means to You]

The Recovery Act Also Provided Tax Cuts And Tax Credits To …

Seniors, Disabled Veterans And Other Disabled Workers: According to the Internal Revenue Service, under the Recovery Act, "A one-time payment of $250 will be made in 2009 to:

Unemployed Workers: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The economic recovery plan will alleviate the tax burden for already struggling Americans collecting unemployment benefits by temporarily suspending the federal income tax on the first $2,400 of benefits per recipient." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

College Students: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The economic recovery plan will help more than 4 million additional students attend college with a new, $2,500 tax credit for families, which is partially refundable. As a result, the nearly one-fifth of high school seniors who currently receive no tax credit will receive a tax cut to make college affordable for the first time." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Parents: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The income threshold to receive the refundable Child Tax Credit will be reduced so that more people would be eligible providing a new tax cut for millions of children, and increasing the existing credit for millions more. The Earned Income Tax Credit is expanded by providing tax relief to families with three or more children and increasing marriage penalty relief." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Homebuyers: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act extends and increases the tax credit for homebuyers." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Families Hit By The AMT: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The Alternative Minimum Tax patch will protect an estimated 26 million working families from thousands of dollars in additional income taxes for 2009." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Small Businesses: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, the Recovery Act "provides for an extension of the increase in small business expensing (Section 179); allows a new exclusion on the gain from the sale of certain small business stock; and provides incentives to hire unemployed veterans and disconnected youth (Work Opportunity Tax Credit). In addition, the recovery plan contains provisions aimed at freeing up capital for small businesses and making Small Business Administration loans more affordable and accessible. The legislation temporarily reduces or eliminates various lender and borrower fees, bolsters funding for the Small Business Administration's microloan program, increases 7(a) and 504 loan sizes, and temporarily increases the SBA-backed surety amount from $2 million to $5 million." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Small Business: According to the White House, "The ARRA allowed small businesses to use the 2008 operating losses to get a refund of taxes paid in prior years … [Much] of the revenue would be recouped in future years. The ARRA provision was projected to provide $5 billion in tax relief for small businesses in 2009 at a ten-year cost of only $1 billion." [White House, 11/6/09]

Nevada Has Already Seen Significant Benefits From The Recovery Act's Tax Provisions

Harrah's Senior Vice President Jan Jones: Reid's Debt-Cancellation Provision "Allowed Us To Protect 31,000 Jobs In Nevada Alone." In October 2009, the Sun reported, "Harrah's Entertainment Senior Vice President Jan Jones said today's teleconference wasn't just a response to Wynn and Murren, but a reaction to those who question the need for the federal stimulus and its role in protecting jobs … Aside from the money Nevada received from the stimulus, the cancellation of indebtedness provision and Travel Promotion Act were important additions that helped the gaming industry, Jones said. She credited Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with both. The cancellation of indebtedness provision allows companies to restructure their debt and delays tax payments tied to capital gains. 'For Harrah's Entertainment, that allowed us to protect 31,000 jobs in Nevada alone. This piece of legislation allowed Harrah's to work to restructure to make sure we kept our employees employed,' said Jones." [Las Vegas Sun, 10/23/09]

Sun Editor Brian Greenspun: "What Is Factual Is That 31,000 Harrah's Jobs As Well As Tens Of Thousands Of Other Nevada Jobs Were Protected By The Provision In Question." In a November 2009 column, Sun Editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "First, let me make one thing abundantly clear. I don't believe the debt cancellation provision was responsible for saving the jobs of 31,000 Harrah's people — the sum total of Harrah's Nevada employees. What is factual is that 31,000 Harrah's jobs as well as tens of thousands of other Nevada jobs were protected by the provision in question. So, if we must quibble with words like 'saving, creating or protecting' jobs, then those who nitpick this issue can have a field day. But if you are one of the 31,000 people at Harrah's or one of the tens of thousands of Nevadans who work for MGM Mirage and Station Casinos and other major employers caught short of credit when the meltdown happened, I don't believe that's what you would be thinking. If I were one of those people, I would be thinking, saying and shouting to the rooftops, 'Thank you, Sen. Reid, for helping to save my job.'" [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 11/8/09]

Review-Journal Blog: "Reid Delivered For McCarran." In January 2010, the Review-Journal's "Political Eye" reported, "When much of the political class was buzzing over his awkward racial remark, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., was having a look at how his work in Washington translates into action on the ground. Reid on Tuesday toured the construction project that is Terminal 3 at McCarran International Airport. The $2.4 billion project saved more than $70 million in large part to a provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also called the stimulus law, that Reid as Senate majority leader helped to pass. 'It's fitting that Sen. Reid tour this project given the role he's played in its ongoing development,' said Rosemary Vassiliadis, deputy director of the Clark County Department of Aviation. 'His efforts to include Alternative Minimum Tax relief in last year's stimulus package helped keep this project on track, and will ultimately save our department millions of dollars in debt service costs in the years to come.' Vassiliadis said AMT relief is projected to save the department $72.4 million in reduced debt service costs over the 30-year life of the applicable bonds issued to pay for the project." [Review-Journal, The Political Eye, 1/13/10]

Reid's Effort Helped Keep Almost 2,000 Workers On The Job. In a January 2010 release, Reid's office wrote, "In addition to helping accommodate the millions of people who travel to and from Las Vegas each year, Terminal 3 is being constructed with the most modern, built-in security features to help ensure the safety of all who pass through the airport. Reid included an exception for refinancing bonds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that allowed McCarran to take advantage of a tax exemption, allowing work at the airport to continue and saving as many as 2,000 jobs." In January 2010, the Associated Press reported, "Reid touted the role the project is playing employing more than 1,700 construction workers. Vassiliadis says last year's federal stimulus package helped keep the project alive. She says a tax provision will let the county save more than $72 million in interest on construction bonds." [Reid Press Release, 1/12/10; Associated Press, 1/12/10]

REID PASSED A BUDGET THAT CONTAINED MORE THAN $760 BILLION IN TAX CUTS, INCLUDING A PERMANENT SALES TAX DEDUCTION FOR NEVADA FAMILIES

Under Reid's Leadership, The Senate Passed A Budget That Cut Taxes By $764 Billion. According to Knight Ridder, the final FY 2010 budget "projects tax cuts of $764 billion over the next five years." According to Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, "This budget cuts taxes, on balance, over 5 years by $764 billion. That is a fact. That is not made up for the convenience of a political debate. That is a fact. Taxes are cut under this budget $764 billion." [Knight Ridder, 4/28/09; Conrad Floor Speech, 4/29/09]

Alternative Minimum Tax Relief: According to the New York Times, "The budget does grant three years of relief from the alternative minimum tax for middle-income taxpayers, who would be increasingly hit by the automatic tax." [New York Times, 4/29/09]

Extending Bush Tax Cuts For Workers, Investors, Families: According to the Associated Press, the budget "devotes $512 billion over five years to extend tax cuts passed during Bush's first term for middle-class workers, investors and families with children." According to Knight Ridder, "The budget envisions extending middle-class tax cuts – such as the 10 percent income-tax bracket, the child tax credit, 'marriage penalty' relief and help for many who are subject to the alternative minimum tax – and continuing the 2001 and 2003 tax reductions for most people who earn less than $250,000 a year." [Associated Press, 4/30/09; Knight Ridder, 4/28/09]

Permanent Sales Tax Deduction For Nevada: In April 2009, McClatchy News Reported, "Congress finally made a tax break permanent Wednesday that helps residents of states without an income tax by enabling them to deduct state and local sales taxes on federal returns. The issue has been a rallying cry of 'tax equity' for some lawmakers, especially Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who included the provision in the federal budget conference report for fiscal 2010, which the Senate approved Wednesday by 53 to 43 and the House passed 233-193." [McClatchy News, 4/29/09]

Texas Republican Kay Hutchison: Reid "Did Take The Lead In Making Permanent The State And Local Sales Tax Deduction." In an April 2009 statement of the Senate floor, Texas Republican Kay Hutchison said, "There are some good parts of this budget. One is, I want to commend the majority leader, Harry Reid, because he did take the lead in making permanent the state and local sales tax deduction … what the majority leader has led the fight to do to allow those eight states to deduct from the federal income taxes like the other states in our country are able to deduct their income taxes on their federal taxes. So this all started in 1986 with the 1986 tax act when the sales tax deduction was eliminated but the income tax deduction was kept. So since 1986 until 2004, we had that inequity. But we corrected it in 2004 with the efforts of many of us. And thank goodness, we've had extensions every year. Now we will make it permanent. That is a fundamental issue of fairness, and I commend Senator Reid for his leadership." [Congressional Record, 4/29/09]

REID ALSO PASSED AN EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF THE HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT, BUSINESS TAX CREDIT

Reid Led Passage Of Legislation To Extend The Homebuyer Tax Credit, Extend Unemployment Benefits And Help Relieve The Tax Burden Of Struggling Businesses. In November 2009, the Washington Post reported, "The Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that extends several measures designed to spur the economy and help people who have lost their jobs, including a provision that will extend unemployment benefits for up to 20 weeks in states with high unemployment rates … The measure would also extend through April 30 a $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit and create a new $6,500 credit for homebuyers who have been in their current residence for the last five years or more. Another provision allows businesses that had operating losses in 2008 and 2009 to seek refunds for taxes paid on profits over the past five years." [Washington Post, "Capitol Briefing," 11/4/09]

Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson (R): "Quite frankly, Majority Leader Harry Reid helped us to make this happen as only he could do as majority leader of the Senate." [Congressional Record, 11/4/09]

Reid-Led Bill To Extend Homebuyer Tax Credit Also Expanded It To Give Tax Credits To Families Who Qualified As "Move-Up Homebuyers. In November 2009, In Business Las Vegas reported, "Homebuilders and Realtors are counting an extension and expansion of a homebuyer tax credit to boost to the housing market through mid-2010. Last week, Congress extended the $8,000 credit for first-time buyers and expanded the program to include move-up buyers in the amount of $6,500. The credit for first-time buyer was set to expire Nov. 30. Buyers must qualify by signing a purchase agreement by April 30 and closing by June 30." [In Business Las Vegas, 11/13/09]

Reid-Led Bill To Extend The Homebuyer Tax Credit Also Made More Families Eligible For The Credit And Included Protections For Members Of The Armed Forces. According to a November 2009 press release, the bill Senator Reid led the Senate in passing that extended and expanded the homebuyer tax credit also "Increases the dollar limits for eligibility for both credits from $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married couples to $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for married couples … Waives repayment of the credit for Members of the Armed Forces and others on sent away from home on extended duty" and "Extends the credit for an additional year for Members of the Armed Forces and others away from home on extended duty." [Reid Press Release, 11/4/09]

Builders And Realtors Agreed The Tax Credit's Extension Was Necessary To Help The Struggling Housing Market. In November 2009, In Business Las Vegas reported, "Builders had argued that the credit needed to be extended and expanded to help their struggling industry. Realtors say the tax credit kept sales strong — they increased 5.3 percent in October in part because of first-time buyers taking advantage of the credit. 'The credit has definitely impacted positively our home sales in Southern Nevada,' said Monica Caruso, Southern Nevada Home Builders Association spokeswoman … But she added that expanding the tax credit to include a new group of buyers should help sales … Rick Shelton, president-elect of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, said the tax credit has already boosted sales by as much as 300,000 nationwide and its extension and expansion should boost that total." [In Business Las Vegas, 11/13/09]

Business Groups Praised Net Operating Loss Provisions, Said They Would Save Jobs Around The Country. According to a November 2009 press release, "The National Retail Federation welcomed today's passage of legislation that will bring recession-plagued retailers and other businesses more than $10 billion in badly needed cash by lengthening the period during which they can 'carry back' current losses to claim a tax refund from previous years when they made a profit … 'This legislation will provide retailers with an important source of capital to finance their operations and keep employees on the payroll,' NRF Vice President and Tax Counsel Rachelle Bernstein said." According to Business Roundtable, "We also commend the Senate for expanding the five-year net operating loss 'carryback' period for all companies. This is critical tax relief that will allow companies to generate immediate cash by carrying back current-year losses to profitable years. In light of the current credit crunch, access to cash is critical to sustaining the current economy recovery. Companies will be able to use this money to invest in new plants and equipment, sustain research and development and maintain and create U.S. jobs." Both groups specifically noted Reid's leadership in passing the measure. [National Retail Federation Press Release, 11/22/09; Business Roundtable Press Release, 11/21/09]

Sun: "New Stimulus Bill Should Bring A Boost To Nevadans On Many Fronts." In a November 2009 editorial, the Sun wrote, "A $24 billion economic stimulus bill signed Friday by President Barack Obama should bring much-needed relief to Nevadans who are out of work or interested in purchasing a new residence. Struggling businesses also stand to benefit … Southern Nevada's ailing housing market also should get a boost with the extension of $8,000 tax credits for first-time homebuyers through June, along with a $6,500 credit for certain homeowners who buy a new residence. Businesses may also be able to rebound sooner, thanks to bigger tax refund checks, because they will be able to deduct a greater amount of losses from profits." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial,11/8/09]

REID PASSED A JOBS BILL THAT PROVIDES $15 BILLION IN JOB-CREATING TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM EXPAND AND HIRE AND RETAIN WORKERS

Reid Passed A Jobs Bill That Included Billions In Tax Credits For Small Businesses. In February 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act offers $15 billion in tax credits, payroll-tax relief and bond-interest payments for schools and energy projects, and $20 billion for highway and mass-transit projects. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., pushed hard for the bill, returning to Las Vegas earlier this month to promote the legislation … The bill would cut payroll taxes for companies that hire anyone who was out of work for 60 days or more, and it would provide a $1,000 tax credit for every new worker retained for at least a year. Businesses also could write off up to $500,000 in capital purchases." [Review-Journal, 2/24/10]

Las Vegas Chamber Of Commerce Praised The Jobs Bill; Said It Would Create Jobs. In a February 2010 statement, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce said, "The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce is pleased that the United States Senate passed the 'Jobs Bill' today. Businesses are struggling, and this bill will help encourage job growth by giving tax breaks to businesses that hire the unemployed. This legislation also adds $20 billion into highway and mass transit programs that will both create jobs and invest in the infrastructure we need. The Chamber appreciates the leadership of Senator Harry Reid and Republican and Democrat lawmakers working together in a bi-partisan manner to enact this bill that will help businesses put people back to work, as well as invest in our nation's infrastructure." [Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Press Release, 2/24/10]

REID PASSED LANDMARK HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM THAT INCLUDES THE LARGEST MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT FOR HEALTH CARE IN HISTORY AND IMMEDIATELY PROVIDES TAX CREDITS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE THEIR WORKERS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE

More Than 300,000 Nevadans Will Receive $5 Billion In Tax Credits To Make Purchasing Health Insurance More Affordable. According to the Department of Heath and Human Services and the Democratic Policy Committee, health insurance reform will being tax credits to as many as 311,000 Nevadans to make paying for coverage more affordable. Those tax credits total up to as much as $5 billion during the first five years after the health insurance exchanges are established. [HealthReform.gov; Democratic Policy Committee, 4/5/10]

Health Insurance Reform Will Provide Tax Credits To Make Providing Health Insurance More Affordable For 30,000 Nevada Small Businesses. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "While small businesses make up 70 percent of Nevada's businesses, only 49 percent of them offered health coverage benefits in 2008. 30,300 small businesses in Nevada could be helped by a small businesses tax credit proposal that makes premiums more affordable. And these small businesses would be exempt from any employer responsibility provisions." [HealthReform.gov, Nevada]

Covering Nearly All Americans Will Drastically Reduce The More Than $1,000 Hidden Tax Families With Coverage Currently Pay To Cover Care For The Uninsured. In May 2009, USA Today reported, "The average U.S. family and their employers paid an extra $1,017 in health care premiums last year to compensate for the uninsured, according to a study to be released Thursday by an advocacy group for health care consumers. Families USA, which supports expanded health care coverage, found that about 37% of health care costs for people without insurance — or a total of $42.7 billion — went unpaid last year. That cost eventually was shifted to the insured through higher premiums, according to the group. 'I don't think anybody has any idea about how much they are paying because of the need to cover the health care costs of the uninsured,' said Ron Pollack, the group's executive director. 'This is a hidden tax on all insurance premiums, whether it is paid by business for their work or by families when they purchase their own coverage.'" [USA Today, 5/28/09]

REID MADE SURE NEVADA RECEIVED ITS FAIR SHARE OF FEDERAL PAYMENTS BY FULLY FUNDING PILT

Associated Press: "A Record $23 Million-Plus In Federal Payments Is Heading To Nevada Counties This Year To Help Offset Losses In Property Taxes For Nontaxable Federal Lands Within Their Boundaries." In June 2009, the Associated Press reported, "A record $23 million-plus in federal payments is heading to Nevada counties this year to help offset losses in property taxes for nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said his legislation ensures that the payment in lieu of taxes program will be fully funded every year through 2012 … 'I am committed to making sure Nevada gets its fair share,' Reid said in a statement. 'For too long, PILT did not receive the funding it should have, and many rural counties suffered because of that.'" [Associated Press, 6/15/09]

Clark, Washoe And Elko County Each Received Around $3.1 Million In PILT Payments For 2009. According to the Associated Press, "The state's two most populous counties, Clark and Washoe, and Elko County each will get about $3.1 million in payments, the most in Nevada. Nye County follows with $2.8 million, while Churchill and Lyon counties each will get about $2 million. Douglas County receives $607,532 and Carson City $115,700." [Associated Press, 6/15/09]

White Pine County Received $1,093,950 In PILT Payments Last Year – Almost Double What They Received In FY 2007. In June 2009, the Ely Times reported, "Federal funding to White Pine County will increase this coming fiscal year, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office announced last week. The county will receive $1,093,950 from the federal government's Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for the fiscal year that begins July 1, according to figures from the U.S. Interior Department. That amount is up slightly from the $1,054,890 the county received in fiscal year 2008, and it's almost double the $665,274 the county received in fiscal year 2007." [Ely News, 6/17/09]

Nevada Association of Counties Thanked Reid For His Leadership Fully Funding PILT Payments. In June 2009, the Ely Times reported, "Groups like the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) lobbied their representatives for higher payments to fund essential services in cash-strapped counties like White Pine. 'The vast expanses of public lands in Nevada sharply limit county property tax revenues and create demands for public safety, public health and natural disaster response,' NACO Executive Director Jeff Fontaine said in a statement … Fontaine thanked Reid for tackling one of NACO's top legislative priorities. 'Through Senator Reid's leadership and commitment, Nevada's counties, after more than 30 years, will receive the fully authorized amount of payment in lieu of taxes,' he said." [Ely News, 6/17/09]

Reid Passed Fully-Funded PILT Payments As A Part Of The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. In October 2008, the Gazette-Journal reported, "There's good news for Nevadans in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act passed Wednesday by the Senate as thousands of resident would receive major tax benefits in the package. The proposed law, passed by the U.S. Senate by a 74-25 vote Wednesday night, extends the sales tax deduction for hundreds of thousands of Nevadans to claim on their federal income taxes, gives incentives for the use and production of renewable energy and provides exemption from the Alternative Minimum Tax for millions of middle-class families … Rural Nevada would see major benefits from full funding of the Payment In Lieu of Taxes program through fiscal year 2012 and reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools program through 2011 with a significant formula change that will bring tens of millions of dollars in new money to Nevada's rural communities. 'This isn't a bailout for Wall Street. This is an economic recovery effort for people in Las Vegas, in Reno and throughout rural Nevada,' said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev." [Gazette-Journal, 10/3/08]

The CEO of Ford agrees w/ Sen. Reid and has stated that without the steps that were taken to stabilize the auto industry, Ford would not have survived, costing countless jobs across the country.

According to Ford CEO Alan Mulally, The Collapse of One of its Competitors Would Have Effected its Operations "Within Days, If Not Hours." "If any one of the domestic companies should fail, we believe there is a strong chance that the entire industry would face severe disruption. Ours is in some significant ways an industry that is uniquely interdependent - particularly with respect to our supply base, with more than 90 percent commonality among our suppliers. Should one of the other domestic companies declare bankruptcy, the effect on Ford's production operations would be felt within days -- if not hours. Suppliers could not get financing and would stop shipments to customers. Without parts for the just-in-time inventory system, Ford plants would not be able to produce vehicles. Our dealer networks also have substantial overlap. Approximately 400 of our dealers also have a GM or Chrysler franchise at their dealership, and we estimate that as many as 25% of our top 1500 dealers also own GM or Chrysler franchises. The failure of one of the companies would clearly have a great impact on our dealers with exposure to that company. In short, a collapse of one of our competitors here would have a ripple effect across all automakers, suppliers, and dealers - a loss of nearly 3 million jobs in the first year, according to an estimate by the Center for Automotive Research." [Prepared Remarks of Ford CEO Alan Mulally Before Senate Banking Committee, 11/18/08]

Ford CEO Alan Mulally Said the Collapse of One Auto Company Would Have Had a Ripple Effect Across the Entire Economy. "[T]he collapse of one of our competitors would have a severe impact on Ford and our transformation plan, because the domestic auto industry is highly interdependent. It would also have devastating ripple effect across the entire U.S. economy." [Testimony of Ford CEO Alan Mulally Before Senate Banking Committee, 11/18/08]

Ford Requested Access to $9 Billion in Bridge Financing As a Safety Net. Mulally testified, "But we do support a government bridge loan because it is critically important to the United States automobile industry. Specifically, Ford requests access to $9 billion in bridge financing, something we hope we will not need to use. Instead, we continue to drive change in our company. This line of credit will serve as a critical safeguard if events require it. [Testimony of Ford CEO Alan Mulally Before Senate Banking Committee, 12/4/08]

One of the best parts of health care reform is that it strengthens and extends the solvency of Medicare. Not a single guaranteed benefit is cut.

AARP: "Basic Benefits Will Not Be Cut." In their guide, "What Health Care Reform Will Mean to You," AARP wrote, "The government has guaranteed that basic benefits will not be cut. Next year, all Medicare preventive services, such as screenings for colon, prostate and breast cancer, will be free. Annual wellness visits will also be free starting in 2011." [AARP, 3/25/10]

AARP Praised The Senate Health Care Bill For Strengthening And Improving Medicare For Seniors, Moving Toward Closing The Donut Hole. In a December 2009 statement, AARP CEO A. Barry Rand said, "This morning the Senate brought us closer to meaningful health care reform than we have ever been before. Passage of the Senate health care reform bill clears the way for Congress to enact legislation in the coming weeks that will protect and strengthen Medicare, ensure millions more Americans can get affordable health coverage and sharply curtail discriminatory insurance company practices that keep those most in need out of the system. The bill passed by the Senate makes needed progress to prevent coverage denials due to health status and limit insurance companies from charging older Americans much more for coverage because of their age. It also begins to close the dangerous gap in Medicare drug coverage known as the doughnut hole, and Senate leaders have committed that a final bill will close the gap entirely by 2019, in keeping with the President's pledge. In addition, the Senate bill adds important new Medicare benefits, like free preventive care, and encourages states to provide more home and community-based long-term care services and supports instead of costlier institutional care." [AARP Press Release, 12/24/09]

AARP Executive Vice President: "The New Senate Bill Makes Improvements To The Medicare." In a November 2008 statement after Reid introduced the Senate's version of the Patient , AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said, "The new Senate bill makes improvements to the Medicare program by creating a new annual wellness benefit, providing free preventive benefits, and—most notably for AARP members—reducing drug costs for seniors who fall into the dreaded Medicare doughnut hole, a costly gap in prescription drug coverage. Too often, those who fall into this coverage gap stop taking their prescription drugs because they simply can't afford to. The new bill adds a new $500 down payment for prescription drug costs in the doughnut hole in 2010." [AARP Release, 11/18/09]

Health Insurance Reform Will Benefit Nevada's 328,000 Medicare Beneficiaries In Numerous ways. According to the Department of Heath and Human Services, under health insurance reform, "Nevada's 328,000 Medicare beneficiaries will benefit as reform:

Cost Savings For Seniors In The Donut Hole Take Effect Immediately. In March 2010, the Las Vegas Son reported, "This year, the government would offer a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries to help pay their prescription drug costs when they hit the "doughnut hole," a gap in coverage under existing law. Next year, Medicare beneficiaries would see a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs to further close that gap." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/2/10]

Gazette-Journal: "An estimated 58,200 seniors also will have their Medicare drug costs covered over time as part of the closure of the so-called 'doughnut hole.'" [Gazette-Journal, 3/29/10]

Senator Reid does more to bring federal funding back to Nevada than anyone else.

Nevada Got Back 97 Cents In Federal Funding For Every Dollar Sent To Washington In 2008. According to the IRS, Nevada sent roughly $17,753,419,000 in taxes in FY 2008. According to the Census Bureau, Nevada got about $17,259,856,000 in federal funding in 2008 –approximately 97 cents in federal funding for each dollar sent to Washington in taxes. [IRS, State Tax Statistics; US Census Bureau, Quick Facts – Nevada]

REPUBLICANS ARE MAKING AN ATTACK THEY KNOW TO BE DISINGENUOUS

Review-Journal: Attacking Reid Because Of How The State Fares Under Federal Formulas Is A Tactic Republicans Know To Be Disingenuous. In August 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Republican consultants are already kicking around how they'll make the argument that Reid isn't using his position to benefit the state. They're planning to say Nevada ranks dead last in terms of how much money, per capita, comes to the state from Washington, D.C. As evidence they point to a 2007 report from the U.S. Census Bureau that shows Nevada gets back about $6,000 per capita from the federal government, the lowest of the 50 states and well below the median of a little more than $8,000. An April 29, 2008, report in the Reno Gazette-Journal affirmed the ranking. But the article, by reporter Steve Timko, put much of the blame on Carson City leaders, not Reid. The report didn't even mention Reid. According to the report, much of the money from the feds comes in the form of matching state spending. If state elected officials are stingy, the feds don't send as much money … Still, it's a good bet ads attacking Reid will skip the nuance and hone in on two words. Dead last." [Review-Journal, 8/17/09]

NEVADA IS A DONOR STATE, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF SOME IMAGINARY LACK OF CLOUT …

It's Because Carson City Often Fails To Spend Enough Money To Take Full Advantage Of Federal Matching …

Sun: "Nevada Leaves Millions, If Not Billions, Of Dollars On The Table." In March 2010, the Sun reported, "Nevada is dead last in per-capita federal funding for state programs such as health, education and transportation, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution. Nevada received $742 per person during fiscal year 2008 from the federal government for these programs, compared with $1,469 for the rest of the nation. The study includes money for programs based on fixed formulas — including per-capita income and census estimates — that are mostly immune from congressional wrangling. As such, the study isn't an important measure of the influence of Nevada's congressional delegation, though it does raise questions about the state's governance. In short, Nevada leaves millions, if not billions, of dollars on the table because state agencies are not aggressive in pursuing federal money and because state legislators have created state programs that cut off opportunities for federal matching funding." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/10/10]

Review-Journal: State Budget Director Confirmed That The State's Refusal To Spend On Certain Projects Causes Nevada To Receive A Smaller Share Of Federal Funds. In February 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "The state budget director, Andrew Clinger, concurred with that analysis. Nevada's fiscal conservatism, which many in the state view with pride, is the reason many analyses have shown over the years that state residents pay more to the federal government in taxes than they get back in spending -- about 65 cents on the dollar as of 2007, according to the Washington-based Tax Foundation. Similarly, Nevada's low spending on both K-12 and higher education appears to be part of the reason the state came in last in per capita education funding from the" Recovery Act. [Review-Journal, 2/23/09]

Gazette-Journal: Nevada "Ranked Last In Federal Money" In 2006-2007 Because Of "The State's Tight Purse Strings And Demographics." In April 2008, the Gazette-Journal reported, "Nevada ranked last in federal money returned per capita to the state in 2006-07, according to a recently released U.S. Census Bureau report. The Census Bureau said Nevada got $5,852 per capita that year, with the biggest discrepancy in Medicare and Medicaid. The national average was $1,891 per resident while Nevada got $1,001 per resident. The reasons included the state's tight purse strings and demographics." [Gazette-Journal, 4/29/08]

Gazette-Journal: Nevada Often Doesn't Get Federal Money Because It Won't Commit To Spending What It Takes To Qualify For It. In April 2008, the Gazette-Journal reported, "It often takes a commitment from the state to give money to get federal money, and Nevada isn't spending the money, administrators said. Because Nevada's percentage of senior citizens isn't as high as the rest of the nation, there's less Social Security and Medicare money flowing to the state. The state also gets few grants from the National Institutes of Health, which does medical research, and Food and Nutrition Service spending, which handles food stamps; Women, Infants and Children and the school lunch program. Nevada has a historically low participation rate in the food stamp program, said Jeff Brenn, chief of eligibility and payments for the Nevada Welfare Division. 'We have a very low participation rate compared to the rest of the country, so we don't get as many federal dollars coming in,' Brenn said." [Gazette-Journal, 4/29/08]

And Because Recent Censuses Haven't Been Able To Keep Up With Recent Growth

Gazette-Journal: Low Social Program Participation And Demographic Factors Also Play A Part In Nevada's Federal Funding Levels. In April 2008, the Gazette-Journal reported, "Because Nevada's percentage of senior citizens isn't as high as the rest of the nation, there's less Social Security and Medicare money flowing to the state. The state also gets few grants from the National Institutes of Health, which does medical research, and Food and Nutrition Service spending, which handles food stamps; Women, Infants and Children and the school lunch program. Nevada has a historically low participation rate in the food stamp program, said Jeff Brenn, chief of eligibility and payments for the Nevada Welfare Division. 'We have a very low participation rate compared to the rest of the country, so we don't get as many federal dollars coming in,' Brenn said." [Gazette-Journal, 4/29/08]

Gazette-Journal: "Big Nevada Response In Next Year's Census Means More Federal Dollars For The State." In October 2009, the Gazette-Journal reported, "When David Byerman says no other state in the union has more to gain than Nevada in the 2010 Census, he means it. Nevada ranked No. 1 in growth from 1990 to 2000 when the Silver State's population mushroomed by 66.27 percent. While growth has slowed this decade, Nevada's growth rate is still the highest in the country after a one-year loss to Arizona, based on census estimates. All those new bodies -- about 1 million more since the last census in 2000 -- mean more federal dollars in local and state grants, if they are counted. 'No state in the country has more to gain from the census than we do here, given how much this state has grown,' said Byerman, chief liaison to Nevada for the U.S. Department of Commerce. He oversaw census preparations for 2000 in Nevada and is again in charge for 2010. 'I look at this as the highest possible stakes,' he said. 'A lot of money is parceled out by census data.'" [Gazette-Journal, 10/19/09]

Nevada Taxpayer Advocate: Funding Shortfall Caused In Part By The Census' Inability To Keep Up With Population Growth. In October 2007, the Review-Journal reported, "The federal government spends less per person in Nevada than in any other state, according to a 2005 report by the Census Bureau … Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, said the report shows the federal government needs more accurate information to account for Nevada's surging population. 'When it comes to federal grants for education programs like No Child Left Behind, we have not received what we should have,' Vilardo said." [Review-Journal, 10/10/07]

Rep. Jon Porter: Shortfall In Federal Funding Caused In Part By The Census' Inability To Keep Up With Population Growth. In October 2007, the Review-Journal reported, "Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee which oversees tax legislation, joined Vilardo in calling for more accurate federal data. 'Because our growth outpaces the census, our return on each tax dollar is substantially lower than many states with declining populations. Whether it is in the areas of transportation, education or health care, federal agencies must restructure their formulas to adapt to the needs of states like Nevada,' Porter said." [Review-Journal, 10/10/07]

BECAUSE NEVADA HAS ALWAYS FARED POORLY UNDER THE FORMULA SYSTEM NEVADA POLITICIANS HAVE SOUGHT TO COMPENSATE BY SECURING EARMARKS

Sun: Poor Return Under Federal Formula System Is Why Nevada Members Of Congress Support Earmarks. In March 2009, the Sun reported, "Nevada's politicians have long complained that federal formulas fail to keep pace with the state's rapid growth. That's part of the reason why Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Nevada lawmakers have been so brash about going after earmarks — specially targeted money that can supplement federal spending." The Sun also reported, "In a state like Nevada, which has long complained that federal funding formulas can't keep pace with the state's rapid growth, earmarks have filled the gap as supplemental income." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/1/09; Las Vegas Sun, 3/1/09]

Ensign Spokesman: "Earmarks are a way for smaller states to compensate for other government funding that may not be sufficient." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/15/09]

Porter Defended Earmarks As Long As Federal Formulas Failed To Keep Pace With Southern Nevada Growth. In February 2008, the Sun reported, "The federal government's funding formulas, Porter says, fail to keep pace with the rapid growth in his district, where 100,000 new residents arrive each year. Earmarks allow him to get what's owed to Southern Nevada taxpayers. 'I'm still going to argue that some of these projects should be funded because I don't call that earmarks when we're underfunded by the federal government,' Porter said in a brief hallway interview the day after Bush's speech." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/24/08]

REID GOES FURTHER TO MAKE UP FOR THE DISPARITY IN FORMULA-BASED FUNDING THAN THE REST OF THE NEVADA DELEGATION COMBINED

Independent Watchdog Confirmed Reid's Leadership Position Helped Him Bring Home Earmarks – More Than The Rest Of The Nevada Delegation Combined. In February 2010, Jon Raltson reported, "Reid is one of Senate's top earmark recipients with more than a quarter-billion dollars … hat's what Taxpayers for Common Sense, an independent watchdog group famous for exposing the 'Bridge to Nowhere,' found in a report that discovered, not surprisingly, members of the Senate Appropriations Committee led the way but that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had the sixth most solo ($91 million) earmarks and eighth most joint ($223 million) earmarks. 168 in all, total of $267.6 billion. None of the other members of Nevada's delegation came close, with Sen. John Ensign at $79 million, Reps. Shelley Berkley and Dean Heller about half that number and Rep. Dina Titus slightly behind them. That is Reid had more than the rest of the delegation combined. And Nevada, because of Reid, ranked 10th overall. The report acknowledges Reid's leadership post accounts for his and the state's high ranking." [Las Vegas Sun, Ralston's Flash, 2/18/10]

Sun: "Reid Has Directed Millions Of Dollars In Federal Money To Nevada For A Variety Of Needs, Including Schools And Roads." In a May 2009 editorial, the Las Vegas Sun wrote, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is the most powerful official who has ever served Nevada in Washington, and he has consistently used his position to help Nevadans and improve the state … Reid has directed millions of dollars in federal money to Nevada for a variety of needs, including schools and roads." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 5/27/09]

Sun: "Reid Brings Home More Pork For Nevada Than The State's Other Washington Lawmakers Combined." In March 2008, the Sun reported, "Reid brings home more pork for Nevada than the state's other Washington lawmakers combined — $754.8 million in fiscal 2008." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/12/08]

Sun: Reid "Delivers More Bacon Than The Other Nevada Lawmakers Combined." In February 2008, the Sun reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, too, has famously stood by his earmarks. He delivers more bacon than the other Nevada lawmakers combined." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/24/08]

Reid Brought More Than $475 Million In Earmarks To Nevada Between 2000 And 2006. In November 2006, the Sun reported, "By one measure, Reid has steered more than $475 million to Nevada since 2000." [Las Vegas Sun, 11/27/06]

Sun: "Reid Has Been As Skilled As Some Of The Senate's Legendary Leaders" In Steering Federal Money To Nevada. In November 2006, the Sun reported, "What started as a Republican strategy to help lawmakers in tight re-election battles after they took control of the House in 1994 has become a way of life in Washington, a chance for legislators to fund a project back home and send out a press release touting the good deed. In that regard, Reid has been as skilled as some of the Senate's legendary leaders, and isn't planning to give it up soon. He earned the watchdog group's 'porker of the month' honor in 2005 for channeling one-fifth of the national renewable energy laboratory's budget to home-state projects." [Las Vegas Sun, 11/27/06]

 

Not only did Nevada get its fair share from the Recovery Act, in many cases it got more than other states.

GETTING NEVADA'S FAIR SHARE

Despite the howling from Republicans and other critics, Nevada is getting its fair share of funds from the Recovery Act. In 25 funding categories Nevada matched or out-performed its rank in population. [Ralston's Flash, 2/20/09] And it was Senator Reid who delivered the largest percentage increase in Medicaid funding to Nevada under the Recovery Act. [Las Vegas Sun, 3/1/09] And while there were some areas where the state could have done better, it wasn't because of some imaginary lack of clout, but rather in part because of demographic constraints and in part because Carson City consistently refuses to spend the funds necessary to qualify for federal matches. [Las Vegas Sun, 3/1/09; Las Vegas Sun, 11/11/09] Senator Reid normally uses earmarks to help make up for the problems Nevada has with spending formulas – and he brings home more than the rest of the delegation combined – but earmarks were banned in the Recovery Act.

That said, just as Senator Reid predicted, Nevada has been able to take advantage of the Recovery Act's funding for clean energy technology in a big way – funding that is entirely separate from the initial formula dollars the Recovery Act's critics take so much pleasure in ridiculing. The $93 million for geothermal projects for Nevada represented nearly one-third of the total funding nation-wide. [Review-Journal, 10/29/09] Nevada's $138 million for smart grid technology made Nevada one of the top recipients for the funding. [DOE, Smart Grid State Breakdown] And the $550 million in low-cost financing for the renewable energy transmission line represents more than one sixth of the $3.2 billion set aside for such projects. [Review-Journal, 1/12/10; Las Vegas Sun, 3/8/09] When all is said and done, Nevada's limitless potential for clean energy technology will have brought hundreds of millions of Recovery Act dollars to the state, created thousands of jobs and prove that when Danny Tarkanian, Sue Lowden and others attack Nevada's take from the Recovery they're once again either missing or willfully ignoring the facts.

THIS SAME PROBLEMS EFFECTING NEVADA'S NORMAL FEDERAL FUNDING LEVELS ALSO IMPACTED OUR TAKE FROM THE RECOVERY ACT

Sun: "Stimulus Scroogery Was Fated For State; We Have A History Of Coming Up Short When Federal Formulas Are Used, A Fact Well Known By Plan's Critics." In March 2009, the Sun reported, "Lost in the uproar that has swept Nevada since the bill was signed into law Feb. 17 is an uncomfortable secret known by Ensign, Gibbons and virtually every elected official in Nevada: The stimulus bill was business as usual. Nevada has almost always ranked low in federal spending. In fact, Ensign campaigned on the theme 10 years ago when he first ran for the Senate." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/1/09]

State Budget Director Agreed That Low Recovery Act Funding Levels Reflected Already Low State Spending On Public Aid Programs. In February 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "The state budget director, Andrew Clinger, concurred with that analysis. Nevada's fiscal conservatism, which many in the state view with pride, is the reason many analyses have shown over the years that state residents pay more to the federal government in taxes than they get back in spending -- about 65 cents on the dollar as of 2007, according to the Washington-based Tax Foundation. Similarly, Nevada's low spending on both K-12 and higher education appears to be part of the reason the state came in last in per capita education funding from the bill. The $543 million the bill directs to the state for various education purposes is dead last per person. Nevada's per capita allocation of education funding is just 74 percent of what first-place Alaska is getting, according to rankings compiled by the Congressional Research Service." [Review-Journal, 2/23/09]

State Transportation Director: Recovery Act Infrastructure Funds Based On Highway Funding, Not Projects In Waiting Or Unemployed Workers. In February 2009, the Review-Journal reported that State Transportation Director Susan "Martinovich said the bill didn't apportion transportation funding based on the length of a state's transportation wish list or the amount of unemployed people who need to be put to work. Rather, it used formulas similar to those Congress uses to issue annual federal highway funding. The normal formula takes into account a variety of factors, including some -- growth, the size of urban areas and the amount of federal land in a state -- by which Nevada does well. But on other metrics, Nevada fares poorly: overall population, number of total road miles, and traffic congestion, which, believe it or not, is low here compared to other states." [Review-Journal, 2/23/09]

Economist: "Nevada Wasn't Well-Positioned To Leverage" Some Stimulus Dollars. In November 2009, the Sun reported, "Michael Helmar, Nevada analyst for Moody's Economy.com … notes that manufacturing in the industrial Midwest has benefited from 'cash for clunkers' as well as the shovel-ready bridge and road maintenance stimulus money. Nevada wasn't well positioned to leverage these dollars. Winning federal dollars is often predicated on matching dollar-for-dollar with state programs. But Nevada's flinty government — we have one of the most restrictive Medicaid programs in the country, for instance — has made winning those dollars impossible." [Las Vegas Sun, 11/11/09]

REID PERSONALLY SECURED THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN MEDICAID FUNDING FOR NEVADA

Reid Secured The Largest Percentage Of Medicaid Funding For Nevada Of Any State. In March 2009, the Sun reported, "Reid's staff engineered a sizable increase in Medicaid money for Nevada — the largest percentage increase of any state. Health care costs are an enormous state burden — one that worsens with unemployment as former workers rely on state-funded medical care. Reid, Ensign and other lawmakers from hard-hit states had lobbied for an allocation that would give them a bonus over states that were not suffering with as high a rate of unemployment. But other states were pushing back and successfully altered the bill in a Senate committee. Even so, Reid and Ensign worked the Senate floor to ensure hard-hit states got extra help. In the final negotiations Reid carried out, that provision was included, as well as a separate one that ensured the formula would be based on state's greatest recent patient load, rather than when times were better." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/1/09]

Review-Journal: Nevada Medicaid Funding "Represents The Largest Percentage Increase Of Any State." In February 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "The $450 million Nevada's getting in Medicaid assistance from the stimulus bill represents the largest percentage increase of any state." [Review-Journal, 2/23/09]

Sun: "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he squeezed out additional money for Nevada for Medicaid. But the bill forbade earmarks — those specially funded projects slipped into bills by elected officials." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/24/09}

NEVADA ACTUALLY DID VERY WELL IN THE RECOVERY ACT, RECEIVED FUNDING LEVELS EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN THE STATE'S POPULATION RANK IN 25 CATEGORIES

Sun: "Whether Nevada's Low Ranking Is An Accurate Measure Of Stimulus Spending Is A Debatable Point." In March 2009, the Sun reported, "Whether Nevada's low ranking is an accurate measure of stimulus spending is a debatable point. It's true that transportation funding, for example, was distributed largely using the traditional formulas, the ones Nevadans say have given them short shrift over the years. Ensign's analysis puts Nevada fourth from the bottom. But when highway funding, the bulk of Nevada's allotment, is separated out from the overall transportation figures, Nevada ranks 32nd. Mass transit, when separated out, is an area in which Nevada ranks 18th." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/1/09]

Sun: Nevada Got A Proportional Amount For The Stabilization Fund. In March 2009, the Sun reported, "Money for the $387 million state stabilization fund was not allocated under old formulas. Instead, Nevada got the same proportion as every other state, according to sources including the National Conference of State Legislatures. Funding levels were determined by state populations, with a higher portion going toward school- and college-aged children." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/1/09] Nevada Fared Equal To Or Better Than Its Rank In Population In 25 Areas Within The Recovery Act. According to a February 2009 release, "Nevada will benefit as much or more than other states its size in tax relief, help to hungry families and unemployment assistance through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act recently passed by Congress. Nevada ranks 35th in population with more than 2.6 million residents as of July 2008, yet the economic recovery package led to passage by Nevada Senator Harry Reid delivers a better-than-proportion cut of federal funding in 18 areas and an equal share in seven more categories." [Reid Release, 2/20/09]

Nevada Out-Performed Its Population Rank In 18 Areas Under The Recovery Act. According to a release from Reid's Senate office:

"Nevada ranks 33rd in terms of the number of recipients of the Making Work Pay tax credit of up to $400 per individual or $800 per married couple. The White House estimates that 960,000 Nevadans will receive this benefit … Nevada ranks 33rd in terms of number of taxpayers who will be saved from having to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax this year. CRS estimates that 116,000 taxpayers will benefit …

Nevada ranks 23rd in Department of Labor Youth State Grants. The Senate Appropriations Committee estimates that Nevada will receive $7,646,679 …

Nevada ranks 24th in Department of Labor Dislocated Workers State Grants. The Senate Appropriations Committee estimates that Nevada will receive $14,103,475. These grants support immediate strategies for regions and communities to meet their need for skilled workers, as well as longer-term plans to build targeted industry clusters with better training and a more productive workforce …

Nevada ranks 27th in terms of the unemployment insurance beneficiaries that will benefit from the economic recovery plan. The National Employment Law Project estimates that 195,000 workers will receive an additional $100 in unemployment insurance benefits …

Nevada ranks 29th in benefits received from the Unemployment Insurance extension and enhancement in the economic recovery plan. The Department of Labor estimates that Nevada will receive an estimated $77.4 million …

Nevada ranks 31st in estimated jobs saved or created by the economic recovery plan. The White House estimates that 34,000 jobs in Nevada will be saved and created.

Nevada ranks 32nd in Department of Labor Adult State Grants. The Senate Appropriations Committee estimates that Nevada will receive $3,426,444 …

Nevada is one of 17 states receiving supplemental TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) grants. These supplemental grants provide additional assistance to states with high population growth and/or increased poverty …

Nevada ranks 29th in Senior Meals Program funding. The Senate Committee on Appropriations estimates that Nevada will receive $976,121 … This funding will help senior meals programs cope with steep increases in food and fuel costs. Nationally, many programs are reducing meal deliveries to seniors or closing meal sites.

Nevada ranks 32nd in Emergency Food and Shelter Program funding. The Senate Committee on Appropriations estimates that Nevada will receive $829,767. This funding is for grants for nonprofit and faith-based organizations at the local level to supplement their programs for emergency food and shelter to provide for the immediate needs of the homeless.

Nevada ranks 34th in Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funding. The Senate Committee on Appropriations estimates that Nevada will receive $748,727 …

Nevada ranks 12th in Internet Crimes Against Children Grants funding. The Senate Appropriations Committee estimates that Nevada will receive $1,057,620 …

Nevada ranks 26th for Crime Victims funding. The Senate Appropriations Committee estimates that Nevada will receive $986,535 …

Nevada ranks 29th in Commerce-State-Justice formula funding for anti-crime discretionary programs. The Senate Appropriations Committee estimates that Nevada will receive $521,519,453 for Byrne/JAG, Crime Victims, Internet Crimes Against Children Grants, and Violence Against Women Grants (all of the formula-based discretionary programs for which we could estimate state-specific benefits) …

Nevada ranks 30th for Byrne/JAG funding to support local law enforcement efforts. The Senate Appropriations Committee estimates that Nevada will receive $21,928,862 ….

Nevada ranks 29th in Transit Formula Funding benefits. The Senate Committee on Appropriations estimates that Nevada will receive $49,463,771 …

Nevada ranks 33rd in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund benefits. The Senate Committee on Appropriations estimates that Nevada will receive $19,651,000." [Reid Release, 2/20/09]

Nevada's Performance Equals Its Population Rank In 7 Additional Areas. According to a release from Reid's senate office, "Nevada will receive its proportionate share (ranking 35th) of funding for:

NEVADA IS SEEING HUGE BENEFITS FROM RECOVERY ACT RENEWABLE ENERGY FUNDING, FAR OUT-PERFORMING OTHER STATES IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES

$93 Million For Geothermal Projects: Nevada Received Nearly One Third Of The Funding And Will See Roughly 1,100 Jobs Created As A Result. In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced this morning that Nevada companies will receive $93 million in stimulus funds to develop 25 geothermal-power projects. Nevada is reaping nearly a third of the $338 million the federal government said this morning that it would commit to geothermal energy. Chu said the money will go toward locating and developing new geothermal fields, supporting research and development, drilling, stimulating existing reservoirs and converting heat to power." According to a release from Reid's office, "The funding is expected to create nearly 1,100 Nevada jobs while making geothermal power an even more readily available source of clean energy in our state." [Review-Journal, 10/29/09; Reid Press Release, 10/29/09]

$138 Million For Smart Grid Energy Technology: Nevada Was One Of The Top Recipients And Will See More Than 200 Jobs Created As A Result. In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported that NV Energy "won $138 million in federal stimulus funds today for a three-year, $298 million project to replace every electric meter in Nevada with a smart meter that executives say will let ratepayers direct energy use year-round, all day and all night … The initiative will create 200 meter-installation jobs at NV Energy, as well as many more jobs bringing in computer equipment, consulting on a new billing system and marketing the program to consumers, Yackira said. NV Energy expects to launch its pilot program by late 2010, with plans to install all 1.45 million smart meters in the state by the end of 2012." According to an Energy Department breakdown of funding, Nevada was one of the top recipients of funding under this program. [Review-Journal, 10/27/09; Department of Energy, Smart Grid State Breakdown]

 

While we are not yet out of the woods, the Recovery Act countered the very worst of what was the largest economic crisis since the Great Depression and started us on the road to recovery.

STATE OF THE ECONOMY POST-RECOVERY ACT

While we are not yet out of the woods, the Recovery Act countered the very worst of what was the largest economic crisis since the Great Depression. It must be noted that before the Recovery Act was passed, our nation lost 741,000 jobs in January of 2009 and the economy had shrunk by 6.4% during the previous fiscal quarter. Only one year after the Recovery Act was signed into law, we lost 20,000 jobs in January 2010 and the economy grew by 5.7% in the previous quarter, the fastest it has since 2003. That's a nearly 12% shift in positive economic growth since the Recovery Act has been in effect. While there is more work to be done on the jobs front, it's obvious that the Recovery Act successfully stopped the bleeding.

CREATING, SAVING NEVADA JOBS

One of the most complicated (and frustrating) parts of the Recovery Act has been assessing the real impact it has had on Nevada's economy and specifically the impact it's had on the workforce. The President's council of Economic Advisors estimates that roughly 20,000 jobs have already been created or saved in Nevada thanks to the Recovery Act. [Center for Budget and Policy and Priorities, 1/29/10] However, the truth is that we'll never know the entire extent of the Recovery Act or precisely how many jobs were created or saved as a result.

How do you quantify the number of jobs saved at health care providers due to the extension of COBRA subsidies or additional Medicaid funding? How do you count the number of jobs created by families taking advantage of the Homebuyer Tax Credit (realtors, movers, painters, plumbers, electricians etc.)? How many would have been laid off if millions in small business tax credits weren't made available or if Harrah's hadn't been able to restructure its debt and defer paying taxes on the capital gain? We also know that layoffs have a multiplier effect, but we can never calculate exactly how many job losses were prevented because other employers throughout the economy retained jobs.

What we do know is that there are places where Nevada has seen tangible effects – places where we know that jobs were or will be created or saved. And as much as Republicans might not like to admit it, these are real jobs held by real people that have had a real impact on the state's economy over the last year.

Education: At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, the Recovery Act had created or saved more than 2,000 K-12 education jobs – 1,400 in Clark County alone. In the Nevada System of Higher Education, more than 1,500 jobs were created or saved at the beginning of the school year thank to the Recovery Act. In the latest round of reporting, the State of Nevada reported more than 2,000 additional education and higher education jobs funded through Recovery Act funding. [Review-Journal, 11/3/09; Nevada Faculty Alliance, 1/6/10; Nevada Recovery Website, October-December Jobs]

Clean Energy: The Recovery Act is making extraordinary investment in clean energy and energy efficiency technology right her in Nevada – investments that are creating jobs, help our families and communities save money on their power bills and help make Nevada a leader in clean energy technology. In April, $12 million was dedicated for geothermal exploration at Hawthorne Army Depot and Fallon Naval Air Station – each project was expected to create 100 construction jobs and between 10 to 15 permanent jobs. [Gazette-Journal, 4/16/09] In October, Enel Green Power received $61.5 for geothermal projects in Churchill County. [Northern Nevada Business Weekly, 10/12/09] And later that month the Department of Energy announced around $93 million for 25 projects either based in Nevada or using Nevada firms and entities that will create nearly 1,100 jobs in the state. [Review-Journal, 10/29/09; Reid Press Release, 10/29/09]

The Recovery Act is also helping Nevada families and communities save money on their power bills. In October, the Department of Energy announced $138 million to help NV Energy install smart meters in Nevada homes that help ratepayers save money on their power bills. NV Energy said they expect to create more than 200 jobs in the process. [Review-Journal, 10/27/09] We're also seeing communities around the state putting Recovery Act funds to work making public facilities more energy efficient. Reno is using low-cost Recovery Act bonds to help finance more than $16 million in energy efficiency projects at City Hall, the Reno Police Department and even the Reno Arch that will save the city close to $900,000 in energy costs each year. [Gazette-Journal, 9/28/09] In Southern Nevada, Henderson and Las Vegas are putting millions of Recovery Act dollars to work making city buildings more energy-efficient. [Review-Journal, 12/10/09]

Lastly, the Recovery Act is going to fund the construction of energy transmission lines to connect renewable power sources in rural areas to Nevada's cities, creating 400 constriction jobs, thousands of indirect jobs and putting Nevada on the path to energy independence. [Review-Journal, 1/12/20; Las Vegas Sun, 3/8/09]

Law Enforcement: Another place where the Recovery Act is directly responsible for putting people to work is in law enforcement. In July, Nevada received more than $5 million in COPS funding trough the Recovery Act to fund jobs for 18 officers in Northern Nevada – 10 in Reno, 6 in Sparks, 1 in the Nye County Sheriff's office and 1 for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. [Daily Sparks Tribune, 7/28/09] In fact the Sparks City Council just voted to hire six new officers using their COPS funding – officers who will be fully funded by the Recovery Act for three years before the City has to start covering their salaries. [Daily Sparks Tribune, 2/8/10] According to the state, the Recovery Act has funded more than 14 jobs through the STOP Violence Against Women Grants and 4 jobs through Justice Assistance Grants. [Nevada Recovery Website, October-December Jobs] The Recovery Act has also pumped more than $72 million into the Nevada Department of Corrections, helping keep prisons open and funded. [Nevada Recovery Website]

Infrastructure: The Recovery Act also made significant investments in Nevada's infrastructure that have created and saved jobs over the last year. For example, water programs have created or saved roughly 80 jobs around the state. [Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, Drinking Water Recovery Projects, Clean Water Recovery Projects] In Lincoln County, Recovery Act funding for wildfire management created or saved 28 jobs. [Nevada Division of Forestry, Press Release, 3/13/09] Recovery Act funding for the Reno-Tahoe Airport is expected to create or save between 130 and 180 jobs. [Gazette-Journal, 3/29/09; Associated Press, 8/14/09] And just a few days ago we learned that NDOT had obligated all of its $201 million in transportation funding, funding that will create or save around 1,600 jobs around the state. [Review-Journal, 2/12/10]

TAX RELIEF FOR NEVADA'S MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES

While Republicans and other critics like to malign the spending aspect of the Recovery Act, we hear decidedly less criticism of the fact that $282 billion – more than one third of the Recovery Act – was dedicated to tax relief. [New York Times, Economic Stimulus] The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that many of these provisions significantly softened the blow of the recession, keeping 58,000 Nevadans from falling below the poverty line in 2009 alone. [Las Vegas Sun, 12/23/09] These provisions also helped bolster our state's struggling economy and undoubtedly saved jobs, even though we may never know exactly how many.

Relief For Families: The Recovery Act included one of the broadest tax cuts in American History, putting more than $500 million back into the hands of more than 1 million Nevada families. Taxpayers didn't have to wait until they filed their returns to take advantage of the Making Work Pay Tax Credit either – it was distributed by reducing withholdings so families could have more disposable income right away. [White House Report, 4/22/08] The Recovery Act also expanded the Child Care Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, protected families hit by the Alternative Minimum Tax and included tax relief for families trying to send their kids to college. [Las Vegas Sun, 12/23/09; Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Relief For Small Businesses: The Recovery Act contained numerous provisions to ease the burden on struggling small businesses, including $5 billion in tax relief for small businesses who took a loss in 2008, tax credits for small businesses who hired unemployed veterans or disconnected young people, reductions or in some cases elimination of lender and borrower fees to make it easier to take out an SBA loan, and drastically increased funding for SBA lending programs. [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09; White House, 11/6/09]

Relief For Some Of The Most Vulnerable Nevadans: The Recovery Act also lent a hand to some of the Nevadans who were struggling the most under the weight of the recession – extending and expanding unemployment benefits, expanding food stamp benefits and subsidizing 65% of the cost of COBRA. The Recovery Act also included a one-time payment for elderly or disabled workers receiving benefits through Social Security or the VA. [Las Vegas Sun, 12/23/09; Department of Labor Website]

Relief For Consumers: The Recovery Act extended and expanded the new homebuyer tax credit, making it easier families to buy a home and helping bolster Nevada's struggling housing market. [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09] The Recovery Act also made it easier for families trying to save money on their power bills but giving them a 30% tax credit for installing energy-efficient products or renewable energy systems like sola panels in their homes. [Department of Energy, Consumer Energy Tax Incentives]

Relief For Employers: Thanks to Harry Reid, the Recovery Act also extended tax relief to employers looking to restructure their debt. Harrah's is just one of the companies who took advantage of this provision and were able to protect the jobs of their 31,000 Nevada employees. [Las Vegas Sun, 10/23/09] Officials working on McCarran Airport's third terminal also cited tax relief in the Recovery Act as helping them keep the project on track and keeping workers on the job. [Review-Journal, The Political Eye, 1/13/10; Associated Press, 1/12/10]

 

No one came to Nevada's defense more quickly, or more effectively than Sen. Reid.

AFTER PRESIDENT OBAMA REFERRED TO LAS VEGAS IN HIS INDIANA SPEECH, REID IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO EXPRESS HIS CONCERN

Shortly After The President's Comments, Reid Reached Out To The White House, Received A Clarification. In February 2009, the Review-Journal reported that after President Obama referred to corporate travel to Las Vegas in one of his speeches, "Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he contacted Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel about the remarks. 'He made it clear to me that the president's criticism was aimed at the potential use of taxpayer funds for junkets and in no way reflects his thoughts about any one particular city,' Reid said. 'In fact, (Obama) just accepted my invitation to visit again this spring, for the first time as our president.'" [Review-Journal, 2/12/09]

Reid Further Described His Conversation With The White House Chief Of Staff; Said, "He Made It Clear To Me That The President's Criticism Was Aimed At The Potential Use Of Taxpayer Funds For Junkets, And In No Way Reflects His Thoughts About Any One Particular City." In a February 2009 speech on the floor of the Senate, Reid said, "At his prime-time press conference Monday night, President Obama made a compelling case for passing his economic recovery plan. During the question and answer period, the President made remarks concerning trips to Las Vegas by financial services companies and their employees. I have spoken with President Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, about the President's remarks. He made it clear to me that the President's criticism was aimed at the potential use of taxpayer funds for junkets, and in no way reflects his thoughts about any one particular city." [Reid Press Release, 2/11/09]

Reid Announced President Obama Would Be Coming To Nevada Within 48 Hours Of His Comments In Indiana. In May 2009, the Sun reported, "On a Wednesday in early February, Majority Leader Harry Reid stepped onto the Senate floor to announce that President Barack Obama had just accepted his invitation to return to Las Vegas. The timing for such a rock-star get was superb. Days earlier Obama made the unscripted remark that companies receiving bailout money shouldn't go to Las Vegas on the taxpayers' dime, whipping city boosters into all shades of outrage. Apologies were demanded. Deep concerns were raised over lost tourist dollars. Reid, as the top-ranking member of his state's delegation in Washington, would need to say something. Within 48 hours, Reid stepped into the fray with the calming promise that Obama would be visiting Nevada, paying his respect if you will, to a state that helped elect him by a wider margin than any Democrat since FDR." [Las Vegas Sun, 5/27/09]

Steve Sebelius: Reid "Defended The City, By Extracting A Statement From The President That The Government Wouldn't Discriminate When It Comes To Federal Conferences." In February 2010, Las Vegas City Life Editor Steve Sebelius said, "Last time Obama popped off on Las Vegas, saying companies that took bailout money shouldn't spend it on junkets here, Reid also defended the city, by extracting a statement from the president that the government wouldn't discriminate when it comes to federal conferences. And Obama even showed up, extolling the virtues of a Vegas vacation on an official presidential visit." [Slash Politics, 2/2/10]

AFTER PRESIDENT OBAMA SINGLED OUT LAS VEGAS A SECOND TIME, REID IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED, DEFENDING LAS VEGAS AND ELICITING A PERSONAL CLARIFICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF

Reid To President Obama: "Lay Off Las Vegas." In a statement released shortly after President Obama's comments in New Hampshire, Reid said, "I just spoke to the White House and told them that while the President is correct that people saving for college need to be fiscally responsible, the President needs to lay off Las Vegas and stop making it the poster child for where people shouldn't be spending their money. Nevada is the nation's top destination for tourism and conventions. It is more popular than any other place in the country, and for good reason: it's affordable, easy to get to from anywhere and the weather is perfect. To truly reenergize our economy, we need people to travel to Las Vegas. I would much rather tourists and business travelers spend their money in Las Vegas than spend it overseas." [Reid Release, 2/2/10]

Sun: "In Response To Criticism This Afternoon, Obama Wrote A Letter To Sen. Harry Reid Saying 'There's No Better Place To Have Fun Than Vegas.'" In February 2010, the Sun reported, "In response to criticism this afternoon, Obama wrote a letter to Sen. Harry Reid saying 'there's no better place to have fun than Vegas.' In his letter, which was addressed to 'Harry,' he wrote: 'I hope you know that during my Town Hall today, I wasn't saying anything negative about Las Vegas. I was making the simple point that families use vacation dollars, not college tuition money, to have fun … There is no place better to have fun than Vegas, one of our country's great destinations. I have always enjoyed my visits, look forward to visiting in a few weeks, and hope folks will visit in record numbers this year.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 2/2/10]

Las Vegas Chamber Of Commerce: "It Sounds Like The President Clarified His Remark And He's Excited And Supportive Of Las Vegas." In February 2010, Steve Freiss reported, "Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Cara Roberts said the chamber appreciated Obama's response to Reid. 'It sounds like the president clarified his remark and he's excited and supportive of Las Vegas,' Roberts said. 'We want the president to realize there are thousands of men and women whose livelihoods depend on us having a strong hospitality industry. We're in a particularly vulnerable time and we need to do everything we can to bolster that industry and support our economy and jobs in southern Nevada.'" [AOL News, Steve Friess Article, 2/2/10]

PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS NO ANIMUS TOWARDS LAS VEGAS OR THE GAMING OR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES; HE CAME TO NEVADA 20 TIMES DURING THE CAMPAIGN, VISITED LAS VEGAS AT SENATOR REID'S REQUEST LAST YEAR

Reid: "President Obama Has Been To Nevada Twenty Times" And Had "Just Accepted My Invitation To Visit Again." In a February 2009 speech on the Senate floor, Reid said, "President Obama has been to Nevada twenty times. In fact, he just accepted my invitation to visit again this spring, for the first time as our president. The President knows that Las Vegas is America's premiere destination to do business. The city has more than 140,000 hotel rooms and tens of thousands of feet of meeting space. As all Americans spend less as a result of our economic crisis, it is important to know that Las Vegas, with an average hotel daily rate of $119, is one of America's most affordable cities to visit. That is one reason why nearly 6 million people came to Las Vegas to attend more than 20,000 meetings and conventions last year. President Obama and I agree that every penny of taxpayer funds must be protected. We also agree that Las Vegas is one of America's great destinations for tourists, families and businesses." [Reid Press Release, 2/11/09]

President Obama Praised Las Vegas When He Came Here Last Year. In his May 2009 remarks in Las Vegas, President Obama said, "It is good to be back in Vegas … I was telling people, I am back in Caesar's … That was the hotel where we stayed at when we were campaigning here in Nevada. I thought I had a pretty nice room … But now that I'm president, they upgraded me. I got the upgrade. And it's a really nice room now. Man." [Chicago Tribune, The Swamp, 5/27/09]

President Obama Re-Iterated His Praise For Las Vegas The Next Day At Nellis Air Force Base. During A May 2009 visit to Nellis Air Force Base, President Obama said, "You know, it's always a pleasure to get out of Washington a little bit. Washington is okay, but it's nice taking some time to talk to Americans of every walk of life outside of the nation's capital. And there's nothing like a quick trip to Vegas in the middle of the week. Like millions of other Americans, we come to this beautiful city for the sights and for the sounds -- and today we come for the sun." [Obama Remarks, 5/27/09]

Sun Editor Brian Greenspun: "Welcome To Las Vegas, Mr. President." In a May 2009 column, Las Vegas Sun Editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "President Barack Obama will do today what millions and millions of Americans and others do every year. In that regard, the president of the United States will be just like the 40-plus million people who will, for business or pleasure, find their way to our city in 2009 … President Obama is coming here for business. He will join Nevada's senior U.S. senator, Harry Reid, as they conduct the business of politics in this country." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 5/26/09]

Sun Editor Brian Greenspun: Obama's Visit "Puts To Rest Any Concern He Or Others Might Have About Spending Money On Business Trips To Our City." In a May 2009 column, Las Vegas Sun Editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "I think the very fact that President Obama is in Las Vegas — courtesy of taxpayer dollars — puts to rest any concern he or others might have about spending money on business trips to our city. If it is good enough for the president, then it is good enough for everyone else. He is teaching by example that Las Vegas is in play and OK for anyone and everyone to visit." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 5/26/09]

President Obama Met With Hospitality Industry Executives To Hear Their Concerns; Industry Executive Said "It Was The first Time … That Any President Has Sat Down With Our Industry In Any Meaningful Way." In July 2009, the New York Times Magazine reported that during a staff meeting with the president, top advisor Valerie Jarrett "that her staff had arranged for a dozen hospitality-industry chief executives to gather in the Roosevelt Room that morning with Obama's economic adviser Lawrence Summers. Jarrett had just learned that Summers might miss the meeting. Why not seize the moment, she urged Obama: 'Let them hear from the president directly.' A few minutes later, Jarrett left the Oval Office, walked down the hall to the Roosevelt Room and greeted the travel executives. She had barely finished telling them, 'The president really cares about this,' when the door flew open, and Obama strolled in. He shook everyone's hand and then, to their astonished delight, took a seat. For the next half-hour, he listened closely and asked pointed questions. 'It was the first time,' one amazed participant would later say, 'that any president has sat down with our industry in any meaningful way.'" [New York Times Magazine, 7/21/09]

EARLIER THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT OBAMA RETURNED TO LAS VEGAS, WHERE HE ADDRESSED HIS COMMENTS AND HEAPED PRAISE ON THE CITY

Review-Journal: President Obama "Went Out Of His Way To Praise" Las Vegas In His Most Recent Visit. In February 2010, the Review-Journal reported that at the beginning of his town hall in Henderson, "The president thanked the current school band for marching in his inaugural parade and playing 'Viva Las Vegas.' It was his first laudatory mention of Las Vegas but not his last as he went out of his way to praise the town after twice this past year singling out the city as a place not to spend money in tough times. When a dentist, Ben Burris of Jonesboro, Ark., asked him about health care coverage, Obama said, 'What are you doing all the way here in Vegas?' 'Everybody comes to Vegas,' Burris said, drawing laughter. 'That's what I'm talking about. There you go. Everybody comes to Vegas,' Obama said to a burst of applause. 'Yes. Now, here's my only question, Ben. Have you spent some money here in Vegas?' 'Oh, yes sir,' the man replied. 'He says, "yes sir." He's spending some money here in Vegas. All right. That's good.'" [Review-Journal, 2/19/10]

Review-Journal: "The President Saved His Most Lavish Praise For His Speech To Business Leaders." In February 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "The president saved his most lavish Las Vegas praise for his speech to business leaders with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and several other local chambers and their guests. 'Let me set the record straight: I love Vegas,' Obama said near the top of his 30-minute talk. 'There you go. Always have. Love Vegas. Enjoy myself every time I've gotten an opportunity to visit.'" [Review-Journal, 2/19/10]

Review-Journal: "Obama Said He Never Intended To Put Down Las Vegas Or Hurt Its Tourist And Convention Trade." In February 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "Obama said he never intended to put down Las Vegas or hurt its tourist and convention trade. 'It wasn't meant to be a shot,' he said of his college savings remark. 'I think everybody here would agree that the only place people should spend their college savings is in college.'" [Review-Journal, 2/19/10]

LVCVA Chair: President Obama "Made It Eminently Clear That He Is Very Supporting Of Las Vegas." In February 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "The businesspeople who attended Obama's speech mostly gave him high marks. The crowd interrupted with applause several times, cheering when he discussed a potential travel-promotion bill and the $100 million in federal mortgage aid. 'He made it eminently clear that he is very supportive of Las Vegas. He loves Las Vegas,' said Kristin McMillan, chairwoman of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce's board of trustees and vice president of external relations for the Western region of CenturyLink. 'That's a very positive message for our community and one we needed to hear.'" [Review-Journal, 2/19/10]

Mayor Goodman: "I Woke Up This Morning With A Smile On My Face And I Liked What I Saw." After the president's mist recent visit to Las Vegas, The Las Vegas Sun reported, "Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Friday he thinks President Obama's positive statements today about Las Vegas indicate the president has learned not to put the city in a negative light in the future … 'I felt like the Lone Ranger on many occasions out there the last two or three days, but I woke up this morning with a smile on my face and I liked what I saw,' Goodman told reporters during a late afternoon news conference outside the Grant Sawyer State Office Building." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/19/10]

Mayor Goodman: "Apparently he was very congratulatory about Las Vegas, said a lot of good things about Las Vegas -- as rightfully he should, because Las Vegas is the greatest city in the world … I'm glad that he publicly recognizes it." [Review-Journal, 2/19/10]

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S COMMENTS ABOUT LAS VEGAS HAVE NOT BEEN AS DAMAGING AS THOSE WHO WANT TO POLITICIZE IT CLAIM

Jon Ralston: "Obama's Comments Did Only Marginal Damage." In a July 2009 column, Jon Ralston wrote, "Obama's comments did only marginal damage — and whatever effect they would have had is impossible to determine after Goodman started responding to every national TV program that wanted to see him fulminate, especially those who despise the president and were happy to use His Honor as a pawn. And when Jim Gibbons suddenly realized there was another issue on the planet besides 'no new taxes' that might excite his base … And now he is making up numbers — sort of like his budget last session — and claiming, without any evidence, that Obama's remarks alone have cost the state $100 million and 400 conventions." [Las Vegas Sun, Jon Ralston Column, 7/31/09]

Jon Ralston Criticized Politicians Trying To Make To Much Hay Our Of "A Perfectly Reasonable Statement." In a July 2009 column, Jon Ralston wrote, "Nearly six months after President Barack Obama made a perfectly reasonable statement in the middle of nowhere about potential misuse of bailout money, Nevada elected officials of both parties continue to overreact and generally make fools of themselves … Our blustering mayor, ever eager to put his own interests over the city's, has been matched only by our blustering Man Formerly Known as Governor, who saw an opportunity to get the Obama-haters riled up." [Las Vegas Sun, Jon Ralston Column, 7/31/09]

Jon Ralston: "Does Anyone Actually Believe — I Mean Really Believe — That Obama Meant To Single Out Las Vegas Because He Wanted To Hurt The City Or Somehow Doesn't Like It Here Because Of Its Reputation For Sin And Debauchery." In a July 2009 column, Jon Ralston wrote, "In February, in Elkhart, Ind., at a town-hall meeting defending his stimulus plan, Obama said 'you can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers' dime.' That is, companies shouldn't take bailout money and then use it to pay for travel. How controversial. How incendiary. What was he thinking? I still hear intelligent people say, 'But he didn't have to single out Las Vegas.' But that was a compliment to the Convention and Visitors Authority's ability to make the city the most recognizable tourist destination in the world. Does anyone actually believe — I mean really believe — that Obama meant to single out Las Vegas because he wanted to hurt the city or somehow doesn't like it here because of its reputation for sin and debauchery, a kind of C Street West? Please." [Las Vegas Sun, Jon Ralston Column, 7/31/09]

The Economist: "The president's comments are unlikely to impinge to heavily on the city's business. As Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader and a Nevada senator, put it, 'The President knows that Las Vegas is America's premiere destination to do business. The city has more than 140,000 hotel rooms and tens of thousands of feet of meeting space.' Yes, Las Vegas's convention business will suffer during the recession—but that won't be Mr Obama's fault." [The Economist, Business Traveler Blog, 2/13/09]

American Gaming Association CEO: "I Think It Was Over-Interpreted." In November 2009, the Gazette-Journal reported, "The remark was taken too seriously, Fahrenkopf said. 'I think it was over-interpreted and I don't think the President meant to say, "Hey, don't go to the state of Nevada and don't go to the state of Florida,"' Fahrenkopf said. 'It was more, Hey be alert. If you are using the taxpayers money, be discreet in how you spend it. And that is really what he meant.'" [Gazette-Journal, 11/15/09]

LVCVA Public Relations Manager: President Obama's Comments Can Not "Directly Be Tied To Turning The Industry. In November 2009, the Gazette-Journal reported, "'I would not say that the President's comments can directly be tied to turning the industry but it was certainly something that did not help with the recovery from the economy,' said Jeremy Handell, public relations manager-business for the LVCVA. Eadington sees another issue. 'It is not just the Obama comment,' Eadington said. 'The era of being ostentatious is no longer politically correct. Look at Hummer sales. Look at sales of Gucci purses and other luxury items that are all for demonstration purposes. They are down pretty substantially. Part of that is when you have a real tough economy, flaunting one's wealth and affluence is just not as popular as it used to be.' Eadington wonders if spending in Las Vegas will ever return to its pre-recession levels. 'The important question is what happens when the economy recovers?' Eadington said. 'Do we go back to the ostentatiousness that used to dominate, especially at the Las Vegas Strip, or do we not? It is a critical question.'" [Gazette-Journal, 11/15/09]

Sun Editor Brian Greenspun: President Obama's Comments Were "Blown Out Of Proportion By Publicity-Seeking Elected Officials And Others In Our City." In a May 2009 column, Las Vegas Sun Editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "Back to the business at hand and the elephant that will be in the room the moment the president hits the ground. Someone is going to ask him about his comment — blown out of proportion by publicity-seeking elected officials and others in our city — about spending taxpayer dollars for business trips to Las Vegas." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 5/26/09]

Greenspun: Gibbons' Latest Attempt To Re-Hash The Debate Over President Obama's Comments Is A "Childish Attempt To Embarrass The President Of The United States, And Along With Him ... Harry Reid." In a January 2010 column, Las Vegas Sun Editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "What's got me going now is Gov. Jim Gibbons' childish attempt to embarrass the president of the United States and, along with him, Nevada's senior U.S. senator, Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader. Gibbons is trying to be cute, once again, playing to Nevada's home crowd by asking Reid to get the president to apologize, genuflect or otherwise bend a knee for Barack Obama's misguided remarks a year ago about using bailout money to travel to Las Vegas." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 1/19/10]

Greenspun: "The Comments Had An Impact, But We Are Way Past That Time." In a January 2010 column, Las Vegas Sun Editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "The governor, I assume, still thinks he can get a significant number of voters to believe the economic meltdown and resulting loss of jobs — Nevada is one of the worst-hit states because we rely on disposable income, and nobody has any — were Obama's fault. As if the economic tsunami wasn't hitting our shores at the same time the president was being sworn into office. The comments had an impact, but we are way past that time. Gibbons would be better off providing assistance to Reid to get money to Nevada rather than thwarting that effort at every step just for some fleeting political gain. The people in this state are hurting, and political points don't help them pay the rent." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 1/19/10]

PRESIDENT BUSH, NOT PRESIDENT OBAMA, INSTITUTED POLICIES THAT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST CITIES LIKE LAS VEGAS AND RENO

Administration Policies That Discriminated Against Las Vegas And Reno Started Under President Bush. In July 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "The travel policies went into effect between 2006 and 2008, after officials in the Bush administration determined that leisure-oriented markets weren't appropriate sites for federal meetings. Summers said the travel policies have become an issue only in recent weeks because the rules were just discovered." [Review-Journal, 7/28/09]

Reid: Don't Blame President Obama For Las Vegas Blacklist; Policy Started Under The Bush Administration. In July 2009, KVVU reported, "On Thursday, Sen. Harry Reid said don't blame the Obama administration for the government travel restrictions to resort destinations like Las Vegas. Reid said the policy came from the Bush administration. Holding nearly 50 pages of e-mails and memos, Reid explained. 'I have here two memos both from the Bush White House, the Bush Justice Department saying, "Don't bring people to Reno or Las Vegas and Atlantic City,"' Reid said. Those memos, dated April 2006 and April 2008, state that certain destinations like Las Vegas need to be approved as conference destinations." [KVVU, 7/23/09]

Reid: "President Obama has reversed the policy." [KVVU, 7/23/09]

Reid: "President Obama has gotten a lot of blame for nothing. I have here two memos, both from the Bush White House, the Bush Justice Department, saying don't bring people to Reno or Las Vegas." [KTVN, 7/23/09]

Gazette-Journal: "Reid's office discovered at least two department Of Justice policies that specifically mentioned Reno and Lake Tahoe as gambling and tourist locations to avoid, both written during the Bush Administration." [Gazette-Journal, 7/23/09]

Reid: "The restrictions initiated by the Bush Administration are damaging to places like Las Vegas and Reno and I applaud President Obama's decision to reverse this policy." [Review-Journal, 7/24/09]

REID WORKED WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS TO END BUSH-ERA POLICIES THAT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CITIES LIKE LAS VEGAS AND RENO

LVCVA Vice President "Said Reid's Efforts Will Help Bring Clarity To Federal Directives Regarding Travel To Leisure Destinations." In September 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Vince Alberta, vice president of public affairs at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said Reid's efforts will help bring clarity to federal directives regarding travel to leisure destinations. 'There is no destination that provides the value and experience of Las Vegas,' Alberta said. 'As we host more than 20,000 meetings and conventions annually, it is well-understood that Las Vegas is a place where serious business can take place.'" [Review-Journal, 9/15/09]

When Nevada Businesses Saw A Decline In Government Business, Reid Acted. In July 2009, the Gazette-Journal reported, "At the urging of Nevada businesses who noticed a spike in government agencies either canceling or refusing to book in Nevada, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote a letter last month to Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, asking for him to rescind the government's 'informal policy' for discouraging travel to Nevada. Emanuel responded with a letter saying he agreed that 'federal policy should not dictate the location where such government events are held.' It noted that with tough economic times, government agencies should base that decision on whether the 'cost to the government is reasonable.'" [Gazette-Journal, 7/23/09]

Reid Acted After Learning Of Cancellations By Numerous Government Agencies. In July 2009, the Associated Press reported, "Reid inquired about the issue last month, claiming agencies including the FBI, General Services Agency and Bureau of Indian Affairs had canceled Las Vegas meetings. He received a letter from Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, that says value, not location, should be the basis for booking a trip." [Review-Journal, 7/24/09]

Reid: "We had reports of people wanting to come to Nevada to do a conference or convention cheap --all the facilities, all the amenities are there -- but they were afraid someone in the administration would criticize them, and they would go places that are four or five times more expensive." [KVVU, 7/30/09]

White House Chief Of Staff Confirmed That Cost, Not The "Reputation" Of The Destination, Should Determine Where Administration Officials Travel. In July 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Reid recently received a letter from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel noting the Obama administration's view that travel decisions should revolve around cost-benefit analysis rather than a location's reputation. So Reid seized on Emanuel's letter, sending missives to all Cabinet secretaries and the heads of all federal agencies asking them to make sure their rules don't prohibit travel to any cities." [Review-Journal, 7/28/09]

Emmanuel: "The Test Of Government Travel Is What Will Be Accomplished By That Travel And Whether The Cost To The Government Is Reasonable." In July 2009, the Los Angeles Times' "Top of the Ticket" blog reported, "The federal government has no business forbidding government meetings and conferences from taking place in communities 'known for attracting vacationers,' Emanuel wrote. 'For me, the test of government travel is what will be accomplished by that travel and whether the cost to the government is reasonable as opposed to other options.'" [Los Angeles Times, Top Of The Ticket, 7/17/09]

Reid Called On Cabinet Officials To Rescind Bush-Era Policies That Discriminated Against Cities Like Las Vegas And Reno. In July 2009, the Sun reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today asked cabinet secretaries and the heads of every federal agency to reject or reverse any agency policy that discriminates against official government travel to Las Vegas and Reno. Reid's letter is the latest missive in the state's ongoing campaign to mend Nevada's bruised image as a place too glitzy for government travel on the taxpayer dime. Last week it came to light that certain federal agencies were recommending against travel to tourist-like destinations for official business. Nevada Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons likened the policy to a 'blacklist.' But Reid unveiled last week that such policies had been in place since the Bush administration." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/27/09]

Reid: "While I am proud of the allure Las Vegas and Reno possess for vacationers, organizations of all sizes and purposes have chosen our state as a destination for their official meetings because it offers them value and convenience … These are the factors that should drive decisions on travel by the federal government." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/27/09]

Reid: "I have personally written letters to those in charge of the agencies and I have heard back from the officers in charge of a dozen of the agencies saying they have no restrictions against any cities in the country." [KTVN, 9/15/09]

Review-Journal: "Reid Fights 'Destination Discrimination.'" In July 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Early Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., sent letters to Cabinet secretaries and heads of every federal agency to request that they reject travel regulations discriminating against specific cities such as Las Vegas and Reno … The flap was renewed last week, when The Wall Street Journal reported that employees at federal agencies such as the Department of Agriculture were 'being encouraged' to conduct meetings in staid destinations such as St. Louis, Milwaukee and Denver. The newspaper reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation spurned a New York-New York conference planner who tried to book an agency meeting. The FBI's parent Cabinet, the Department of Justice, had decided conferences couldn't happen in vacation destinations with spas, resorts and gambling. Gina Talamona, a spokeswoman for the Department of Justice, told the Review-Journal on Monday afternoon that the agency does not have a policy that prohibits travel to Las Vegas. Reid's objective with his letter was to make sure no other agencies ban travel to Southern Nevada, either." [Review-Journal, 7/28/09]

NUMEROUS ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS HAVE RESPONDED TO REID AND CONFIRMED THAT THEY WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST NEVADA CITIES

Review-Journal: "Reid Gets Guarantees Agencies Won't Discriminate Against Las Vegas For Business Travel." In September 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Like a teenybopper collecting letters from pen pals, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has compiled quite a stash of missives. But these letters (thankfully) don't detail classroom crushes or track gossip about the latest teen hearthrob named Cody or Brandon or whatever. Rather, they provide assurance that federal agencies won't officially discriminate against Sin City when they're laying plans for business travel. Gaining such guarantees is a mission Reid's been on since July, after a Wall Street Journal article claimed that federal employees were 'being encouraged' to conduct meetings in buttoned-down cities such as St. Louis, Milwaukee and Denver. The newspaper reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation spurned a New York-New York conference planner who tried to book an agency meeting. The bureau's parent, the Department of Justice, had decided conferences couldn't happen in vacation destinations with spas, resorts and gambling. After the article ran, Reid sent letters to Cabinet secretaries and heads of every federal agency to request that they reject travel policies discriminating against specific cities." [Review-Journal, 9/15/09]

Reid Received Confirmation From 12 Agencies That They Wouldn't Discriminate Against Las Vegas Or Reno. In September 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Reid on Monday released letters from officials at 12 federal bureaus. The statements all provided variations on the same theme: Our department doesn't maintain any rule classifying Las Vegas or Reno as inappropriate meeting destinations. The Federal Reserve, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Federal Trade Commission -- all said they don't discriminate against Nevada. The Department of Justice told Reid that neither it nor its law-enforcement agencies prohibit official travel to any location. Sheila Bair, chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., said her agency doesn't discriminate against Las Vegas mostly because its employees don't travel much. The federally sponsored corporation has a large conference facility in suburban Washington, D.C., that houses most of its meetings. Steven Walther, chairman of the Federal Election Commission, said his bureau doesn't intentionally avoid Las Vegas, either … A letter from Eric Shinseki, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, noted that Shinseki spent July 21 in Las Vegas as a keynote speaker at the Annual Champions of Veterans Enterprise awards ceremony. Veterans Affairs held the ceremony in conjunction with the National Veterans Small Business Conference and Expo." [Review-Journal, 9/15/09]

Sun: "VA Secretary Says Agency Has No Vegas Travel Restrictions." In August 2009, the Sun reported, "The Veterans' Administration Secretary has no qualms about traveling to Las Vegas for business. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that his department has no restrictions on business travel to Vegas – in fact, the secretary was just in town last month to speak at a veterans' event. The secretary's letter released today comes after Reid wrote to every cabinet secretary requesting that they not discriminate against Nevada when planning business travel … Shinseki wrote that the department's current policies 'require that employees, who travel or sponsor VA-sponsored conferences for the purposes of work, exercise the same care in incurring expenses that a prudent person would if traveling on personal business.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 8/25/09]

Reid: "I am pleased that these federal agencies understand the importance of this issue and have replied so quickly … I'm encouraged that these agencies have made it clear that their policies are in line with the administration's -- that there is no restriction on travel to places like Las Vegas and Reno." [Review-Journal, 9/15/09]

REID HAS GONE A STEP FURTHER, INTRODUCING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LAS VEGAS OR RENO SIMPLY THEY ARE POPULAR TOURISM DESTINATIONS

Reid Introduced Legislation To Bar Discrimination Of Resort Cities. In July 2009, the Gazette-Journal's Inside Nevada Politics reported, "U.S. Sen. Harry Reid said today he'll introduce legislation to prohibit the federal government from making policies that ban or discourage travel to resort-type cities like Reno and Las Vegas. Dubbing it the 'Protecting Resort Cities from Discrimination Act of 2009,' the legislation seeks to end the practice by many agencies of discouraging travel to resort or gambling locales in favor of cities like Chicago and Portland." [Reno Gazette-Journal, Inside Nevada Politics, 7/29/09]

KVVU: "Reid Introduces Bill To End Travel 'Blacklist.'" In July 2009 KVVU reported, "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has introduced a bill to prevent federal agencies from ruling out tourist destinations, like Las Vegas, as places to hold official meetings. The Democrat from Nevada introduced the bill on Wednesday, called the Protecting Resort Cities from Discrimination Act of 2009 … Earlier this week, Reid told cabinet secretaries and the heads of all federal agencies to get in line with White House views articulated in an earlier letter to Reid from Rahm Emanuel, President Barack Obama's chief of staff." [KVVU, 7/29/09]

Review-Journal: "Boxer-Turned-Senator Dukes It Out Over Policies Discouraging Travel To Resort Cities." In July 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "A bill by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., would make it against the law for government bureaucrats to implement travel policies that prohibit official travel to specific destinations 'perceived to be a resort or vacation destination' … the bill does show Reid and other politicians are taking debate over federal travel decisions to a new level by putting it in front of Congress. Reid's bill, called the Protecting Resort Cities from Discrimination Act of 2009, is a response to reports of bureaucrats in myriad federal offices banning travel to resort destinations in favor of more staid locations." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/30/09]

Reid: "If it makes the most sense economically and logistically to hold a meeting in Las Vegas or Reno, then that's where it should be held … Paying more money to hold a meeting in another city for appearances sake is unfair to all U.S. taxpayers and a waste of their money." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/30/09]

REID JUST PASSED JOB-CREATING LEGISLATION TO BUILD A NATIONAL TOURISM PROMOTION AGENCY MODELED AFTER THE LVCVA

Reid Passed The Travel Promotion Act. In March 2010, the Sun reported, "President Barack Obama today signed a long-pushed bill to establish a national tourism promotion agency that would market the United States to visitors from abroad. Obama said there is no better country to visit than the United States as he signed the bill in the Oval Office, flanked by lawmakers from Nevada and other tourism states … Obama thanked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by name for ushering the bill to passage." Fox 5 called the bill "a landmark law that aims to boost U.S. tourism using the same strategies of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/4/10; KVVU, 3/4/10]

Travel Promotion Act Could Create As Many As 6,000 Nevada Jobs. In February 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "Congress is just weeks away from passing a tourism bill that state and tourism leaders say will create thousands of jobs for Nevada … Rossi Ralenkotter, president and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said the city's visitor volume is 15 percent international, and those global visitors keep about 30,000 Southern Nevadans employed. Boosting Las Vegas' international market share to 20 percent over five years would equate to roughly 5,000 to 6,000 new jobs, he said. Nationally, the bill would create 40,000 jobs in the first year, the U.S. Travel Association said. 'It is truly a jobs bill across the board,' Ralenkotter said." [Review-Journal, 2/24/10]

Durbin: Reid "Found A Way To Rescue This Bill, Bring It Back To Life." In September 2009, the Associated Press reported, "In backing the legislation, Democrats were also looking to give Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a boost as he seeks a fifth-term representing the state of Nevada. In June, supporters could not generate the 60 votes needed to have an up-and-down vote on the legislation. 'He found a way to rescue this bill, bring it back to life,' said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill." [Associated Press, 9/9/09]

National Restaurant Association: "The restaurant industry commends the Senate for passing this important legislation … Restaurateurs are especially grateful to the bipartisan leaders who achieved passage of this critical initiative, including Sens. Harry Reid, Richard Durbin, and John Ensign. We urge leaders in the House of Representatives to move quickly to pass the legislation so the U.S. hospitality industry will have the same strong support provided by other leading nations." [National Restaurant Association, Press Release, 9/10/09]

REID HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FORCEFUL ADVOCATE FOR NEVADA'S TOURISM AND GAMING INDUSTRIES

Las Vegas Business Press: "Reid Persistent On Travel Woes." In a September 2009 editorial, Las Vegas Business Press wrote, "Give Harry Reid, the senior senator from Nevada, credit for persistence. Reid, D-Nev., has tackled the travel issue with the tenacity of a frothing, steel-jawed bulldog. And he appears to have made his point." [Las Vegas Business Press, Editorial, 9/7/09]

Las Vegas Business Press: "Reid Took Up The Cause" Of Standing Up For Travel To Las Vegas. In a September 2009 editorial, Las Vegas Business Press wrote, "The issue flared anew in June when Reid wrote Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel that he had heard federal agencies leading toward 'safe' destinations like Cleveland or Milwaukee versus more glamorous destinations such as Lake Vegas or Orlando, Fla. Emanuel responded with a letter and Reid declared the issue over once again. But after that letter, a Wall Street Journal story detailed travel-related memos again either suggesting or hinting that Las Vegas was verboten. Once again, Reid took up the cause. This time, he responded with a bill that would make it against the law for the government to implement travel policies that prohibit official travel to specific destinations (read: Las Vegas) 'perceived to be a resort or vacation destination.' The measure is officially called the Protecting Resort Cities from Discrimination Act of 2009." [Las Vegas Business Press, Editorial, 9/7/09]

Las Vegas Business Press: "Reid Has Clearly Been The Point Man" On Travel. In a September 2009 editorial, Las Vegas Business Press wrote, "Reid isn't the only one to glam onto this issue. Politicians from Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman to U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., issued statements or wrote to federal officials regarding the travel rules. But Reid clearly has been the point man. And considering the importance of the convention trade business to Las Vegas and Nevada, it's a good thing that the senior senator has shown leadership on this issue." [Las Vegas Business Press, Editorial, 9/7/09]

Reid On His Advocacy For Nevada Gaming Despite The LDS Church's Opposition To Gambling; "I Do Everything I Can To Protect Nevada's No. 1 Industry." In June 2001, the Salt Lake Tribune reported, "Fine Line: 'Gambling is a personal choice,' Reid answered when asked by The Tribune in 1998 if a devout Mormon could promote gambling in Nevada with a clear conscience. 'I do everything I can to protect Nevada's No. 1 industry but I have no obligation to protect gaming in other places.'" [Salt Lake Tribune, 6/9/01]

American Gaming Association Head "Is A Longtime Friend Of Reid;" Says "Reid has been A Reliable Ally" To The Industry. In February 2005, Congressional Quarterly reported, "Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr. is the only president and chief executive officer that the American Gaming Association has had and is a longtime friend of Reid. He headed the Nevada GOP when Reid was a state legislator. The point man for the casino industry in Washington for the past decade, Fahrenkopf said Reid has been a reliable ally of gambling enterprises that are vital to his state's economy. After chairing the Republican National Committee during most of Ronald Reagan's presidency, Fahrenkopf was the top trade lobbyist at Hogan and Hartson for six years before taking over the Gaming Association a decade ago. " [Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 2/12/05]

Gaming Industry Head Listed Reid Among Members Of The New Industry-Friendly Leadership. In April 2007, Gannett News reported that American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf, Jr. "expects casinos will do even better this year because of a new cast of leaders in Congress who understand the industry. They include Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat who has been a strong casino advocate." [Gannett News Service, 4/2/07]

REID HAS WORKED WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS TO HELP STOP A HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT DRILL THAT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT TOURISM IN LAS VEGAS

Reid Called On Obama Administration To Halt Disaster Drill In Clark County. In November 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "No nukes, real or otherwise, would be great news to Sen. Harry Reid and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Reid and the LVCVA are both urging the Department of Homeland Security to ditch plans to stage a mock nuclear explosion in Clark County in May. On Thursday, the Senate majority leader objected to the exercise in a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. 'I am deeply sympathetic to the need of our first responders to conduct preparedness training, and I look forward to revisiting this issue when Nevada's economy has improved,' Reid wrote. 'However, at this time, economic recovery efforts would be stymied, or reversed entirely, by artificially creating anxiety surrounding tourism and investment in Las Vegas.'" [Review-Journal, 11/20/09]

REID WORKED TO BRING ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS TO RENO – AND TO KEEP THE AIRLINES FLYING TO RENO – AND IS WORKING TO STOP US AIRWAYS FROM REDUCING THEIR FLIGHTS INTO LAS VEGAS

Reid Called On US Airways To Reconsider A Reduction In Their Flights To Las Vegas. In January 2010, the Associated Press reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is calling on U.S. Airways to reconsider flight cuts to Las Vegas. He describes the cutbacks as shortsighted. The flight cuts could lead to a loss of 400 jobs. Reid says that would have a detrimental impact on a region already suffering from high unemployment. In a letter Thursday to the company's chairman and CEO, Doug Parker, Reid said passenger volume has started to increase again at McCarran International Airport, and as passenger traffic returns, the company will be well-positioned to benefit. The Nevada senator is calling for Parker to delay service cuts until he is briefed on alternatives available to the airline." [Associated Press, 1/11/10]

Reid Helped Push Airlines To Being More Flights To Reno. In November 2007, the Gazette-Journal reported, "Top executives at Reno-Tahoe International Airport said they are negotiating to bring nonstop flights into Reno from New York and Washington, D.C … The airport also is in negotiations to boost its daily flights to Atlanta and to bring in international flights from Canada and Mexico, said Krys T. Bart, executive director and CEO … Nevada's congressional delegation, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, also has helped in negotiations, Bart said. 'No matter what he does on behalf of his (Democratic) party, Harry Reid takes care of Nevada, and that is in every aspect,' Bart said. 'They (congressional delegation) have helped by making calls to the airlines. We have asked them, for instance, if they would make a call to say, (CEO) David Neeleman at JetBlue, and they do.'" [Gazette-Journal, 11/23/07]

Gazette-Journal: Reid And Ensign "Deserve Credit" For Convincing Airlines Not To Cancel Flights Into Reno After 9/11. In an October 2001 editorial, the Gazette-Journal reported, "It's abundantly clear that the nation's airline industry has been hard hit by the Sept. 11 attacks, with airlines across the country announcing cutbacks, layoffs and warning of an uncertain future. Despite the grim outlook, Reno/ Tahoe International Airport officials have several reasons to be optimistic, primarily this week's arrival of Frontier Airlines and the addition of its two daily flights between Reno and Denver … Add to the mix the fact that Nevada's congressional delegation is flexing its collective muscle with the airlines. Less than 24 hours after announcing it would cancel its two Reno-Chicago flights on Nov. 1, American Airlines backed off. Apparently, Nevada Sen. Harry Reid and John Ensign deserve credit for reminding the airlines of their responsibility to communities and consumers in light of the Congress' $15 billion bailout bill." [Gazette-Journal, Editorial, 10/3/01]

REID LED THE FINALLY-SUCCESSFUL FIGHT TO KILL THE YUCCA MOUNTAIN NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP, WHICH WOULD HAVE HAD A DISASTROUS IMPACT ON NEVADA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY

Sun: "Reid has spearheaded the effort to defeat the federal government's dangerous plan to dump nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain." In a May 2009 editorial, the Sun wrote, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is the most powerful official who has ever served Nevada in Washington, and he has consistently used his position to help Nevadans and improve the state. Most notably, Reid has spearheaded the effort to defeat the federal government's dangerous plan to dump nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 5/27/09]

Las Vegas Sun: "Yucca's Supporters In Nevada Despise Reid For This Role. But Its Opponents Rely On Reid's Prowess As Their Last Line Of Defense." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/09]

Sun Editor Brian Geeenspun: Reid "Has Slowed The Yucca Train Long Enough To Finally Get A President In Office Who Promises To Kill It Once And For All. In a March 2009 column, Sun editor Brian Greenspun wrote of Review-Journal publisher Sherm Frederick, "Here's the most blatant effort to hoodwink his readers. He continuously questions Reid's efforts to keep the nation's nuclear waste out of Nevada. Sherm knows full well that just one accident on Interstate 15 anywhere near the Strip or even on its way into the state, would close down Las Vegas for business in a way that would make this economic disaster we are experiencing seem like child's play. And, yet, he continually questions the necessity of having a man in Reid's position to enable Nevadans to breathe a sigh of relief one day when that monster is finally killed. The fact is that Harry Reid has only been able to do so much. But, he has done so much. By using the budgeting process to slowly strangle Yucca Mountain, he has slowed the Yucca train down long enough to finally get a president in office who promises to kill it once and for all. And now it looks as if the nuclear garbage dump is on its last legs or, at least, reeling." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 3/1/09]

Reid Secured A Promise From The Obama Administration To Eliminate Yucca Funding In 2011. In July 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he dealt a fatal blow to the funding-starved Yucca Mountain Project on Thursday, announcing that President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu have agreed to eliminate all money for pursuing a license for the nuclear waste disposal project in 2011. 'The only funding allocated for Yucca will be used to conclude the work being done at the site, bringing the ill-conceived project to its rightful end,' Reid, D-Nev., said in a statement. The agreement evolved after Reid cut $27 million from the project's 2010 license application funding in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that passed Wednesday. During a conference call with former Vice President Al Gore about next month's Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, Reid said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as well won't have money to continue its four-year review of the license application that Chu's predecessor, Samuel Bodman, submitted last year near the end of the Bush administration. 'It will be terminated. There's no money and there's no way to do it,' Reid said." [Review-Journal, 7/31/09]

Sun Editor Brian Greenspun: "Can You Imagine How Many Jobs Will Be Lost When The Tourists Refuse To Come To Las Vegas Because They Don't Want To Visit The Deadly Nuclear Waste That Used To Be In Their Own Back Yards?" In a February 2009 column, Sun editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "If you think tourism is on its backside now — as a result of a recession — can you imagine how many jobs will be lost when the tourists refuse to come to Las Vegas because they don't want to visit the deadly nuclear waste that used to be in their own back yards? With Sen. Reid poised to run that stake right through its ugly heart, here come Jim Gibbons and Sue Lowden to try to save the day for the people who would destroy our way of life." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 2/15/09]

Greenspun: "The Thought Of Trading Our Futures For A Few Dollars — Real Or Imagined — Is Offensive." In a February 2009 column, Sun editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "Why are Gov. Jim Gibbons and his champion, Nevada GOP Chairman Sue Lowden, doing all they can to breathe life into the moribund dump, thereby threatening countless thousands of Nevadans, their kids and those not yet born? For the life of me, I have no idea! … Just why Lowden has decided Republicans in this state should be on the side of the rich and powerful power companies and against Nevada's hardworking men and women who need a tourist-friendly state in which to prosper is beyond me. The thought of trading our futures for a few dollars — real or imagined — is offensive, especially when fostered by a person and a party that have always decried federal assistance of any kind." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 2/22/09]

MEANWHILE, SUE LOWDEN WANTS TO BE NEVADA'S NEXT UNITED STATES SENATOR, BUT WHAT MESSAGE DOES SHE SEND TO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WHEN SHE SAYS SHE'S AFRAID TO FLY?

Review-Journal Columnist John L. Smith: "Let's Hope Lowden Finds A Way Around Fear Of Flying." In a January 2010 column, John L. Smith wrote, "High-flying Sue Lowden cuts a formidable image in her U.S. Senate race … The bad news is, this past week at an R-J editorial board meeting Lowden stunned me when she admitted to being frightened to fly despite the extremely distant possibility of a terrorist incident on a commercial airline flight. Billions are spent on airline security in this country. In many ways, airports and airliners are more secure now than at any time in history. Although attempts at terrorism have increased, so have the security measures taken to assure passenger safety. But when the issue was broached, Lowden said, 'It's frightening right now to be on a plane. It is frightening, and I look over my shoulder myself. But this is the nature of the world we live in right now. Security is a huge issue.'" [Review-Journal, John L. Smith Column, 1/12/10]

Smith: "Did She Say The State Of Commercial Airline Safety Made Her Afraid?" In a January 2010 column, John L. Smith wrote, "Well straighten my seat back and return my tray table to its full, upright, and locked position. Did she say the state of commercial airline safety made her afraid? The logical and more politically astute answer, it seemed to me, would have been to say it's essential we continue to improve airline safety while doing our best to respect the privacy rights of passengers. Lowden didn't say that." [Review-Journal, John L. Smith Column, 1/12/10]

When Smith Asked Lowden To Clarify, She Leaned Into The Fear-Mongering: "I Don't Think It's Safe" To Fly. In a January 2010 column, John L. Smith wrote, "In an attempt to keep my jaw from hitting the floor, I asked Lowden to clarify. 'I think we need to do whatever it takes to make it safe,' she said. 'You're saying it's not safe now?' I asked. 'Well, I don't think it's safe,' Lowden said. 'There's a lot of people who are very frightened, like we were talking about, who will not get on a plane right now because they are frightened of what's going on and the possibility of people slipping through the cracks. It's frightening.'" [Review-Journal, John L. Smith Column, 1/12/10]

Smith: "There's Also A Difference Between Facts And Fear." In a January 2010 column, John L. Smith wrote, "Yes, and there's also a difference between facts and fear. Just imagine the reaction from Nevada's political right if Reid, instead of Lowden, had uttered such nonsense in front of reporters." [Review-Journal, John L. Smith Column, 1/12/10]

Smith: Obama's Comments Were "Logical," While Lowden's Professed Fear Of Flying Is "Irrational." In a January 2010 column, John L. Smith wrote, "When President Barack Obama logically said it was inappropriate for major corporations to accept billions in government bailout money and then take party junkets to Las Vegas and the Super Bowl, he was vilified for months for being anti-Las Vegas. Is Lowden saying, 'Don't fly to Las Vegas; go Greyhound instead?' … If she wants to land in the U.S. Senate, Sue Lowden will have to conquer her irrational fear of flying." [Review-Journal, John L. Smith Column, 1/12/10]

LOWDEN AND TARKANIAN WOULD ALSO WORK TO BRING NUCLEAR WASTE TO YUCCA MOUNTAIN – AND ENDANGER NOT ONLY NEVADA'S CITIES AND TOWNS, BUT ALSO ITS BIGGEST INDUSTRY

Sun: "Some members of the Republican political establishment in Nevada have long envisioned a nuclear waste facility in the desert, and several candidates hoping to unseat Reid in the fall election, including Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian, want to explore waste reprocessing ideas." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/2/10]

Sun: Lowden And Tarkanian "Have A Slightly More Tolerant View Of Nuclear Waste In Nevada." In January 2010, the Sun reported, "Reid's potential Republican challengers have a slightly more tolerant view of nuclear waste in Nevada, one that reflects the Republican establishment's belief that bringing waste to the state could generate jobs and revenue." [Las Vegas Sun, 1/30/10]

Lowden "Is Open To Accepting Nuclear Waste Into The State As Part Of A 'State-Of-The-Art-Laboratory.'" In January 2010, the Sun reported, "Candidate Sue Lowden, the former state party leader, opposes Yucca as a storage site. But she is open to accepting nuclear waste into the state as part of a 'state-of-the-art laboratory' on par with Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico or Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California to research energy alternatives. 'There is no reason we should put our heads in the sand in Nevada and be blind to such an opportunity,' Lowden's campaign spokesman Robert Uithoven said." [Las Vegas Sun, 1/30/10]

Tarkanian Is "Intrigued By The Jobs And Revenue That Could Be A Boost To Nevada." In January 2010, the Sun reported, "Candidate Danny Tarkanian, a former UNLV basketball star, opposes a Yucca repository, but 'is actively consulting with policy experts on a proposal for nuclear recycling,' campaign spokesman Jamie Fisfis said. 'Most people kind of run away from this issue,' Fisfis said. 'He's intrigued by the jobs and revenue that could be a boost to Nevada.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 1/30/10]

 

REID HAS BROUGHT HOME HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP BUILD ROADS, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND OTHER VITAL PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS ACROSS NEVADA – PROJECTS THAT CREATES JOBS AND MADE NEVADA A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY

Las Vegas Sun: "Reid Has Directed Millions Of Dollars In Federal Money To Nevada For A Variety Of Needs, Including Schools And Roads." In a May 2009 editorial, the Sun wrote, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is the most powerful official who has ever served Nevada in Washington, and he has consistently used his position to help Nevadans and improve the state ... Reid has directed millions of dollars in federal money to Nevada for a variety of needs, including schools and roads." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 5/27/09]

Reid Delivered More Than $10 Million For The Arsenic Treatment Plant In Fallon. In September 2001, Gannett News reported, "More than $ 46 million in spending for Nevada projects was tucked into a military construction bill that passed the Senate on Wednesday, including funds to remove arsenic in Fallon's water system and rebuild a military supply warehouse in Reno. The Senate included $ 6.2 million for Fallon's water treatment facility in the appropriations bill, ... The money will fund the initial construction of a treatment plant to remove arsenic from Fallon's groundwater to comply with current contamination standards." In November 2001, the Review-Journal reported, "The city of Fallon will receive more than $ 4.5 million to help build a water treatment plant designed to take arsenic out of the city's drinking water under a bill awaiting President Bush's signature. The money was added to a bill funding the Environmental Protection Agency by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., during negotiations last week." [Gannett News, 9/28/01; Review-Journal, 11/13/01]

Reid Was Instrumental In Delivering More Than $540 Million In Funding For The New Southern Nevada Veterans Hospital. In 2005, Reid helped secure $199 million in funding for the new Southern Nevada veterans hospital. In 2007, he led the Senate in passing an appropriations bill that contained $341.4 million he secured for the hospital. [Review-Journal, 9/7/07; FY 2008 Military Construction & Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill; Review-Journal, 11/19/05; FY 2006 Military Construction & Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill]

Nevada American Legion Praised Reid's Work For Veterans, Including Delivering For The New Southern Nevada VA Hospital. In April 2008, the Nevada American Legion presented Reid with the Nevada American Legion Award. According to a release, "Nevada Senator Harry Reid was presented with the Nevada American Legion Award to recognize his leadership and tireless efforts to ensure that veterans receive the care they need and deserve ... Over the past year, under the leadership of Reid, Senate Democrats passed the largest budget in the history of our country for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which included $341 million for a new Veterans Administration hospital in Southern Nevada." [American Legion Press Release, 4/2/08]

Reid Brought A $27 Million Dollar Control Tower To Reno Airport. In December 2007, the Gazette-Journal reported, "The Federal Aviation Administration recently decided to break ground within 30-60 days on the new 200-foot aircraft control tower at the Brookside Golf Course site, which closed in September 2006, Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority officials said ... The structure will replace a 70-foot tower built in 1954 ... The $27 million tower, funded through the FAA, was secured about six years ago by U.S. Sen. Harry Reid." [Gazette-Journal, 12/5/07]

Reno Airport Authority CEO Touted Airport Funding Secured By Reid, Said, "Because Of His Position, Naturally, He Has More Power, And He Uses It To Take Care Of The State Of Nevada." In August 2008, the Gazette-Journal reported, "Officials debuted an $11.7 million Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Facility on Tuesday at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, crediting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for getting $7 million for the project. 'Because of his position, naturally, he has more power, and he uses it to take care of the state of Nevada,' said Krys Bart, president and CEO of the airport authority. 'So, whenever you look at this project and the amount of federal funds, or look across the field at the (air traffic control) tower under construction - that's another $27 million (in federal funding) - those are solely because of Harry Reid Nevada earmarks' ... Reid and the other four members of Nevada's congressional delegation also have helped secure Federal Aviation Administration funding for a $60 million baggage and check-in project under construction. Federal funding also provided $2.8 million in firefighting vehicles, including a command vehicle with the latest communications and technology and a hazardous-material trailer. 'Look at the tower under construction,' Bart said. 'Look at the fire trucks. We have those because of the power we have in Congress, and we are very lucky. If we ever lose that power, we will never see that kind of money flowing through the state.'" [Gazette-Journal, 8/27/08]

Reid Delivered The Funding For A New $10 Million High School In Pyramid Lake. In September 2000, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported, "With a sense of pride, members of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe bowed their heads and listened to a drum song and a Paiute prayer at the opening Friday of the tribe's new combination middle and high school. The $10.4 million Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Junior and Senior High School in Nixon begins classes Tuesday ... Many tribal officials praised Reid's efforts to secure funding for the school. 'This school didn't come easy,' Reid said. 'It was a rocky road getting to where we are, but we deserved this school.'" [Gazette-Journal, 9/2/00]

Northern Nevada Railway Foundation President: Reid Has Been "One Of The Most Important Backers" Of The V&T Railway. In an August 2009 column, Northern Nevada Railway Foundation President Janice Ayres wrote, "In all the hubbub of announcing the long-awaited inaugural run of the V&T Railway to Carson City on Aug. 14, one of the most important backers of the whole reconstruction effort has been overlooked — Sen. Harry Reid, who secured $11 million for the project. The senator has been on board (no pun intended) since the very beginning, securing the initial funding to begin the studies, etc., plus many appropriations following that one. The senator realized early on that Nevada relies heavily on tourism and that the V&T Railway reconstructed to at least 19 miles of the original trek would be a huge draw, even internationally." [Nevada Appeal, Janice R. Ayers Column, 8/6/09]

Reid's Work Delivering For Nevadans Even Made Life A Little Easier For Sarah Palin And The TEA Party Express When They Came To Searchlight. In a March 2010 article about the upcoming TEA Party rally in Searchlight, the Review-Journal reported, "In recent years, Reid helped get federal funds to widen the highway that runs from Las Vegas and through Searchlight from two lanes to four to accommodate all the big rig traffic." Las Vegas City Life reported, "Most of Reid's contributions to the town are just as pedestrian in nature. The residents thank the senator for widening Highway 95 from two lanes to four, and for modernizing their water and wastewater system to make it more reliable." [Review-Journal, 3/22/10; Las Vegas City Life, 3/25/10]

Even The Review-Journal Admits Reid's Work Securing Federal Funds Has Improved The lives Of Nevadans. In their profile of Reid in "The First 100 Persons Who Shaped Southern Nevada," the Review-Journal wrote, "The Las Vegas Spaghetti Bowl had been giving drivers heartburn for years, until Sen. Harry Reid bathed it in a soothing sauce of $45 million in federal highway funds. Remember that big hole in the ground? Reid spent three years rounding up $98 million to build a new federal courthouse in it." [Review-Journal, The First 100 Persons Who Shaped Southern Nevada, Harry Reid]

REID HAS USED HIS CLOUT IN WASHINGTON TO HELP FOSTER AND PROTECT PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH IN NEVADA, INCLUDING SAVING CITYCENTER AND BRINGING A WIND TURBINE MANUFACTURING PLANT TO SOUTHERN NEVADA

Jim Murren, CEO, MGM Mirage: "My darkest days in my professional career were this year. And it was all about CityCenter ... That man called every CEO of every bank that I know and said 'Look, this is important for my state. Get it done.' Now we are going to open up CityCenter in December. We're going to employ over 12,000 people. They would not have jobs today if not for Senator Reid ... There's no one else that could have done that." [Reid Campaign Ad, 10/15/09]

Thanks To Reid, A US-Chinese Partnership Is Bringing Their Wind Turbine Plant To The Las Vegas Valley, Which Will Create 1,000 Jobs Once Complete. In March 2010, the Sun reported, "A consortium of companies announced plans today to develop a plant in the Las Vegas area that would employ about 1,000 people for manufacturing wind turbines. Once up and running, the 320,000-square-foot plant would be one of the largest manufacturing employers in Southern Nevada and would build upon an already fast-growing local renewable energy industry that so far has focused on solar power ... In today's announcement, the partners credited Sen. Harry Reid for their decision to locate the plant in Nevada. They also cited affordable real estate in Nevada, the state's skilled workforce and Nevada's business-friendly climate. Reid is a leader in developing renewable energy and his commitment to renewable energy and to promoting investment in Nevada was instrumental in the decision, the companies said in their statement." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/11/10]

Sun Editor Brian Greenspun: "None Of This ... Would Have Happened Without Harry Reid." In a March 2010 column, Las Vegas Sun Editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "A-Power's commitment to build an assembly plant in our valley, which will encourage others to follow suit, means not only energy production throughout the United States, but also significant job production here at home. It is in this context that I have been thinking a great deal about Nevada's senior U.S. senator and the majority leader, Harry Reid ... On a professional note, it is incumbent upon me to say that none of this — the wind turbine plant, the hundreds and thousands of high-paying and sustainable jobs (and construction jobs, too), the entrance of Southern Nevada in a major way into the energy business, the clasping of hands between China and the United States — would have happened without Harry Reid." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 3/14/10]

Reid Worked With Residents And Local Officials To Bring A Power Plant That Used Natural Gas And Solar Instead Of Coal To Mesquite. In March 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "The last of three planned coal-fired power plants in Nevada is off the table, replaced with a proposal that will incorporate natural gas and solar power. Sithe Global Power of Houston said Monday that new plans for its Toquop Energy Project electricity plant near Mesquite will feature 700 megawatts of natural gas-fired generating capacity and 100 megawatts of sun-powered electricity output ... James announced the company's new plans for the $1.45 billion Toquop project in a press conference with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck. Holecheck praised Reid for 'working tirelessly' as an advocate for the coal-fired plant's opponents. She also thanked Sithe's 'willingness to compromise.' 'I know this must have been a costly consideration, but looking to the future wellness of our people and the environment carries larger benefits for all,' she said." [Review-Journal, 3/22/10]

Reid Brought Competing Energy Companies Together Along With Recovery Act Funding, To Build Job-Creating Energy Transmission Lines To Nevada. In January 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "At a press conference Monday morning at Harry Allen, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and executives with NV Energy and LS Power announced an agreement to give NV Energy co-ownership of the 500-kilovolt line and full access to its distribution capacity. The intertie will allow NV Energy to transmit renewable power from the state's rural areas to its cities, and it will link the utility's northern and southern operations for efficiency's sake." [Review-Journal, 1/12/20]

Construction Of The Transmission Lines Will Create Around 400 Jobs And "Thousands Of Indirect Jobs" When Completed. In January 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "The building process would yield about 400 jobs. Upon completion, the intertie would create thousands of indirect jobs, Segal said, because it would create transmission capabilities for green-energy projects statewide. With the ability to distribute power, developers would at last have the incentive to build far-flung desert projects deploying solar, wind and geothermal power, he said." [Review-Journal, 1/12/20]

Reid Championed The Provision That Gave Power Companies Access To The Recovery Act Funds Needed To Build These Transmission Lines. In March 2009, the Sun reported, "Tucked into the economic stimulus bill is a $3.2 billion provision championed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that gives power companies in Nevada and elsewhere access to low-cost government loans to build transmission lines to carry renewable energy. The lines are necessary to connect new power sources in desert solar fields and atop remote hilltop wind farms to the nation's electric grid, a problem that has long vexed renewable energy developers." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/8/09]

Reid Intervened With The Defense Department To Keep Nye County Solar Project On Track. In January 2010, the Sun reported, "After a sometimes contentious 16-month negotiation with SolarReserve, intervention from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, extensive analysis by the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and a visit to the Nellis Solar Photovoltaic array by President Barack Obama, the military has broadened its linguistics skills to include a new language: energy geek speak. SolarReserve's planned 100-megawatt solar thermal plant is slated for land farther west, near Tonopah, and is undergoing a BLM environmental impact review with the Air Force's blessing." [Las Vegas Sun, 1/8/10]

Sun: "Military Interests Have Run Smack Into Those Of The Nation's Most Powerful Politicians" When They Opposed A Solar Project In Nye County. In January 2010, the Sun reported, "Military interests have run smack into those of the nation's most powerful politicians and the industry touted as Nevada's potential financial savior. Renewable energy companies want to fill the state's desert with solar arrays and dot its peaks with wind turbines. They would create hundreds of short-term construction jobs, lease income for cities and the federal government, and emission-free energy. This would all be well and good if the towers associated with solar thermal and wind power plants didn't cause problems for systems central to the training and tests taking place on Nevada's military bases." [Las Vegas Sun, 1/8/10]

The Review-Journal Praised Reid's Work To Open Up More Public Land For Private Development When They Endorsed Him In 2004. In their October 2004 editorial endorsing Reid's re-election, the Review-Journal wrote, "On a handful of issues, the senator has successfully used his position to move legislation important to the state. For instance, he spearheaded the effort to protect the petroglyphs at Sloan Canyon south of Las Vegas. He, along with other members of the delegation, recently pushed through a measure that will facilitate economic development in rural Lincoln County through the sale of federally controlled land. And in the inevitable future disputes about the allocation of water resources in the West, Sen. Reid's clout will help ensure Nevada gets a fair shake." [Review-Journal, Editorial, 10/24/04]

Review-Journal Publisher Praised Reid's Work On Coyote Springs; "To The Extent That Reid Helped A Developer Legally Convert Public Land To Private Land, I Say That's Good. Real Good." In a September 2006 column, Review-Journal Publisher Sherman Frederick wrote, "I believe we'll run out of developable private land long before we run out of water. That's why I give Sen. Harry Reid big kudos for helping developers get the appropriate clearances to start developing Coyote Springs. Not everyone agrees with me, apparently ... Southern Nevada needs all of the developable private land it can get. The only place it can get it from is the government's outrageous 90 percent share. So, to the extent that Reid helped a developer legally convert public land to private land, I say that's good. Real good." [Review-Journal, Sherman Frederick Column, 9/3/06]

REID HAS TAKEN A LEADING ROLE IN PROTECTING NEVADA'S TREASURES, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CREATION OF NEVADA'S FIRST NATIONAL PARK

Reid Is Responsible For The Creation Of Great Basin National Park, Which He Accomplished "When He Was A Congressman From A Far Less Influential Nevada." In October 2006, the Review-Journal reported, "The National Park Service marked Great Basin's 20th year of existence Friday with birthday cake and an open house at the park's new visitor center. 'It's hard to believe it's been that long,' said U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, who sponsored legislation that created the park back when he was a Democratic congressman from a far less influential Nevada. 'For Nevada, it's been a wonder.'" [Review-Journal, 10/30/06]

Dennis Myers: "Reid Did What Others Had Been Unable To Do." In a September 2009 column, Dennis Myers wrote, "Finally in 1986 Reid did what others had been unable to do. The park began with 120 square miles, including Wheeler Peak and the Lehman cavern. With noncontiguous areas, 227.8 square miles are protected." [Pahrump Valley Times, Dennis Myers Column, 9/16/09]

Reid Led The Effort To Make Sloan Canyon A National Conservation Area. In February 2003, the Review-Journal reported, "With the sound of a rock crusher churning out gravel nearby, Nevada's senators, congressmen and American Indian tribal leaders Monday dedicated the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area ... The 48,438-acre public lands area will serve as a buffer between the wilderness area, where motorized vehicles are prohibited, and development at the south end of the Las Vegas Valley. The wilderness area is filled with 1,700 rock-art images etched in stone over the past 800 years, according to archaeologists ... Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., credited Reid with pursuing protection for Sloan Canyon to make it the valley's second national conservation area along with Red Rock Canyon. During his speech, Ensign dubbed Sloan Canyon 'the crown jewel of this legislation.'" [Review-Journal, 2/18/03]

Review-Journal: "None Of This Would Be Possible Without Sen. Harry Reid." In a November 2003 editorial, the Review-Journal wrote, "Last year, President Bush signed a bill creating the 40,000-acre Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. The bill included a stipulation that money generated by the sale of the 500 acres would go into a special fund designed to help preserve and protect the region -- to construct public facilities and to pay for operations and research in the conservation area. None of this would be possible without Sen. Harry Reid, who has made it a priority to ensure this local treasure doesn't fall victim to vandalism and encroaching urban sprawl. As one Reid aide said last year, 'Doing nothing was not a solution for protecting this place.' Thanks to Sen. Reid, doing nothing is no longer on the table." [Review-Journal, Editorial, 11/10/03]

Since Reid Organized The First Lake Tahoe Summit, More Than $1.4 Billion Has Been Spent At Tahoe On Environmental Projects. In an August 2009 editorial, the Gazette-Journal wrote, "More than $1.4 billion has been spent at Tahoe on environmental projects since the first forum, some from the federal government and some from the Nevada and California governments. Without it, the progress that has been made in recent years could easily be lost. That would be a tragedy for the entire nation." [Gazette-Journal, Editorial, 8/28/09]

Reid Helped Pass The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act – Authorized $300 Million To Preserve Lake Tahoe. Reid cosponsored the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2000, which, according to the Gazette-Journal, "authorizes expenditure of up to $30 million per year for a decade to pay for environmental restoration in the Tahoe Basin, including erosion control, wetland restoration and forest health improvements. It provides the federal government's share of a near billion-dollar list of projects believed necessary to save Lake Tahoe, which is losing an average of a foot of clarity each year due to algae growth associated with development and other human impacts." [S 1925, Introduced 11/16/99; Gazette-Journal, 10/24/00]

Reid Helped Pass An Amendment To SNPLMA That Allocated $30 Million Per Year In Proceeds From Clark County Land Sales To Saving Lake Tahoe – Ensured Funding For The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act. In September 2003, the Review-Journal reported, "The Senate agreed to a strategy Tuesday that would steer $30 million annually from Clark County federal land sales to environmental projects at Lake Tahoe. A Lake Tahoe amendment proposed by Sens. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Harry Reid, D-Nev., was put into a bill that sets Interior Department spending for 2004, an Ensign spokesman said. Senate leaders agreed to the measure in a package of noncontroversial items that passed unanimously. The bill would change the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, the 1998 law that requires profits from the auction of federal land in the Las Vegas Valley to be given to schools, conservation projects and infrastructure in Nevada. The change adds Lake Tahoe restoration projects as a recipient of annual funding from the sales." [Review-Journal, 9/25/03]

Reid Helped Pass Legislation To Give Red Rock Canyon Added Protection, Expanded Funding. In November 1990, States News Service reported, "President Bush today signed into law a bill making Red Rock Canyon Recreation Lands a better protected national conservation area ... The bill was sponsored by Reid and Bryan in the Senate, and Rep. James Bilbray, D-Nev. in the House ... The new designation is expected to bring more funding to the 83,000-acre Red Rock area, monitored by the Bureau of Land Management ... 'This gives added protection and mandates more personnel and resources to the canyon,' said Reid after the signing ceremony. 'It has been overutilized.' Reid said the BLM considers Red Rock 'its number one asset,' and he wanted to pass a bill to that effect. The Red Rock bill was passed last month by the Senate during its final hours of business." [States News Service, 11/16/90]

Reid Helped Pass Legislation To More Than Double The Land Protected In Red Rock Canyon. In November 1994, States News Service reported, "Rep. James Bilbray was handed a major victory on Nevada Day when President Clinton signed a bill doubling the acreage of Red Rock ... Originally protecting only 83,400 acres, the Bureau of Land Management BLM will now broaden its conservation efforts to cover more than 195,000 acres of Red Rock land ... Earlier this month, the bill was nearly killed amid a flurry of last minute Senate battles. Arizona senators, at the request of real estate developer Del Webb, placed near-fatal holds on the bill and several other lawmakers held up the bill for unrelated political reasons, according to several Senate sources. But as the Senate tied its loose ends so lawmakers could hit the campaign trails, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Bryan were able to push the bill through." [States News Service, 11/1/94]

 

THE RECOVERY ACT HAS CREATED OR SAVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN NEVADA, AND UNLIKE SHARRON ANGLE WHO CALLS NEVADANS ON UNEMPLOYMENT "SPOILED"; NO ONE IS WORKING HARDER THAN HARRY REID TO GET NEVADA'S ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.

"Paying Off"
America's Crossroads
TV :30
6/14/09

Sharron Angle On Working To Help Nevada's Economy: "People ask me, what are you going to do to develop jobs in your state? Well that's not my job as a US Senator, to bring industry to the state. That's the Lieutenant Governor's job. That's your State Senator's and Assemblyman's job. That's your Secretary of State's job, to make a climate here in this state, ya'll come." [Angle Campaign Event, 5/14/10]

Ad Facts

ANNCR: With Nevada in economic free-fall, Harry Reid brags about his taxpayer-funded seven hundred eighty-seven billion dollar bailout …

On Screen: "Nevada Unemployment Hits Record High" / NBC MyNews4, 7/17/09

On Screen: Harry Reid

On Screen: TAXPAYER-FUNDED $787 BILLION Bail Out Bill

ANNCR: … saying, "There's no question our hard work is paying off."

On Screen: "There's no question our hard work is paying off." / Reno Gazette-Journal / 10/16/09

ANNCR: Paying off? Paying off for whom?

On Screen: PAYING OFF? / FOR WHOM?

FACT: THE AMERICAN CROSSROADS AD INTENTIONALLY MISLEADS NEVADANS BY CALLING THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT A "BAILOUT."

FACT: THE RECOVERY ACT HAS CREATED AND SAVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEVADA JOBS, WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE AND SAVE JOBS

The Recovery Act Has Already Created Or Saved 27,000 Jobs In Nevada. In April 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "The White House, through its Council of Economic Advisers, says $2.9 billion in federal Recovery Act money has been poured into Nevada. And it says that money is responsible for 27,000 jobs in the state through the first quarter of this year. 'From tax cuts to construction projects, the Recovery Act is now firing on all cylinders when it comes to creating jobs and putting Americans back to work,' says Vice President Joe Biden." [Las Vegas Sun, 4/16/10]

See below for examples of Nevada jobs being created or saved thanks to the Recovery Act …

FACT: THE RECOVERY ACT ALSO HELPED KEEP NEVADANS OUT OF POVERTY AND PROVIDED BADLY-NEEDED TAX RELIEF TO NEVADA FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES

More Than One Third Of The Recovery Act Was Tax Relief. According to the New York Times, "The final bill includes $507 billion in spending programs and $282 billion in tax relief, including a scaled-back version of Mr. Obama's middle-class tax cut proposal, which would give credits of up to $400 for individuals and $800 for families within certain income limits. It will also provide a one-time payment of $250 to recipients of Social Security and government disability support." [New York Times, Economic Stimulus]

The Recovery Act Helped Keep Roughly 58,000 Nevada Families From Slipping Into Poverty. In December 2009, the Las Vegas Sun reported that the Recovery Act "did keep tens of thousands of people from sliding into poverty, according to a new study. The left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including tax credits and extended unemployment benefits, kept 58,000 Nevadans from falling below the poverty line this year. The Washington think tank said the stimulus softened the economic blow for 6 million people nationwide." [Las Vegas Sun, 12/23/10]

More Than 1 Million Nevadans Received A Tax Break Under The Recovery Act's Making Work Pay Tax Cut. According to a White House report on the impact of the recovery act on Nevada, "The President's tax-cut – which covers more Americans than any in history – is putting more than $500 million back in the pockets of more than 1 million hard-working Nevada families." According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "These tax cuts would be distributed to millions of families by reducing tax withholding from workers' paychecks - the money goes directly into Americans' paychecks so they get it right away." [White House Report, 4/22/08]

See below for more examples of tax relief included in the Recovery Act …

ANNCR: More than one hundred eighty thousand Nevadans are out of work, are out of work.

On Screen: 180,000 Nevadans are out of work / www.bls.gov

On Screen: 2ND HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE NATION / www.bls.gov

ANGLE WOULDN'T HAVE LIFTED A FINGER TO SAVE 22,000 JOBS AT CITYCENTER. ATTACKED REID'S EFFORTS TO PROTECT NEVADA JOBS, CALLING IT "BULLYING."

Angle Called Reid "Self-Absorbed" For "Bullying Banks" On Behalf Of CityCenter. In a December 2009 press release, Sharron Angle criticized Sen. Harry Reid for helping save CityCenter, saying he was "self-absorbed about his claimed role in bullying banks to lend money to City Center." [Sharron Angle press release, 12/18/09] (PDF available upon request)

FLASHBACK: Jim Murren, CEO, MGM Mirage: "My darkest days in my professional career were this year. And it was all about CityCenter … That man called every CEO of every bank that I know and said 'Look, this is important for my state. Get it done.' Now we are going to open up CityCenter in December. We're going to employ over 12,000 people. They would not have jobs today if not for Senator Reid … There's no one else that could have done that." [Reid Campaign Ad, 10/15/09]

MEANWHILE, ANGLE SAYS THAT NEVADANS TRYING TO SCRAPE BY ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ARE "SPOILED." SHE WANTS TO STOP EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

Angle: Unemployed Nevadans Who Depend On Unemployment Insurance Are "Spoiled." During a May 2010 interview on KRNV, Angle said, "You can make more money on unemployment than you can going down and getting one of those jobs that is an honest job, but it doesn't pay as much. And so that's what's happened to us is that we have put in so much entitlement into our government that we really have spoiled our citizenry and said you don't want the jobs that are available." [KRNV, 5/25/2010]

One Week Later, Angle Said Extending Unemployment Insurance Is "A Terrible Thing." During a June 2010 interview on KDWN's Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said extending unemployment insurance was "a terrible thing. You know, I was criticized for saying that Americans won't do certain jobs and the reason that they won't do certain jobs is because they get more pay on unemployment than they can get to work those… those good jobs that are really out there. What has happened is Harry Reid has just extended unemployment and when he did that he not only made it so that people are less employable, but he makes it so that they want to be dependent on the government. This entitlement pays them more than getting a real job." [Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/2/2010]

Angle: Aiding Out-Of-Work Nevadans With Unemployment Insurance Doesn't "Encourage People o Go Back To Work." During a June 2010 interview on Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said, "Harry Reid has extended and extended unemployment benefits which really doesn't do anyone as much good as a job would do them. What we need is stimulation of our economy that really creates jobs in the private sector. We need free market solutions to our job problems here in Nevada and across the nation. And Harry Reid is not thinking about real solutions, all he is doing is putting on these band-aid fixes which is to extend unemployment. And when he does that, what happens is that he takes away the incentive to have a job because if you are making more on unemployment than you can if you go to work for Starbucks or some other place where they have a real job available, because you know that you can't make as much as you are making on unemployment, you'll stay on unemployment. And what that does is it keeps you out of the job market, it makes your skills not as viable because they are now out of date. There are just all kinds of problems that occur when you don't encourage people to go back to work." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/10/10]
ANNCR: Nevada home values have plummeted.

REID LED EFFORTS TO PROP UP NEVADA'S STRUGGLING HOUSING MARKET BY EXTENDING AND EXPANDING THE HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT

Reid Passed A New Homebuyer Tax Credit In The Recovery Act. According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act extends and increases the tax credit for homebuyers." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Reid Later Led Passage Of Legislation To Extend The Homebuyer Tax Credit, Extend Unemployment Benefits And Help Relieve The Tax Burden Of Struggling Businesses. In November 2009, the Washington Post reported, "The Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that extends several measures designed to spur the economy and help people who have lost their jobs, including a provision that will extend unemployment benefits for up to 20 weeks in states with high unemployment rates … The measure would also extend through April 30 a $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit and create a new $6,500 credit for homebuyers who have been in their current residence for the last five years or more. Another provision allows businesses that had operating losses in 2008 and 2009 to seek refunds for taxes paid on profits over the past five years." [Washington Post, "Capitol Briefing," 11/4/09]

Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson (R): "Quite frankly, Majority Leader Harry Reid helped us to make this happen as only he could do as majority leader of the Senate." [Congressional Record, 11/4/09]

Reid-Led Bill To Extend Homebuyer Tax Credit Also Expanded It To Give Tax Credits To Families Who Qualified As "Move-Up Homebuyers. In November 2009, In Business Las Vegas reported, "Homebuilders and Realtors are counting an extension and expansion of a homebuyer tax credit to boost to the housing market through mid-2010. Last week, Congress extended the $8,000 credit for first-time buyers and expanded the program to include move-up buyers in the amount of $6,500. The credit for first-time buyer was set to expire Nov. 30. Buyers must qualify by signing a purchase agreement by April 30 and closing by June 30." [In Business Las Vegas, 11/13/09]

Reid-Led Bill To Extend The Homebuyer Tax Credit Also Made More Families Eligible For The Credit And Included Protections For Members Of The Armed Forces. According to a November 2009 press release, the bill Senator Reid led the Senate in passing that extended and expanded the homebuyer tax credit also "Increases the dollar limits for eligibility for both credits from $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married couples to $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for married couples … Waives repayment of the credit for Members of the Armed Forces and others on sent away from home on extended duty" and "Extends the credit for an additional year for Members of the Armed Forces and others away from home on extended duty." [Reid Press Release, 11/4/09]

Builders And Realtors Agreed The Tax Credit's Extension Was Necessary To Help The Struggling Housing Market. In November 2009, In Business Las Vegas reported, "Builders had argued that the credit needed to be extended and expanded to help their struggling industry. Realtors say the tax credit kept sales strong — they increased 5.3 percent in October in part because of first-time buyers taking advantage of the credit. 'The credit has definitely impacted positively our home sales in Southern Nevada,' said Monica Caruso, Southern Nevada Home Builders Association spokeswoman … But she added that expanding the tax credit to include a new group of buyers should help sales … Rick Shelton, president-elect of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, said the tax credit has already boosted sales by as much as 300,000 nationwide and its extension and expansion should boost that total." [In Business Las Vegas, 11/13/09]

More Than 25,000 Nevadans Received More Than $186 Million In Relief Thanks To The Homebuyer Tax Credit. According to an April 2010 release, "Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement on news from the Internal Revenue Service that 25,446 Nevadans collected $186,224,568 in tax credits from the first-time homebuyer tax credit program in 2008 and 2009. 'I'm glad to see that this program, which I led to passage in the Senate, has been so successful in Nevada. In addition to reducing the excess inventory of homes, it is helping boost our state's economy by providing an incentive for people to buy a home. It is my hope that this program has provided the shot in the arm Nevada's housing market needs so it can continue to stabilize and start to recover.'" [Reid Press Release, 4/23/10]

Now Reid Is Working To Extend The Closing Deadline On The Tax Credit To Makes Sure More Homebuyers Who Met The Contract Deadline Get The Credit. In June 2010, Reuters reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday proposed giving extra time to homebuyers trying to get a popular federal tax credit by the end of the month. Reid wants to extend the closing deadline to September 30 for buyers who met the April 30 deadline to have a signed contract. The current deadline requires those buyers to close the transaction by June 30 to receive the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers." [Reuters, 6/10/10]

ANNCR: Record foreclosures.

ANNCR: Harry Reid's work if paying off alright. Paying off for his friends in Washington, but leaving Nevada with what?

On Screen: PAID FOR BY AMERICAN CROSSROADS WWW.AMERICANCROSSROADS.ORG

REID HAS BEEN FIGHTING TO HELP NEVADA FAMILIES WHO ARE UNDERWATER IN THEIR MORGAGAES AND STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES

May 2010: Reid's Work Holding Bank Of America's Feet To The Fire Paid Off When They Announced New Efforts To Help Struggling Nevada Homeowners. In May 2010, KTNV reported, "Big promises came after Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid met in Washington, DC with Bank of America CEO Brian Moyhnihan. Bank of America has promised to ramp up its customers service efforts and provide much needed assistance that homeowners say is a long time coming … Specifically, Bank of America will set up a 1-800 hotline exclusively for Nevada homeowners who have a mortgage with Bank of America. They will also open three homeowner resource centers in Henderson, Las Vegas and Reno for customers struggling to keep their homes. Lastly they will devote a team of Bank of America loan specialists to work alongside Senator Reid's staff on housing casework." [KTNV, 5/14/10]

March 2010: Secretary Geithner Promised Reid He Would Hold Mortgage Clinics In Las Vegas And Reno. In a March 2010 letter to Senator Reid, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner promised to hold homeowner mortgage clinics in Las Vegas and Reno in April. Geitherner wrote, "The clinics will provide an opportunity for homeowners to complete and submit their paperwork, determine eligibility for Making Home Affordable, or discuss other foreclosure prevention alternatives with a HUD-approved counselor." [Reid Release, 3/5/10]

February 2010: Reid Worked With The Obama Administration To Bring $100 Million In Housing Assistance To Nevada. In February 2010, the Sun reported, "Washington — President Barack Obama will announce today during his visit to Las Vegas a new foreclosure rescue program, pumping $1.5 billion into Nevada and other hard-hit states to help housing agencies rework mortgages and save homes. The president's program, drafted at the urging of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, comes as Nevada's housing crisis continues unabated while other regions show improvements, contributing to a dismal economic environment that is threatening electoral fortunes this fall … The money will be divided by a formula based on the number of unemployed residents and the decline in home prices, which means California and the bigger states would likely get the lion's share. Nevada is expected to receive at least $100 million." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/19/10]

Nevada Received The Largest Per Capita Share Of The New Housing Money. In a March 2010 release, Reid's office announced. "The funding program President Obama announced, also known as the 'Hardest Hit Fund,' provides funding to the five states whose housing prices have fallen more than 20 percent. Of those five states, Nevada will receive the most funding per capita – more than $100 million. 'The current housing crisis has hit Nevada harder than any other state which is why we will receive the most funding per capita through this program,' Reid said. 'I thank President Obama and Secretary Geithner for taking Nevada's needs seriously and for their commitment to helping struggling homeowners in Nevada.'" [Reid Release, 3/5/10]

February 2010: Reid Worked With The Obama Administration And Got HUD To Send Additional Staffers To Help Deal With The Foreclosure Crisis. In February 2010, the Sun reported, "The HUD secretary said today he is immediately dispatching a three-person foreclosure rapid-response team to Las Vegas and plans to add a total of eight new members to its Clark County office to deal with the housing crisis … Donovan outlined his plans for Nevada in a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid after the two met in Reid's office last month. Donovan, in the letter to Reid, reiterated 'HUD's commitment, and my personal commitment, to working closely with you and your staff as we focus on finding ways to make more federal resources available to address the foreclosure crisis in the Las Vegas area.' Donovan said he dispatched the three-person foreclosure team to Las Vegas, effective today. Five other positions in the office are expected to be filled by March 31." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/1/10]

2009: Reid Led The Senate In Passing Legislation To Help Nevadans Avoid Foreclosure. In May 2009, the Senate passed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which according to ABC News, "removes the technical and administrative hurdles that make it difficult for borrowers. 'It expands the reach of our existing housing plan for homeowners with FHA or USDA rural housing loans, providing them with new opportunities to modify or refinance their mortgages to more affordable levels,' President Obama said, 'Because many responsible renters are being unfairly evicted from homes that go through foreclosure because the owners haven't been paying their mortgages, it requires banks to honor existing leases, or provide at least 90 days notice for renters on month-to-month leases." The president also added that those who participate can save as much as $2,000 per year. [Vote 185, 5/6/09; ABC News, "Political Punch," 5/20/09]

2009: Reid Led The Senate In Passing Legislation To Crack Down On Mortgage Fraud And Investigate The Causes Of The Financial Meltdown. In May 2009, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported "The House of Representatives passed legislation Monday that would give the federal government strong new tools to pursue financial fraud, clearing it for President Barack Obama to sign into law. The bill, which the Obama administration strongly supports, also would create a 10-member commission to study the causes of last year's financial meltdown. The House vote was 338-52. The Senate overwhelmingly approved the measure last month. 'This bill is a major step toward holding accountable those who have caused so much damage to our economy,' said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The measure expands federal fraud laws to cover mortgage lenders the federal government doesn't regulate. It also would expand those laws to cover money spent under the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, which helps ailing financial institutions, and this year's $787 billion economic stimulus plan." [St. Paul Pioneer Press, 5/18/09]

The Bill Also Included $140 Million For Law Enforcement To Combat Mortgage Fraud. According to the Pioneer Press, "The Treasury Department has reported that in the past six years, suspicious-activity reports alleging mortgage fraud increased nearly tenfold, to about 62,000 last year. Criminal mortgage-fraud investigations by the FBI also have mushroomed, and officials there are overwhelmed. The bill would authorize $75 million for the FBI in 2010 and $65 million in 2011." [St. Paul Pioneer Press, 5/18/09]

2008: Reid Led The Senate In Passing Legislation To Help Families Struggling To Stay In Their Homes. In July 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported, "Congress sent President Bush legislation Saturday designed to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, spur home buying and prop up struggling mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac … It is the government's most sweeping response yet to the nation's housing crisis. The Senate, in a rare weekend session, overwhelmingly approved the measure, 72 to 13, a reflection of the election-year jitters on Capitol Hill over the troubled economy … The bill passed Saturday, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act, contains a key provision allowing the Federal Housing Administration to guarantee up to $300 billion in lower-cost mortgages -- provided that lenders accept significant losses. The provision is expected to help at least 400,000 homeowners." [Los Angeles Times, 7/27/08]

The Bill Also Included Tax Breaks For First-Time Homebuyers, Communities Hit Hard By Foreclosures And Families Struggling With Their Mortgages. According to the Los Angeles Times, "The measure includes about $15 billion in tax breaks, including a tax credit that is, in effect, an interest-free loan of up to $7,500 for first-time home buyers. It also funnels $4 billion to communities hard hit by foreclosures to buy and renovate abandoned properties, a provision that supporters say would prevent blight and a decline in the value of neighboring properties. The measure gives states authority to issue an additional $11 billion in tax-exempt bonds to refinance troubled loans, provide loans to first-time home buyers, and finance low-income rental housing and financial counseling." [Los Angeles Times, 7/27/08]

EXAMPLES OF JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING CREATED OR SAVED THANKS TO THE RECOVERY ACT

Recovery Act Tax Credits Are Allowing Amonix Inc. To Build A Solar Manufacturing Plant In Southern Nevada – Creating Close To 300 Nevadans Back To Work. According to a May 2010 release, "At the 'flipping the switch' ceremony today in Henderson, Nevada Senator Harry Reid announced that 278 permanent green jobs will be coming to the Las Vegas valley at a new solar manufacturing plant, and construction will begin this year … This project will put nearly 300 Nevadans back to work in permanent green manufacturing jobs as soon as this year,' Reid said. 'Amonix is taking full advantage of a tax credit from the Recovery Act and is helping Nevada lead the way in producing clean energy" … Using a $5.9 million investment tax credit from the Recovery Act, Amonix's new manufacturing facility will produce 150 MW of solar capacity annually and employ 278 people in management, technical and production jobs. The permanent manufacturing jobs will be well-paying positions that require minimal training for someone who previously worked in a construction industry that has been hard-hit by the economic recession." [Reid Press Release, 5/15/10]

The Recovery Act Provided $12 Million For Geothermal Projects At Hawthorne Army Depot And Fallon Naval Air Station That Will Create More Than 200 Jobs. In April 2009, the Gazette-Journal reported, "The $12 million from the stimulus package will allow two additional test holes to be drilled at the Hawthorne depot, and for additional exploration of geothermal sources at the Naval station in Fallon. Capt. Michael Glaser, commander of the Fallon base, said the funds will be used to explore the southwest corner of its Bravo 16 area and Dixie Valley to find more geothermal sources to build its planned 30 megawatt power plant by 2011. [Hawthorne Depot Commander Lt. Col. Kimberly] Gilbert-Mason and Glaser said each of the 30 megawatt plants are expected to provide jobs for about 100 people during the construction phase and ongoing jobs for 10 to 15 more once the plants open." [Gazette-Journal, 4/16/09]

The Recovery Act Provided More Than $90 Million For Nevada Geothermal Projects That Will Create Nearly 1,100 Nevada Jobs. In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced this morning that Nevada companies will receive $93 million in stimulus funds to develop 25 geothermal-power projects. Nevada is reaping nearly a third of the $338 million the federal government said this morning that it would commit to geothermal energy. Chu said the money will go toward locating and developing new geothermal fields, supporting research and development, drilling, stimulating existing reservoirs and converting heat to power." According to a release from Reid's office, "The funding is expected to create nearly 1,100 Nevada jobs while making geothermal power an even more readily available source of clean energy in our state." [Review-Journal, 10/29/09; Reid Press Release, 10/29/09]

Harrah's Senior Vice President Jan Jones: Reid's Debt-Cancellation Provision In The Recovery Act "Allowed Us To Protect 31,000 Jobs In Nevada Alone." In October 2009, the Sun reported, "Harrah's Entertainment Senior Vice President Jan Jones said today's teleconference wasn't just a response to Wynn and Murren, but a reaction to those who question the need for the federal stimulus and its role in protecting jobs … Aside from the money Nevada received from the stimulus, the cancellation of indebtedness provision and Travel Promotion Act were important additions that helped the gaming industry, Jones said. She credited Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with both. The cancellation of indebtedness provision allows companies to restructure their debt and delays tax payments tied to capital gains. 'For Harrah's Entertainment, that allowed us to protect 31,000 jobs in Nevada alone. This piece of legislation allowed Harrah's to work to restructure to make sure we kept our employees employed,' said Jones." [Las Vegas Sun, 10/23/09]

Reid Is Responsible For The Provision In The Recovery Act Providing Financing For A $550 Million Transmission Line Project That Will Create 400 Direct Jobs And "Thousands Of Indirect Jobs." In January 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "At a press conference Monday morning at Harry Allen, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and executives with NV Energy and LS Power announced an agreement to give NV Energy co-ownership of the 500-kilovolt line and full access to its distribution capacity. The intertie will allow NV Energy to transmit renewable power from the state's rural areas to its cities, and it will link the utility's northern and southern operations for efficiency's sake … The building process would yield about 400 jobs. Upon completion, the intertie would create thousands of indirect jobs, Segal said, because it would create transmission capabilities for green-energy projects statewide." The line, which will cost roughly $550 million would be financed thanks to a provision Reid made sure was included in the Recovery Act. [Review-Journal, 1/12/20; Las Vegas Sun, 3/8/09]

The Recovery Act Is Bringing $138 Million To Help NV Energy Install Smart Meters Around The state, Creating More Than 200 Jobs And Helping Nevada Families And Businesses Reduce Energy Costs. In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported that NV Energy "won $138 million in federal stimulus funds today for a three-year, $298 million project to replace every electric meter in Nevada with a smart meter that executives say will let ratepayers direct energy use year-round, all day and all night … The initiative will create 200 meter-installation jobs at NV Energy, as well as many more jobs bringing in computer equipment, consulting on a new billing system and marketing the program to consumers, Yackira said. NV Energy expects to launch its pilot program by late 2010, with plans to install all 1.45 million smart meters in the state by the end of 2012." [Review-Journal, 10/27/09]

Nevada News Bureau: Road Construction Projects Funded By The Recovery Act "Will Have Created Or Saved 5,600 Construction Jobs By The End Of The Year." In May 2010, Nevada News Bureau reported, "Stimulus funds will have created or saved 5,600 construction jobs by the end of the year, according to a press release issued yesterday by the Nevada Department of Transportation. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the release says, has provided about $201 million in funding for road construction in Nevada, and 90 percent of the funds have already been contracted out to construction companies. The release states that 32 ARRA-funded projects are currently underway in the state, and an additional six will begin by the end of May. After the rest of the projects begin over the course of summer and fall, a total of 69 road projects will have used stimulus funding." [Nevada News Bureau, 5/19/10]

Tax Relief In The Recovery Act Helped Keep Close To 2,000 Nevadans On The Job Working On The Third Terminal At McCarran Airport. In January 2010, the Review-Journal's "Political Eye" reported, "Reid on Tuesday toured the construction project that is Terminal 3 at McCarran International Airport. The $2.4 billion project saved more than $70 million in large part to a provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also called the stimulus law, that Reid as Senate majority leader helped to pass. 'It's fitting that Sen. Reid tour this project given the role he's played in its ongoing development,' said Rosemary Vassiliadis, deputy director of the Clark County Department of Aviation. 'His efforts to include Alternative Minimum Tax relief in last year's stimulus package helped keep this project on track, and will ultimately save our department millions of dollars in debt service costs in the years to come.' Vassiliadis said AMT relief is projected to save the department $72.4 million in reduced debt service costs over the 30-year life of the applicable bonds issued to pay for the project." According to the Associated Press, "Reid touted the role the project is playing employing more than 1,700 construction workers. Vassiliadis says last year's federal stimulus package helped keep the project alive. She says a tax provision will let the county save more than $72 million in interest on construction bonds." [Review-Journal, The Political Eye, 1/13/10; Associated Press, 1/12/10]

Roughly 3,600 Nevada Education Jobs, Including 1,400 In Clark County Schools Alone. Have Been Created Or Saved Thanks To The Recovery Act. In November 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "The Clark County School District has saved or created 1,400 teaching and support staff jobs with federal stimulus funds, officials said Monday. The district is the state's single largest recipient of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding." Those 1,400 jobs were one part of roughly 3,600 education jobs around Nevada created or saved thanks to the Recovery Act. [Review-Journal, 11/3/09; Nevada Faculty Alliance, 1/6/10]

Nevada Stimulus Director: "We've Been Able To Save Jobs." When asked about the 1,400 jobs saved or created in Clark County schools, Nevada Stimulus Director Charles Harvey said, "We utilized state fiscal stabilization funds to basically retain thousands of jobs within the school district. And so those are educators and administrators that are directly – those positions are directly tied to the stimulus funds that have been utilized. So we've been able to save jobs in that regard." [KNPR, Charles Harvey Interview, 11/3/09]

COPS Grants In The Recovery Act Will Fund 18 Law Enforcement Jobs In Northern Nevada. In July 2009 the Daily Sparks Tribune reported, "The Sparks Police Department will be putting six new officers on Sparks streets with a little help from the federal government. A $1.9 million grant, approved Tuesday and coming from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds, will pay for the officers … Four Nevada law enforcement agencies were awarded grants on Tuesday, including the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and Reno Police Department. The total of all grants was about $5 million funding 18 new officers. Larry Cooley, police chief of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, was tickled to learn his small agency will be getting one extra officer … The largest amount, nearly $2.7 million, was awarded to the Reno Police Department to pay salary and benefits for 10 officers over three years … Elsewhere in Nevada, The Nye County sheriff's office was awarded about $216,000 for one officer." [Daily Sparks Tribune, 7/28/09]

Recovery Act Funding For Work At Reno-Tahoe Airport Is Creating Between 130 And 180 Jobs. In March 2009, the Gazette-Journal reported, "The federal government is giving the Reno/Tahoe International Airport $2.2 million in stimulus money so the airport can improve the surface near the terminals where jets and equipment move … As far as stimulating the economy, Berthold said about 80 to 100 people working for contractors, vendors and suppliers will get employment because of the contract." In August, the Associated Press reported, "U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $3.8 million in funding Thursday to be used to help reconstruct the airport's terminal apron. That's in addition to $2.2 million announced in March for the same project. Airport spokesman Brian Kulpin said 50 to 60 full-time jobs will be created by the latest dose of stimulus money." [Gazette-Journal, 3/29/09; Associated Press, 8/14/09]

Truckee Meadows Wildfire Restoration Projects Funded By The Recovery Act Were Expected To Create At Least 121 jobs. According to the Nevada Small Business Development Center, "Washoe County has received $3.8 million in federal economic stimulus funds to pay for fire restoration in the hills surrounding the Truckee Meadows. Work is expected to begin this summer and could continue into next year, creating a minimum of 121 jobs." [Nevada Small Business Development Center Website]

Lincoln County Wildfire Management Work Funded By The Recovery Act Was Expected To Create Or Save 28 Jobs. According to a March 2009 release from the Nevada Division of Forestry, "U.S. Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell announced today that as part of the agency's participation in the nation's economic recovery program, the Nevada Division of Forestry will receive more than $1.3 million to fund Lincoln County conservation projects. These Nevada projects are part of the initial 10 percent selected for the first round of Forest Service funding. 'This is tremendous news for the State of Nevada,' said Governor Jim Gibbons. 'These funds will help create 24 full-time jobs in Nevada and will retain four existing jobs while improving critical range and forest lands. I thank the Forest Service for awarding these dollars and applaud the Nevada Division of Forestry for quickly and successfully securing these competitive funds for Nevada.' Federal stimulus funds for the projects total $1,314,100." [Nevada Division of Forestry, Press Release, 3/13/09]

Clean Water And Drinking Water Programs Funded By The Recovery Act Created More Than 128 Jobs. According to the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, Recovery Act funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund has created more than 117 jobs. The Department also reported that Recovery Act funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund has created more than 11 others. [Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, Drinking Water Recovery Projects, Clean Water Recovery Projects]

EXAMPLES OF TAX RELIEF IN THE RECOVERY ACT

Recovery Act Extended Energy Tax Credits To Consumers. According to the Department of Energy, consumers could take advantage of a number of tax credits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install certain energy-efficient products in their homes and a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install renewable energy systems in their homes. [Department of Energy, Consumer Energy Tax Incentives, What the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Means to You]

The Recovery Act Also Provided Tax Cuts And Tax Credits To …

Seniors, Disabled Veterans And Other Disabled Workers: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, under the Recovery Act, "Seniors, disabled veterans, other disabled workers, and SSI recipients would receive a one-time payment of $300." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Unemployed Workers: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The economic recovery plan will alleviate the tax burden for already struggling Americans collecting unemployment benefits by temporarily suspending the federal income tax on the first $2,400 of benefits per recipient." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

College Students And Families Sending Kids To College: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The economic recovery plan will help more than 4 million additional students attend college with a new, $2,500 tax credit for families, which is partially refundable. As a result, the nearly one-fifth of high school seniors who currently receive no tax credit will receive a tax cut to make college affordable for the first time." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Parents: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The income threshold to receive the refundable Child Tax Credit will be reduced so that more people would be eligible providing a new tax cut for millions of children, and increasing the existing credit for millions more. The Earned Income Tax Credit is expanded by providing tax relief to families with three or more children and increasing marriage penalty relief." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Homebuyers: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act extends and increases the tax credit for homebuyers." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Families Hit By The AMT: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "The Alternative Minimum Tax patch will protect an estimated 26 million working families from thousands of dollars in additional income taxes for 2009." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Small Businesses: According to the Democratic Policy Committee, the Recovery Act "provides for an extension of the increase in small business expensing (Section 179); allows a new exclusion on the gain from the sale of certain small business stock; and provides incentives to hire unemployed veterans and disconnected youth (Work Opportunity Tax Credit). In addition, the recovery plan contains provisions aimed at freeing up capital for small businesses and making Small Business Administration loans more affordable and accessible. The legislation temporarily reduces or eliminates various lender and borrower fees, bolsters funding for the Small Business Administration's microloan program, increases 7(a) and 504 loan sizes, and temporarily increases the SBA-backed surety amount from $2 million to $5 million." [Democratic Policy Committee, 2/11/09]

Small Business: According to the White House, "The ARRA allowed small businesses to use the 2008 operating losses to get a refund of taxes paid in prior years … [Much] of the revenue would be recouped in future years. The ARRA provision was projected to provide $5 billion in tax relief for small businesses in 2009 at a ten-year cost of only $1 billion." [White House, 11/6/09]

IN THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, HARRY REID HAS WORKED HARD TO HELP PROVIDED BADLY-NEEDED FUNDING TO NEVADA SCHOOLS

Nevada Has Already Received More Than $445 Million In Recovery Act Funding For Education. According to the Recovery Board website, Nevada has been awarded $445,250,354 in Recovery Act funding from the Department of Education. [Recovery.gov, State Funding TotalsBy Agency] Note: Angle opposed the Recovery Act, which means if she had gotten her way Nevada schools would have received zero dollars.

As Many As 3,600 Nevada Education Jobs, Including 1,400 In Clark County Schools Alone, Have Been Created Or Saved Thanks To The Recovery Act. In November 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "The Clark County School District has saved or created 1,400 teaching and support staff jobs with federal stimulus funds, officials said Monday. The district is the state's single largest recipient of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding." Those 1,400 jobs were one part of roughly 3,600 education jobs around Nevada created or saved thanks to the Recovery Act. [Review-Journal, 11/3/09; Nevada Faculty Alliance, 1/6/10]

Nevada Stimulus Director: "We've Been Able To Save Jobs." When asked about the 1,400 jobs saved or created in Clark County schools, Nevada Stimulus Director Charles Harvey said, "We utilized state fiscal stabilization funds to basically retain thousands of jobs within the school district. And so those are educators and administrators that are directly – those positions are directly tied to the stimulus funds that have been utilized. So we've been able to save jobs in that regard." [KNPR, Charles Harvey Interview, 11/3/09]

Washoe County Schools Got More Than $6 Million In Recovery Act Funding That Created Or Saved At Least 84 Jobs. In May 2009, the Daily Sparks Tribune reported, "According to Kristen McNeill, director of state and federal programs for the WCSD, under a draft plan a portion of $6.1 million in stimulus funding specifically dedicated to Title I schools will save about 60 positions for one or two academic years and improve student achievement, especially among groups most in need of intervention and corrective action, such as low-income students and limited-English learners." In October 2009 the Gazette-Journal reported, "Some of the $254 million Nevada is expecting in education funding from the federal government under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has already made a difference in Washoe County schools … About $6.2 million went toward hiring 24 intervention teachers, professional development, a home-visit pilot program, parent involvement, early childhood education, homeless student support, a $75 per pupil increase at each Title I school, dropout prevention and additional dollars for Bennett Elementary School in Sun Valley." [Daily Sparks Tribune 5/19/09; Gazette-Journal, 10/7/09]

Washoe County School District Will Use Recovery Act Funds To Save Taxpayers Money By Adding Solar Power Technology To 40 Schools, Saving Each School An Estimated $14,000 Per Year. In a March 2010 Op/Ed, Washoe County School District Trustee Ken Grein wrote, "WCSD is showing it is possible to enhance education while simultaneously saving money and the earth through two new green initiatives taking place at local schools … About 40 schools are expected to receive a type of solar technology … Once installed, we expect them to generate free energy for 20 to 25 years. The initial cost of installation for the first few solar technology projects is being offset by economic stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Rebates from NV Energy's SolarGenerations program will then fund future projects at other schools. The anticipated savings per year, per school: $14,000." [Gazette-Journal, 3/17/10]

Reid Joined Educators In Calling On Gibbons To Apply For Race To The Top Funding Last Year. In December 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Momentum is growing to hold a special session of the state Legislature in coming weeks if only to change a law on teacher evaluations and make Nevada eligible for as much as $175 million in federal education grants. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Nevada State Education Association President Lynn Warne today joined the bandwagon of people urging Gov. Jim Gibbons to include the grant item on the agenda if he calls the Legislature into session … In a letter to Gibbons, Reid urged the governor to include on the agenda of any special session an item to make Nevada eligible for as much as a $175 million Race to the Top federal challenge grant for education … Reid stated in a news release that this law could be changed in time to meet a Jan. 19 deadline to apply for the grant if the governor includes it on the agenda of a special session. 'It is in our state's interest to act as soon as possible to ensure that Nevada is able to apply,' Reid said." [Review-Journal, 12/2/09] Note: Sharron Angleopposed the Race to the Top program altogether and would have opposed Nevada's application in the first place.

IN THE LAST TWO YEARS ALONE, REID HAS DELIVERED MORE THAN $4 MILLION DOLLARS FOR NEVADA SCHOOLS(Note: these are all funds that Sharron Angle wouldn't fight to deliver for Nevada's students and teachers)

Reid Delivered $425,000 For Improved Science Education Technology For Nye County. In FY 2010, Reid secured $425,000 for the Nye County School District that "will be used to purchase interactive science curriculum and equipment for several rural middle schools in the district," according to Reid's office. "This funding would enhance the curriculum for several thousand middle school students." [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Press Release, 12/13/09]

Reid Delivered $143,000 For Career Education Programs In Nye County Schools. In FY 2009, Reid secured $143,000 for the Nye County School District "for a Creative Learning SmartLab at Pahrump Valley High School designed to help students learn about different careers," according to the Pahrump Valley Times. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Pahrump Valley Times, 5/18/09]

Reid Delivered $350,000 For Educational Equipment For Lyon County Schools. In FY 2010, Reid secured $350,000 for the Lyon County School District For career and technical education equipment. [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]

Reid Delivered $24,000 For Early Education In Lincoln County. In the FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill, Reid secured $24,000 to expand early education services in the Lincoln County School District for low-income students. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Release, 3/19/09]

Reid Delivered More Than $600,000 For Technology Upgrades In Elko County Schools. In FY 2009, Reid secured $618,000 for technology upgrades to enhance distance education services in the Elko County School District. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Release, 3/11/09]

Reid Delivered More Than $400,000 For Arts Education In Clark County. In FY 2009, Reid secured $409,000 for the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas to develop an arts education program for teachers and students at the K-12 levels. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]

Reid Delivered $600,000 For Gifted Education In Clark County. In FY 2010, Reid secured $600,000 for Clark County Schools for a school for highly gifted students. [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]

Reid Delivered More Than $850,000 For Dropout Prevention In Washoe County. In FY 2009, Reid secured $856,000 for dropout prevention programs in Washoe County. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]

Reid Delivered $1 Million For Teacher Training And Development In Washoe County. In FY 2010, Reid secured $500,000 for Washoe County Schools to implement a new teacher induction and mentoring program to help support novice teachers and $500,000 for K-12 instructional coaches to foster professional development and help improve student achievement in the district. [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Press Release, 12/13/09]

ANGLE'S ATTACKS WOULD BE LAUGHABLE IF THEY WEREN'T SO HYPOCRITICAL. AS A STATE LEGISLATOR, ANGLE VOTED REPEATEDLY AGAINST PROTECTING HOMEOWNERS

August 2010: Nevada Received Another $34 Million In Housing Assistance Under The Hardest Hit Program. According to an August 2010 release, "Nevada Senator Harry Reid today welcomed the news that the Department of Treasury will send $34 million to Nevada to help unemployed homeowners. The money will be used to help people who are in danger of foreclosure because they have lost their jobs and are still unemployed. This money comes from the Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund and will be directed to the NV Housing Division upon approval of their plan for using these monies. The Department of Housing and Urban Development also announced a program included in the Wall Street Reform bill that will assist these Nevadans by making available emergency zero-interest home loans for unemployed homeowners." [Reid Release, 8/11/10]

September 2010: Nevada Received Another $57 Million, Bringing The Total To $194 Million. In September 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "Nevada is set to receive an additional $57 million from the "Hardest Hit" fund – federal money to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. With this latest addition, the total amount received by the state will be $194 million, officials said. President Obama announced the fund in February during a visit to Las Vegas. The five states that received aid through the fund had a decrease of 20 percent or more in average home prices. 'This boost in funding is great news for Nevada homeowners who are still struggling to stay in their homes,' Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement this morning. 'I am glad that President Obama continues to respond to the need for more help in Nevada.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 9/29/10]



Angle Voted Against Tougher Regulation Of Nevada's Mortgage Industry. In 1999, Angle was one of only three votes in the Assembly opposing AB 64, which revamped Nevada's mortgage company laws. According to a May 1999 Associated Press report, AB 64 set up, "licensing requirements for mortgage companies, along with mortgage agents. The companies also must meet minimum net worth standards. The bill also gives the attorney general the authority to enforce Nevada's mortgage company laws." The final version of the bill included a provision "that mortgage companies can't run advertisements that guarantee investors a specific rate of return. Mortgage agents also must register with the state Financial Institutions Division and pass a criminal background check." [AB 64, 4/30/99; Associated Press, 5/1/99; Associated Press, 5/31/99]

Angle Voted Against Creation Of Division Tasked With Regulating Mortgage Lending In Nevada. In 2003 Angle was only one of two votes in the Assembly opposing AB 490, which created the Mortgage Lending Division in the Nevada Department of Business and Industry. In August 2003, the Reno Gazette-Journal wrote of the bill's passage, "Nevada's mortgage bankers, brokers and loan officers will soon be much more strictly regulated…" Acting head of the newly-created Mortgage Lending Division, Doug Walther, told the paper, "The MLD's intent is to allow more focused attention on this industry and hopefully a more proactive approach to regulating it and raising standards and competence ... through education and licensing." The legislation also had the support of the Department of Business and Industry, whose spokeswoman told the Associated Press in June 2003, "The director (Sydney Wickliffe) feels it's a necessary and critical step to create a new agency, due to the complexity and expansiveness of the mortgage industry." [AB 490, 5/31/03; Reno Gazette-Journal, 8/22/03; Associated Press, 6/4/03]

Angle Opposed Cracking Down On Real Estate Brokers. Angle in 2003 was one of only two votes in the Assembly voting against SB 428, which authorized the state Real Estate Division to investigate complaints against real estate brokers and determine their solvency to carry out transactions. [SB 428, 5/21/03]

ANGLE ALSO OPPOSED WALL STREET REFORMS THAT CRACKED THE INDUSTRY GREED THAT GOT US INTO THIS MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE

Angle Opposes Any Efforts To Reform Or Hold Wall Street Accountable. According to a Las Vegas Sun article outlining where Senate candidates stand on Wall Street Reform, "Before you ask Angle how Wall Street should be reformed, you need to ask her if it needs to be reformed. 'No,' she said in a written response." While other candidates disagreed on precisely how Wall Street should be reformed, Sharron Angle was the only one of five Senate candidates to respond in a written questionnaire from the Las Vegas Sun that no action should be taken to fix Wall Street. [Las Vegas Sun, 4/28/2010]

Angle Blamed Financial Crisis On "Too Much Regulation Across The Board." According to an April 18, 2010 article in the Las Vegas Sun, Angle told reporter David Schwartz the cause of the financial crisis was "too much regulation across the board." [Las Vegas Sun, 4/18/2010]

Angle Says We Should Leave Bailed Out Banks To Do Whatever They Want. When asked a question about failed banks giving bonuses to executives and financial reform, Sharron Angle said, "Well you don't give them the money in the first place, but now that they've got it, I don't see that we go in and we tell business what to do. That's not what government's supposed to be about." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston, 2/3/2010]

Las Vegas Sun: "Angle Is Quite Literally Alone" In Thinking Wall Street Needs No Reform. In April 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "Before you ask Angle how Wall Street should be reformed, you need to ask her if it needs to be reformed. 'No,' she said in a written response. 'Getting back to tried and true supply-side economics affectionately known as Reaganomics will give small business and international confidence in our economy.' On this, Angle is quite literally alone, not just among Republicans running for Senate, but also among economists and finance experts — left, right and center. Although there's disagreement about how to do it, policymakers in both parties agree Wall Street must be governed by rules that will enhance transparency and safety." [Las Vegas Sun, 4/28/10]

REID HAS BEEN FIGHTING TO HELP NEVADA FAMILIES WHO ARE UNDERWATER IN THEIR MORGAGAES AND STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES

May 2010: Reid's Work Holding Bank Of America's Feet To The Fire Paid Off When They Announced New Efforts To Help Struggling Nevada Homeowners. In May 2010, KTNV reported, "Big promises came after Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid met in Washington, DC with Bank of America CEO Brian Moyhnihan. Bank of America has promised to ramp up its customers service efforts and provide much needed assistance that homeowners say is a long time coming … Specifically, Bank of America will set up a 1-800 hotline exclusively for Nevada homeowners who have a mortgage with Bank of America. They will also open three homeowner resource centers in Henderson, Las Vegas and Reno for customers struggling to keep their homes. Lastly they will devote a team of Bank of America loan specialists to work alongside Senator Reid's staff on housing casework." [KTNV, 5/14/10]

Reid Criticized Bank Of America For Not Doing Enough To Help Nevada Homeowners. In December 2009, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pointedly criticized Bank of America today for not doing enough to help Nevada homeowners during the mortgage crisis, warning that the company must bring more resources to the state or face public scrutiny. 'I appreciate the significant burden that the foreclosure crisis has placed on your servicing division, but I suggest your Nevada mortgage customers, Nevada's housing market and, indeed, your company's reputation will all suffer more unless more of B of A's resources are directed to our state,' Reid wrote in a letter to the bank. 'Simply put -- B of A must do more.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 12/1/09]

Reid Called On Bank Of America To Bring More Resources To Help Nevadans. According to the Sun, "Reid, in the letter to bank president Barbara Desoer, called on Bank of America to bring greater resources to Nevada by establishing a loan assistance center in the state staffed by mortgage modification experts. He said other companies have done so in other cities. Reid also asked Bank of America to provide staff dedicated to handling its cases before the state's new foreclosure mediation program." [Las Vegas Sun, 12/1/09]

Reid Said His Office Was Handling A Massive Amount Of Bank Of America Housing Cases In Part Because "Of The Difficulties Your Nevada Customers Have Encountered When Approaching B Of A For Relief." According to the Sun, In the letter, Reid said that 40 percent of the housing assistance cases his Las Vegas office is handling involve home loans from Bank of America which, Reid writes, 'is in part a reflection of your company's presence in Nevada but perhaps also an unfortunate indication of the difficulties your Nevada customers have encountered when approaching B of A for relief. In too many instances where my staff connects a constituent with a B of A employee to discuss a modification, the constituent later reports that B of A failed to be of any assistance.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 12/1/09]

February 2010: Reid Worked With The Obama Administration To Bring $100 Million In Housing Assistance To Nevada. In February 2010, the Sun reported, "Washington — President Barack Obama will announce today during his visit to Las Vegas a new foreclosure rescue program, pumping $1.5 billion into Nevada and other hard-hit states to help housing agencies rework mortgages and save homes. The president's program, drafted at the urging of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, comes as Nevada's housing crisis continues unabated while other regions show improvements, contributing to a dismal economic environment that is threatening electoral fortunes this fall … The money will be divided by a formula based on the number of unemployed residents and the decline in home prices, which means California and the bigger states would likely get the lion's share. Nevada is expected to receive at least $100 million." [Las Vegas Sun,2/19/10]

Nevada Received The Largest Per Capita Share Of The New Housing Money. In a March 2010 release, Reid's office announced. "The funding program President Obama announced, also known as the 'Hardest Hit Fund,' provides funding to the five states whose housing prices have fallen more than 20 percent. Of those five states, Nevada will receive the most funding per capita - more than $100 million. 'The current housing crisis has hit Nevada harder than any other state which is why we will receive the most funding per capita through this program,' Reid said. 'I thank President Obama and Secretary Geithner for taking Nevada's needs seriously and for their commitment to helping struggling homeowners in Nevada.'" [Reid Release, 3/5/10]

February 2010: Reid Worked With The Obama Administration And Got HUD To Send Additional Staffers To Help Deal With The Foreclosure Crisis. In February 2010, the Sun reported, "The HUD secretary said today he is immediately dispatching a three-person foreclosure rapid-response team to Las Vegas and plans to add a total of eight new members to its Clark County office to deal with the housing crisis … Donovan outlined his plans for Nevada in a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid after the two met in Reid's office last month. Donovan, in the letter to Reid, reiterated 'HUD's commitment, and my personal commitment, to working closely with you and your staff as we focus on finding ways to make more federal resources available to address the foreclosure crisis in the Las Vegas area.' Donovan said he dispatched the three-person foreclosure team to Las Vegas, effective today. Five other positions in the office are expected to be filled by March 31." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/1/10]

2009: Reid Opened Up His Office To Nevada Homeowners Looking For Help Getting With Their Lenders. In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said his office received more than 650 calls from homeowners complaining about lenders' unwillingness to work with them. They gripe about the difficulty of reaching lenders. 'One of the biggest complaints I get from people fighting to stay in their homes is that they can't get anyone on the phone to talk to them,' Reid said from Washington. 'They won't return phone calls. People just want a little attention. They want to know where they stand. These people are just looking to get someone on the phone who can help navigate these troubled waters.' Reid said he knew he wouldn't be able to help everyone, but started taking casework to do what he could. He sent letters to lenders urging them to be more responsive and received about 180 responses. The senator's efforts resulted in 19 Nevada homeowners getting a loan modification or workout plan from the bank; another 40 or so have been assigned to a workout negotiator. 'It may not sound like much, but for those 59 people, they're pretty happy,' Reid said." [Review-Journal, 10/18/09]

SENATOR REID'S POINT WAS CLEAR: THE WAR IN IRAQ COULD NOT BE WON MILITARILY AND A CHANGE COURSE WAS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION

Reid: "As Long As We Follow The President's Path In Iraq, The War Is Lost." In April 2007, Reid spoke about the War in Iraq on the Senate floor:

Yesterday, I met with President Bush to express the will of the American people, senior military officials and a bipartisan majority of Congress that we must change course in Iraq. I told President Bush that after five years, more than 3,300 American soldiers lost and billions depleted from the treasury, we must change course. Conditions in Iraq get worse by the day, and now we find ourselves policing another nation's civil war. We are less secure from the many threats to our national security than we were when the war began. And as long as we follow the President's path in Iraq, the war is lost. But there is still a chance to change course - and we must change course. No one wants us to succeed in the Middle East more than I do. Our brave men and women overseas have passed every test with flying colors. They have earned our pride and praise, more importantly, they deserve a strategy worthy of their sacrifice. [Reid Floor Statement, 4/19/07]

Reid's Point – That We Needed To Find A Political Solution In Iraq And Not A Military One – Was Not A New One. In a March 2007 interview with Charilie Rose, Reid said, "But we have a chaotic situation in Iraq. We have a civil war that we`re policing. We have American soldiers kicking in doors, walking down streets. They`re sitting targets or standing targets for snipers. That`s where we are. And the president must change course. The president must understand that the Iraq war will not be won militarily. It only will be won diplomatically, and until that happens, we`re going to continue with more chaos in Iraq. What we as Democrats are going to do is to continue to put our foot on the throttle and push the president to change course. We hope to have another debate on Iraq within the next week or so." [The Charlie Rose Show, 3/5/07]

Reid: "The mission in Iraq has changed and, therefore, so must U.S. policy change. Troops should not be policing a civil war. The current conflict in Iraq requires a political solution. Listen to what General Petraeus said today from Iraq: 'The war cannot be won militarily. It can only be won politically.' We further believe that Iraq must take responsibility for its own future, and our troops should begin to come home." [Reid Media Availability, 3/8/07]

Reid: "The Longer We Continue Down The President's Path, The Further We Will Be From Responsibly Ending This War." During an April 20 speech, Reid said, "Given the White House spin machine has been working overtime in an effort to defend its failed policies, I think it's important for me to repeat what I said yesterday afternoon in this chamber. The longer we continue down the president's path, the further we will be from responsibly ending this war. I said it yesterday, I say it again. The longer we continue down the president's path, the further we will be from responsibly ending this war. But there is still a chance to change course, and we must change course." [Reid Floor Speech, 4/20/07]

Reid: "There Is No Magic Formula." In an April 2007 speech on Iraq, Reid said, "Now in the fifth year of President Bush's mismanagement and mistakes, there is no magic formula. But, there is a way forward that gives us our best chance for a responsible end to the war - that protects our strategic interests, strengthens our security, and brings our troops home. That way forward is being forged today in Congress, with the help and advice of Democrats and Republicans, civilian experts and retired generals, as well as the good judgment of the American people, who have made their voices heard loud and clear." [Reid Speech, Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, 4/23/07]

Reid: "The President Simply Is Headed In The Wrong Direction." In an April 2007 interview, Reid was asked what he sees when the president said he saw progress. Reid said, "I see statistics that come out, showing that in the three months since the so-called escalation or surge has taken place, things are getting a lot worse, not better. We're at a rate of killing four Americans a day. We're wounding thousands - as you know, where 27,000 now or so have been wounded in that war - a third of them grievously wounded with missing limbs. We have 2,000 double amputees from that war. It's like a balloon you squeeze. Things have maybe calmed down a little bit in Baghdad, but it's just squeezed out in other areas. Today, there has been violence in the Kurdish area, which we haven't seen before, a couple of dozen people killed up there in one bomb blast. So the president simply is headed in the wrong direction, which is the same direction he's been going for four-plus years and then some more. We've got to change direction." [NPR, 4/23/07]

Reid: "Winning This War Is No Longer The Job Of The American Military." In April 2007, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "The Nevada lawmaker refused to back away from his comment that the 'war is lost,' but he steered toward a broader argument against Bush's strategy for a troop surge, saying military officials do not believe the war can be won by warfare alone. 'Winning this war is no longer the job of the American military,' Reid told nearly 100 people at the Wilson center. 'The failure has been political. It has been policy. It has been presidential.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 4/24/07]

Reid Reached Conclusion On The War After Visiting Troops At Walter Reed. In April 2007, Ted Koppel told CNN, "I spoke to one of his aides. He said that Harry Reid has reached a point in his own mind where the war is lost and this is a very personal moment for him. He just went to Walter Reed a few weeks back, saw the troops, and it was from that point on that he felt that there was nothing more that throwing more troops at this war was not going to resolve it, and that he had to come out and make a very public stand which is why he said that this week." [CNN, 4/22/07]

THE GAZETTE-JOURNAL, NEVADA VETERANS, MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY HAVE AGREED WITH REID'S CHOICE OF WORDS, BUT THEY AGREED THAT THE WAR IN IRAQ COULD NOT BE WON MILITARILY AND THAT A CHANGE IN COURSE WAS NECESSARY

Gazette-Journal: Reid "Is Right … That The Only Path To Victory In Iraq Is Through Diplomacy And The Creation Of A Political System In Iraq That Offers All Iraqis A Way Out Of The Violence And Strife." In an April 2007 editorial, the Reno Gazette-Journal wrote, "Reid is wrong to say that the war is lost. He is right, however, that the only path to victory in Iraq is through diplomacy and the creation of a political system in Iraq that offers all Iraqis a way out of the violence and strife. The terrorists - that's the only word to describe the suicide bombers cannot be defeated; they can only be co-opted. That's why it's critical that the Iraq government pay attention to the words of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who made a surprise visit to Iraq last week. The U.S. commitment is not open-ended, he warned, and urged the government to move faster on political reconciliation." [Gazette-Journal, Editorial, 4/23/07]

Gazette-Journal: "The War Was Won In A Quick Rout; The Peace Is Being Lost Slowly But Just As Surely. It's Up To Iraq's Leaders To Find A Way Out Of This Morass." [Gazette-Journal, Editorial, 4/23/07]

Nevada Veterans Backed Reid. In April 2007, the Review-Journal reported, "A group of military veterans in Nevada, who are Democrats, rallied support for Reid on Friday. 'It is very clear we are not able to have an effect on (Iraq's) civil war,' said Elliot Anderson, chairman of the Veterans and Military Families Caucus. 'America is not in a position to get these two groups (Sunnis and Shiites) to stop fighting each other, so in that regard it is lost,' Anderson said. Republicans and others who have reacted strongly to Reid's remarks 'keep ignoring reality,' Anderson said. 'America cannot fix the problems in Iraq, and they refuse to see that.'" [Review-Journal, 4/21/07]

EVEN GENERAL PETRAEUS SAID THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION IN IRAQ, THAT A POLITICAL SOLUTION IS NECESSARY

General Petraeus Said There Is "No Military Solution" In Iraq. In March 2007, the New York Times reported, "General Petraeus repeated observations by previous commanders that there is 'no military solution' to Iraq's grave problems. The only long-run success, he said, will come after 'reconciling differences with some of those who have felt that the new Iraq did not have a place for them.'" [New York Times, 3/9/07]

McCain On Petraeus' Comment: "I Don't Know Anyone Who Disagrees With That." In April 2007, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was asked about General Petraeus' comments about a military solution in Iraq:

Q: Senator McCain, you've been a staunch supporter of the military effort here, but General Petraeus -

SEN. MCCAIN: Not really. For three years, I was a very severe critic of the military effort here.

Q: The current military effort, the surge.

SEN. MCCAIN: The current - yes, sir.

Q: General Petraeus, who is in charge of that surge, has made it clear that this war cannot be won militarily, only politically.

SEN. MCCAIN: I don't know anyone else who - I don't know anyone who disagrees with that. [McCain, Graham, Pence Press Conference, 4/1/07]

Hagel: "There Will Not Be A Military Solution To Iraq." On March 2007, the New York Times reported, that former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) said, "There will not be a military solution to Iraq … Iraq belongs to the 25 million Iraqis who live there. It doesn't belong to the United States. Iraq is not a prize to be won or lost." [New York Times, 3/28/07]

REID HAS CONSISTENTLY STOOD WITH OUR TROOPS, FIGHTING FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING, PAY RAISES

As Majority Leader, Reid Made Sure Troops Received Pay Increases. In January 2008, Reid voted for a defense authorization bill containing a 3.5 percent pay increase for all uniformed personnel for Fiscal Year 2008. In September 2008, Reid voted for a defense authorization bill containing a 3.9 percent across-the-board pay increase for Fiscal Year 2009. In October 2009, Reid led the Senate in passing a defense authorization bill that gave our men and women in uniform a 3.4% pay increase, which is an even larger increase than President Obama originally proposed. [Vote 1, 1/22/08; Vote 201, 9/17/08; Vote 327, 10/22/09; Washington Post, 10/26/09]

Reid-Led Senate Passed Defense Authorization Bill That Also Made It Easier For Our Troops To Vote. In October 2009, the Washington Post reported, "The defense authorization bill, which funds Pentagon operations but historically includes several other unrelated provisions, passed by a vote of 68 to 29." For members of the military, "voting will get easier for them, thanks to a provision requiring states to provide military voters with ballots no later than 45 days before an election. States must also provide ballots electronically." [Washington Post, 10/26/09]

Reid Worked With Other Nevada Leaders To Bring A USO Lounge To McCarron Airport. In January 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "McCarran International Airport will get a USO lounge for military personnel after years of stalled attempts. USO leaders announced plans today to open a $1.5 million airport 'hospitality center' where members of the military can congregate, wash up and rest. They said their goal was to finish it by summer … USO chief executive Sloan Gibson and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., trumpeted the future lounge at a news conference today in Washington D.C. … Sisolak brought together veterans' advocates and politicians in November to make a concerted effort at developing the lounge. He agreed it didn't hurt that Reid is in an election year. 'It shows you how much the majority leader of the Senate can get done,' Sisolak said." [Review-Journal, 1/28/10]

October 2009: Reid-Led Bill To Extend The Homebuyer Tax Credit Also Made More Families Eligible For The Credit And Included Protections For Members Of The Armed Forces. According to a November 2009 press release, the bill Senator Reid led the Senate in passing that extended and expanded the homebuyer tax credit also "Increases the dollar limits for eligibility for both credits from $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married couples to $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for married couples … Waives repayment of the credit for Members of the Armed Forces and others on sent away from home on extended duty" and "Extends the credit for an additional year for Members of the Armed Forces and others away from home on extended duty." [Reid Press Release, 11/4/09]

May 2009: Senate Passed Spending Bill That Funded Troops, Provided For Additional Forces In Afghanistan. In May 2009, The Hill reported, "A $91.3 billion supplemental budget measure easily passed the Senate Thursday night after it was untangled from two of its most controversial elements. Senators voted 86-3 for the budget, which will provide about $85 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through Sept. 30 and including the addition of an extra 21,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan." [The Hill, 5/22/09; Vote 202, 5/22/09]

September 2007: Reid Fought Make Sure Troops Were Given Adequate Time Between Deployments. In a 2007 speech, Reid called on the Senate to pass Senator Webb's dwell time amendment. Reid said, "The Webb amendment is simple: It states that if a member of the active military is deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, they are entitled to the same length of time back home before they can be redeployed. It also states that members of the Reserves may not be redeployed within three years of their original deployment – which will not only give them time to recover from deployment, but will restore our reserve forces ability and availability to respond to emergencies here at home." [Remarks by Senator Reid,9/19/07]

June 2004: Reid Voted To Reimburse Troops For Out-Of-Pocket Spending For Equipment. In June 2004, Reid voted for an amendment that would require the Defense Department to reimburse troops headed to Iraq and Afghanistan for certain protective, safety pr health equipment they purchase or that others purchase for them. [Vote 112, 6/14/04]

October 2003: Reid Voted For $322 Million For Protective Gear For Troops. In October 2003, Senator Reid voted for a proposal to take $322 million from Iraqi prison building and witness protection funds and use it for vests and other protective gear for troops. [Vote 376, 10/2/03; CQ Today, 10/2/03]

July 2003: Reid Voted To Limit National Guard Deployments. In July 2003, Senator Reid voted for a proposal to limit the overseas missions of National Guard and Reserve forces to six months, once a year [Vote 277, 7/15/03; Associated Press, 7/15/03]

April 2003: Reid Voted For $1 Billion In Equipment Funding For Troops. Just weeks after the Iraq war began, Senator Reid voted for a proposal to provide $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment. [Vote 116, 4/2/03; Associated Press, 4/2/03]

REID HAS ALSO STOOD WITH NEVADA'S VETERANS, FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THEY RECEIVE THE RESPECT AND THE BENEFITS THEY'VE EARNED

Reid Was Instrumental In Delivering More Than $540 Million In Funding For The New Southern Nevada Veterans Hospital. In 2005, Reid helped secure $199 million in funding for the new Southern Nevada veterans hospital. In 2007, he led the Senate in passing an appropriations bill that contained $341.4 million he secured for the hospital. [Review-Journal, 9/7/07; FY 2008 Military Construction & Veterans Affairs Bill; Review-Journal, 11/19/05; FY 2006 Military Construction & Veterans Affairs Bill]

Nevada American Legion Presented Reid With Award Recognizing Efforts For Veterans. On April 1, 2008, the Nevada American Legion presented Senator Harry Reid with the Nevada American Legion Award to recognize his leadership on veterans' care. According to the release, "Nevada Senator Harry Reid was presented with the Nevada American Legion Award to recognize his leadership and tireless efforts to ensure that veterans receive the care they need and deserve … Over the past year, under the leadership of Reid, Senate Democrats passed the largest budget in the history of our country for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which included $341 million for a new Veterans Administration hospital in Southern Nevada." [American Legion Press Release, 4/2/08]

Retired Army General: "[Reid] Does Everything Possible From His Leadership Position" To Make Sure Veterans Get What They Need. In an April 2007 Op/Ed, Reno Republican and Retired Army Brigadier General Frank Parlow wrote, "While Sen. Reid and I have had some serious defense policy differences, there is no daylight between us regarding veterans. We both believe that veterans should be cared for by the nation they served. He does everything possible from his leadership position to assure that care. Unlike others, Sen. Reid understands real veteran's issues caused by the ongoing war on terror." [Gazette-Journal 7/16/07]

American Legion Named Reid An "Unsung Hero" In Congress. In 2004, American Legion Commander John Brieden presented Senator Reid with an "Unsung Hero" award. The citation praised Reid "For commendable leadership on the issue of concurrent receipt of military retired pay and Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation for thousands of disabled military retirees." Brieden said "I commend SenatorReid for taking a leadership role in making that happen." [States News Service, 3/10/04]

American Legion Commander Applauded Reid's Work To Protect Veterans' Retirement Pay. In 2003, American Legion National Commander Ronald F. Conley said: "The American Legion applauds both Senator Reid and Rep. Mike Bilirakis for introducing legislation that would allow military retirees with service-connected disabilities to collect every dime this nation owes them." [American Legion Press Release, 3/27/03]

AMVETS Backed Reid's Work To Restore Retiree Pay For Disabled Veterans. In an April 2001 statement, AMVETS National Commander Arthur C. Stahl said, "AMVETS fully supports the efforts of Sens. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.) and John Warner (R-Va.) to sufficiently fund the enactment of S. 170, the Retired Pay Restoration Act, which will end this penalty against retired, disabled veterans." [AMVETS Press Release, 4/6/01]

Under Reid's Leadership, The Senate Passed An Expansion Of The GI Bill That Increased Benefits For Veterans. In June 2008, the Senate passed legislation "[doubling] GI bill college benefits for troops and veterans," according to the Chicago Tribune. According to the report, "The new GI bill offers troops and veterans free tuition to the equivalent of the most expensive school in their state and a housing stipend. Those who have served three years in the military are eligible." The bill also contained language allowing veterans to transfer their GI Bill benefits to their spouses or children. [Vote 162, 6/26/08; Chicago Tribune, The Swamp, 6/30/08]

2010: Reid Passed The Recovery Act, Which Included $1.4 Billion In Funding For Veterans Affairs, More Than $5 Million For Reno Veterans Hospital. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, "In putting Americans back to work through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Department of Veterans Affairs has been allocated $1.4 billion. That money is set to target programs across the country which are of most interest to Veterans." More Than $5 million of that funding is headed to the Reno Veterans Administration Hospital to fund important improvements that increase patient safety and improve the quality of care for Northern Nevada veterans. [Department of Veterans Affairs Website; Reid Release, 2/22/10; Reid Release, 3/20/09]

2009: Reid Led The Senate In Passing A Budget That Included An 11.7% Increase In Veterans Funding. In April 2009, Reid led the Senate in passing a budget that, according to the Senate Budget Committee, "honors our veterans by providing a $5.6 billion, 11.7 percent, increase over the 2009 level in veterans' health care and other services. It follows the President's budget in ending the Bush administration's ban on enrolling modest-income veterans for Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) health care. It provides more funding than 2009 for VA to research and treat mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury. It also assumes VA's current policy of paying for the treatment of veterans' service-connected conditions and billing private insurance companies only for treatment of non-service-connected conditions." [Senate Budget Committee, Overview of Budget Conference Report; Vote 173, 4/29/09]

2009: Reid Led The Senate In Passing Defense Bill That Included His Provision To Recognize The Work Of Air America Veterans.In May 2009, Reid introduced a bill that would begin the process of granting federal retirement benefits to veterans of Air America, a secret CIA-controlled company from the 1970s whose employees have been unable to receive retirement benefits because of the secret nature of their work. In October, Reid led the Senate in passing a Defense Authorization bill that some of his language to begin that process. [Reid Press Release, 5/21/09; Reid Press Release, 10/22/09]

2008: Reid Fought To Pass A Budget That Made Up For President Bush's Failure To Adequately Fund Veterans' Programs. In March 2008, Senator Reid voted for the Senate's version of the FY 2009 budget, which included $3.2 billion for discretionary veterans' programs, including veterans' health care, beyond what President Bush allocated in his budget. Paralyzed Veterans of America National President Randy L. Pleva Sr. urged members of Congress to close the shortfall in the Bush Budget, saying, "President Bush's 2009 budget is short by $3 billion for our veterans and this means our seriously injured veterans will not get all the services they have earned and deserve." [Vote 85, 3/14/08; Chairman's Mark of FY 2009 Budget Resolution, 3/6/08; Paralyzed Veterans of America Press Release, 3/6/08]

2007: Reid Led The Senate In Passing A Budget That Included An Increase In Veterans' Funding. In March and May 2007, Senator Reid voted for both the initial and final versions of the Fiscal Year 2008 budget resolution, which according to Congressional Quarterly "would mark the first year that appropriators met the request of the veterans' groups." The bill included "a $3.6 billion increase in discretionary funding for the VA over the president's fiscal 2008 request. The budget resolution also expressed a 'sense of Congress' that additional benefits claims processors are needed, as is increased funding to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and brain and spinal cord injuries." [Vote 114, 3/23/07; Vote 172, 5/17/07; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/07]

FACT: ANGLE HAS REPEATEDLY SAID SHE WANTS TO GET RID OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY SOCIAL SECURITY IS "DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY" AND COMPARED IT TO WELFARE

Angle: "We Need To Phase Medicare And Social Security Out." During a May 2010 debate on Face to Face, Sharron Angle said, "We need to phase Medicare and Social Security out in favor of something privatized." She later added, "Going forward we need to phase it out, give people an opportunity to either opt into the old system or go for a new system where they have their own healthcare savings account or they have their own retirement savings account which is portable and goes with them from job to job and for those who are entering the workforce right now they come on to the new system so it's a phased-in system so it's something [inaudible] privatize." [Face to Face Debate, 5/19/10]

Angle Said Social Security Is "Difficult To Justify" And Likened It To Welfare. In a May interview with KNPR, Angle said, "Well, it's very difficult, Lynn, to justify Social Security. As you know F.D.R. put it in as an insurance policy for those who were needy. My grandfather would not even take his Social Security check because he said he was not up for welfare, he had planned for his retirement, and he wouldn't take it. But, since then we have gotten into this whole mindset that it's an entitlement." [KNPR, State of Nevada, 5/19/10]

NARA President: "Angle's Offensive Comments Are Not Only Out Of Touch And Extreme, They Are Just Plain Ignorant." In a June 2010 statement, Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans President Scotty Watts said, "Sharron Angle's recent comments likening America's Social Security program to welfare does not fly with Nevada seniors. Sharron Angle should apologize to the 300,000 Nevadans she mis-classified as welfare recipients. Angle's offensive comments are not only out of touch and extreme, they are just plain ignorant. For nearly 75 years, Social Security has operated as a family insurance program, funded directly by payroll contributions. The majority of Nevada Social Security beneficiaries have worked hard and paid their dues in contributions to the Social Security Trust Fund. Retirees look forward to living out their retirement with dignity and depend on the benefits owed to them. Sharron Angle should lay off Social Security and Nevada's seniors." [Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans, Press Release, 6/22/10]

Angle Believes "Entitlement Programs … Make Government Our God" And That "We Have Become A Country Entrenched In Idolatry." During an April 2010 interview with TruNews radio, Angle said, "And these programs that you mentioned — that Obama has going with Reid and Pelosi pushing them forward — are all entitlement programs built to make government our God. And that's really what's happening in this country is a violation of the First Commandment. We have become a country entrenched in idolatry, and that idolatry is the dependency upon our government. We're supposed to depend upon God for our protection and our provision and for our daily bread, not for our government." [TruNews,4/21/10]

Associated Press: "Sharron Angle Wants to Wipe Out Social Security." According to the Associated Press, "Sharron Angle wants to wipe out Social Security…" [Associated Press, 5/27/10]

Angle: "The Idea Of Privatizing And Getting Out Of Medicare And Social Security Is Not Up For Grabs." In June 2010, Talking Points Memo reported, "In an interview from three weeks before the Nevada Republican primary, Sharron Angle made it clear that getting rid of Medicare and Social Security is a non-negotiable issue for her … Going on in the interview, Angle talks about how as a Senator she would work with other legislators to formulate a proper solution for her idea, haggling over the details and implementation of privatization without giving up on the main idea itself: 'The idea of privatizing and getting out of Medicare and Social Security is not up for grabs.'" [Talking Points Memo, 6/14/10]

Angle: "I'm Not Sure Just Where In The Constitution The Federal Government Is Even Supposed To Be Involved In Our Medicare." During a September 2009 campaign event, Sharron Angle said, "We need to send people back there who are willing to look at what's wrong because we know that Medicare Part D might have been a good idea when it started out, but once it goes through the legislative process it becomes compromised and pretty soon it doesn't work. And I'm not sure just where in the Constitution the federal government is even supposed to be involved in our Medicare. You know, these are things that could be done on the state level much better." [Angle Campaign Event, 9/1/09]

Angle On Medicare: "We Need To Phase It Out." In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "As for Medicare, she (Angle) said the entitlement program popular with seniors will eventually grow too costly to maintain… 'We need to phase it out,' she said." [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/21/09]

EVEN REPUBLICANS THINK ANGLE'S PLAN TO ELIMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE IS TOO EXTREME

Nevada Republican Strategist: Angle's Call For Eliminating Social Security Is "Completely Out Of Step" And "Politically Unpalatable." In May 2010, Lowden Campaign Manager Robert Uithoven told the Associated Press that Angle's plan for Social Security "is completely out of step. In a state that has a huge number of retirees, it's not a proposal Nevadans … would back." He later told Politico on "(Angle's) views on issues such as 'the full elimination' of Social Security are politically unpalatable — to win Democratic and independent voters in a closely contested general election." [Associated Press, 5/27/10; Politico, 6/5/10]

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty: "Doing Away With Social Security Is Not Something I Think Most Republicans Would Support." In June 2010, Minnesota Governor Time Pawlenty was asked about Sharron Angle's plan to eliminate Social Security on Good Morning America. He said, "I'm not familiar with all of her record. But doing away with Social Security is not something I think most Republicans would support … I think most Republicans would say Social Security needs to be reformed, not abolished." [Good Morning America, 6/11/10]

Senator Olympia Snowe (ME) Highlighted Her Famous Opposition To President Bush's Plan To Partially Privatize Social Security (Not Nearly As Extreme As Eliminating It) When Asked About Angle's Plan. In June 2010, The Hill reported, "Snowe emphasized that she opposed former President George W. Bush's plan to privatize Social Security in 2005. 'I brought down the Finance Committee back in 2005,' said Snowe, referring to her opposition to radically changing Social Security's system of guaranteed benefits." [The Hill, 6/15/10]

Politico: "Several Senate Republicans Told POLITICO That They Don't Favor Privatizing Social Security, As Angle Has Supported." In June 2010, Politico reported, "Several Senate Republicans told POLITICO that they don't favor privatizing Social Security, as Angle has supported. Small government conservatives said it doesn't make sense to eliminate the Energy and Education departments – as she's called for in the past. And some recoiled at the thought of pulling the United States out of the United Nations, a position Angle has touted" [Politico, 6/16/10]

Senator Richard Lugar (IN): "'They were suggested about 18 years ago, and many times subsequently,' said Sen. Richard Lugar(R-Ind.) who disagreed with all of those views. 'Some candidates from time to time, perhaps attempting to show a sense of anger, outrage or whatever, express what I would characterize as very extreme views that do not have much basis in either practicality or what is going to occur in the evolution of our country.'" [Politico, 6/16/10]

Senator John Thune (SD): "I don't think that [privatizing Social Security] is going to be part of a Republican platform – and I'm not sure how she's going to develop her policy positions with regard to entitlement programs at this point." [Politico, 6/16/10]

Senator Lamar Alexander (TN): "Asked if he supported privatizing Social Security, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the third-ranking senator in the GOP Conference, said, 'I favor the idea of making Social Security solvent – that would be my goal. That would be my overriding objective.'" [Politico, 6/16/10]

Senator Orrin Hatch (UT): "Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a conservative who sits on the Finance Committee, said that privatization can work 'pretty well,' but said that not having the government involved is 'a little different.' 'That's why health savings accounts are so important – you wouldn't have to privatize a lot of things if people are allowed to save their own money and develop their own ability to take care of themselves,' Hatch said. 'The same thing could apply to Social Security, at least in part.'" [Politico, 6/16/10]

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) went even further, saying he opposes privatizing the entitlement program but wants to keep it from going broke. 'I want to keep the one we got from going bankrupt – Social Security has been salvation for Americans in their retirement years,' Graham said. 'Fifty percent of seniors would be in poverty without Social Security.'"[Politico, 6/16/10]

INDEPENDENT FACT-CHECKERS AGREED THAT THE REID CAMPAIGN'S FIRST TELEVISION AD HIGHLIGHTING SHARRON'S DANGEROUD PLAN TO ELIMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE WERE ACCURATE

Jon Ralston: "Hard to find much at fault when it comes to veracity here, so I give this one an A-." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston,6/14/10]

Reno Gazette-Journal: "The ad is right that Angle wants Medicare and Social Security wiped out, or 'transitioned out,' as her site says … The ad is as fair as attack ads get, and the claim is generally legit." [Reno Gazette-Journal, 6/20/10]

FactCheck.org: "The Ad Is Correct In Describing Angle As Wanting To 'Get Rid Of Medicare And Social Security." In June 2010, FactCheck.org wrote, "Democratic Sen. Harry Reid's reelection campaign on June 11 released an ad attacking GOP nominee Sharron Angle for wanting to 'get rid of Medicare and Social Security' — a charge she called 'nonsense' in a June 14 interview with Fox News commentator Sean Hannity. It's true that Angle has proposed phasing out Social Security and Medicare … There is no question that Angle has proposed a major restructuring and eventual elimination of Social Security." The report adds, "The ad is correct in describing Angle as wanting to 'get rid of Medicare and Social Security.'" [FactCheck.org, 6/18/10]

BACKGROUND: SEN. REID'S STRONG RECORD ON BORDER SECURITY

2010: Under Reid's Leadership, The Senate Passed $600 Million To Secure The Border. "Democrats Charles Schumer of New York and Ben Cardin of Maryland - returned from their August recess Thursday to give the chamber's approval for $600 million in emergency funding to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border. The measure, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives, now advances to President Barack Obama's desk. Obama is expected to sign it on Friday … Among other things, the bill provides for roughly 1,500 new law enforcement agents, new unmanned aerial vehicles, new forwarding operating bases and $14 million in new communications equipment." [CNN, Political Ticker,8/12/10]

$600 Million Included Funding For Two Additional Predator Drones To Patrol The US-Mexico Border. According to Reuters, "The U.S. government will have unmanned surveillance aircraft monitoring the border with Mexico starting Wednesday, a top official said on Monday … Earlier this month, President Barack Obama signed a $600 million bill that would fund some 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, customs inspectors and other law enforcement officials along the border, as well as paying for two more unmanned drones. Napolitano said the additional aircraft pledged under the bill, together with the new aircraft soon to begin operations in Texas, would increase the Customs and Border Protection drone fleet to six by the start of next year. The Predator B drones are made by defense contractor General Atomics. They carry equipment including sophisticated day and night vision cameras that operators use to detect drug and human smugglers, and can stay aloft for up to 30 hours at a time." [Reuters, 8/30/10]

Under President Obama And Democratic Leadership We Have More Boots On The Ground At The US-Mexico Border Than We Have Since Woodrow Wilson Was President. According to Politifact, the last time the US had more personnel securing the US-Mexico border was in 1916, when Woodrow Wilson sent troops to the border after Poncho Villa launched a surprise attack on Columbus, NM. [Politifact, 7/1/10]

2007: Reid Led The Senate In Passing Close To $7 Billion In Border Funding; Funding Went For Guards, Fencing, UAVs. In December 2007, Reid led the Senate in passing an omnibus appropriations bill that included "$6.8 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to secure the borders, including funds to continue limited use of National Guard troops on the border and hire 3,000 additional border patrol agents. The bill provides $1.2 billion for border security fencing to complete 370 miles by the end of FY 2008 and almost $15 million for additional unmanned aerial systems to patrol the border." [PL 110-161, 12/26/07; Lieberman Press Release, 12/19/07]

FACT: ANGLE HAS HAD MORE THAN THREE MONTHS TO WALK BACK THIS STANCE AND CLARIFY THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO PRIVATIZE THE VA, BUT HASN'T

6/14: The Washington Post's Plum Line Ran A Post With This Headline, "Sharron Angle suggested we should privatize Dept of Veterans Affairs" [Washington Post, Plum Line, 6/14/10]

6/15: Politico Repeated The Claim, Made It Clear The Reid Campaign Would Be Focusing On It. "After accusing her of wanting to 'wipe out' Social Security and Medicare, Reid's team is zeroing in on comments Angle made about wanting to privatize veterans' health care — as well as her suggestion that there could be an armed revolution, depending on how things turn out in November." [Politico, 6/15/10]

6/17: The Los Angeles Times Reported That The Reid Campaign Highlighted The Claim In An Attack On Angle. "Reid also posted Wednesday that National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn said Angle won't be speaking to the media 'for a few weeks' — or until she can be prepped on the latest talking points to assuage concerns about her record (which includes sympathizing with a secretive right-wing organization known as the Oath Keepers, advocating that the U.S. leave the United Nations, opposing Wall Street reform, privatizing Social Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and shuttering the federal departments of Education and Energy)." [Los Angeles Times, 6/17/10]

8/7: Reid Spokesman Zac Petkanas Repeated The Charge To The RGJ. "Further, unlike Sharron Angle who wants to privatize the VA and eliminate Social Security, Sen. Reid has a long record of delivering for those who have served our country and he will always do so. Finally, given that Sharron Angle is attacking Senator Reid regarding the border the same week he delivered more than $600 million to secure it just further proves she has no idea what she's talking about." [Reno Gazette-Journal, 8/7/10]

8/25: Ralston Reported Harry Reid Himself Leveling The Charge At A Campaign Event. "On veterans: Reid expressed sympathy for a Vietnam veteran who had to go through the VA bureaucracy, then pivoted and said he wanted to say 'a word about my opponent. She wants to privatize the veterans' administration. Think about it!'" [Las Vegas Sun, Ralston's Flash, 8/25/10]

8/28: The Elko Daily Free Press Reported That Senator Jon Tester, On Behalf Of The Campaign, Criticized Angle For Wanting To Privatize The VA In Elko. "[Senator Tester], who is on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, said a large percentage of veterans in the West appreciate the VA clinics and veterans benefits have gotten better 'under Harry's watch.' 'It's critically important to keep our heads on straight, and privatizing the VA is no way to do that,' Tester said. He said one of the recent changes was to raise the mileage for veterans traveling for medical care from 11 cents a mile to 43 cents." [Elko Daily Free Press, 8/28/10]

9/6: Reid Repeated The Claim To CNN. "It's a little hard to take out of context somebody who said they want to phase out Social Security, get rid of Medicare, privatize the VA Administration, do away with the Department of Energy, do away with the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, that all Presidential Executive Orders are unconstitutional, I like Emancipation Proclamation. Her words are what she is. My words are what I am. So I don't think you can run from what you say and what you do." [CNN, 9/6/10]

9/7: Reid Repeated The Claim To Fox News. "Someone that wants to phase out Medicare, get rid of Social Security. Someone that wants to privatize the Veterans Administration, someone that wants to get rid of the Department of Energy, the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency. Someone who says that we didn't need to get more money for teachers." [Fox News, 9/7/10]

9/17: Fox News' Bret Baier Played Senator Reid Repeating This Charge During A Nationally Televised Interview With Angle, And Yet She Declined To Address It. [Friends of Sharron Angle YouTube Page, 9/17/10]

9/7: Reid Repeated The Claim To ABC. "I think it's looking pretty good. I feel comfortable where we are. Certainly there's no dispute about the contrast. She's somebody who's against the Department of Energy, Department of Education. Wants to phase out Social Security, Medicare, privatize Veterans' Administration, get rid of the Department of Energy, I mean Department of Education. She's got a long list of negative hits." [ABC TopLine, 9/7/10]

9/12: Reid Spokesman Jon Summers Highlighted Wanting To Privatize The VA As One Reason Team Angle Abruptly Pulled Out Of A Debate On Face To Face. "There is a reason Angle pulled out of a statewide public debate: because she knows her extreme agenda to kill Social Security, store nuclear waste 90 miles away from the Strip, and privatize the Veterans Administration are not only bad economic policies, they are out of step with Nevada voters." [RJ, 9/12/10]

Setting the Record Straight: Reid Relates to Struggling Nevadans

Las Vegas Sun: "Reiterating her position that government should stay out of the way of business, even when it asks for help, Angle said this week that she would not have intervened to help rescue CityCenter when the project was on the brink of losing its financing." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/9/10]

Angle Would Not Have Acted To Save CityCenter, Called It "Shuffling … Deck Chairs On The Titanic." During a July 2010 interview with Alan Stock, Angle was asked if she, like Reid, would have acted to save CityCenter. Angle said, "No, I would not. You know the reason is because he may have saved jobs in CityCenter, but he actually cost jobs in other parts of the city. And you know that as well as I do. The issue here becomes bailouts, right? And stimulus. We want something that is not going to bail out and stimulate, what we want is deregulate, lower taxes, give businesses some breathing room to do what they do best which is create jobs. And just shuffling these, if you will, the deck chairs on the Titanic is not going to solve the problem. And so shifting employment from one arena to the next is not going to solve the problem. What we really need is real jobs, permanent, full-time jobs with a future. And that can only be provided by the private sector, government does not provide jobs." [KXNT, Alan Stock in the Afternoon, 7/7/10]

Immediately After The Interview, Angle Doubled Down. During a July 2010 episode of Face to Face, Jon Ralston reported that, after her interview with Alan Stock, Angle reiterated her opposition to helping save CityCenter. Angle said, "Well, I said that it wouldn't be something I would have done because it's not, it's kind of like shifting the chairs on the deck of the Titanic. If you only shift jobs from one place to another when we know that when they put those jobs at CityCenter it was jobs that were taken away, or business that was taken away, from other areas. And so really it actually injured the economy of other businesses, and that's not what government should be doing. Government should stand out of the way, through de-regulation and lower taxes that are able to create a climate where business has some confidence, and when they have confidence they do what they do best, which is create jobs. And that's really what we want here in Nevada is full-time, permanent employment, with a future." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston, 7/7/10]

Ralston: "This is a dicey position for Angle to take. On the one hand, I and others have raised questions about the propriety of a United States Senator pressing a banker to give a loan to a major corporate interest, and his largest campaign donor. But on the other hand, the same Senate candidate who says it's not her job to create jobs now says she wouldn't have tried to save thousands of jobs? That's tough." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston, 7/7/10]

MGM: "Ms. Angle's Statement Is Ridiculous On Its Face." In response to Angle's comments on CityCenter, MGM Resorts issued the following statement: "Ms. Angle's statement is ridiculous on its face. Senator Reid's support of our significant private investment in Las Vegas came during our company's darkest hour. He saved, not only 10,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent private sector jobs at CityCenter, but the jobs of 50,000 employees at our other resorts that would have been jeopardized had our company followed CityCenter into bankruptcy." [MGM Resorts International, 7/7/10]

Las Vegas Sun: "Angle's Stunning Statement Shows How Far Out Of Touch She Is With Reality." In a July 2010 editorial, the Las Vegas Sun wrote, "Angle's stunning statement shows how far out of touch she is with reality. MGM Resorts issued a statement calling Angle's comments 'ridiculous,' adding that Reid 'saved not only 10,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent private-sector jobs at CityCenter but the jobs of 50,000 employees at our other resorts that would have been jeopardized had our companyfollowed CityCenter into bankruptcy.' But Angle's comments are more than ridiculous, they are factually wrong. There was no stimulus or bailout. There were no jobs lost in other parts of the city because of Reid's action. Government didn't create any jobs, MGM Resorts — the state's largest private employer — did, and the jobs are 'real.'" [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

Sun: "Had She Been In The Senate Instead Of Reid, Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs Would Have Been Lost." According to the Las Vegas Sun, "But Angle says a senator's role isn't to create jobs and apparently doesn't think a senator should help workers or businesses. Had she been in the Senate instead of Reid, tens of thousands of jobs would have been lost." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

Sun: "Angle Just Doesn't Get It." According to the Las Vegas Sun, "Angle just doesn't get it. What Reid did was exactly what anyone should want a senator to do. He went to bat for a local business and for Nevada's workers. Angle has shown a cold heart toward workers and their families, preferring instead to stick to her narrow anti-government ideology." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

FACT: ANGLE WOULD HAVE OPPOSED FUNDING TO SAVE 1,400 NEVADA EDUCATION JOBS, SAID "I THINK THE EMERGENCY IS ONLY IN HARRY REID'S MIND

Reid Passed Legislation Providing $83 Million In Funding To Save 1,400 Education Jobs In Nevada. In August 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "Senate Democrats on Wednesday defeated a Republican filibuster and cleared a path for a $26 billion bill to rescue cash-starved states contemplating layoffs to teachers and other public employees. For Nevada, the legislation promises $83 million to bolster school budgets and $79 million to cushion a shortfall in state spending on health care for the poor, said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev." According to the Department of Education, the funding would save approximately 1,400 Nevada education jobs. [Review-Journal, 8/4/10; Department of Education, Education Jobs Estimates, 8/6/10]

Angle On Saving 1,400 Education Jobs: "The Emergency Is Only In Harry Reid's Mind." During an August 2010 interview with Andrew Napolitano and Michelle Bachmann on Fox Business News, Angle agreed with Rep. Bachmann when she said funding to save education jobs was "money laundering," saying, "Well I think the emergency is only in Harry Reid's mind as Michele put so succinctly. This is an emergency for the Democrats, it is a way to solidify their base if you will with our taxpayer dollars. I say no, Nevada voters are much wiser than that, they know that this emergency is only in Harry Reid's mind." [Fox Business News, 8/9/10]

Angle Called Saving Education Jobs A Giveaway To "Special Interests." During an August 2010 interview with Roger Hedgecock, Angle said, "He has promoted the stimulus plans, and now he's wanting to promote another one as an emergency act. All it is, is really promoting money to his special interest groups – those unions – and what is going to do to Nevada is this stimulus new bill is going to take money out of Medicaid and food stamps instead of hiring… he wants to hire teachers and our population has gone down so much that we don't have those jobs for teachers anymore because of what Harry Reid has been doing. I mean we could just go on and on with the poor public policy that he has been promoting. And it's all for Harry Reid; it has nothing to do with Nevada." [The Roger Hedgecock Show, 8/9/10]

FACT: OUT-OF-WORK NEVADANS WOULD GET NO HELP FROM SHARRON ANGLE. SHE THINKS LAID OFF WORKERS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ARE "SPOILED" AND WOULDN'T VOTE TO EXTEND THOSE BENEFITS

Steve Sebelius: "Angle's Modern-Day Welfare Queens: The Unemployed." In a June 2010 blog post, Las Vegas CityLife Editor Steve Sebelius wrote, "Would-be U.S. senator Sharron Angle says we've "spoiled" our workers by offering unemployment compensation to those laid off by no fault of their own. Sure, the unemployment rate in Nevada is 14 percent — which Angle is trying to lay at the feet of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. But those 14 percent probably don't appreciate these comments." [Slash Politics, 6/21/10]

Angle: Unemployed Nevadans Who Depend On Unemployment Insurance Are "Spoiled." During a May 2010 interview on KRNV, Angle said, "You can make more money on unemployment than you can going down and getting one of those jobs that is an honest job, but it doesn't pay as much. And so that's what's happened to us is that we have put in so much entitlement into our government that we really have spoiled our citizenry and said you don't want the jobs that are available." [KRNV, 5/25/10]

One Week Later, Angle Said Extending Unemployment Insurance Is "A Terrible Thing." During a June 2010 interview on KDWN's Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said extending unemployment insurance was "a terrible thing. You know, I was criticized for saying that Americans won't do certain jobs and the reason that they won't do certain jobs is because they get more pay on unemployment than they can get to work those… those good jobs that are really out there." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/2/10]

Angle: Extending Unemployment Insurance For Laid Off Workers "Makes It So That They Want To Be Dependent On The Government." During a June 2010 interview on KDWN's Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said, "What has happened is Harry Reid has just extended unemployment and when he did that he not only made it so that people are less employable, but he makes it so that they want to be dependent on the government. This entitlement pays them more than getting a real job." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/2/10]

Angle: Aiding Out-Of-Work Nevadans With Unemployment Insurance Doesn't "Encourage People To Go Back To Work." During a June 2010 interview on Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said, "Harry Reid has extended and extended unemployment benefits which really doesn't do anyone as much good as a job would do them. What we need is stimulation of our economy that really creates jobs in the private sector. We need free market solutions to our job problems here in Nevada and across the nation. And Harry Reid is not thinking about real solutions, all he is doing is putting on these band-aid fixes which is to extend unemployment. And when he does that, what happens is that he takes away the incentive to have a job because if you are making more on unemployment than you can if you go to work for Starbucks or some other place where they have a real job available, because you know that you can't make as much as you are making on unemployment, you'll stay on unemployment. And what that does is it keeps you out of the job market, it makes your skills not as viable because they are now out of date. There are just all kinds of problems that occur when you don't encourage people to go back to work." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/10/10]

Angle Said She Would Have Opposed Extending Unemployment Benefits Because She Opposes "Extending These Unemployment Benefits To The Point Where People are Afraid To Go Out And Get A Job." During a June 2010 interview on Face to Face, Angle was asked whether she would have voted to extend unemployment insurance benefits. Angle answered, "I would have voted no because the truth about it is that they keep extending these unemployment benefits to the point where people are afraid to go out and get a job because the job doesn't pay as much as the unemployment benefit does." [Face to Face, 6/29/10]

Angle: "System Of Entitlement Has Caused Us To Have A Spoilage." During a June 2010 interview on Face to Face, host Jon Ralston confronted Angle on her statements saying unemployment benefits had "spoiled" out-of-work Nevadans.

RALSTON: So you're saying that these tens of thousands of Nevadans they're sitting on their couches they're all spoiled. They don't want to go out and get a job. I'm gonna cut off your benefits. That's your attitude.
ANGLE: Oh now come on Jon.
RALSTON: Spoiled! But you said they're spoiled.
ANGLE: Well I said that it had spoiled our citizenry. That's a little different. They're not spoiled. What has happened is the system of entitlement has caused us to have a spoilage with our um, ability to go out and get a job. [Face to Face, 6/29/10]

Angle: "The Answer Is No. I Wouldn't Have Voted For Unemployment Extensions." During a July 2010 interview with the editorial board of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Angle was asked about recently-passed legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits.

BOARD MEMBER: Speaking of a serious problem, could you tell me how you would have voted whether to extend unemployment benefits? And you've been criticized for talking about a culture of spoiled… spoiled culture of unemployment. It's been characterized 3 or 4 different ways. Can you elaborate on that? Tell me what you meant?
ANGLE: Sure. First of all the answer is no. I wouldn't have voted for unemployment extensions. They're not paid for. We have a maxed out credit card right now. The Republicans, to their credit, said since you want a pay-as-you-go policy then pay for this.
BOARD MEMBER: Excuse me. So, you would have… with the other Republicans you would have voted for it if they had found a way to pay for it with some of the other stimulus funds, or you would have voted against it regardless?
ANGLE: There's a basic problem with unemployment extensions and that is that when you talk about unemployment it was supposed to be a safety net, a way to get from one job to the next. And you keep extending and extending – not we're out over two years of unemployment – I… you probably read the Wall Street Journal as much as I do. There was an interesting article there about the stimulus of unemployment. And I think we need to be very, very careful that we're not incentivizing, instead of providing safety nets for folks. And so yes, if it had been paid for, that's one thing, but also you have to look at the bigger picture – and that is: is this just a mandate for a bigger problem? And government shouldn't always be putting Band-Aids on big problems. They need to be looking at real solutions, and the solution is we need jobs. People don't want to be unemployed or on unemployment insurance. They want to be in work. [Review-Journal, Angle Editorial Board Interview, 7/23/10, Video posted 7/24/10]

Review-Journal Columnist: Angle's New Language On Unemployment Benefits Is "No Better Than A Hair-Split From 'Spoiled.'" In a July 2010 column, John L. Smith reacted to Angle's response on unemployment benefits during her editorial board interview with the Review-Journal. He wrote, "Although she made much of Reid's responsibility for facilitating Nevada's bruising 14.2 percent jobless rate, Angle said she would have voted against extending unemployment benefits because 'they're not paid for. We have a maxed out credit card. ... I think we need to be very, very careful that we're not incentivizing instead of providing a safety net for folks.' In other words, she believes extending benefits that amount to a few hundred bucks a week is encouraging the jobless to avoid seeking work. Frankly, 'incentivizing' is no better than a hair-split from 'spoiled.' Although a conservative economist might applaud her, I'll bet many of Nevada's nearly 200,000 jobless are insulted. Surely most would love to find work that pays the bills." [Review-Journal, John L Smith Column, 7/28/10]

ADVOCATES AND STATISTICS AGREE THAT WHILE A BAD ECONOMY MAY NOT NECESSARILY CAUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IT SURELY EXACERBATES AN ALREADY BAD SITUATION

Harry Reid didn't say anything that wasn't true when he pointed out that during tough economic times when men experience extended unemployment, instances of domestic violence increase. Victims' advocates agree and statistics show not only that instances of domestic abuse by men increase when they experience increased unemployment but that, generally, men are predisposed to respond to unemployment and economic hardship in a way that is more likely to predispose them to become abusive than women.

Las Vegas Sun: "Domestic Violence Workers Find Truth In Harry Reid's Jobless Comments." In February 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "While conservatives attacked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid over his statement that unemployed men are more likely to be abusive than those with jobs, local and national domestic violence groups defended the senator … Domestic violence groups in Nevada say joblessness doesn't actually make a person become violent, but it does make violent situations worse." [Las Vegas Sun,2/23/10]

Sun: "Victims' Advocates Said They Still Think Unemployment Has Made Their Jobs More Difficult." According to the Sun, "Victims' advocates said they still think unemployment has made their jobs more difficult. 'The sense of his remarks are true, in that it can make the situation worse, but I don't know that being out of work alone causes domestic violence,' said Sue Meuschke, executive director of the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence. 'The economy doesn't cause domestic violence, but certainly economic conditions can impact the circumstances.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 2/23/10]

Advocate: Victims Are Less Likely To Leave Their Abusers During Tough Economic Times. According to the Sun, "Victims are less likely to leave an abusive relationship when money is tight, Meuschke said. 'We're seeing a reluctance on the part of women victims of domestic violence to leave the relationship because of the economy,' she said. 'They see almost no options out there. If they leave, where are they going to get a job, where are they going to find housing, how are they going to support themselves and/or their children?'" [Las Vegas Sun, 2/23/10]

Sun: Safe Nest Spokeswoman Confirmed That Unemployment Increase Chances For "Abusive Behavior To Manifest Itself." According to the Sun, Safe Nest spokeswoman Maria "Outcalt said that when a man is unemployed he spends more time at home, giving more time for abusive behavior to manifest itself. In a 2004 study sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, researchers found that in relationships where the man is always employed, the rate of violence is 4.7 percent. But when the man is unemployed once, that rate goes up to 7.5 percent, and if he has two periods of unemployment, the rate is 12.3 percent." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/23/10]

Advocate: "The Numbers Back Up What Senator Reid Is Seeing In Nevada." According to the Sun, "'The economy does not cause domestic violence but can make it worse,' said Sue Else, president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in a statement. 'Senator Reid is correct in discussing how pervasive domestic violence is and what job loss can do to exacerbate the problem. The poor economy can fuel the fire of domestic violence and limit options for victims to escape. The numbers back up what Senator Reid is seeing in Nevada.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 2/23/10]

Las Vegas Sun: "Tens Of Thousands Of Women In The United States … Have Fled Abusive Relationships Since The Recession Began." In July 2010, the Las Vegas Sun profiled an out-of-work Las Vegas woman who sought shelter when her daughter's boyfriend became abusive during her prolonged search for employment. According to the Sun, "Peggy is one of tens of thousands of women in the United States who have fled abusive relationships since the recession began. National studies have long shown that economic hardship is a leading factor in domestic violence and that abuse increases in recessions … A Justice Department study in March found that the persistent unemployment and high rates of foreclosures unique to this recession have made family stresses particularly high, resulting in increased incidents of domestic violence. The report said this was due to both decreased social pressure to not abuse the spouse and the increased opportunity for abuse to occur amid unemployment and social isolation." [Las Vegas Sun,7/19/10]

Even the United Nations Has Addressed The Problem Of Increased Abuse During Times Of Economic Hardship. According to the Sun, "The problem has grown so widespread amid the Great Recession, that even the United Nations has addressed it. In a September 2009 address on the struggling world economy, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro cited a U.N. survey that found a 75 percent increase in demand for services at American shelters for battered women in 2008 over 2007 levels. 'We have seen rising levels of despair and frustration in families and communities around the world, exacerbating violence against women,' she said." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/10]

Nevada Shelters Have Reported Increased Demand In The Current Recession And Domestic Violence Arrests Are Up.According to the Sun, "Evidence of increased abuse is on the faces of the women who have sought refuge at Shade Tree and the two other Las Vegas Valley shelters. Nevada has the highest foreclosure and unemployment rates in the country, and the shelters report an increase in demand for services since the recession and foreclosure crisis began. And domestic violence arrests rose 25 percent from 2005 to 2009, according to Metro Police. And many abuse victims are turning to shelters such as Shade Tree. In 2007, the shelter provided 73,000 'bed nights' for women and their children, says Marlene Richter, Shade Tree's executive director. In 2008 the tally jumped to 98,000 bed nights. Last year it was more than 100,000. And the numbers have not gone down this year, she says." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/10]

Las Vegas Sun: "The Volume And Ferocity Of The Violence Has Shocked Even A Hardened Shelter Administrators Like Richter." According to the Sun, "The volume and ferocity of the violence has shocked even a hardened shelter administrators like Richter. 'We're seeing the survivors are in such bad shape when they're coming in,' Richter said. 'No abuse is OK, but there's more violence, more body harm has happened to these women and their mental state is so much more diminished.' Since the recession began, twice as many of the women have needed intensive counseling. She's had to hire outside therapists to help the overwhelmed staff meet the demand for counseling. 'Frequently they're suicidal, they have no hope,' Richter said. 'It's that feeling that there's nowhere to go and no way to improve their situation.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/10]

Poor Economy Causes Women To Stay In Abusive Relationships Longer With Few Available Jobs. According to the Sun, "Counselors and residents at the shelter believe women are staying longer with abusive mates because with so few available jobs, they feel an abusive home is better than starving on the streets. In better times, the women might have found help by spending a day or two with family or friends. But that support group is fractured, too, because of the economy, Richter says. 'Their friends are leaving, their family are leaving. That support network is eroding. And so people aren't seeing what's happening at home and there's no buffer, no opportunity for things to cool off.' At Shade Tree, women get job skills training, career coaching and help finding jobs. But those jobs are scarce. It is taking women an average of three times as long, since before the recession, to find jobs and save up enough money to move out of Shade Tree. It used to take the women two to three weeks to find jobs. Today it takes six to eight months. And the jobs they're finding are generally lower paying and part time, so it takes them longer to save up enough money to move out." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/10]

Washington Post: Multiple Studies Show Domestic Abuse Cases, Particularly Among Men, Increase During Extended Periods Of Unemployment. In July 2009, the Washington Post Reported, "Domestic violence calls increase and requests for shelter beds often swell during economic downturns, according to recent national research. Studies by the National Institute of Justice have consistently found that domestic violence is more likely to occur when couples are worried about or under financial strain. In a 2004 survey, 2.7 percent of couples reported domestic violence issues while experiencing low levels of 'subjective financial strain.' Meanwhile, 9.5 percent of couples experiencing high levels of financial strain reported domestic violence issues. A government study found that when men were always employed, the rate of intimate partner violence was 4.7 percent. When men experienced one period of unemployment, the rate rose to 7.5 percent. And when men experienced two or more periods of unemployment, the rate climbed to 12.3 percent." [Washington Post, 7/14/09]

UNLV Professor: Men Typically Respond To Unemployment Differently Than Women, And That Response Can Often Lead To Domestic Violence. In August, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported, "Couples must keep the lines of communication open to survive the stress of foreclosures and financial problems that could put them at risk of divorce, said Katherine Hertlein, an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 'We see a lot of people struggling with these issues internally,' said Hertlein, who works in the university's Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. The department operates a clinic and offers low-cost or free counseling to university students and employees as well as members of the community. When couples are facing financial problems, women often try to provide more financial help by taking on one or more part-time jobs, taxing themselves physically and psychologically, Hertlein said. Men, on the other hand, can experience guilt or shame for what they see as a failure to provide for their families. 'That's a terrible ego blow and hard for men to take, so they try to suck it up and deal with it,' Hertlein said. 'But it's a hard reality for them to acknowledge, and it can lead to other issues that affect the marriage in negative ways,' she said. Those can include withdrawal and a lack of intimacy, alcohol or substance abuse and domestic violence." [Reno Gazette-Journal, 8/8/09]

Justice Department Study: "Unstable Employment Increases The Risk Of Intimate Partner Violence." According to a study sponsored by the Department of Justice, "The study showed that for couples where the male was always employed, the rate of intimate partner violence was 4.7 percent. When men experienced one period of unemployment the rate rose to 7.5 percent and when men experienced two or more periods of unemployment the rate of intimate partner violence rose to 12.3 percent." [United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Economic Distress and Intimate Partner Violence (emphasis in original)]

Justice Department Study: "Repeat Victimization Of Women Is More Frequent In Couples Feeling Financial Strain." According to a study sponsored by the Department of Justice, "Results of a study showed that women in relationships in which the couples experience low levels of financial strain report less than 2 percent of repeat victimizations or being injured by their male partners, whilejust over 5 percent of women in relationships in which the couples experience high levels of subjective strain report repeat victimizations or being injured by their male partners." [United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Economic Distress and Intimate Partner Violence (emphasis in original)]

Justice Department Study: "Financial Strain May Keep Women In Abusive Relationships." According to a study sponsored by the Department of Justice, "A review of census and survey data revealed that women at greatest risk of intimate partner violence tend to be those in relationships where the couple has few economic resources, high subjective stress about finances, experience higher unemployment and live in proximity to economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The choice to stay or leave violent relationships may be based on the decision that a partner's economic contribution to the relationship outweighs the risk of violence. It also may compel women to live with men's violent behavior rather than seek help or take other steps to leave the violent relationship." [United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Economic Distress and Intimate Partner Violence]

REID IS NO STRANGER TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HAVING WITNESSED IT GROWING UP

Reid Spokesman Condemned Fred Thompson's Attack, Recalled The Violence Reid Witnessed As A Child In His Own Home. In February 2010, Politico reported, Harry Reid's spokesman isn't laughing at Fred Thompson's Wednesday tweet — musing whether the majority leader would beat his wife if he loses reelection in November — calling the comment 'despicable' and invoking Reid's own violence-plagued childhood. 'While Fred Thompson may think he was being funny, it is unfortunate and disappointing that so many on the right would make light of domestic abuse,' Jim Manley wrote me in an e-mail. 'As someone who witnessed it firsthand as a child, Sen. Reid does not find the issue funny.'" The report added that Manley "recalled the description of the leader's hardscrabble childhood on the outskirts of Las Vegas in the 1940s, where a young Reid had to cope with a pair of hard-drinking parents and a father who beat his mother until Reid was 14. The beatings stopped when Reid and his brother pinned their father down and demanded he stop." [Politico, On Congress, 2/24/10]

Reid Witnessed Violence In His Own Home Growing Up, Fought His Own Father To Get Him To Stop Hitting His Mother. In his book, "The Good Fight," Reid wrote about his childhood and his parents: "And sometimes Mom and Pop fight with each other, physically, in front of us. My father can be mean to my mother. After Don and Dale are off at high school, Larry and I sit, wide-eyed, listening to what goes on the other side of the closed door." Later he wrote:

"One day, when I was about fourteen, my dad obviously had had something to drink. It was summer, because I was home from my first year away at high school in Henderson. It was daytime. He was being mean to my mother. He started hitting her. That was it. I just looked at my brother and said, "Larry, lt's take him." So we did. We jumped him. I took him high, Larry took him low, and we pinned him to the floor. He was like a rock. My father was a big man, and I'd always been afraid of him. "Get offa me!" he yelled as he kicked and writhed. Down in the mines my father was more than a match for solid rick. I'd never conceived of a physical task he couldn't do. Except on that afternoon in Searchlight, he couldn't get my brother and me off of him. "Stay down!" I said. My father lived a hard life. He wasn't a bad man. But I'd be damned if he was going to do that to my mother again. It was the first time we had ever done anything like that. We'd never been big enough … Larry and I were becoming men, ad he wouldn't be able to carry on like that in front of us anymore. Those days were over. We had taken him down, and he would never look at us the same again." [Reid, "The Good Fight, pp. 29, 52-53]

REID HAS BEEN A LEADER, BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN NEVADA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Reid Was An Early Advocate of Funding to Combat Domestic Violence – Securing Tens of Millions in Funding That Preceded the Establishment of Permanent Funding Through the Violence Against Women Act. During the early 1990s, Reid was an early advocate of funding to combat domestic violence – well before the entire Congress enacted the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, which made such funding permanent. In both 1991 and 1992, Reid secured $20 million to provide counseling and other preventative measures to victims of domestic violence. The 1994 Violence Against Women Act – signed into law as part of the 1994 Crime Bill which Reidsupported – eventually earmarked $1.6 billion to fight domestic violence. Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women, praised the act for "recognizing, for the first time ever, that gender-based violence is a violation of women's civil rights." Reidalso sponsored bills during 1991 and 1992 to combat domestic violence and fund state anti-domestic violence coalitions. [States News Service, 9/11/91; States News Service, 9/10/92; AP, 8/26/94; St. Petersburg Times, 7/11/91; Vote 384, HR 3355, 11/19/93; S 15, 102ndCongress; S 803, 102nd Congress]

Reid Has Secured Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars To Combat Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault In Nevada.

$75,000 To Prevent Domestic Abuse Of The Elderly. In November 2005, Reid announced he had secured $75,000 for the "S.A.F.E. House, which is located in Southern Nevada, to implement the Elder Abuse Prevention Project. This will help protect seniors fromdomestic violence abuse and will provide services to those who have become victims of domestic violence." [Reid Press Release, 11/17/05

$100,000 For Domestic Violence Counseling. In November 2004, Reid announced he had secured "$100,000 for the S.A.F.E. HouseDomestic Violence Counseling Center. This center counsels victims of domestic violence and their children. Specifically, the funds will permit the center to eliminate their wait list by expanding capacity and will permit the organization to hire an additional counselor." [ReidPress Release, 11/30/04]

$20,000 For The Douglas County Sexual Assault Response Team. In November 2005, Reid announced he had secured $20,000 for the Douglas County Sexual Assault Response Team to "purchase the equipment necessary so that the special nurses can complete a sexual assault exam. Currently, when an individual is sexually assaulted in Douglas County the victim is transported and examined at the Carson Tahoe Hospital." [Reid Press Release, 11/17/05]

$350,000 To Combat "Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault And Stalking" In Douglas County. In September 2009, Senators Reid and Ensign announced, "Recently, Douglas County was awarded a grant in the amount of $350,000. The grant funds are to be used to support programs that: 1) identify, assess, and appropriately respond to child, youth and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in rural communities, by encouraging collaboration among domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking victim service providers; law enforcement agencies; prosecutors; courts; other criminal justice service providers; human and community service providers; educational institutions; and health care providers; b) establish and expand nonprofit, nongovernmental, State, tribal, territorial, and local government victim services in rural communities to child, youth, and adult victims; and c) increase the safety and well-being of women and children in rural communities by dealing directly and immediately with domesticviolence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking occurring in rural communities; and creating and implementing strategies to increase awareness and prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking." [Reid Press Release, 9/30/09]

$125,000 For The Rape Crisis Center In Las Vegas. In December 2009, Reid announced he had secured $125,000 for the Rape Crisis Center in Las Vegas, saying, "Description: With more than 35 years of experience in Southern Nevada, the Rape Crisis Center's outreach and education programs have been very successful. The Center has partnered with the Clark County School District to educate children about ways to prevent and identify sexual assault." [Reid Release, 12/13/09]

FACT: ANGLE VOTED TO PREVENT NEVADA LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS FROM ENFORCING OUT-OF-STATE ORDERS OF PROTECTION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

Angle Voted To Prevent Nevada From Enforcing Valid Protective Orders Pertaining To Domestic Violence Issued In Another State. In 2001 Angle voted against AB 581, which the attorney general's office testified "mandates foreign protective orders that are not registered or have not been domiciled in the state be enforced based on the fact that they are valid on their face. Furthermore, it goes on to provide the officers not only will enforce the protective order, but will also make the arrest unless it is apparent to the officer the order is not authentic." AB 581 passed the Assembly on a 31-9 vote. [Senate Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/27/01; AB 581, Introduced 3/26/01, Assembly Final Passage Vote 4/19/01]

Attorney General's Office Called The Bill A "Model Code For Domestic Violence," Said It Protects Victims. According to testimony from the attorney general's office, the legislation being considered was "being done throughout the country and considered the model code for domestic violence. It assures victims of domestic violence, fleeing from one state to another, often without time to get their order domesticated in another state, but instead carry their order. In the instance of the aggressor following them to another state, this provides them the protection they need, and the officers the assurance of a valid order, and the officers are required to arrest the person for the protection of victims." [Senate Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/27/01]

Chief Judge Mitch Wright: Legislation's Defeat Would "Enable Domestic Violence Perpetrators To Continue Their Behavior." Testifying before the Assembly Judiciary Committee in April 2001, Chief Judge Mitch Wright of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, "expressed the need for protection orders to be enforced, regardless of arbitrary borders. He informed the committee if the bill was not passed, it would enable domestic violence perpetrators to continue their behavior." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

NEVADA LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS DENOUNCED ANGLE'S EXTREME AND DANGEROUS VOTE

Former Clark County Sheriff Bill Young: "Instead of bolstering Nevada law enforcement, she has taken vote after vote to tie its hands. From blocking their efforts to stop domestic violence, catch sex offenders, and to ensure top quality police recruits." [Reid Campaign Event, 8/30/10]

Terrence McAllister, North Las Vegas Police Officers Association: "While Senator Harry Reid is fighting for us, Sharron Angle simply does not share our values. As a member of the Senate State Assembly, Sharron Angle voted time and time again to tie our hands. For example she voted to prevent Nevada from enforcing valid protection orders pertaining to domestic violence issued in another state. So in Sharron Angle's Nevada, an abuser can continue their dangerous behavior right here in Nevada, because they crossed into Nevada's borders. That just doesn't make sense, that attitude is too extreme and dangerous." [Reid Campaign Event,8/30/10]

ANGLE'S RIDICULOUS DEFENSE 1: SHE "AGREES WITH THE SPIRIT" OF THE BILL BUT "HAD CONCERNS WITH THE EXECUTION." In August the Review-Journal reported that Nevada law enforcement officials had endorsed Reid and attacked Angle's extreme and dangerous record. According to the report, "What about Angle's votes in the Assembly that Reid said demonstrated she doesn't support law enforcement? 'Sharron agrees with the spirit of those bills and the need for law enforcement to have the proper tools,' Agen said. 'However she had concerns with the execution. At the time, Sharron raised questions in committee regarding the unintended consequences in regards to personal privacy and costs.'" [Review-Journal, Political Eye Blog, 8/30/10]

ANGLE'S RIDICULOUS DEFENSE 2: THEY'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT. In September 2010, Huffington Post reported that in response to this ad, Angle's campaign said, "Harry Reid has released four different ads in the last five days all with different messages. That's a sign that the Reid campaign is struggling to gain traction. Yesterday's Mason-Dixon poll shows that most independent voters blame Obama and Reid for the economy, which is a major problem for Reid. His latest attempt at fear mongering is just another ill-conceived effort to distract voters from the main issue of this race, which is the broken economy in Nevada." [Huffington Post, 9/13/10]

ANGLE'S RIDICULOUS DEFENSE 3: THEY'RE TAKING THE VOTE "OUT OF CONTEXT." In September 2010, CNN reported that in response to this ad, Angle's campaign said, "It's taken out of context, she did not oppose the merits of the bill, she raised concerns to ensure that enforcement documents were authentic and present … Attacking Sharron, who's a grandmother and a former schoolteacher, on domestic violence is just desperation and more fear mongering to distract from Harry's failed economic record in Nevada." [CNN,9/13/10]

Attorney General's Office: Purpose Of Bill Was To "Clarify Provisions" Of Statute Amended In 1999. Testifying before the Assembly Judiciary Committee in April 2001, Nancy E. Hart, Deputy Attorney General, "summarized that the purpose of the bill was to clarify provisions in NRS 33.090 with regard to registration and full faith and credit of orders for protection against domestic violence that were issued by other states, territories, or Indian tribes. She noted that the orders were often called 'foreign protection orders.' She read from Exhibit YY, and explained that the full faith and credit language stemmed from the federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA). She mentioned it was first adopted into Nevada law in 1997, NRS 33.090, and amended in 1999 to clarify that the foreign protection order did not need to be registered in order to be given full faith and credit. The confusion remained since 1999, because the provisions governing the registration and the enforcement of the foreign protection orders were contained in the same statute. She stated that A.B. 581 would separate the registration procedures from the full faith and credit." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

The Attorney General's Office Addressed Angle's Concerns In Committee, Said The Bill Gave More Discretion To Law Enforcement To "Consider The Situation" In Order To Protect Victims. According to the Committee Minutes from an April 2001 hearing on AB 581, "Mrs. Angle requested clarification if there would need to be a document present, in order for the foreign protection order to be enforced. Ms. Hart responded that there were two provisions. Section 1 provided for the officers to use discretion when presented with the document of the foreign protection order if it was not found in the database. Section 4, with amended language, would allow an officer to rely upon the statement alone of the victim, to assess whether there was a protection order in existence to be enforced. Ms. Hart indicated that it was a permissive statement that would allow the officer to use their own discretion to act upon, but it was not required for them to do so. It required the officer to consider the situation." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

BUT, The Bill Also Provided Officers For Immunity When Acted Under The Assumption Than An Order Was Valid. According to the Committee Minutes, "Chairman Anderson clarified that the situations that would normally occur would involve an officer requested to enforce a protection order that was on file, at which point he would search the database for domestic violence to verify the order existed. However, if the person had just acquired the protection order, and it was not yet entered into the database for domestic violence, the order would still be enforceable by the presentation of the document. Chairman Anderson clarified that the provision allowed a protection order to be enforced by the officer, at his or her own discretion with regard to the authenticity, if the order had not yet appeared in the database for domestic violence. Ms. Hart agreed. She pointed out that the next paragraph, Section 1, subsection 6, provided a safeguard that issued the enforcing party immunity for actions made based upon the reasonable belief that the order was valid." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

After Her Concerns Were Addressed, Angle Was Still So Opposed To The Bill That She … Abstained From Voting On It?According to the Committee Minutes, "The motion passed to amend and do pass A.B. 581. Assemblywoman Angle and Assemblyman Carpenter abstained from the vote. All others voted yes. Assemblywoman Buckley was not present for the vote." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

REID MAKES HIS HOME IN SEARCHLIGHT AND IT'S WHERE HE'S REGISTERED TO VOTE

Harry Reid Is Registered To Vote In Searchlight. According to Clark County Elections Records, Harry Reid is registered to vote at the address of his home in Searchlight. [Clark County Board of Elections]

Reid's Home Looks Out On Some Of The Mines Where His Father Worked. According to the New Yorker, "The Reids took me on a tour of the house, which is decorated in a Western mining motif, including a gate from one of the town's mines that hangs on a wall in the entry hall. Next to it is an abstract oil painting of Martin Luther King, Jr. Reid showed me his high-school yearbook; when he was sixteen, his nickname was Pinky. A painting of what appeared to be a mountain man with a white scraggly beard caught my attention. 'That's my brother Larry,' he said. 'He still looks that way.' He pointed to a skeletal structure in the distance, the remains of one of the mines where his father worked." [The New Yorker, 8/8/05]

Reid Is Even Leading By Example In The Movement To Promote Clean Energy, Installing A Wind Turbine And Solar Panels At His Searchlight Home. In March 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "In December, the county granted permission for a 51-foot wind turbine at the Searchlight home of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Jon Summers, spokesman for Reid, said the turbine isn't up and running yet, but it should be in a matter of days. Combined with the solar panels Reid had installed last year, the turbine is expected to completely offset the home's energy needs. 'Senator Reid thinks it's important that we all do our part, individually and as a state and nation, to take cost-effective actions to reduce pollution and become more energy independent,' Summers said." [Review-Journal, 3/20/10]

REID HAS A LONG CONNECTION TO SEARCHLIGHT

Review-Journal Called Reid "The Senator From Searchlight." In their profile naming Reid one of "The First 100 Persons Who Shaped Southern Nevada," the Review-Journal called Reid "The Senator From Searchlight." [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 100 Persons Who Shaped Southern Nevada,Harry Reid]

Longtime Las Vegas Journalist Steve Sebelius: Even Though He Could Afford To Live Wherever He Wanted, Reid "Chooses Instead To Live In Searchlight." In a February 2005 column, Steve Sebelius wrote that an RNC attack document "faults Reid, who grew up poor inSearchlight, for living in a $750,000 condo at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Washington, D.C. It's surprising to find the Republicans criticizing success, especially because very few of them live in tents on the Mall. Besides, Reid could afford a nice house in Summerlin, Green Valley or Southern Highlands, but he chooses instead to live in Searchlight, where he's built a home." [Review-Journal, Steve Sebelius, 2/10/05]

Review-Journal: "Even Members Of Reid's Family Have Difficulty Understanding The Pull Searchlight Still Has On Him." In September 2001, the Review-Journal reported, "The Searchlight native does not relate to springtime in Washington with its celebration of cherry blossoms and the explosion of greenery. His point of reference when it comes to natural beauty is the desert. 'There is a smell to the desert that is unique,' he said. 'I can turn on the light inside my home in Searchlight, and on a summer night, hundreds of bugs will hit my window. You can hear them crash and bang.' Reid resists any profound analysis of his bond with his hometown, but he won't deny its influence in shaping his life. 'It's where I formed my feelings, not ideas, but feelings,' he said. 'It's where I got the feeling that I wanted to do something. I saw a little 9-year-old boy in front of the post office in Searchlight just the other day. He reminded me so much of me. There isn't a lot to do there and he was just hanging around the post office. I used to count cars.' Even members of Reid's family have difficulty understanding the pull Searchlight still has on him. It's where he wants to go when he needs to make important decisions. 'Many times, I've gone to Searchlight alone to spend some time,' he said. 'Some might call it meditation.'" [Review-Journal, 9/30/10]

Reid Grew Up In Searchlight, Hitchhiked To High School In Henderson As A Young Man

Reid On His Childhood Home: "At the time I thought out house was really nice, but as I look back, I guess it wasn't. First, it is made of railroad ties … There is a kitchen, and the kitchen has a woodstove when you come in, right next to the sink. And an electric stove, not a fancy one, but a stove, and a refrigerator. And then there is a little room with no door on it. It's where a bathroom should be, but it isn't a bathroom. We use an outhouse instead." [Reid, The Good Fight, P. 26]

Reid On Hitchhiking To Attend High School In Henderson: "Finding someplace to go to high school took money some people just didn't have. Some young men kicked around or went into the mines or other such jobs. Others went to school in Needles, California, some went to Boulder City or Las Vegas. Following the good example of my brothers Don and Dale, who had both gone to Basic High School, I stuck out my thumb at age thirteen and hitchhiked the 45 miles north to Henderson, which was then an industrial town of two or three thousand, but after Searchlight it may as well have been Times Square." [Reid, The Good Fight, P. 100]

REID'S NEIGHBORS KNOW AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIS ROOTS AND CONNECTION TO THE TOWN

Long-Time Searchlight Residents Critized The Tea Party For Holding Their Rally In Searchlight. According to the Review-Journal, "Sanford and Marilyn Shuler are caught in the middle. On one side of their Coyote Mines property is Sen. Harry Reid's place. On the other is the site of a Tea Party Express rally coming Saturday, a sort of conservative mini-Woodstock in the desert that organizers expect to draw 5,000 to 10,000 people - maybe more - from across the country, most of whom want to end the career of Nevada's most powerful politician. And Marilyn Shuler, 83, and her 93-year-old husband don't like it one bit. 'I think it's an insult to have something like this right in Senator Reid's hometown,' said Marilyn Shuler, who wrote a March 1 letter to Reid complaining the event will have a 'negative impact' on him and the town. 'It's a slap in the face and he doesn't deserve that. They could have picked a better piece of land.'" [Review-Journal, 3/22/10]

Justice Of The Peace Stan Colton: "There are a lot of people who aren't content with government right now. I think this Tea Party has its time for sure. There's a certain amount of dissatisfaction. But I think by and large everyone here thinks of Harry Reid like their family. And you don't say anything against your family." [Review-Journal, 3/22/10]

FACT: ANGLE AND HER RIGHT-WING FRONT GROUP SUPPORTERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN TO TASK FOR THEIR RIDICULOUS ATTEMPTS TO BLAME NEVADA'S ECONOMIC WOES ON REID

RGJ Fact Checker: "You Can't Pin State's Job Losses On Reid." In June 2010, the Reno Gazette-Journal Fact Checker reported, "It's easy -- and can be fun -- to blame one person. But it doesn't seem to be true regarding Nevada's unemployment rate, even partly. I've contacted Angle's campaign multiple times without response. I've searched conservative sites to find details on specific things Reid did to cost Nevada jobs. All I found was rhetoric -- or claims Reid used his power too much to benefit Nevada … Reid potentially could have done more, and I hold out the possibility someone will turn up concrete examples that he did less or did demonstrably harmful things. Until then, it appears untrue that Nevada's record unemployment can be laid at Reid's feet." [Reno Gazette-Journal, 6/27/10]

FactCheck.org Has Already Called Out Angle Making "Questionable" Claims On Foreclosures And Unemployment. In July 2010, FactCheck.org analyzed one of Angle's ads writing, "Things could definitely be better in the Silver State, to be sure. But Angle's ad attempts to attribute all these woes to Reid personally; Angle repeatedly says 'he's done' these things. That's questionable, to put it mildly. Many analysts attribute Nevada's high unemployment rate to the recession, compounded by the fact that so many of the state's jobs have been in the leisure and hospitality sector, which is dependent on discretionary spending by Americans who have been doing less of that lately, and construction, which is off nationwide. Bankruptcies and foreclosures go hand-in-hand with high unemployment." [FactCheck.org 7/26/10]

FactCheck.org Called Angle's Ad Blaming Reid For Dropping Home Prices "A Real Stretch." In August 2010, FactCheck.org analyzed Angle's ad attacking Reid on the housing crisis, saying, "GOP candidate Sharron Angle's latest ad blames rival Sen. Harry Reid for Nevada's dramatic decline in home value. That's a real stretch. Angle gets the numbers right, but doesn't show that Reid is responsible. In fact, the housing bubble was already starting to deflate by the time Reid became Democratic leader of the Senate. The ad is another dubious attempt by the Republican tea party enthusiast to pin responsibility for Nevada's economic woes on the incumbent." [FactCheck.org, 8/5/10]

KOLO Called Angle's Claim That Reid Was Responsible For Dropping Home Prices "False;" Economist Said Only An "Economic Illiterate" Would Link Reid's Position As Majority Leader With The Housing Collapse. In August 2010, KOLO fact-checked Angle's ad attacking Reid for the housing collapse in Nevada. The report loked at Angle's claim that "That means if your home was worth $300,000 before, now, thanks to Harry Reid's disastrous economic policies, you've lost over $150,000. Wiping out people's retirement savings overnight." According to KOLO, that claim is "False. The arithmetic is simple; laying the blame on Senator Reid is a little more complicated … Economists say there's plenty of blame to go around including the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates low, banks making risky loans, Wall Street playing economic roulette, and a general lack of oversight and hubris on everyone who wanted to believe home prices would keep rising. The housing bubble grew higher, faster here and in states like California and Florida. When it burst, prices fell lower and faster. And it began to burst in mid-2006 months before Reid became Majority Leader. On that point alone we have to call this claim false … An economist we talked with called the ad 'disingenuous' saying only an 'economic illiterate' would claim Reid becoming Majority Leader had anything to do with the housing collapse, noting all the causes at work long before." [KOLO, 8/11/10]

FACT: ANGLE VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED THE $20 BILLION COMPENSATION FUND, CALLING IT A "SLUSH FUND"

Angle Opposes Gulf Cleanup Fund, Calls It A "Slush Fund." In a July 2010 interview on Alan Stock in the Afternoon, Angle was asked about the $20 billion Gulf compensation fund:

CALLER: My question was about the oil spill in the Gulf. I was sort of amazed that President Obama – who's coming here for Harry Reid – went into these negotiations and was really proud of this escrow fund that basically extorted $20 billion from a private company. I want to know what she thought of the $20 billion slush fund and whether or not government should be able to do that to a private company.

ANGLE: Well, the short answer is no. Government shouldn't be doing that to a private company and I think you named it: clearly it's a slush fund. The problem with even the EPA is that that's… it's all about money. It's a taxing, fining agency and what we really needed was a management agency. You know what happened in the Gulf was BP didn't do their checklist and we need somebody there to say, "Did you do your checklist?" Well, they cut corners, didn't do their checklist. What we got was criminal… actually, criminal and willful act here because they were doing those cut corners. But everyone in the petroleum industry shouldn't be penalized for one bad person's actions. It would be like throwing us all in prison because one person committed murder. That's exactly what's going on here. It's an overreaction by government for not the right reasons. They're actually using this crisis, if you will – 'cause they never waste one, Saul Alinsky's Rule for Radicals – they are using this crisis now to get in Cap and Trade and every fine and penalty and slush fund it like you said. [Alan Stock in the Afternoon, 7/7/10]

Ralston: "I Think She Actually Believes It's A Slush Fund." During a July 9 appearance on Hardball, Jon Ralston was asked about Angle's "retraction" of her comments calling the BP escrow account a slush fund. Ralston said. "Yeah I think she actually believes it's a slush fund, Chris. I think though that the Angle campaign may set a record for the 'what I meant to say' press releases because you have the pre-primary Sharron Angle who has essentially said all these things that she's now trying to moderate now that the DC handlers have flown in here like paratroopers to try to save her from herself. She cannot moderate herself, and left untethered in a situation like that, she is going to say things like that that I believe she really believes." [MSNBC, Hardball, 7/9/10]

President Obama: "I'm Sure She Meant 'Slush Fund' In The Nicest Possible Way." In his June 8 speech at Aria, President Obama said, "Some of you might have heard about the Republican congressman who apologized to BP -- I think you heard Harry mention him. This, by the way, is the guy who heads up the Energy Committee for the Republicans. We decided let's get $20 billion to make sure the fishermen and small business people and hotels are compensated for their loss. That makes sense. I mean, most people around the country, it doesn't matter whether you're a Democrat, Republican, independent -- you say, well, yeah, of course, that makes sense. They shouldn't be punished for somebody else's carelessness. Well, this congressman, he, in a hearing, apologized to BP executives -- said -- said that the fund we'd set up was a tragedy, a shakedown. A tragedy? You think about all those people down there who -- a lot of folks down there, just like Vega, rely on tourism. And it's much more seasonal than Vegas, so they've got basically three, four months where they make money for the entire year. You talk to some fishermen -- they had already -- or guys who own boats who take fishermen out -- they'd already bought all their supplies, bought all their gasoline, and suddenly that's it, wiped out. That's the tragedy. It's not asking BP to do what's right and what's fair. But Harry's opponent, she agreed with this guy. She called the compensation we're providing a slush fund. To compensate fishermen and compensate shrimpers and compensate small restaurant owners. Now, a few hours later, her campaign puts out a memo saying, well, she didn't mean that. They said there was some 'confusion.' And I'm sure she meant 'slush fund' in the nicest possible way. Let me tell you, most Nevadans I meet -- and I've spent a lot of time here -- you know that. I've been seeing you. Most of the people I meet here in this state, they don't think like that. They don't subscribe to that kind of thinking. So why would you want somebody who has that philosophy representing the people of Nevada?" [President's Remarks At Aria, 7/8/10]

FACT: ANGLE HAS BEEN A BP APOLOGIST FOR MONTHS, AND IN THE WAKE OF THE SPILL HAS SAID SHE WANTS TO "DEREGULATE" THE INDUSTRY

Angle After Oil Spill In The Gulf: Any Drilling Risk Is Worth The Reward. In May 2010, Angle responded to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which killed eleven people, by praising the benefits of oil drilling. She said, "The present U.S. dependence on foreign oil jeopardizes our security far beyond the cost of a potential oil spill." [Las Vegas Review Journal, 5/7/10]

Angle Said The Gulf Coast Disaster Was "An Accident;" Solution To Disaster Was To "Deregulate." In a May 2010 interview on Nevada Newsmakers, Angle was asked about the Gulf oil spill:

SAM SHAD: You have been in support of onshore drilling in the United States as well as offshore drilling, are you rethinking that policy with what is going on in Louisiana?

ANGLE: No. I think that what happened in Louisiana was an accident. They are cleaning it up. We need to go forward and talk about prevention and not about whether we keep it out all together. A lot of the problems that have been caused for us with foreign policy and even with our own gas prices here domestically going up is our dependence upon foreign oil. We have oil reserves and petroleum reserves that we should tap into. And that's a policy that we really need to look at as a nation. How do we deregulate enough to invite our industries to come back into the United States and quit outsourcing their business? [Nevada Newsmakers, 5/26/10, emphasis added]

Angle: Capped Liability For Economic Disasters Like The Gulf Spill Isn't "The Real Issue. During a May 2010 debate on Face to Face, Angle addressed the question of whether the liability cap on companies like BP for disasters like the one in the Gulf:

RALSTON: Why isn't that an issue that should be talked about, the liability of these companies?

ANGLE: Well I think that the real issue is can we prevent this from happening going forward. It's not, can we charge somebody if it does happen going forward?

RALSTON: There is an astronomical amount of damage being caused by this. Who is going to pay for it?

ANGLE: There is and they are cleaning it up. They are cleaning it up but going forward we need to make sure they've done their due diligence and they know how to prevent this. But really the real issue is our dependence on foreign oil. We need to bring this back here. We need to have domestic resources used here in this country and frankly they are using this argument to cut off the debate about why we are not using our own domestic resources. ANGLE: The issue again is preventing this from happening. Liability caps don't prevent that. Overregulation doesn't prevent that. What prevents that is finding out what happened and then going forward and fixing it. And you know these companies really do want to be responsible because they want to work here, they want to do business here. They are developing the jobs and we need to be invitational to that. [Face To Face Debate, 5/19/10]

FACT: AS THE ADMINISTRATION COPES WITH THE WORST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER IN HISTORY, ANGLE WANTS TO GET RID OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THE EPA

Angle Said She Would Eliminate Department Of Energy, EPA. In a March 2010 e-interview with Nevada News and Views, Angle was asked, "Is there a Federal department/cabinet position you would support eliminating?" Angle answered, "Yes. There are several Federal departments that are not covered by the Constitutional Federal enumerated powers clause and should be given back to the states per the Tenth amendment. Those cuts should include the Department of Education, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, IRS code, audit the FED leading to cuts, National Endowment of the Arts, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, Planned Parenthood funding, funding of czars and more. I include these cuts in my economic policy for taking back our government." [Nevada News and Views, 3/22/10]

Angle Says "We Need To Dismantle" The EPA. During a May candidates' forum in Sun City, Angle said, "we need to dismantle some things, like the Rare and Endangered Species Act that keeps the spotted owl and the tortoise and those kinds of things from allowing people to really have a part of the multiple use that resides in those lands. How about the EPA? How about environmental impact statements? You now, how about wilderness acts?" [Angle Campaign Event, 2/5/10]

EVEN PROMINENT REPUBLICANS CAN'T BACK ANGLE'S PLAN TO DISMANTLE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. In June 2010, Politico reported, "But Angle's campaign site used to highlight her calls for killing several federal agencies, including the Energy Department, as a way to streamline the growing government and deficit spending. But Sen. Mike Crapo, a conservative Republican from Idaho, said he believed the United States needs 'to have a robust energy policy and I would think the Department of Energy would be an important part of that.' Conservative Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said, 'It's not my program to do that right now.'" [Politico, 6/16/10]

Victims advocates and statistics agree that during times of extended unemployment, domestic violence tends to increase. And while Sharron Angle voted to make it easier for abusers to come to Nevada and find their victims, Senator Reid has been working steadfastly to combat the rise of domestic violence.

Harry Reid didn't say anything that wasn't true when he pointed out that during tough economic times when men experience extended unemployment, instances of domestic violence increase. Victims' advocates agree and statistics show not only that instances of domestic abuse by men increase when they experience increased unemployment but that, generally, men are predisposed to respond to unemployment and economic hardship in a way that is more likely to predispose them to become abusive than women.

ADVOCATES AND STATISTICS AGREE THAT WHILE A BAD ECONOMY MAY NOT NECESSARILY CAUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IT SURELY EXACERBATES AN ALRRADY BAD SITUATION

Las Vegas Sun: "Domestic Violence Workers Find Truth In Harry Reid's Jobless Comments." In February 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "While conservatives attacked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid over his statement that unemployed men are more likely to be abusive than those with jobs, local and national domestic violence groups defended the senator … Domestic violence groups in Nevada say joblessness doesn't actually make a person become violent, but it does make violent situations worse." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/23/10]

Sun: "Victims' Advocates Said They Still Think Unemployment Has Made Their Jobs More Difficult." According to the Sun, "Victims' advocates said they still think unemployment has made their jobs more difficult. 'The sense of his remarks are true, in that it can make the situation worse, but I don't know that being out of work alone causes domestic violence,' said Sue Meuschke, executive director of the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence. 'The economy doesn't cause domestic violence, but certainly economic conditions can impact the circumstances.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 2/23/10]

Advocate: Victims Are Less Likely To Leave Their Abusers During Tough Economic Times. According to the Sun, "Victims are less likely to leave an abusive relationship when money is tight, Meuschke said. 'We're seeing a reluctance on the part of women victims of domestic violence to leave the relationship because of the economy,' she said. 'They see almost no options out there. If they leave, where are they going to get a job, where are they going to find housing, how are they going to support themselves and/or their children?'" [Las Vegas Sun, 2/23/10]

Sun: Safe Nest Spokeswoman Confirmed That Unemployment Increase Chances For "Abusive Behavior To Manifest Itself." According to the Sun, Safe Nest spokeswoman Maria "Outcalt said that when a man is unemployed he spends more time at home, giving more time for abusive behavior to manifest itself. In a 2004 study sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, researchers found that in relationships where the man is always employed, the rate of violence is 4.7 percent. But when the man is unemployed once, that rate goes up to 7.5 percent, and if he has two periods of unemployment, the rate is 12.3 percent." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/23/10]

Advocate: "The Numbers Back Up What Senator Reid Is Seeing In Nevada." According to the Sun, "'The economy does not cause domestic violence but can make it worse,' said Sue Else, president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in a statement. 'Senator Reid is correct in discussing how pervasive domestic violence is and what job loss can do to exacerbate the problem. The poor economy can fuel the fire of domestic violence and limit options for victims to escape. The numbers back up what Senator Reid is seeing in Nevada.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 2/23/10]

Las Vegas Sun: "Tens Of Thousands Of Women In The United States … Have Fled Abusive Relationships Since The Recession Began." In July 2010, the Las Vegas Sun profiled an out-of-work Las Vegas woman who sought shelter when her daughter's boyfriend became abusive during her prolonged search for employment. According to the Sun, "Peggy is one of tens of thousands of women in the United States who have fled abusive relationships since the recession began. National studies have long shown that economic hardship is a leading factor in domestic violence and that abuse increases in recessions … A Justice Department study in March found that the persistent unemployment and high rates of foreclosures unique to this recession have made family stresses particularly high, resulting in increased incidents of domestic violence. The report said this was due to both decreased social pressure to not abuse the spouse and the increased opportunity for abuse to occur amid unemployment and social isolation." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/10]

Even the United Nations Has Addressed The Problem Of Increased Abuse During Times Of Economic Hardship. According to the Sun, "The problem has grown so widespread amid the Great Recession, that even the United Nations has addressed it. In a September 2009 address on the struggling world economy, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro cited a U.N. survey that found a 75 percent increase in demand for services at American shelters for battered women in 2008 over 2007 levels. 'We have seen rising levels of despair and frustration in families and communities around the world, exacerbating violence against women,' she said." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/10]

Nevada Shelters Have Reported Increased Demand In The Current Recession And Domestic Violence Arrests Are Up. According to the Sun, "Evidence of increased abuse is on the faces of the women who have sought refuge at Shade Tree and the two other Las Vegas Valley shelters. Nevada has the highest foreclosure and unemployment rates in the country, and the shelters report an increase in demand for services since the recession and foreclosure crisis began. And domestic violence arrests rose 25 percent from 2005 to 2009, according to Metro Police. And many abuse victims are turning to shelters such as Shade Tree. In 2007, the shelter provided 73,000 'bed nights' for women and their children, says Marlene Richter, Shade Tree's executive director. In 2008 the tally jumped to 98,000 bed nights. Last year it was more than 100,000. And the numbers have not gone down this year, she says." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/10]

Las Vegas Sun: "The Volume And Ferocity Of The Violence Has Shocked Even A Hardened Shelter Administrators Like Richter." According to the Sun, "The volume and ferocity of the violence has shocked even a hardened shelter administrators like Richter. 'We're seeing the survivors are in such bad shape when they're coming in,' Richter said. 'No abuse is OK, but there's more violence, more body harm has happened to these women and their mental state is so much more diminished.' Since the recession began, twice as many of the women have needed intensive counseling. She's had to hire outside therapists to help the overwhelmed staff meet the demand for counseling. 'Frequently they're suicidal, they have no hope,' Richter said. 'It's that feeling that there's nowhere to go and no way to improve their situation.'" [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/10]

Poor Economy Causes Women To Stay In Abusive Relationships Longer With Few Available Jobs. According to the Sun, "Counselors and residents at the shelter believe women are staying longer with abusive mates because with so few available jobs, they feel an abusive home is better than starving on the streets. In better times, the women might have found help by spending a day or two with family or friends. But that support group is fractured, too, because of the economy, Richter says. 'Their friends are leaving, their family are leaving. That support network is eroding. And so people aren't seeing what's happening at home and there's no buffer, no opportunity for things to cool off.' At Shade Tree, women get job skills training, career coaching and help finding jobs. But those jobs are scarce. It is taking women an average of three times as long, since before the recession, to find jobs and save up enough money to move out of Shade Tree. It used to take the women two to three weeks to find jobs. Today it takes six to eight months. And the jobs they're finding are generally lower paying and part time, so it takes them longer to save up enough money to move out." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/19/10]

Washington Post: Multiple Studies Show Domestic Abuse Cases, Particularly Among Men, Increase During Extended Periods Of Unemployment. In July 2009, the Washington Post Reported, "Domestic violence calls increase and requests for shelter beds often swell during economic downturns, according to recent national research. Studies by the National Institute of Justice have consistently found that domestic violence is more likely to occur when couples are worried about or under financial strain. In a 2004 survey, 2.7 percent of couples reported domestic violence issues while experiencing low levels of 'subjective financial strain.' Meanwhile, 9.5 percent of couples experiencing high levels of financial strain reported domestic violence issues. A government study found that when men were always employed, the rate of intimate partner violence was 4.7 percent. When men experienced one period of unemployment, the rate rose to 7.5 percent. And when men experienced two or more periods of unemployment, the rate climbed to 12.3 percent." [Washington Post, 7/14/09]

UNLV Professor: Men Typically Respond To Unemployment Differently Than Women, And That Response Can Often Lead To Domestic Violence. In August, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported, "Couples must keep the lines of communication open to survive the stress of foreclosures and financial problems that could put them at risk of divorce, said Katherine Hertlein, an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 'We see a lot of people struggling with these issues internally,' said Hertlein, who works in the university's Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. The department operates a clinic and offers low-cost or free counseling to university students and employees as well as members of the community. When couples are facing financial problems, women often try to provide more financial help by taking on one or more part-time jobs, taxing themselves physically and psychologically, Hertlein said. Men, on the other hand, can experience guilt or shame for what they see as a failure to provide for their families. 'That's a terrible ego blow and hard for men to take, so they try to suck it up and deal with it,' Hertlein said. 'But it's a hard reality for them to acknowledge, and it can lead to other issues that affect the marriage in negative ways,' she said. Those can include withdrawal and a lack of intimacy, alcohol or substance abuse and domestic violence." [Reno Gazette-Journal, 8/8/09]

Justice Department Study: "Unstable Employment Increases The Risk Of Intimate Partner Violence." According to a study sponsored by the Department of Justice, "The study showed that for couples where the male was always employed, the rate of intimate partner violence was 4.7 percent. When men experienced one period of unemployment the rate rose to 7.5 percent and when men experienced two or more periods of unemployment the rate of intimate partner violence rose to 12.3 percent." [United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Economic Distress and Intimate Partner Violence (emphasis in original)]

Justice Department Study: "Repeat Victimization Of Women Is More Frequent In Couples Feeling Financial Strain." According to a study sponsored by the Department of Justice, "Results of a study showed that women in relationships in which the couples experience low levels of financial strain report less than 2 percent of repeat victimizations or being injured by their male partners, while just over 5 percent of women in relationships in which the couples experience high levels of subjective strain report repeat victimizations or being injured by their male partners." [United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Economic Distress and Intimate Partner Violence (emphasis in original)]

Justice Department Study: "Financial Strain May Keep Women In Abusive Relationships." According to a study sponsored by the Department of Justice, "A review of census and survey data revealed that women at greatest risk of intimate partner violence tend to be those in relationships where the couple has few economic resources, high subjective stress about finances, experience higher unemployment and live in proximity to economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The choice to stay or leave violent relationships may be based on the decision that a partner's economic contribution to the relationship outweighs the risk of violence. It also may compel women to live with men's violent behavior rather than seek help or take other steps to leave the violent relationship." [United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Economic Distress and Intimate Partner Violence]

REID IS NO STRANGER TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HAVING WITNESSED IT GROWING UP

Reid Spokesman Condemned Fred Thompson's Attack, Recalled The Violence Reid Witnessed As A Child In His Own Home. In February 2010, Politico reported, Harry Reid's spokesman isn't laughing at Fred Thompson's Wednesday tweet — musing whether the majority leader would beat his wife if he loses reelection in November — calling the comment 'despicable' and invoking Reid's own violence-plagued childhood. 'While Fred Thompson may think he was being funny, it is unfortunate and disappointing that so many on the right would make light of domestic abuse,' Jim Manley wrote me in an e-mail. 'As someone who witnessed it firsthand as a child, Sen. Reid does not find the issue funny.'" The report added that Manley "recalled the description of the leader's hardscrabble childhood on the outskirts of Las Vegas in the 1940s, where a young Reid had to cope with a pair of hard-drinking parents and a father who beat his mother until Reid was 14. The beatings stopped when Reid and his brother pinned their father down and demanded he stop." [Politico, On Congress, 2/24/10]

Reid Witnessed Violence In His Own Home Growing Up, Fought His Own Father To Get Him To Stop Hitting His Mother. In his book, "The Good Fight," Reid wrote about his childhood and his parents: "And sometimes Mom and Pop fight with each other, physically, in front of us. My father can be mean to my mother. After Don and Dale are off at high school, Larry and I sit, wide-eyed, listening to what goes on the other side of the closed door." Later he wrote:

"One day, when I was about fourteen, my dad obviously had had something to drink. It was summer, because I was home from my first year away at high school in Henderson. It was daytime. He was being mean to my mother. He started hitting her. That was it. I just looked at my brother and said, "Larry, let's take him." So we did. We jumped him. I took him high, Larry took him low, and we pinned him to the floor. He was like a rock. My father was a big man, and I'd always been afraid of him. "Get offa me!" he yelled as he kicked and writhed. Down in the mines my father was more than a match for solid rock. I'd never conceived of a physical task he couldn't do. Except on that afternoon in Searchlight, he couldn't get my brother and me off of him. "Stay down!" I said. My father lived a hard life. He wasn't a bad man. But I'd be damned if he was going to do that to my mother again. It was the first time we had ever done anything like that. We'd never been big enough … Larry and I were becoming men, ad he wouldn't be able to carry on like that in front of us anymore. Those days were over. We had taken him down, and he would never look at us the same again." [Reid, "The Good Fight, pp. 29, 52-53]

REID HAS BEEN A LEADER, BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN NEVADA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Reid Was An Early Advocate of Funding to Combat Domestic Violence – Securing Tens of Millions in Funding That Preceded the Establishment of Permanent Funding Through the Violence Against Women Act. During the early 1990s, Reid was an early advocate of funding to combat domestic violence – well before the entire Congress enacted the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, which made such funding permanent. In both 1991 and 1992, Reid secured $20 million to provide counseling and other preventative measures to victims of domestic violence. The 1994 Violence Against Women Act – signed into law as part of the 1994 Crime Bill which Reid supported – eventually earmarked $1.6 billion to fight domestic violence. Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women, praised the act for "recognizing, for the first time ever, that gender-based violence is a violation of women's civil rights." Reid also sponsored bills during 1991 and 1992 to combat domestic violence and fund state anti-domestic violence coalitions. [States News Service, 9/11/91; States News Service, 9/10/92; AP, 8/26/94; St. Petersburg Times, 7/11/91; Vote 384, HR 3355, 11/19/93; S 15, 102nd Congress; S 803, 102nd Congress]

Reid Has Secured Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars To Combat Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault In Nevada.

$75,000 To Prevent Domestic Abuse Of The Elderly. In November 2005, Reid announced he had secured $75,000 for the "S.A.F.E. House, which is located in Southern Nevada, to implement the Elder Abuse Prevention Project. This will help protect seniors from domestic violence abuse and will provide services to those who have become victims of domestic violence." [Reid Press Release, 11/17/05

$100,000 For Domestic Violence Counseling. In November 2004, Reid announced he had secured "$100,000 for the S.A.F.E. House Domestic Violence Counseling Center. This center counsels victims of domestic violence and their children. Specifically, the funds will permit the center to eliminate their wait list by expanding capacity and will permit the organization to hire an additional counselor." [Reid Press Release, 11/30/04]

$20,000 For The Douglas County Sexual Assault Response Team. In November 2005, Reid announced he had secured $20,000 for the Douglas County Sexual Assault Response Team to "purchase the equipment necessary so that the special nurses can complete a sexual assault exam. Currently, when an individual is sexually assaulted in Douglas County the victim is transported and examined at the Carson Tahoe Hospital." [Reid Press Release, 11/17/05]

$350,000 To Combat "Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault And Stalking" In Douglas County. In September 2009, Senators Reid and Ensign announced, "Recently, Douglas County was awarded a grant in the amount of $350,000. The grant funds are to be used to support programs that: 1) identify, assess, and appropriately respond to child, youth and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in rural communities, by encouraging collaboration among domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking victim service providers; law enforcement agencies; prosecutors; courts; other criminal justice service providers; human and community service providers; educational institutions; and health care providers; b) establish and expand nonprofit, nongovernmental, State, tribal, territorial, and local government victim services in rural communities to child, youth, and adult victims; and c) increase the safety and well-being of women and children in rural communities by dealing directly and immediately with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking occurring in rural communities; and creating and implementing strategies to increase awareness and prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking." [Reid Press Release, 9/30/09]

$125,000 For The Rape Crisis Center In Las Vegas. In December 2009, Reid announced he had secured $125,000 for the Rape Crisis Center in Las Vegas, saying, "Description: With more than 35 years of experience in Southern Nevada, the Rape Crisis Center's outreach and education programs have been very successful. The Center has partnered with the Clark County School District to educate children about ways to prevent and identify sexual assault." [Reid Release, 12/13/09]

FACT: ANGLE VOTED TO PREVENT NEVADA LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS FROM ENFORCING OUT-OF-STATE ORDERS OF PROTECTION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

Angle Voted To Prevent Nevada From Enforcing Valid Protective Orders Pertaining To Domestic Violence Issued In Another State. In 2001 Angle voted against AB 581, which the attorney general's office testified "mandates foreign protective orders that are not registered or have not been domiciled in the state be enforced based on the fact that they are valid on their face. Furthermore, it goes on to provide the officers not only will enforce the protective order, but will also make the arrest unless it is apparent to the officer the order is not authentic." AB 581 passed the Assembly on a 31-9 vote. [Senate Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/27/01; AB 581, Introduced 3/26/01, Assembly Final Passage Vote 4/19/01]

Attorney General's Office Called The Bill A "Model Code For Domestic Violence," Said It Protects Victims. According to testimony from the attorney general's office, the legislation being considered was "being done throughout the country and considered the model code for domestic violence. It assures victims of domestic violence, fleeing from one state to another, often without time to get their order domesticated in another state, but instead carry their order. In the instance of the aggressor following them to another state, this provides them the protection they need, and the officers the assurance of a valid order, and the officers are required to arrest the person for the protection of victims." [Senate Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/27/01]

Chief Judge Mitch Wright: Legislation's Defeat Would "Enable Domestic Violence Perpetrators To Continue Their Behavior." Testifying before the Assembly Judiciary Committee in April 2001, Chief Judge Mitch Wright of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, "expressed the need for protection orders to be enforced, regardless of arbitrary borders. He informed the committee if the bill was not passed, it would enable domestic violence perpetrators to continue their behavior." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

NEVADA LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS DENOUNCED ANGLE'S EXTREME AND DANGEROUS VOTE

Former Clark County Sheriff Bill Young: "Instead of bolstering Nevada law enforcement, she has taken vote after vote to tie its hands. From blocking their efforts to stop domestic violence, catch sex offenders, and to ensure top quality police recruits." [Reid Campaign Event, 8/30/10]

Terrence McAllister, North Las Vegas Police Officers Association: "While Senator Harry Reid is fighting for us, Sharron Angle simply does not share our values. As a member of the Senate State Assembly, Sharron Angle voted time and time again to tie our hands. For example she voted to prevent Nevada from enforcing valid protection orders pertaining to domestic violence issued in another state. So in Sharron Angle's Nevada, an abuser can continue their dangerous behavior right here in Nevada, because they crossed into Nevada's borders. That just doesn't make sense, that attitude is too extreme and dangerous." [Reid Campaign Event, 8/30/10]

ANGLE'S RIDICULOUS DEFENSE 1: SHE "AGREES WITH THE SPIRIT" OF THE BILL BUT "HAD CONCERNS WITH THE EXECUTION." In August the Review-Journal reported that Nevada law enforcement officials had endorsed Reid and attacked Angle's extreme and dangerous record. According to the report, "What about Angle's votes in the Assembly that Reid said demonstrated she doesn't support law enforcement? 'Sharron agrees with the spirit of those bills and the need for law enforcement to have the proper tools,' Agen said. 'However she had concerns with the execution. At the time, Sharron raised questions in committee regarding the unintended consequences in regards to personal privacy and costs.'" [Review-Journal, Political Eye Blog, 8/30/10]

ANGLE'S RIDICULOUS DEFENSE 2: THEY'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT. In September 2010, Huffington Post reported that in response to this ad, Angle's campaign said, "Harry Reid has released four different ads in the last five days all with different messages. That's a sign that the Reid campaign is struggling to gain traction. Yesterday's Mason-Dixon poll shows that most independent voters blame Obama and Reid for the economy, which is a major problem for Reid. His latest attempt at fear mongering is just another ill-conceived effort to distract voters from the main issue of this race, which is the broken economy in Nevada." [Huffington Post, 9/13/10]

ANGLE'S RIDICULOUS DEFENSE 3: THEY'RE TAKING THE VOTE "OUT OF CONTEXT." In September 2010, CNN reported that in response to this ad, Angle's campaign said, "It's taken out of context, she did not oppose the merits of the bill, she raised concerns to ensure that enforcement documents were authentic and present … Attacking Sharron, who's a grandmother and a former schoolteacher, on domestic violence is just desperation and more fear mongering to distract from Harry's failed economic record in Nevada." [CNN, 9/13/10]

Attorney General's Office: Purpose Of Bill Was To "Clarify Provisions" Of Statute Amended In 1999. Testifying before the Assembly Judiciary Committee in April 2001, Nancy E. Hart, Deputy Attorney General, "summarized that the purpose of the bill was to clarify provisions in NRS 33.090 with regard to registration and full faith and credit of orders for protection against domestic violence that were issued by other states, territories, or Indian tribes. She noted that the orders were often called 'foreign protection orders.' She read from Exhibit YY, and explained that the full faith and credit language stemmed from the federal Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA). She mentioned it was first adopted into Nevada law in 1997, NRS 33.090, and amended in 1999 to clarify that the foreign protection order did not need to be registered in order to be given full faith and credit. The confusion remained since 1999, because the provisions governing the registration and the enforcement of the foreign protection orders were contained in the same statute. She stated that A.B. 581 would separate the registration procedures from the full faith and credit." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

The Attorney General's Office Addressed Angle's Concerns In Committee, Said The Bill Gave More Discretion To Law Enforcement To "Consider The Situation" In Order To Protect Victims. According to the Committee Minutes from an April 2001 hearing on AB 581, "Mrs. Angle requested clarification if there would need to be a document present, in order for the foreign protection order to be enforced. Ms. Hart responded that there were two provisions. Section 1 provided for the officers to use discretion when presented with the document of the foreign protection order if it was not found in the database. Section 4, with amended language, would allow an officer to rely upon the statement alone of the victim, to assess whether there was a protection order in existence to be enforced. Ms. Hart indicated that it was a permissive statement that would allow the officer to use their own discretion to act upon, but it was not required for them to do so. It required the officer to consider the situation." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

BUT, The Bill Also Provided Officers For Immunity When Acted Under The Assumption Than An Order Was Valid. According to the Committee Minutes, "Chairman Anderson clarified that the situations that would normally occur would involve an officer requested to enforce a protection order that was on file, at which point he would search the database for domestic violence to verify the order existed. However, if the person had just acquired the protection order, and it was not yet entered into the database for domestic violence, the order would still be enforceable by the presentation of the document. Chairman Anderson clarified that the provision allowed a protection order to be enforced by the officer, at his or her own discretion with regard to the authenticity, if the order had not yet appeared in the database for domestic violence. Ms. Hart agreed. She pointed out that the next paragraph, Section 1, subsection 6, provided a safeguard that issued the enforcing party immunity for actions made based upon the reasonable belief that the order was valid." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

After Her Concerns Were Addressed, Angle Was Still So Opposed To The Bill That She … Abstained From Voting On It? According to the Committee Minutes, "The motion passed to amend and do pass A.B. 581. Assemblywoman Angle and Assemblyman Carpenter abstained from the vote. All others voted yes. Assemblywoman Buckley was not present for the vote." [Assembly Judiciary Committee minutes, 4/10/01]

Despite Senator Reid's record delivering billions for personnel, UAVs, National Guardsmen and fencing to help secure the US-Mexico board, Sharron Angle persists in making these accusations because she thinks they will distract voters from her extreme and dangerous agenda. Her fear-mongering immigration ads have been debunked by numerous independent fact-checkers as "false," and "misleading."

ANGLE'S IMMIGRATION ADS REPRESENT A "CHERRY-PICKED MIX OF FACTS AND OMISSIONS," AND DREW FAILING GRADES FROM NON-PARTISAN FACT-CHECKERS

The Las Vegas Sun's Anjeannette Damon Gave Angle's Immigration Attacks An "F." Las Vegas Sun reporter Anjeannette Damon subjected Sharron Angle's TV ad to a fact-check and found that "Angle distorts a series of votes Reid made on Republican amendments proposed during the 2006 debate over immigration reform." Damon went on to say "Reid voted against amendments that would have denied tax benefits to immigrants who had gained legal status under the proposed reform. He also voted in favor of the reform bill that would pay social security benefits for immigrants who became citizens, including for the work they performed while they were in the country illegally, but he never voted to quote give tax breaks to illegal immigrants and he also opposes paying social security benefits to anyone in the country illegally. Those claims receive an F" [KRNV News, 9/16/2010]

CNN's Tom Foreman Called Angle's Immigration Ad A "Cherry-Picked Mix Of Facts And Omissions." "We say the cherry-picked mix of facts and omissions may be standard political fare in Nevada, but it lands on our Sliding Scale of Truth between It's a Stretch and a plain old Tall Tale." [CNN AC360 Blog, 9/17/2010]

SPECIAL TAX BREAKS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS? "FALSE," "GOING OUT ON A LEDGE," AND "HE DID NOTHING OF THE KIND."

KOLO's Ed Pearce Said Angle Attack On Special Tax Breaks For Illegals Is False. When KOLO TV's Ed Pearce fact-checked Sharron Angle's claim that Reid voted to give special tax breaks to illegal immigrants, he gave that claim a "false" rating. According to Pearce, "The ad appears to refer to a series of votes during the 2006-2007 immigration reform debate. Reid voted, in some cases along with a number of Republicans, against amendments that would have prevented former illegal immigrants who had attained legal status under the bill from receiving Earned Income Tax Credit benefits. Two problems: First, it's more than a stretch to call the Earned Income Tax Credit a special tax break. It's an incentive for low income workers to seek employment by offering refundable tax credits when they work. And two, it never would have applied, as the ad claims, to current illegals, but only those who obtained legal status under the law." [KOLO TV, 9/23/2010]

CNN Said Angle's Attack On Tax Breaks For Illegals Was "Going Out On A Ledge." According to a CNN fact check, "saying Reid voted for special tax breaks for illegal immigrants is going out on a ledge. In 2006, Reid voted to table an amendment from Nevada's Republican senator (which, pretty much means it's done for) that would have prevented illegal immigrants from collecting tax refunds owed to them for work they did while here illegally. But that was not exactly a tax break." [CNN AC360 Blog, 9/17/2010]

Jon Ralston: "Did He Vote To Give Special Tax Breaks To Illegal Aliens? No." When Nevada political columnist Jon Ralston put Sharron Angle's attack ad through a "Reality Check," he said "Did he vote to give special tax breaks to illegal aliens? No. When asked to present backup for the claim, the Angle campaign cited the 2006 and 2007 immigration bills, but as the non-partisan factcheck.org pointed out, the bills did not change eligibility for the earned income tax credit, an the Angle folks erroneously point to Republican amendments that would not have affected the eligibility of illegal immigrants, only legal ones." [Face to Face, 10/5/2010]

Factcheck.Org On Tax Breaks For Illegal Immigrants: "He Did Nothing Of The Kind." According to the non-partisan factcheck.org, "Republican challenger Sharron Angle falsely claims Sen. Harry Reid voted to give 'special tax breaks to illegal aliens.' He did nothing of the kind. In fact, Reid sponsored an amendment to the comprehensive immigration bill in 2007 that made it clear that illegal immigrants remain ineligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income workers." [Factcheck.org, 9/23/2010]

SOCIAL SECURITY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS? "FALSE," "MISLEADING," AND "MORE THAN A STRETCH."

Factcheck.Org On Social Security For Illegal Immigrants: "That's False." According to the non-partisan factcheck.org, "Angle's ad also charges that Reid voted "to give illegals Social Security benefits." That's false. Yes, Reid voted against Ensign amendments in 2006 and 2007 that would have barred someone living here legally from receiving Social Security credits for work done while that person was living in the country illegally. The key phrase in that sentence is living here legally. Reid did not propose giving Social Security to illegal immigrants until and unless they are living here legally and have paid into the system long enough to become eligible for benefits." [Factcheck.org, 9/23/2010]

KOLO's Ed Pearce Says Angle Attack On Social Security For Illegals Is "Misleading And More Than A Stretch." When KOLO TV's Ed Pearce fact-checked Sharron Angle's claim that Reid voted to give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants, he called that claim "Misleading and more than a stretch." According to Pearce, "Current law already allows former illegal immigrants to receive Social Security benefits after they've become U-S citizens or achieved legal status. In any case that's not what the votes were about. The argument was over changing the calculation to allow former illegal immigrants to collect benefits based on money they paid into the system when they were still illegal. The amendments were offered by John Ensign. They failed twice in 2006 and 2007, Reid voting no. But later that year, Ensign offered a similar amendment. It passed overwhelmingly, Reid voting for it." [KOLO TV, 9/23/2010]

CNN Says Angle's Attack On Social Security For Illegals Is "A Stretch." In a blog post fact-checking Sharron Angle' ad, CNN's Tom Foreman asked "And did he really want to give illegal immigrants Social Security benefits even for the time they were here illegally? That's a stretch. In 2006 he supported legislation in the Senate (which died in the House) that would give Social Security benefits (including back payments) to illegal immigrants once they applied for citizenship and paid fines and taxes. He also introduced a measure to strictly forbid any Social Security payments to those who remained in illegal status." [CNN AC360 Blog, 9/17/2010]

Politifact Calls Angle's Attack On Social Security For Illegals "Misleading" And "Barely True." The non-partisan politifact.com wrote of Sharron Angle's claim that Harry Reid voted to give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants. "We consider these descriptions misleading, and in combination with the ad's decision to ignore Reid's contrary vote, we feel the this [sic] part of the statement deserves a rating of Barely True." Politifact.com, 9/17/010]

Along with promising to not create jobs, Sharron Angle has made killing Social Security and Medicare a top priority, repeatedly advocating the demise of both programs.

Angle: "We Need To Phase Medicare And Social Security Out." During a May 2010 debate on Face to Face, Sharron Angle said, "We need to phase Medicare and Social Security out in favor of something privatized." She later added, "Going forward we need to phase it out, give people an opportunity to either opt into the old system or go for a new system where they have their own healthcare savings account or they have their own retirement savings account which is portable and goes with them from job to job and for those who are entering the workforce right now they come on to the new system so it's a phased-in system so it's something [inaudible] privatize." [Face to Face Debate, 5/19/10]

Angle Called Social Security "A Broken System Without Much To Recommend It." In August 2010 the Associated Press reported Angle, "previously said she didn't trust big government to manage what she called 'a broken system without much to recommend it,' and she repeatedly has said she supports phasing out Social Security over time." [Associated Press, 8/14/10]

Angle Said Social Security Is "Difficult To Justify" And Likened It To Welfare. In a May interview with KNPR, Angle said, "Well, it's very difficult, Lynn, to justify Social Security. As you know F.D.R. put it in as an insurance policy for those who were needy. My grandfather would not even take his Social Security check because he said he was not up for welfare, he had planned for his retirement, and he wouldn't take it. But, since then we have gotten into this whole mindset that it's an entitlement." [KNPR, State of Nevada, 5/19/10]

Angle Believes "Entitlement Programs … Make Government Our God" And That "We Have Become A Country Entrenched In Idolatry." During an April 2010 interview with TruNews radio, Angle said, "And these programs that you mentioned -- that Obama has going with Reid and Pelosi pushing them forward -- are all entitlement programs built to make government our God. And that's really what's happening in this country is a violation of the First Commandment. We have become a country entrenched in idolatry, and that idolatry is the dependency upon our government. We're supposed to depend upon God for our protection and our provision and for our daily bread, not for our government." [TruNews, 4/21/10]

Even Sherm Frederick Knew Angle Was Saying Social Security Violates The First Commandment, And Even He Disagreed. In an August 2010 blog post, Review-Journal Publisher Sherm Frederick wrote, "Yes, humans can put anything before God, thus ignoring the First Commandment. But our government was created by men who believed in God. And they crafted the government to provide a common protection. That wasn't idolatry. Expansion of that common protection to include things like Social Security, or even national health care (though I think it is a bad idea) is not necessarily idolatry." [Review-Journal, Sherm Frederick Blog, 8/5/10]

Angle: "The Idea Of Privatizing And Getting Out Of Medicare And Social Security Is Not Up For Grabs." In June 2010, Talking Points Memo reported, "In an interview from three weeks before the Nevada Republican primary, Sharron Angle made it clear that getting rid of Medicare and Social Security is a non-negotiable issue for her … Going on in the interview, Angle talks about how as a Senator she would work with other legislators to formulate a proper solution for her idea, haggling over the details and implementation of privatization without giving up on the main idea itself: 'The idea of privatizing and getting out of Medicare and Social Security is not up for grabs.'" [Talking Points Memo, 6/14/10]

Angle: "I'm Not Sure Just Where In The Constitution The Federal Government Is Even Supposed To Be Involved In Our Medicare." During a September 2009 campaign event, Sharron Angle said, "We need to send people back there who are willing to look at what's wrong because we know that Medicare Part D might have been a good idea when it started out, but once it goes through the legislative process it becomes compromised and pretty soon it doesn't work. And I'm not sure just where in the Constitution the federal government is even supposed to be involved in our Medicare. You know, these are things that could be done on the state level much better." [Angle Campaign Event, 9/1/09]

Angle On Medicare: "We Need To Phase It Out." In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "As for Medicare, she (Angle) said the entitlement program popular with seniors will eventually grow too costly to maintain… 'We need to phase it out,' she said." [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/21/09]

ANGLE'S RHETORIC ON WHETHER SOCIAL SECURITY EVEN CAN BE SAVED AT ALL HAS UNDERGONE A MASSIVE MAKEOVER

The NEW Sharron Angle On Social Security: "It's Broken. It Needs To Be Fixed." During an August 2010 appearance in Henderson, Angle said, "I think that what we're talking about here is the Social Security system and what's wrong with the social Security System, and you're exactly right it's broken. It needs to be fixed." [Henderson Business Netwoek Breakfast, 8/10/10, via AOL News, 8/15/10]

The REAL Sharron Angle On Social Security: "It Can't Be Fixed. It's Broken." During a May 2010 candidate debate on Face to Face with Jon Ralston, Angle said, "We need to phase Medicare and Social Security out in favor of something privatized." When pressed, she said, "I'm saying it can't be fixed. It's broken." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston, 5/19/10

Angle In 1993: "STOP FUNDING THE WASTEFUL SOCIAL AND ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS." In a 1993 letter to Senator Reid, Angle wrote, "The answer to this mess is clear. STOP FUNDING THE WASTEFUL SOCIAL AND ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS. MAKE THE DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT WILL KEEP OUR COUNTRY STRONG. THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO!" [Review-Journal, John L. Smith Column, 8/18/10 (emphasis in original)]

Review-Journal's John L. Smith On Angle's Letter: "That's The Angle I Know. Her Recent Soft-Lens Campaign Style Notwithstanding, I Suspect Sharron Angle Is The Same As She Ever Was." In an August 2010 column, John L. Smith wrote, "Angle let Reid have it with both barrels. She also bluntly revealed her belief that the only way to save America was to end 'social and entitlement programs.' As a Senate candidate this year, Angle and her campaign mechanics have worked hard to soften her rhetoric about 'eliminating' Social Security in favor of 'privatizing' and 'personalizing' individual accounts. She's also suffered self-inflicted wounds on federal unemployment insurance extensions and other 'entitlement' programs … Ending Social Security and other entitlement programs? … That's the Angle I know. Her recent soft-lens campaign style notwithstanding, I suspect Sharron Angle is the same as she ever was." [Review-Journal, John L. Smith Column, 8/18/10]

FACT: ANGLE ATTACKS LEGISLATION REQUIRING INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COVER SCREENINGS FOR AND TREATMENT OF AUTISM

Angle Referred To Autism Coverage Bill Passed In 2009, Which Received Overwhelming Bipartisan Support From The Legislature. Angle's comment on covering autism is most likely in reference to AB 162 of the 75th session of the Nevada State Legislature. According to the Associated Press, "AB162 requires both public and private health insurance companies to screen and provide treatment for autism spectrum disorders up to a cap of $36,000 a year. The requirement goes into effect in 2011." AB 162 passed the state legislature by a total vote of 60-2. [Associated Press, 5/23/09; AB 162, 2009]

Before Bill Passage, Insurance Companies Refused To Pay For Treatment By Claiming "The Care Is Not Strictly Medical Even Though It Arises From A Medical Condition." In February 2009 the Las Vegas Sun reported, "Insurance companies have traditionally declined to pay for treatment, which usually involves intensive speech and occupational therapy. They assert that the care is not strictly medical even though it arises from a medical condition." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/11/09]

CONTRARY TO ANGLE'S RIDICULOUS ASSERTIONS, THIS LEGISLATION DEALT STRICTLY WITH AUTISM

Legislation Only Dealt With Providing "An Option Of Coverage For Screening For And Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorders And For Treatment Of Autism Spectrum Disorders." According the enrolled version of AB 162, "A health benefit plan must provide an option of coverage for screening for and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and for treatment of autism spectrum disorders…" [AB 162 as enrolled, 2009]

"'Autism spectrum disorders' means a neurobiological medical condition including, without limitation, autistic disorder, Asperger's Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified." [AB 162 as enrolled, 2009]

"'Behavioral therapy' means any interactive therapy derived from evidence-based research, including, without limitation, discrete trial training, early intensive behavioral intervention, intensive intervention programs, pivotal response training and verbal behavior provided by a licensed psychologist, licensed behavior analyst, licensed assistant behavior analyst or certified autism behavior interventionist." [AB 162 as enrolled, 2009]

"'Applied behavior analysis' means the design, implementation and evaluation of environmental modifications using behavioral stimuli and consequences to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior, including, without limitation, the use of direct observation, measurement and functional analysis of the relations between environment and behavior." [AB 162 as enrolled, 2009]

Autism Spectrum Disorders Encompasses Multiple Afflictions Because Autism Is A Multi-Faceted Disorder. During a March 2009 meeting of the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee, Assemblyman Horne asked Ronald B. Leaf, Co-Director of the Autism Partnership:

Assemblyman Horne: What is a definition of autism?

Ronald Leaf: We do not know the cause of autism. We think it is a neurological medical disorder; all the evidence points to that. To define autism, the onset has to be before the age of three and has three diagnostic features on a large spectrum. We are seeing such a rapid increase in numbers because there has been a widening of the spectrum. The first deficits most parents become alarmed about are language deficits. It ranges from children with no language to children who have problems with syntax and grammar. The second feature is a social deficit with a range of no social contact to not having the tools to have meaningful friendships. The third deficit is a preoccupation with motor movements, such as self-stimulation, like rocking back and forth, which interferes with learning. At the other end are children who have obsessive rituals and problems with transitions. All of those areas are treatable. We can give children meaningful communication skills, social skills, and overcome obsessive behaviors.

Assemblyman Horne: In each of the three deficits, is it safe to assume that the level of treatment varies?

Ronald Leaf: Not necessarily. The common belief is if you have high functioning skills, treatment will be easy, but it is not so. There are nuances that you have to treat, such as social nuances. There is not necessarily less treatment or more treatment. It is all very individualized. Children with autism are like snowflakes. There are commonalities, but there are unique differences which dictate the treatment. Our goal for treatment is to get rid of treatment. [Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee Minutes, 3/9/09]

THE BILL HAD OUTSPOKEN SUPPORT FROM LEGISLATORS, AUTISM ADVOCATES

Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Woodbury Was A "Key Advocate" Of The Bill. In February 2009 the Las Vegas Sun reported, "[Assemblyman James] Ohrenschall has also won the support of several Assembly Republicans, including a key advocate, Assemblywoman Melissa Woodbury, R-Henderson, who teaches autistic children in the Clark County School District…Woodbury cited research showing 47 percent of children who receive early intervention and at least 30 hours per week of treatment lead independent lives as adults. Of those who do not, 90 percent need a lifetime of expensive custodial care." [Las Vegas Sun, 2/11/09]

Korri Ward, Member, Nevada Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, Elko, Nevada: "I am the mother of a child with autism and cerebral palsy who is 15 years old. I am the case manager for the Elko Office of Disability Services' autism program. I have 12 children on my caseload. Prior to having evidence-based programming paid for, none of the children were receiving intervention. The parents were living with their child's lack of academic gains, lack of communication, and aggressive and injurious behaviors. Now, they are all making awesome progress. I am here in support of A.B. 162. I serve on the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. We submitted a letter (Exhibit I) in support of this bill because we believe it will improve the outcome of people and give them a higher quality of life and the ability to access their communities." [Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee Minutes, 3/9/09]

Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks Vice President Of Government Relations: "The new Nevada law represents another major step in the national effort to secure autism insurance coverage and provide families the help they so desperately need and deserve.Legislatures across the country are introducing and passing bills that put an end to the discriminatory practices by insurance companies against children with an autism diagnosis. We thank Nevada's legislators and Governor Jim Gibbons for having the courage to put families and their needs first." [Autism Speaks Press Release, 5/29/09]

FACT: ANGLE WAS ONE OF JUST TWO VOTES IN THE ASSEMBLY TO VOTE AGAINST REQUIRING INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COVER COLON CANCER SCREENINGS

Angle Voted Against Requiring Coverage Of Colorectal Cancer Screenings. Angle in 2003 was one of only two votes in the Assembly against SB 183, which required health insurance companies to cover screenings for colorectal cancer, if they provide treatment for colorectal cancer. [SB 183, 5/16/03]

Even The American Cancer Society's Lobbyist Testified Her Insurance Did Not Cover Colonoscopies. While urging members of the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee to pass SB 183, American Cancer Society Lobbyist Buffy Gail Martin disclosed, "Just as a side note, I am an employee of the American Cancer Society. However, my medical insurance company operating in the state of Nevada does not cover colonoscopies." [Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee Minutes, 4/25/03 (emphasis added)]

FACT: ANGLE EXPLICITLY ADDRESSED THE CHARGE THAT SHE OPPOSES INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR MAMMOGRAMS AND COLON CANCER SCREENINGS, ATTACKED REID FOR NOT REMOVING THOSE REQUIREMENTS

Asked About Attacks On Her Record And Rhetoric Regarding Health Care Coverage Mandates Told The Review-Journal Editorial Board: "If Harry Reid Is Really Genuine And Wants People To Be Insured, He Needs To Give Them The Opportunity To Afford Insurance And One Of Those Things Is To Take Off Those Mandated Coverages, Not Put On More." During a July 2010 interview with the Review-Journal, Angle addressed attacks on her record and rhetoric on the campaign trail:

BOARD MEMBER: Let's ask you some questions then. The latest mailer that Harry Reid has sent out is one that says you voted against requiring insurance companies to pay for mammograms and colonoscopies. So tell us your rationale for that.

ANGLE: Remember one of the things that we said would always be a good health care cost reform is to eliminate mandated coverages and allow people to participate in a just a basic plan and add the coverages they needed and take on those costs so that they knew what they were actually taking on. Those things that Harry Reid is complaining about are mandated coverages. And we have so many now in this state of Nevada that many insurers won't even come in this state because they can't.

BOARD MEMBER: How many are there?

ANGLE: How many insurers are there?

BOARD MEMBER: Mandates.

ANGLE: Mandates, I'm not even sure. When I left there were 21. And I don't know how much beyond that. I've heard bigger numbers, but that was one of the things that I even had a bill to remove those mandates here in the state because every time they put a mandate on, somebody can't afford it, somebody drops off those affordable insurance rolls and now they are uninsured. So if Harry Reid is really genuine and wants people to be insured, he needs to give them the opportunity to afford insurance and one of those things is to take off those mandated coverages, not put on more. [Angle Interview with the Review-Journal Editorial Board, 7/25/10 (emphasis added)]

FACT: ANGLE WANTS TO REMOVE ALL REQUIREMENTS THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES COVER ANYTHING THEY DON'T WANT TO COVER– BOTH IN NEVADA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY – AND HAS REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST THOSE REQUIREMENTS

Angle: The Answer To Health Care "Is Take Off The Mandates For Coverage In The State Of Nevada And All Over The United States." During an August 2009 campaign appearance, Angle discussed her ideas on health care. She said, "The first one is let us go outside state lines and get a competitive insurance company. The second one is take off the mandates for coverage in the state of Nevada and all over the United States. But here you know what I'm talking about. You're paying for things that you don't even need. They just passed the latest one, is everything they want to throw at us now is covered under 'autism.' So that's a mandate that you have to pay for. How about maternity leave? I'm not going to have any more babies, but I sure get to pay for it on my insurance. Those are the kinds of things we want to get rid of." [Angle Campaign Event, 8/29/09]

Angle: "If You Don't Have 23 Mandates That Are In The State Of Nevada That Say You Have To Have This And This Coverage, You Can Then Cut Your Costs On The Coverage." During a September 2009 appearance on Face to Face, Angle explained her answer on health care:

RALSTON: What's the answer then; tell me what the answer is?

ANGLE: I'm saying that our free market system is the answer. We have a lot of things that we can do. One of them is just letting people go across state lines to make choices on their interests—

RALSTON: Insurances across state lines…

ANGLE: yeah, that's right…Another one is to cut down on all of the government mandates that are on healthcare. If you don't have 23 mandates that are in the state of Nevada that say you have to have this and this coverage, you can then cut your costs on the coverage.

RALSTON: Well let's jus take that just for instance, because that's a Conservative principle that I've heard you and other Conservatives say, let's not have so many mandates. But some of those things people would argue the counter. If we don't force insurance companies to cover certain things whether it's treatments for cervical cancer or something like that, then you're hurting healthcare by not doing that on the other end. Don't just think that it's government's responsibility to make sure that insurance companies cover certain things.

ANGLE: No, I don't think so. I think that supply and demand…the whole point of our country and the freedom of that system. If we want those coverages, we'll go out and buy those coverages and they then will supply those coverages. Those kinds of things, you know we are going to shop around for the insurance company that is going to supply the thing that we need. Those are the kind of coverages that I want. You know, it works the same way for car insurance, when we go out we get a basic policy, and then if we want collision or if we want comprehensive then we go out and we buy that too, and we find the lowest price car insurance to provide the kind of things that we need. And that's what will happen on the free market scale. [Face to Face, 9/23/09]

Angle Touted Bill To Remove Coverage Mandates. During an April 2010 debate, Angle said, "If you go to my website you will see my record. As your state legislator I introduced three bills. One would have taken off all of the mandates on insurance, and that's one of the solutions that we have to have a Senator that will go and introduce something like that that says we don't have mandated coverages on insurance." [Anger is Brewing Senate Debate, 4/23/10]

Angle Touted Legislation That Would Have "Created A Basic Health Insurance Policy" Without Coverage Mandates On Her Primary Campaign Website. According to Angle's pre-primary website, "Assemblywoman, Sharron Angle introduced affordable insurance legislation that removed costly mandates and created a basic health insurance policy, with the ability to add those benefits that were specific to each person." [Angle Campaign Website, 6/8/10, via TheRealSharrnAngle.com]

Angle Voted Against Requiring Coverage Of Diagnosis And Treatment For Osteoporosis. Angle in 1999 was one of only two votes in the Assembly against AB 162, which required insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in women and men. [AB 162, 4/15/99]

Angle Voted Against Requiring Coverage Of Clinical Trials For Cancer Treatment. Angle in 2003 voted against legislation requiring health insurance companies to cover the costs of patients participating in approved clinical trials for the treatment of cancer, when other forms of effective treatment are not available to a patient. [AB 502, 4/22/03]

Angle Voted Against Requiring Coverage Of Contraception And Hormone Replacement Therapy For Woman. Angle in 1999 opposed AB 60, which required health insurance companies to cover prescription drugs and devices relating to contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women. [AB 60, 4/16/99]

Landra Reid Testified Legislation Would Reduce "Unintended Pregnancies And Abortions." According to a February 1999 article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Landra Reid testified before two legislative hearings on bills that would require both the state and private insurance companies to cover prescription contraceptives used by their policyholders. The bills are patterned after federal legislation sponsored by her husband. 'If men had to buy contraceptive drugs and devices, the insurance industry would cover them,' Landra Reid testified. 'The health industry has done a poor job of responding to women's health needs.' She said the proposals would reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions." [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2/16/99]

Angle Said State Shouldn't Require Coverage Of Contraception And Hormone Replacement Therapy. In April 1999 the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote, "Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, blasted the bill, saying it only would lead to higher costs for insurance and the state should not mandate additional coverage." [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2/16/99]

FACT: HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM WILL END THE PRACTICE OF "PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS" AND OTHER EGREGIOUS INDUSTRY PRACTICES

Health Insurance Reform Ends The Practice Of Charging Women More For Coverage Based Solely On Their Gender. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "Right now, a healthy 22 year old woman can be charged premiums 150% higher than a 22 year old man. Health reform will end discrimination that charges you more because of your gender and it prevents any insurance company from denying coverage based on a person's medical history." [HeathReform.gov, How Health Insurance Reform Will Help Women]

Health Insurance Reform Ends Pre-Existing Conditions, Stops Insurance Companies From Dropping Nevadans When They Get Sick And Ends Lifetime On Coverage. In March 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "Six months after the bill is signed into law, insurance companies would be banned from some unpopular practices — no more rescinding coverage when policyholders get sick, imposing lifetime financial caps on coverage or denying coverage for children with pre-existing conditions." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/22/10]

Health Insurance Reform Also Immediately Restricts And Eventually Ends Annual Limits On Coverage. According to CNN, within one year after enacting heath insurance reform, "Lifetime limits on benefits and restrictive annual limits will be prohibited." In 2014, "Health plans will be prohibited from imposing annual limits on coverage." [CNN, 3/26/10]

Health Insurance Reform Grants Uninsured Nevadans With Pre-Existing Conditions Immediate Access To Health Insurance. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, health insurance reform "Creates immediate options for people who can't get insurance today. 9 percent of people in Nevada have diabetes, and 27 percent have high blood pressure – two conditions that insurance companies could use as a reason to deny health insurance coverage. Reform will establish a high-risk pool to enable people who cannot get insurance today to find an affordable health plan." [HealthReform.gov, Nevada]

More Than 68,000 Uninsured Nevadans With Pre-Existing Conditions Will Have Access To Coverage Because Of Health Insurance Reform. According to Democratic Policy Committee Analysis, Health Insurance Reform will "Ensure immediate access to affordable insurance options for as many as 68,321 uninsured Nevadans who have a pre-existing condition." [Democratic Policy Committee, 4/5/10 (using data from HealthReform.gov and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality]

Las Vegas Sun: "Within 90 days, a temporary high-risk pool would be created for those who are uninsured because of pre-existing medical conditions, allowing them to immediately buy insurance until new health care exchanges — marketplaces with a range of companies offering insurance policies — are up and running." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/22/10]

Repealing health insurance reform means more than half a million Nevadans will go without health care and more than 680,000 children could be denied coverage by insurance companies because of pre-existing conditions. Health insurance reforms take power away from big insurance companies and lower costs, improve quality, and increase access.

FACT: HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM WILL END THE PRACTICE OF "PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS" AND OTHER EGREGIOUS INDUSTRY PRACTICES

Health Insurance Reform Ends The Practice Of Charging Women More For Coverage Based Solely On Their Gender. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "Right now, a healthy 22 year old woman can be charged premiums 150% higher than a 22 year old man. Health reform will end discrimination that charges you more because of your gender and it prevents any insurance company from denying coverage based on a person's medical history." [HeathReform.gov, How Health Insurance Reform Will Help Women]

Health Insurance Reform Ends Pre-Existing Conditions, Stops Insurance Companies From Dropping Nevadans When They Get Sick And Ends Lifetime On Coverage. In March 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "Six months after the bill is signed into law, insurance companies would be banned from some unpopular practices — no more rescinding coverage when policyholders get sick, imposing lifetime financial caps on coverage or denying coverage for children with pre-existing conditions." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/22/10]

Health Insurance Reform Also Immediately Restricts And Eventually Ends Annual Limits On Coverage. According to CNN, within one year after enacting heath insurance reform, "Lifetime limits on benefits and restrictive annual limits will be prohibited." In 2014, "Health plans will be prohibited from imposing annual limits on coverage." [CNN, 3/26/10]

Health Insurance Reform Grants Uninsured Nevadans With Pre-Existing Conditions Immediate Access To Health Insurance. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, health insurance reform "Creates immediate options for people who can't get insurance today. 9 percent of people in Nevada have diabetes, and 27 percent have high blood pressure – two conditions that insurance companies could use as a reason to deny health insurance coverage. Reform will establish a high-risk pool to enable people who cannot get insurance today to find an affordable health plan." [HealthReform.gov, Nevada]

More Than 68,000 Uninsured Nevadans With Pre-Existing Conditions Will Have Access To Coverage Because Of Health Insurance Reform. According to Democratic Policy Committee Analysis, Health Insurance Reform will "Ensure immediate access to affordable insurance options for as many as 68,321 uninsured Nevadans who have a pre-existing condition." [Democratic Policy Committee, 4/5/10 (using data from HealthReform.gov and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality]

Las Vegas Sun: "Within 90 days, a temporary high-risk pool would be created for those who are uninsured because of pre-existing medical conditions, allowing them to immediately buy insurance until new health care exchanges — marketplaces with a range of companies offering insurance policies — are up and running." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/22/10]

Health Insurance Reform Will Give 650,000 Nevadans Access To Quality Affordable Care, Ensure Protection For More Than 680,000 Nevada Children And Improve Medicare For Nevada's 328,000 Medicare Beneficiaries. According to the Democratic Policy Committee, under health insurance reform, more than 681,000 Nevada children will be protected from insurance companies who want to deny them coverage because of a pre-existing condition. 518,000 Nevadans without health insurance will have access to affordable coverage, and so will 132,000 Nevadans who get their coverage from the individual market. Nevada's 328,000 Medicare beneficiaries will see the prescription drug donut hole close and receive additional Medicare benefits like free preventive care and annual checkups. [Democratic Policy Committee, The Benefits of Health Insurance Reform]

FACT: HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM PROVIDES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX RELIEF TO MAKE HEALTH INSURANCE MORE AFFORDABLE, INCLUDING TAX CREDITS THAT WILL HELP MORE THAN 30,000 NEVADA SMALL BUSINESSES PROVIDE COVERAGE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES

Health Insurance Reform Will Provide Tax Credits To Make Providing Health Insurance More Affordable For 30,000 Nevada Small Businesses. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "While small businesses make up 70 percent of Nevada's businesses, only 49 percent of them offered health coverage benefits in 2008. 30,300 small businesses in Nevada could be helped by a small businesses tax credit proposal that makes premiums more affordable. And these small businesses would be exempt from any employer responsibility provisions." [HealthReform.gov, Nevada]

Under Health Insurance Reform, More Than 300,000 Nevadans Will Receive $5 Billion In Tax Credits To Make Purchasing Health Insurance More Affordable. According to the Department of Heath and Human Services and the Democratic Policy Committee, health insurance reform will being tax credits to as many as 311,000 Nevadans to make paying for coverage more affordable. Those tax credits total up to as much as $5 billion during the first five years after the health insurance exchanges are established. [HealthReform.gov; Democratic Policy Committee, 4/5/10]

For Nevadans Who Purchase Their Own Health Insurance, Reform Reduces Premiums By As Much As $2,000 Per Family. According to the Democratic Policy Committee, for Nevadans who purchase their health insurance in the individual market, health insurance reform would "Reduce family health insurance premiums by $1,380 - $1,970 for the same benefits, as compared to what they would be without health reform by 2016." [Democratic Policy Committee, 4/5/10]

Health Insurance Reform Also Drastically Reduces The Hidden Tax Nevada Families Already Pay To Cover Those Who Lack Health Insurance, Need Care And Can't Afford To Pay It. In May 2009, USA Today reported, "The average U.S. family and their employers paid an extra $1,017 in health care premiums last year to compensate for the uninsured, according to a study to be released Thursday by an advocacy group for health care consumers. Families USA, which supports expanded health care coverage, found that about 37% of health care costs for people without insurance — or a total of $42.7 billion — went unpaid last year. That cost eventually was shifted to the insured through higher premiums, according to the group. 'I don't think anybody has any idea about how much they are paying because of the need to cover the health care costs of the uninsured,' said Ron Pollack, the group's executive director. 'This is a hidden tax on all insurance premiums, whether it is paid by business for their work or by families when they purchase their own coverage.'" [USA Today, 5/28/09]

FACT: HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM PRESERVES GUARANTEED MEDICARE BENEFITS, CLOSES THE DONUT HOLE FOR SENIORS IN MEDICARE, STRENGTHENS THE PROGRAM AND INCREASES GUARANTEED BENEFITS FOR SENIORS BY PROVIDING FREE PREVENTIVE CARE

AARP: "Basic Benefits Will Not Be Cut." In their guide, "What Health Care Reform Will Mean to You," AARP wrote, "The government has guaranteed that basic benefits will not be cut. Next year, all Medicare preventive services, such as screenings for colon, prostate and breast cancer, will be free. Annual wellness visits will also be free starting in 2011." [AARP, 3/25/10]

AARP Praised The Senate Health Care Bill For Strengthening And Improving Medicare For Seniors, Moving Toward Closing The Donut Hole. In a December 2009 statement, AARP CEO A. Barry Rand said, "This morning the Senate brought us closer to meaningful health care reform than we have ever been before. Passage of the Senate health care reform bill clears the way for Congress to enact legislation in the coming weeks that will protect and strengthen Medicare, ensure millions more Americans can get affordable health coverage and sharply curtail discriminatory insurance company practices that keep those most in need out of the system. The bill passed by the Senate makes needed progress to prevent coverage denials due to health status and limit insurance companies from charging older Americans much more for coverage because of their age. It also begins to close the dangerous gap in Medicare drug coverage known as the doughnut hole, and Senate leaders have committed that a final bill will close the gap entirely by 2019, in keeping with the President's pledge. In addition, the Senate bill adds important new Medicare benefits, like free preventive care, and encourages states to provide more home and community-based long-term care services and supports instead of costlier institutional care." [AARP Press Release, 12/24/09]

AARP Executive Vice President: "The New Senate Bill Makes Improvements To The Medicare." In a November 2008 statement after Reid introduced the Senate's version of the Patient , AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said, "The new Senate bill makes improvements to the Medicare program by creating a new annual wellness benefit, providing free preventive benefits, and—most notably for AARP members—reducing drug costs for seniors who fall into the dreaded Medicare doughnut hole, a costly gap in prescription drug coverage. Too often, those who fall into this coverage gap stop taking their prescription drugs because they simply can't afford to. The new bill adds a new $500 down payment for prescription drug costs in the doughnut hole in 2010." [AARP Release, 11/18/09]

Health Insurance Reform Will Benefit Nevada's 328,000 Medicare Beneficiaries In Numerous ways. According to the Department of Heath and Human Services, under health insurance reform, "Nevada's 328,000 Medicare beneficiaries will benefit as reform:

Lowers premiums by reducing Medicare's overpayments to private plans. All Medicare beneficiaries pay the price of excessive overpayments through higher premiums – even the 70 percent of seniors in Nevada who are not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. A typical couple in traditional Medicare will pay nearly $90 in additional Medicare premiums next year to subsidize these private plans. Health insurance reform clamps down on these excessive payments.

Reduces prescription drug spending. Roughly 58,200 Medicare beneficiaries in Nevada hit the 'doughnut hole,' or gap in Medicare Part D drug coverage that can cost some seniors an average of $4,080 per year. Reform legislation will provide a 50 percent discount for brand-name drugs in this coverage gap.

Covers free preventive services. Currently, seniors in Medicare must pay part of the cost of many preventive services on their own. For a colonoscopy that costs $756, this means that a senior must pay $175 – a price that can be prohibitively expensive. Under reform, a senior will not pay anything for that colonoscopy, or for any other recommended preventive service. A senior will also get free annual wellness visits to his or her provider, with a personalized prevention plan to remain in good health." [HealthReform.gov, Nevada]

More Than 5,000 Nevadans Have Already Benefited From Reid's Work To Close The Prescription Drug Donut Hole. In an August 2010 release, "Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced the third round of $250 Medicare rebate checks have been mailed to Nevada seniors who have reached the prescription-drug doughnut hole. Nearly 5,000 Nevada seniors have received these tax-free checks that cover the coverage gap that more than 25 percent of seniors reach while on a prescription drug regimen. These checks will work to partly close the doughnut hole this year. Next year the health reform law will take additional steps by offering seniors 50 percent discount on their brand name medications." [Reid Release, 8/10/10]

Gazette-Journal: "An estimated 58,200 seniors also will have their Medicare drug costs covered over time as part of the closure of the so-called 'doughnut hole.'" [Gazette-Journal, 3/29/10]

ANGLE WANTS TO REMOVE THE US FROM THE UNITED NATIONS AND REMOVE THE UN HEADQUARTERS FROM NEW YORK CITY.

During a May 2010 candidate forum in Elko, Angle said, "The UN is unconstitutional …and a entity that threatens our very sovereignty and national security. We need to get them off our soil, we need to quit paying for them with our tax payer dollars. And we definitely need to quit talking about how our troops have come under their control. We are a sovereign nation. We need to protect ourselves from thuggery and folks that are on our soil and really don't need our best benefits. So, we just need to do away with the UN, I think they've long past down away with any kind of benefit that they have for our country and they are very costly on our soil. We just need to do away with them." [Elko County Forum 5/11/2010]

Even Leading Senate Republicans Don't Agree With Angle's Extreme Plan To Take The United Nations Out Of The UN. "Several Senate Republicans told POLITICO that they don't favor privatizing Social Security, as Angle has supported. Small government conservatives said it doesn't make sense to eliminate the Energy and Education departments – as she's called for in the past. And some recoiled at the thought of pulling the United States out of the United Nations, a position Angle has touted ... 'They were suggested about 18 years ago, and many times subsequently,' said Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) who disagreed with all of those views. 'Some candidates from time to time, perhaps attempting to show a sense of anger, outrage or whatever, express what I would characterize as very extreme views that do not have much basis in either practicality or what is going to occur in the evolution of our country.'" [Politico, 6/16/10]

FACT: HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM ACTUALLY REDUCES THE DEFICIT BY MORE THAN $1 TRILLION

CBO: Health Insurance Reform Will Reduce The Deficit By More Than $1.3 Trillion. In March 2010, The Hill reported that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office "told lawmakers that the health package would cost $940 billion over the next decade, reducing the deficit by $130 billion. It will reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion in the second decade of the plan's implementation, according to those who have seen the score. That's a larger deficit reduction than the healthcare measures passed by both the House and the Senate last year, though the CBO said the current bill would spend more than those bills." [The Hill, Briefing Room Blog, 3/18/10]

CBO Updated Their Analysis And Found Health Insurance Reform Reduced The Deficit By $143 Billion Over The First Ten Years - $13 Billion More Than Their Original Assessment. In March 2010, CBS reported that health insurance reform "Would reduce the deficit by $143 billion over the first ten years. That is an updated CBO estimate. Their first preliminary estimate said it would reduce the deficit by $130 billion over ten years. Would reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion dollars in the second ten years." [CBS News, 3/23/10]

FACT: HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM WILL END THE PRACTICE OF "PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS" AND OTHER EGREGIOUS INDUSTRY PRACTICES

Health Insurance Reform Ends The Practice Of Charging Women More For Coverage Based Solely On Their Gender. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "Right now, a healthy 22 year old woman can be charged premiums 150% higher than a 22 year old man. Health reform will end discrimination that charges you more because of your gender and it prevents any insurance company from denying coverage based on a person's medical history." [HeathReform.gov, How Health Insurance Reform Will Help Women]

Health Insurance Reform Ends Pre-Existing Conditions, Stops Insurance Companies From Dropping Nevadans When They Get Sick And Ends Lifetime On Coverage. In March 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "Six months after the bill is signed into law, insurance companies would be banned from some unpopular practices — no more rescinding coverage when policyholders get sick, imposing lifetime financial caps on coverage or denying coverage for children with pre-existing conditions." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/22/10]

Health Insurance Reform Also Immediately Restricts And Eventually Ends Annual Limits On Coverage. According to CNN, within one year after enacting heath insurance reform, "Lifetime limits on benefits and restrictive annual limits will be prohibited." In 2014, "Health plans will be prohibited from imposing annual limits on coverage." [CNN, 3/26/10]

Health Insurance Reform Grants Uninsured Nevadans With Pre-Existing Conditions Immediate Access To Health Insurance. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, health insurance reform "Creates immediate options for people who can't get insurance today. 9 percent of people in Nevada have diabetes, and 27 percent have high blood pressure – two conditions that insurance companies could use as a reason to deny health insurance coverage. Reform will establish a high-risk pool to enable people who cannot get insurance today to find an affordable health plan." [HealthReform.gov, Nevada]

More Than 68,000 Uninsured Nevadans With Pre-Existing Conditions Will Have Access To Coverage Because Of Health Insurance Reform. According to Democratic Policy Committee Analysis, Health Insurance Reform will "Ensure immediate access to affordable insurance options for as many as 68,321 uninsured Nevadans who have a pre-existing condition." [Democratic Policy Committee, 4/5/10 (using data from HealthReform.gov and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality]

Las Vegas Sun: "Within 90 days, a temporary high-risk pool would be created for those who are uninsured because of pre-existing medical conditions, allowing them to immediately buy insurance until new health care exchanges — marketplaces with a range of companies offering insurance policies — are up and running." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/22/10]

Health Insurance Reform Will Give 650,000 Nevadans Access To Quality Affordable Care, Ensure Protection For More Than 680,000 Nevada Children And Improve Medicare For Nevada's 328,000 Medicare Beneficiaries. According to the Democratic Policy Committee, under health insurance reform, more than 681,000 Nevada children will be protected from insurance companies who want to deny them coverage because of a pre-existing condition. 518,000 Nevadans without health insurance will have access to affordable coverage, and so will 132,000 Nevadans who get their coverage from the individual market. Nevada's 328,000 Medicare beneficiaries will see the prescription drug donut hole close and receive additional Medicare benefits like free preventive care and annual checkups. [Democratic Policy Committee, The Benefits of Health Insurance Reform]

FACT: HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM PROVIDES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX RELIEF TO MAKE HEALTH INSURANCE MORE AFFORDABLE, INCLUDING TAX CREDITS THAT WILL HELP MORE THAN 30,000 NEVADA SMALL BUSINESSES PROVIDE COVERAGE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES

Health Insurance Reform Will Provide Tax Credits To Make Providing Health Insurance More Affordable For 30,000 Nevada Small Businesses. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "While small businesses make up 70 percent of Nevada's businesses, only 49 percent of them offered health coverage benefits in 2008. 30,300 small businesses in Nevada could be helped by a small businesses tax credit proposal that makes premiums more affordable. And these small businesses would be exempt from any employer responsibility provisions." [HealthReform.gov, Nevada]

Under Health Insurance Reform, More Than 300,000 Nevadans Will Receive $5 Billion In Tax Credits To Make Purchasing Health Insurance More Affordable. According to the Department of Heath and Human Services and the Democratic Policy Committee, health insurance reform will being tax credits to as many as 311,000 Nevadans to make paying for coverage more affordable. Those tax credits total up to as much as $5 billion during the first five years after the health insurance exchanges are established. [HealthReform.gov; Democratic Policy Committee, 4/5/10]

For Nevadans Who Purchase Their Own Health Insurance, Reform Reduces Premiums By As Much As $2,000 Per Family. According to the Democratic Policy Committee, for Nevadans who purchase their health insurance in the individual market, health insurance reform would "Reduce family health insurance premiums by $1,380 - $1,970 for the same benefits, as compared to what they would be without health reform by 2016." [Democratic Policy Committee, 4/5/10]

Health Insurance Reform Also Drastically Reduces The Hidden Tax Nevada Families Already Pay To Cover Those Who Lack Health Insurance, Need Care And Can't Afford To Pay It. In May 2009, USA Today reported, "The average U.S. family and their employers paid an extra $1,017 in health care premiums last year to compensate for the uninsured, according to a study to be released Thursday by an advocacy group for health care consumers. Families USA, which supports expanded health care coverage, found that about 37% of health care costs for people without insurance — or a total of $42.7 billion — went unpaid last year. That cost eventually was shifted to the insured through higher premiums, according to the group. 'I don't think anybody has any idea about how much they are paying because of the need to cover the health care costs of the uninsured,' said Ron Pollack, the group's executive director. 'This is a hidden tax on all insurance premiums, whether it is paid by business for their work or by families when they purchase their own coverage.'" [USA Today, 5/28/09]

FACT: HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM PRESERVES GUARANTEED MEDICARE BENEFITS, CLOSES THE DONUT HOLE FOR SENIORS IN MEDICARE, STRENGTHENS THE PROGRAM AND INCREASES GUARANTEED BENEFITS FOR SENIORS BY PROVIDING FREE PREVENTIVE CARE

AARP: "Basic Benefits Will Not Be Cut." In their guide, "What Health Care Reform Will Mean to You," AARP wrote, "The government has guaranteed that basic benefits will not be cut. Next year, all Medicare preventive services, such as screenings for colon, prostate and breast cancer, will be free. Annual wellness visits will also be free starting in 2011." [AARP, 3/25/10]

AARP Praised The Senate Health Care Bill For Strengthening And Improving Medicare For Seniors, Moving Toward Closing The Donut Hole. In a December 2009 statement, AARP CEO A. Barry Rand said, "This morning the Senate brought us closer to meaningful health care reform than we have ever been before. Passage of the Senate health care reform bill clears the way for Congress to enact legislation in the coming weeks that will protect and strengthen Medicare, ensure millions more Americans can get affordable health coverage and sharply curtail discriminatory insurance company practices that keep those most in need out of the system. The bill passed by the Senate makes needed progress to prevent coverage denials due to health status and limit insurance companies from charging older Americans much more for coverage because of their age. It also begins to close the dangerous gap in Medicare drug coverage known as the doughnut hole, and Senate leaders have committed that a final bill will close the gap entirely by 2019, in keeping with the President's pledge. In addition, the Senate bill adds important new Medicare benefits, like free preventive care, and encourages states to provide more home and community-based long-term care services and supports instead of costlier institutional care." [AARP Press Release, 12/24/09]

AARP Executive Vice President: "The New Senate Bill Makes Improvements To The Medicare." In a November 2008 statement after Reid introduced the Senate's version of the Patient , AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said, "The new Senate bill makes improvements to the Medicare program by creating a new annual wellness benefit, providing free preventive benefits, and—most notably for AARP members—reducing drug costs for seniors who fall into the dreaded Medicare doughnut hole, a costly gap in prescription drug coverage. Too often, those who fall into this coverage gap stop taking their prescription drugs because they simply can't afford to. The new bill adds a new $500 down payment for prescription drug costs in the doughnut hole in 2010." [AARP Release, 11/18/09]

Health Insurance Reform Will Benefit Nevada's 328,000 Medicare Beneficiaries In Numerous ways. According to the Department of Heath and Human Services, under health insurance reform, "Nevada's 328,000 Medicare beneficiaries will benefit as reform:

Lowers premiums by reducing Medicare's overpayments to private plans. All Medicare beneficiaries pay the price of excessive overpayments through higher premiums – even the 70 percent of seniors in Nevada who are not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. A typical couple in traditional Medicare will pay nearly $90 in additional Medicare premiums next year to subsidize these private plans. Health insurance reform clamps down on these excessive payments.

Reduces prescription drug spending. Roughly 58,200 Medicare beneficiaries in Nevada hit the 'doughnut hole,' or gap in Medicare Part D drug coverage that can cost some seniors an average of $4,080 per year. Reform legislation will provide a 50 percent discount for brand-name drugs in this coverage gap.

Covers free preventive services. Currently, seniors in Medicare must pay part of the cost of many preventive services on their own. For a colonoscopy that costs $756, this means that a senior must pay $175 – a price that can be prohibitively expensive. Under reform, a senior will not pay anything for that colonoscopy, or for any other recommended preventive service. A senior will also get free annual wellness visits to his or her provider, with a personalized prevention plan to remain in good health." [HealthReform.gov, Nevada]

More Than 5,000 Nevadans Have Already Benefited From Reid's Work To Close The Prescription Drug Donut Hole. In an August 2010 release, "Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced the third round of $250 Medicare rebate checks have been mailed to Nevada seniors who have reached the prescription-drug doughnut hole. Nearly 5,000 Nevada seniors have received these tax-free checks that cover the coverage gap that more than 25 percent of seniors reach while on a prescription drug regimen. These checks will work to partly close the doughnut hole this year. Next year the health reform law will take additional steps by offering seniors 50 percent discount on their brand name medications." [Reid Release, 8/10/10]

Gazette-Journal: "An estimated 58,200 seniors also will have their Medicare drug costs covered over time as part of the closure of the so-called 'doughnut hole.'" [Gazette-Journal, 3/29/10]

Senator Reid was standing up for Nevadans when he took President Bush to task for lying to them about Yucca Mountain and putting politics ahead of science.

Steve Sebelius: "Bush clearly signed off on Yucca Mountain before all the science was in - and Reid was right to call the president on it." In a March 2002 column, Steve Sebelius wrote, "Everybody is a liar these days. When President George W. Bush signed off on Yucca Mountain, despite a promise to hold off on his decision until 'sound science' determined whether it was the right place to dump nuclear waste, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid called him a liar … Bush clearly signed off on Yucca Mountain before all the science was in - and Reid was right to call the president on it." [Review-Journal, Steve Sebelius Column, 2/24/02]

Jon Ralston: "Reid Is Right: Bush Did Lie." In a February 2002 column, Jon Ralston wrote, "Reid is right: Bush did lie when he and his political minions claimed during his campaign that he would allow "sound science" to govern his decision. He has proved otherwise and he and Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham didn't even try to hide it." [Reno Gazette-Journal, Jon Ralston Column, 2/18/02]

Sebelius: "He Lied." In a February 2002 column, Steve Sebelius wrote, "It was a day past Valentine's Day, and Nevada's Republicans still were having trouble saying that oh-so-difficult L-word. Lie, that is. Not love. You see, President Bush had told a little fib two years ago, something about wanting to decide the Yucca Mountain issue based on 'sound science, not politics.' And, with 293 outstanding scientific questions remaining to be answered according to the General Accounting Office, the president on Friday decided to go ahead with nuclear waste storage in Nevada anyway. He lied. Bush probably won Nevada on the basis of his 2000 promise. When he made it, Gov. Kenny Guinn, U.S. Sen. John Ensign, U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons, state Sen. Jon Porter and a host of other Republicans praised Bush, and helped him sell his candidacy to Nevada. And Nevada put Bush over the top in the Electoral College. And it turns out it was a lie." [Review-Journal, Steve Seblius Column, 2/19/02]

Sebelius: "It's also true that Reid called Bush a liar and never apologized, and that his fellow Democrats were not outraged. Why? Because Reid was right. Bush did lie. During the 2000 campaign, Bush — at the urging of Nevada-based consultants — issued a statement in which he said he would not move forward on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump unless there was "sound science" to back it up. After Bush assumed the presidency under Supreme Court fiat in early 2001, he went forward with the dump, even though there were myriad scientific questions left to answer. Bush lied. And Reid called him out on it." [Las Vegas CityLife, 9/10/09 (emphasis in original)]

REID PASSED A BUDGET THAT CONTAINED MORE THAN $760 BILLION IN TAX CUTS, INCLUDING A PERMANENT SALES TAX DEDUCTION FOR NEVADA FAMILIES

Under Reid's Leadership, The Senate Passed A Budget That Cut Taxes By $764 Billion. According to Knight Ridder, the final FY 2010 budget "projects tax cuts of $764 billion over the next five years." [Knight Ridder, 4/28/09]

Alternative Minimum Tax Relief: "The budget does grant three years of relief from the alternative minimum tax for middle-income taxpayers, who would be increasingly hit by the automatic tax." [New York Times, 4/29/09]

Extending Bush Tax Cuts For Workers, Investors, Families: Associated Press: the budget "devotes $512 billion over five years to extend tax cuts passed during Bush's first term for middle-class workers, investors and families with children." Knight Ridder: "The budget envisions extending middle-class tax cuts – such as the 10 percent income-tax bracket, the child tax credit, 'marriage penalty' relief and help for many who are subject to the alternative minimum tax – and continuing the 2001 and 2003 tax reductions for most people who earn less than $250,000 a year." [Associated Press, 4/30/09; Knight Ridder, 4/28/09]

Permanent Sales Tax Deduction For Nevada: "Congress finally made a tax break permanent Wednesday that helps residents of states without an income tax by enabling them to deduct state and local sales taxes on federal returns. The issue has been a rallying cry of 'tax equity' for some lawmakers, especially Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who included the provision in the federal budget conference report for fiscal 2010." [McClatchy News, 4/29/09]

REID PASSED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX CUTS AS PART OF THE 2008 ECONOMIC STABILIZATION PACKAGE

The 2008 Economic Stabilization Package Contained $150 Billion In Tax Relief, Including Job-Creating Tax Breaks For Renewable Energy Production, Research And Development, Disaster Victims. In October 2008, the New York Times reported that the Senate had added legislation to the Wall Street Bailout that would "extend and expand many individual and business tax breaks, including tax credits for the production and use of renewable energy sources, like solar energy and wind power. The bill would also extend the business tax credit for research and development, expand the child tax credit, protect millions of families from the alternative minimum tax and provide tax relief to victims of recent floods, tornadoes and severe storms." The US Conference of Mayors also reported that the $150 billion tax relief package in the bailout included provisions of interest to local governments, including clean energy bonds, energy conservation bonds and an extension of the new market tax credit. [New York Times, 10/30/08; US Conference of Mayors, 10/13/08]

Bailout Included Sales Tax Deduction That Benefits States Like Nevada. [Associated Press, 10/1/08]

Solar Energy Industries Association: Bailout Contained Tax Credits That Will Create As Many As 41,000 Jobs In Nevada Alone, 9,000 Of Them Permanent. [Solar Energy Industries Association, Press Release, 9/15/08; Solar Energy Industries Association, Press Release, 10/3/08]

Sempra Energy Relied On Reid-Passed Tax Credits In Order To Finance Construction Of Copper Mountain Solar, Which Is Going To Create More Than 300 Construction Jobs. [Sempra Energy Literature, March 2010; Personal Interview with Sempra Official, 4/2/10]

Reid Passed The Recovery Act, Which Extended Those 30% Energy Tax Credits To Consumers Who Installed Energy-Efficient Products Or Systems In Their Homes. [Department of Energy, Consumer Energy Tax Incentives, What the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Means to You]

REID PASSED CLOSE TO $300 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF IN THE RECOVERY ACT

More Than One Third Of The Recovery Act Was Tax Relief. According to the New York Times, "The final bill includes $507 billion in spending programs and $282 billion in tax relief, including a scaled-back version of Mr. Obama's middle-class tax cut proposal, which would give credits of up to $400 for individuals and $800 for families within certain income limits. It will also provide a one-time payment of $250 to recipients of Social Security and government disability support." [New York Times, Economic Stimulus]

More Than 1 Million Nevada Families Received A Tax Break Under The Recovery Act's Making Work Pay Tax Cut. According to a White House report on the impact of the recovery act on Nevada, "The President's tax-cut – which covers more Americans than any in history – is putting more than $500 million back in the pockets of more than 1 million hard-working Nevada families." According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "These tax cuts would be distributed to millions of families by reducing tax withholding from workers' paychecks - the money goes directly into Americans' paychecks so they get it right away." [White House Report, 4/22/08]

Recovery Act Extended Energy Tax Credits To Consumers. According to the Department of Energy, consumers could take advantage of a number of tax credits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install certain energy-efficient products in their homes and a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install renewable energy systems in their homes. [Department of Energy, Consumer Energy Tax Incentives, What the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Means to You]

Other Recovery Act Tax Relief:

Homebuyer Credit. Homebuyers who purchased homes this spring and summer were eligible for an $8,000 tax credit

Education benefits. The American opportunity credit and enhanced benefits for 529 college savings plans, helping families and students cover the costs of a college education

Earned Income Tax Credit. Increased in 2009 and 2010 to help struggling families.

Additional child tax credit. More families will qualify for the ACTC in 2009 and 2010.

Money Back for New Vehicles. Taxpayers who bought new cars and certain other new vehicles in 2009 can deduct the state and local sales taxes they paid as well as other taxes and fees they paid in states with no sales tax

Health Coverage Tax Credit. This credit increased from 65 percent to 80 percent of qualified health insurance premiums, and more people are eligible

Work Opportunity Tax Credit. This expanded credit adds returning veterans and "disconnected youth" to the list of new hires that businesses may claim

Net Operating Loss Carryback. Small businesses can offset losses by getting refunds on taxes paid up to five years ago. [IRS, Recovery Act Tax Provisions]

Harrah's Senior Vice President Jan Jones: Reid's Debt-Cancellation Provision "Allowed Us To Protect 31,000 Jobs In Nevada Alone." [Las Vegas Sun, 10/23/09]

Tax Relief In The Recovery Act Helped Keep Close To 2,000 Nevadans On The Job Working On The Third Terminal At McCarran Airport. [Review-Journal, The Political Eye, 1/13/10; Associated Press, 1/12/10]

Recovery Act Tax Credits Are Allowing Amonix Inc. To Build A Solar Manufacturing Plant In Southern Nevada – Putting Close To 300 Nevadans Back To Work. [Reid Press Release, 5/15/10]

REID PASSED THE HIRE ACT, WHICH IS USING TARGETED TAX RELIEF TO HELP BUSINESSES CREATE NEARLY 70,000 JOBS IN NEVADA ALONE

Reid Passed A Jobs Bill That Included Billions In Tax Credits For Small Businesses. In February 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act offers $15 billion in tax credits, payroll-tax relief and bond-interest payments for schools and energy projects, and $20 billion for highway and mass-transit projects. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., pushed hard for the bill, returning to Las Vegas earlier this month to promote the legislation … The bill would cut payroll taxes for companies that hire anyone who was out of work for 60 days or more, and it would provide a $1,000 tax credit for every new worker retained for at least a year. Businesses also could write off up to $500,000 in capital purchases." [Review-Journal, 2/24/10]

The HIRE Act Provided Tax Credits To Businesses That Apply To Nearly 70,000 New Employees In Nevada Alone. In August 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "Some 69,254 people in Nevada were hired under an incentive program that provides tax breaks for hiring unemployed workers, the Treasury Department said Monday." [Review-Journal, 8/3/10]

Expedia Was Able To Create 130 Jobs In Las Vegas Thanks To The HIRE Act. [KLAS, 6/17/10]

EXTENDING THE BUSH TAX CUTS FOR TOP EARNERS WON'T STIMULATE THE ECONOMY

Bloomberg News: "Give The Wealthiest Americans A Tax Cut And History Suggests They Will Save The Money Rather Than Spend It." In September 2010,k Bloomberg News reported, "Give the wealthiest Americans a tax cut and history suggests they will save the money rather than spend it. Tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 under President George W. Bush were followed by increases in the saving rate among the rich, according to data from Moody's Analytics Inc. When taxes were raised under Bill Clinton, the saving rate fell. The findings may weaken arguments by Republicans and some Democrats in Congress who say allowing the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to lapse will prompt them to reduce their spending, harming the economy. President Barack Obama wants to extend the cuts for individuals earning less than $200,000 and couples earning less than $250,000 while ending them for those who earn more." [Bloomberg News, 9/13/10]

Bloomberg: "The Moody's research covering couples earning more than $210,000 found that spending by the wealthy is more likely to be influenced by the ups and downs of the stock market than changes in income-tax rates." [Bloomberg News, 9/13/10]

Associated Press: "It is true that extending tax cuts for top earners would add an additional $700 billion to the national debt over the next decade." [Associated Press, 9/21/10]

Brookings Institute Senior Fellow William G. Gale: "If, as proposed, the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire for the highest earners, the vast majority of small businesses will be unaffected. Less than 2 percent of tax returns reporting small-business income are filed by taxpayers in the top two income brackets -- individuals earning more than about $170,000 a year and families earning more than about $210,000 a year. And just as most small businesses aren't owned by people in the top income brackets, most people in the top income brackets don't rely mainly on small-business income: According to the Tax Policy Center, such proceeds make up a majority of income for about 40 percent of households in the top income bracket and a third of households in the second-highest bracket. If the objective is to help small businesses, continuing the Bush tax cuts on high-income taxpayers isn't the way to go -- it would miss more than 98 percent of small-business owners and would primarily help people who don't make most of their money off those businesses." [Washington Post, William G. Gale, 8/1/10]

ANGLE CALLS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES "DESIGNER ENERGY"

Sharron Angle Calls Solar, Wind And Geothermal "Designer Energy Resources." "We have some resources that are very untapped in this state. We could become an energy provider for the country, and I'm not just talking about the designer energy resources like solar, wind, geothermal, those kinds of things. We know that there's a cost-effective break there that hasn't quite been reached with technology, but nuclear is a real possibility for our state." [Angle Campaign Event, 9/1/09 (emphasis added)]

REID HAS HELPED BRING JOB-CREATING CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS TO NEVADA

Thanks To Senator Reid, A US-Chinese Partnership Is Bringing Their Wind Turbine Plant To The Las Vegas Valley, Which Will Create 1,000 Jobs Once Complete. In March 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "A consortium of companies announced plans today to develop a plant in the Las Vegas area that would employ about 1,000 people for manufacturing wind turbines. Once up and running, the 320,000-square-foot plant would be one of the largest manufacturing employers in Southern Nevada and would build upon an already fast-growing local renewable energy industry that so far has focused on solar power … In today's announcement, the partners credited Sen. Harry Reid for their decision to locate the plant in Nevada. They also cited affordable real estate in Nevada, the state's skilled workforce and Nevada's business-friendly climate. Reid is a leader in developing renewable energy and his commitment to renewable energy and to promoting investment in Nevada was instrumental in the decision, the companies said in their statement." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/11/10]

Reid Worked With Residents And Local Officials To Bring A Power Plant That Used Natural Gas And Solar Instead Of Coal To Mesquite. In March 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "The last of three planned coal-fired power plants in Nevada is off the table, replaced with a proposal that will incorporate natural gas and solar power. Sithe Global Power of Houston said Monday that new plans for its Toquop Energy Project electricity plant near Mesquite will feature 700 megawatts of natural gas-fired generating capacity and 100 megawatts of sun-powered electricity output … James announced the company's new plans for the $1.45 billion Toquop project in a press conference with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck. Holecheck praised Reid for 'working tirelessly' as an advocate for the coal-fired plant's opponents." [Review-Journal, 3/22/10]

Reid Helped Bring A Solar Demonstration Site To The Nevada Test Site, Which Will Create Thousands Of Jobs And Help Bring A New Expanded Mission To The Test Site. In July 2010, the Las Vegas Sun reported, "Nevada took another step on Thursday toward becoming a world leader in the solar energy field. The state will be home to the nation's first solar research testing ground, planned for a large swath of land on the Nevada Test Site. The 25-square-mile area will be home to a test lab for new concentrating solar power technologies. Sen. Harry Reid, who led efforts to get such a testing ground established on Nevada soil, said it would foster the next generation of solar energy technologies … Construction on the facility is expected to start in 2011 and should bring thousands of short- and long-term jobs to Nevada, Reid said. 'When we bring the solar industry into Nevada, we bring jobs and we need jobs,' Reid said. Those will include a wave of about 1,000 construction and electrical jobs to build the test projects, but also longer term jobs in maintenance, engineering and research." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/8/10]

REID-PASSED CLEAN ENERGY TAX CREDITS WILL CREATE AS MANY AS 41,000 NEVADA JOBS

Solar Energy Industries Association: Bailout Contained Tax Credits That Will Create As Many As 41,000 Jobs In Nevada. In October 2008, the Solar Energy Industries Association praised the final vote in the House to pass "historic legislation that extends the 30-percent federal investment tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations for 8 years … It is the most significant federal policy ever enacted for the solar industry." According to a September 2008 report from the SEIA, extending the tax credits would create 41,000 jobs in Nevada, 9,000 of them permanent. [Solar Energy Industries Association, Press Release, 9/15/08; Solar Energy Industries Association, Press Release, 10/3/08]

Sempra Energy Relied On Reid-Passed Tax Credits In Order To Finance Construction Of Copper Mountain Solar, Which Is Going To Create More Than 300 Construction Jobs. [Sempra Energy Literature, March 2010; Personal Interview with Sempra Official, 4/2/10]

Reid Passed The Recovery Act, Which Extended Those 30% Energy Tax Credits To Consumers Who Installed Energy-Efficient Products Or Systems In Their Homes. [Department of Energy, Consumer Energy Tax Incentives, What the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Means to You]

REID BROUGHT COMPETING ENERGY COMPANIES TOGETHER, RECOVERY ACT FUNDING, TO BUILD JOB-CREATING ENERGY TRANSMISSION LINES, WHICH WILL CREATE MORE THAN 1,000 JOBS

Reid, NV Energy And LS Power Announced Transmission Line Project To Connect Rural Populations To Renewable Energy Sources And To Connect Nevada's Northern And Southern Power Operations. In January 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "At a press conference Monday morning at Harry Allen, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and executives with NV Energy and LS Power announced an agreement to give NV Energy co-ownership of the 500-kilovolt line and full access to its distribution capacity. The intertie will allow NV Energy to transmit renewable power from the state's rural areas to its cities, and it will link the utility's northern and southern operations for efficiency's sake." [Review-Journal, 1/12/10]

Transmission Line Will Be Funded By The Recovery Act. In January 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "Michael Yackira, president and chief executive officer of NV Energy, said he already believes the LS proposal would be the best deal for consumers. That's because the federal government will fund the intertie's construction. The line, set to cost around $550 million, will come out of the ground using stimulus funds distributed through the Western Area Power Administration, a government agency that markets and delivers energy throughout 15 states … Tapping into federal funds should translate into lower borrowing costs than NV Energy could secure if it turned to private markets to finance ONLine. The difference in interest expenses could save ratepayers more than $10 million a year, Yackira said." [Review-Journal, 1/12/10]

REID WORKED WITH NV ENERGY, SOLARRESERVE, DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE A JOB-CREATING SOLAR PROJECT IN NYE COUNTY POSSIBLE

Reid Intervened With The Defense Department To Keep Nye County Solar Project On Track. In January 2010, the Sun reported, "After a sometimes contentious 16-month negotiation with SolarReserve, intervention from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, extensive analysis by the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and a visit to the Nellis Solar Photovoltaic array by President Barack Obama, the military has broadened its linguistics skills to include a new language: energy geek speak. SolarReserve's planned 100-megawatt solar thermal plant is slated for land farther west, near Tonopah, and is undergoing a BLM environmental impact review with the Air Force's blessing." [Las Vegas Sun, 1/8/10]

Sun: "Military Interests Have Run Smack Into Those Of The Nation's Most Powerful Politicians" When They Opposed A Solar Project In Nye County. [Las Vegas Sun, 1/8/10]

Reid: Nye County Solar Facility "Will Create Up To 450 Construction Jobs, 45 Permanent Operations Jobs, And 4,000 Indirect Jobs." [Tahoe Daily Tribune, Reid Op/Ed, 12/25/09]

REID WORKED WITH SECRETARY SALAZAR TO GET PERMITTING FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS, INCLUDING NEVADA WIND SOLAR AND TRANSMISSION PROJECTS, FAST-TRACKED

Review-Journal: "Nevada On Renewable Fast Track." "Two planned solar stations in Nevada could be among the first renewable-energy plants to result from a new federal push toward green fuels. NextLight Renewable Power, a California developer of alternative energy, has applied for permits to build two photovoltaic plants on public lands near Primm. Under a plan federal officials announced Monday in Las Vegas, the projects could be under way sometime by 2010 … As many as 13 plants could be under construction by the end of 2010 in Nevada, California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, Salazar said." [Review-Journal, 6/30/09]

Industry Leaders Had Been Hoping For Fast-Track Permitting. "Michael Yackira, chief executive officer of NV Energy, said the utility and its plant developers have long hoped for a fast-track permitting process. Out-of-state power sellers can charge more for their electricity if they know a utility faces bureaucratic hurdles developing capacity to meet mandates, so speeding up plant approvals would yield lower prices on solar power and make it easier to match the state's renewable yardstick, Yackira said. 'This process will facilitate job development in the state, improve our ability to make the portfolio standard and keep the cost of renewable energy down,' Yackira said. 'Perhaps we can get to a point where we can actually export renewable energy to the benefit of our customers.'" [Review-Journal, 6/30/09]

Nevada Wind, Solar And Transmission Projects Are Already Being Fast-Tracked Under The Program. According to the Bureau of Land Management, multiple Nevada energy projects are already being fast-tracked in their permitting process. Those projects include Spring Valley Wind in Ely, the Silver State South solar field in Las Vegas, the Silver State North solar field in Las Vegas, Searchlight Wind Energy in Searchlight, the Cresent Dunes solar field in Tonopah and transmission projects in Ely run by NV Energy and Grand Basin, LLC. [Bureau of Land Management, Renewable Energy Fact-Track Projects]

THE RECOVERY ACT HAS SET ASIDE MORE THAN $165 MILLION IN GEOTHERMAL FUNDING FOR NEVADA

April 16: $12 Million For Geothermal Projects At Hawthorne Army Depot And Fallon Naval Air Station Will Create More Than 200 Jobs. In April 2009, the Gazette-Journal reported, "The $12 million from the stimulus package will allow two additional test holes to be drilled at the Hawthorne depot, and for additional exploration of geothermal sources at the Naval station in Fallon. Capt. Michael Glaser, commander of the Fallon base, said the funds will be used to explore the southwest corner of its Bravo 16 area and Dixie Valley to find more geothermal sources to build its planned 30 megawatt power plant by 2011. [Hawthorne Depot Commander Lt. Col. Kimberly] Gilbert-Mason and Glaser said each of the 30 megawatt plants are expected to provide jobs for about 100 people during the construction phase and ongoing jobs for 10 to 15 more once the plants open." [Gazette-Journal, 4/16/09]

October 2009: Enel Green Power Received $61.5 Million For Geothermal Projects. In October 2009, Northern Nevada Business Weekly reported, "Enel Green Power, operator of the Stillwater and Salt Wells geothermal plants in Churchill County, received $61.5 million from the federal government for further geothermal development. The money was awarded under a American Recovery and Reinvestment Act program that targets development of renewable domestic energy sources. Enel Salt Wells LLC of Fallon received $21.1 million, and Enel Stillwater LLC of Fallon received $40.3 million. Enel plans to use the funds for future investments." [Northern Nevada Business Weekly, 10/12/09]

October 2009: $93 Million For Nevada Geothermal Projects Will Create Nearly 1,100 Nevada Jobs. In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced this morning that Nevada companies will receive $93 million in stimulus funds to develop 25 geothermal-power projects. Nevada is reaping nearly a third of the $338 million the federal government said this morning that it would commit to geothermal energy. Chu said the money will go toward locating and developing new geothermal fields, supporting research and development, drilling, stimulating existing reservoirs and converting heat to power." According to a release from Reid's office, "The funding is expected to create nearly 1,100 Nevada jobs while making geothermal power an even more readily available source of clean energy in our state." [Review-Journal, 10/29/09; Reid Press Release, 10/29/09]

June 2010: Recovery Act Loan Guarantees Allowed Crucial Financing For The Blue Mountain Geothermal Project In Humboldt County To Move Forward. According to a June 2010 release, "Nevada Senator Harry Reid today praised the announcement by the Department of Energy (DOE) of a partial loan guarantee for the Nevada Geothermal Power Company's (NGP) 49.5 megawatt Blue Mountain geothermal project in Humboldt County … The $98.5 million loan by John Hancock Financial Services will be guaranteed by DOE through the Economic Recovery Act supported Financial Institution Partnership Program. NGP and John Hancock Financial are the first to access the DOE loan guarantee through this program." [Reid Press Release, 6/15/10]

THE RECOVERY ACT IS CREATING JOBS AND HELPING NEVADA FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES SAVE MONEY ON ENERGY BILLS

Recovery Act Tax Credits Are Allowing Amonix Inc. To Build A Solar Manufacturing Plant In Southern Nevada – Putting Close To 300 Nevadans Back To Work. According to a May 2010 release, "At the 'flipping the switch' ceremony today in Henderson, Nevada Senator Harry Reid announced that 278 permanent green jobs will be coming to the Las Vegas valley at a new solar manufacturing plant, and construction will begin this year … This project will put nearly 300 Nevadans back to work in permanent green manufacturing jobs as soon as this year,' Reid said. 'Amonix is taking full advantage of a tax credit from the Recovery Act and is helping Nevada lead the way in producing clean energy" … Using a $5.9 million investment tax credit from the Recovery Act, Amonix's new manufacturing facility will produce 150 MW of solar capacity annually and employ 278 people in management, technical and production jobs. The permanent manufacturing jobs will be well-paying positions that require minimal training for someone who previously worked in a construction industry that has been hard-hit by the economic recession." [Reid Press Release, 5/15/10]

The Recovery Act Is Bringing $138 Million To Help NV Energy Install Smart Meters Around The state, Creating More Than 200 Jobs And Helping Nevada Families And Businesses Reduce Energy Costs. In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported that NV Energy "won $138 million in federal stimulus funds today for a three-year, $298 million project to replace every electric meter in Nevada with a smart meter that executives say will let ratepayers direct energy use year-round, all day and all night … The initiative will create 200 meter-installation jobs at NV Energy, as well as many more jobs bringing in computer equipment, consulting on a new billing system and marketing the program to consumers, Yackira said. NV Energy expects to launch its pilot program by late 2010, with plans to install all 1.45 million smart meters in the state by the end of 2012." [Review-Journal, 10/27/09]

The Recovery Act Provided $12 Million For Geothermal Projects At Hawthorne Army Depot And Fallon Naval Air Station That Will Create More Than 200 Jobs. In April 2009, the Gazette-Journal reported, "The $12 million from the stimulus package will allow two additional test holes to be drilled at the Hawthorne depot, and for additional exploration of geothermal sources at the Naval station in Fallon. Capt. Michael Glaser, commander of the Fallon base, said the funds will be used to explore the southwest corner of its Bravo 16 area and Dixie Valley to find more geothermal sources to build its planned 30 megawatt power plant by 2011. [Hawthorne Depot Commander Lt. Col. Kimberly] Gilbert-Mason and Glaser said each of the 30 megawatt plants are expected to provide jobs for about 100 people during the construction phase and ongoing jobs for 10 to 15 more once the plants open." [Gazette-Journal, 4/16/09]

The Recovery Act Provided More Than $90 Million For Nevada Geothermal Projects That Will Create Nearly 1,100 Nevada Jobs. In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced this morning that Nevada companies will receive $93 million in stimulus funds to develop 25 geothermal-power projects. Nevada is reaping nearly a third of the $338 million the federal government said this morning that it would commit to geothermal energy. Chu said the money will go toward locating and developing new geothermal fields, supporting research and development, drilling, stimulating existing reservoirs and converting heat to power." According to a release from Reid's office, "The funding is expected to create nearly 1,100 Nevada jobs while making geothermal power an even more readily available source of clean energy in our state." [Review-Journal, 10/29/09; Reid Press Release, 10/29/09]

Recovery Act Funding To Weatherize Nevada Homes Has Created At Least 70 Jobs. In June 2010, KSNV reported, "The mercury in your thermometer will climb by the weekend. We're due for blistering heat and people are warned to be cautious. That's why several thousand people in the valley are breathing a sigh of relief after getting appliance upgrades such as new air conditioning units because of stimulus money. Nevada received more than $10 million from the federal government to weatherize homes, making them more energy efficient. Most of that money is being spent in southern Nevada … HELP processes the application from homeowners and then hires contractors to do the work. So far, they've created 70 jobs." [KSNV, 6/3/10]

Southern Nevada Cities Received $13 Million To Make Money-Saving Renewable Upgrades To Public Building And Facilities. In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., sent this statement Wednesday regarding money from the federal government for renewable energy projects … Nevada Senator Harry Reid announced more than $13 million of economic recovery funding is headed to Southern Nevada for job creating solar and water power projects. Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and the city of Henderson will be partnering with the Federal government to make renewable energy upgrades at fire stations, parks, and other public buildings." [Review-Journal, The Political Eye, 10/28/09]

Clark County Received An Additional $7.6 Million In Energy Funding. In November 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., says Clark County is in line to receive another $7.6 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, money he says will create jobs. Here's the entire statement from Reid's office: 'Nevada Senator Harry Reid announced more than $7.6 million of economic recovery funding is headed to Clark County to help southern Nevada improve energy efficiency, reduce the cost of energy bills, and create green jobs. Some of the projects that will be funded include energy audits and building retrofits in the residential and commercial sector, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements." [Review-Journal, The Political Eye, 11/17/09]

Reno Approved $16 Million In Recovery Act Projects To Make Public Facilities More Energy Efficient. In September 2009, the Gazette-

Journal reported, "Dozens of energy-saving projects totaling $16 million have been approved by the Reno City Council in a deal in which future energy savings will pay for the work. The city has approved a contract with APS Energy Services with money from $10.6 million low-cost federal economic recovery bonds and the rest from energy rebates and federal grants. The bond payments are being guaranted by the Tempe, Ariz., company from energy savings calculated by reviewing past billings and weather conditions. About $856,742 a year in savings is expected from energy retrofit projects and $23,960 a year from solar power projects at the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community center and the men and women's homeless shelter building." [Gazette-Journal, 9/28/09]

Other Reno Energy Projects Financed By The Recovery Act:

New Energy-Efficient Equipment At City Hall [Gazette-Journal, 9/28/09]

New Energy-Efficient Equipment At The Evelyn Mount Building, Reno Police Station [Gazette-Journal, 9/28/09]

Wind Turbines, Solar Panels On Buildings And LED Bulbs In The Reno Arch [Gazette-Journal, 9/28/09]

Reno Arch Bulbs And Other Citywide Energy Projects Will Help Save Reno Taxpayers 20% On The City's Energy Bill – About $1 Million Per Year – And Create Around 220 Jobs. [Gazette-Journal, 11/18/09]

Sparks Received More Than $800,000 In Energy Efficiency Projects That Will Save Taxpayers Money And Create Jobs. "'We greatly appreciate the help and continued support from Senator Reid as we move forward on numerous sustainability efforts here in Sparks,' said Sparks Mayor Geno Martini. 'This funding is extremely important when it comes to energy efficiency and conservation projects which not only help protect our environment, but provides long term cost savings for our residents. One of the more significant projects we can begin is the installation of a photovoltaic system at the Sparks Police Department.'" [Reid Press Release, 10/20/09]

Because of Senator Reid, Nevada got the largest percentage increase in FMAP funding.

NEVADA WON'T HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR NEW MEDICAID ENROLLEES UNTIL 2017, AND EVEN THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL COVER 90% OF THE COST UNTIL AT LEAST 2020. According to the New York Times, under health insurance reform, "Beginning in 2014, however, anyone with an income of up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $29,300 for families of four, will be eligible for coverage under Medicaid. For the first three years, the federal government will pick up the entire cost of these new enrollees, but the state share then gradually increases until it reaches 10 percent in 2020." [New York Times, 3/26/10]

SENATOR REID HAS REPEATEDLY FOUGHT TO MAKE SURE NEVADA RECEIVED ADEQUATE MEDICAID FUNDING …

Reid Secured The Largest Percentage Of Medicaid Funding For Nevada Of Any State. In March 2009, the Sun reported, "Reid's staff engineered a sizable increase in Medicaid money for Nevada — the largest percentage increase of any state. Health care costs are an enormous state burden — one that worsens with unemployment as former workers rely on state-funded medical care. Reid, Ensign and other lawmakers from hard-hit states had lobbied for an allocation that would give them a bonus over states that were not suffering with as high a rate of unemployment. But other states were pushing back and successfully altered the bill in a Senate committee. Even so, Reid and Ensign worked the Senate floor to ensure hard-hit states got extra help. In the final negotiations Reid carried out, that provision was included, as well as a separate one that ensured the formula would be based on state's greatest recent patient load, rather than when times were better." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/1/09]

Review-Journal: Nevada Medicaid Funding "Represents The Largest Percentage Increase Of Any State." In February 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "The $450 million Nevada's getting in Medicaid assistance from the stimulus bill represents the largest percentage increase of any state." [Review-Journal, 2/23/09]

Reid Passed Legislation Providing An Additional $79 Million In Medicaid Funding For Nevada. In August 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "Senate Democrats on Wednesday defeated a Republican filibuster and cleared a path for a $26 billion bill to rescue cash-starved states contemplating layoffs to teachers and other public employees. For Nevada, the legislation promises $83 million to bolster school budgets and $79 million to cushion a shortfall in state spending on health care for the poor, said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev … The health care money comes in the form of matching funds for Medicaid services. An 'enhanced rate' matching rate in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the so-called economic stimulus law, meant the federal government was covering nearly 64 cents of every dollar spent delivering health care to Nevada's Medicaid recipients. Without the bill Reid is shepherding through Congress, that match would revert to about 51 cents per dollar on Jan. 1. If that happened, it would leave the state's Medicaid administrators about $69 million short of what they need to pay for care through June 30, the end of the fiscal year. Coping with the shortfall could have meant suspending payments to health care providers for the final weeks of the fiscal year, said Charles Duarte, administrator of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Health Care Financing and Policy. That could have prompted private health providers to stop accepting Medicaid patients and made it hard for nursing homes to pay vendors and provide services." [Review-Journal, 8/4/10 (emphasis added)]

… DESPITE THE FACT THAT CARSON CITY FAILS TO POSITION ITSELF FOR MORE MEDICAID FUNDING

Nevada's Receives Less Per Capita Medicaid Funding Because "Nevada Has Long Had One Of The Nation's Stingiest Medicaid Programs." According to the Las Vegas Sun, "The primary reason Nevada receives so little money from the feds is because most federal money comes in the form of matching funding for state programs such as Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor, blind and disabled. Nevada received $315 per capita for health programs, or 42.5 percent of the total money the state received, versus $892 per capita for other states, nearly 61 percent of their totals. Nevada has long had one of the nation's stingiest Medicaid programs, with restrictive eligibility requirements. In part because of the tougher eligibility standards, about 6.7 percent of the population was enrolled in Medicaid last year. That enrollment was second lowest in the nation, according to the most recently available data." [Las Vegas Sun, 3/10/2010]

ANGLE WANTS TO ELIMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, BELIEVES ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS VIOLATE THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

Angle: "We Need To Phase Medicare And Social Security Out." During a May 2010 debate on Face to Face, Sharron Angle said, "We need to phase Medicare and Social Security out in favor of something privatized." She later added, "Going forward we need to phase it out, give people an opportunity to either opt into the old system or go for a new system where they have their own healthcare savings account or they have their own retirement savings account which is portable and goes with them from job to job and for those who are entering the workforce right now they come on to the new system so it's a phased-in system so it's something [inaudible] privatize." [Face to Face Debate, 5/19/10]

Angle Believes "Entitlement Programs … Make Government Our God" And That "We Have Become A Country Entrenched In Idolatry." During an April 2010 interview with TruNews radio, Angle said, "And these programs that you mentioned -- that Obama has going with Reid and Pelosi pushing them forward -- are all entitlement programs built to make government our God. And that's really what's happening in this country is a violation of the First Commandment. We have become a country entrenched in idolatry, and that idolatry is the dependency upon our government. We're supposed to depend upon God for our protection and our provision and for our daily bread, not for our government." [TruNews, 4/21/10]

Even Sherm Frederick Knew Angle Was Saying Social Security Violates The First Commandment, And Even He Disagreed. In an August 2010 blog post, Review-Journal Publisher Sherm Frederick wrote, "U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle does it again. She grants an interview to a Christian radio station and spouts some religious stuff that not only makes her look politically bad, it gives people of faith -- like, say, our Founding Fathers -- a black eye … I'm not saying that she doesn't have a point about things being out of whack when it comes to the balance between personal responsibility and the role of government. And, yes, humans can put anything before God, thus ignoring the First Commandment. But our government was created by men who believed in God. And they crafted the government to provide a common protection. That wasn't idolatry. Expansion of that common protection to include things like Social Security, or even national health care (though I think it is a bad idea) is not necessarily idolatry." [Review-Journal, Sherm Frederick Blog, 8/5/10]

Angle Called Social Security "A Broken System Without Much To Recommend It." In August 2010 the Associated Press reported Angle, "previously said she didn't trust big government to manage what she called 'a broken system without much to recommend it,' and she repeatedly has said she supports phasing out Social Security over time." [Associated Press, 8/14/10]

Angle Said Social Security Is "Difficult To Justify" And Likened It To Welfare. In a May interview with KNPR, Angle said, "Well, it's very difficult, Lynn, to justify Social Security. As you know F.D.R. put it in as an insurance policy for those who were needy. My grandfather would not even take his Social Security check because he said he was not up for welfare, he had planned for his retirement, and he wouldn't take it. But, since then we have gotten into this whole mindset that it's an entitlement." [KNPR, 5/19/10 (emphasis added)]

Angle In 1993: "STOP FUNDING THE WASTEFUL SOCIAL AND ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS." In a 1993 letter to Senator Reid, Angle wrote, "The answer to this mess is clear. STOP FUNDING THE WASTEFUL SOCIAL AND ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS. MAKE THE DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT WILL KEEP OUR COUNTRY STRONG. THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO!" [Review-Journal, John L. Smith Column, 8/18/10 (emphasis in original)]

Review-Journal's John L. Smith On Angle's Letter: "That's The Angle I Know. Her Recent Soft-Lens Campaign Style Notwithstanding, I Suspect Sharron Angle Is The Same As She Ever Was." In an August 2010 column, John L. Smith wrote, "Angle let Reid have it with both barrels. She also bluntly revealed her belief that the only way to save America was to end 'social and entitlement programs.' As a Senate candidate this year, Angle and her campaign mechanics have worked hard to soften her rhetoric about 'eliminating' Social Security in favor of 'privatizing' and 'personalizing' individual accounts. She's also suffered self-inflicted wounds on federal unemployment insurance extensions and other 'entitlement' programs … Ending Social Security and other entitlement programs? … That's the Angle I know. Her recent soft-lens campaign style notwithstanding, I suspect Sharron Angle is the same as she ever was." [Review-Journal, John L. Smith Column, 8/18/10 (emphasis added)]

Angle: "The Idea Of Privatizing And Getting Out Of Medicare And Social Security Is Not Up For Grabs." In June 2010, Talking Points Memo reported, "In an interview from three weeks before the Nevada Republican primary, Sharron Angle made it clear that getting rid of Medicare and Social Security is a non-negotiable issue for her … Going on in the interview, Angle talks about how as a Senator she would work with other legislators to formulate a proper solution for her idea, haggling over the details and implementation of privatization without giving up on the main idea itself: 'The idea of privatizing and getting out of Medicare and Social Security is not up for grabs.'" [Talking Points Memo, 6/14/10]

Angle: "I'm Not Sure Just Where In The Constitution The Federal Government Is Even Supposed To Be Involved In Our Medicare." During a September 2009 campaign event, Sharron Angle said, "We need to send people back there who are willing to look at what's wrong because we know that Medicare Part D might have been a good idea when it started out, but once it goes through the legislative process it becomes compromised and pretty soon it doesn't work. And I'm not sure just where in the Constitution the federal government is even supposed to be involved in our Medicare. You know, these are things that could be done on the state level much better." [Angle Campaign Event, 9/1/09 (emphasis added)]

Angle On Medicare: "We Need To Phase It Out." In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, "As for Medicare, she (Angle) said the entitlement program popular with seniors will eventually grow too costly to maintain… 'We need to phase it out,' she said." [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/21/09]

FACT: OUT-OF-WORK NEVADANS WOULD GET NO HELP FROM SHARRON ANGLE. SHE THINKS LAID OFF WORKERS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ARE "SPOILED" AND WOULDN'T VOTE TO EXTEND THOSE BENEFITS

Steve Sebelius: "Angle's Modern-Day Welfare Queens: The Unemployed." In a June 2010 blog post, Las Vegas CityLife Editor Steve Sebelius wrote, "Would-be U.S. senator Sharron Angle says we've "spoiled" our workers by offering unemployment compensation to those laid off by no fault of their own. Sure, the unemployment rate in Nevada is 14 percent — which Angle is trying to lay at the feet of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. But those 14 percent probably don't appreciate these comments." [Slash Politics, 6/21/10]

Angle: Unemployed Nevadans Who Depend On Unemployment Insurance Are "Spoiled." During a May 2010 interview on KRNV, Angle said, "You can make more money on unemployment than you can going down and getting one of those jobs that is an honest job, but it doesn't pay as much. And so that's what's happened to us is that we have put in so much entitlement into our government that we really have spoiled our citizenry and said you don't want the jobs that are available." [KRNV, 5/25/10]

One Week Later, Angle Said Extending Unemployment Insurance Is "A Terrible Thing." During a June 2010 interview on KDWN's Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said extending unemployment insurance was "a terrible thing. You know, I was criticized for saying that Americans won't do certain jobs and the reason that they won't do certain jobs is because they get more pay on unemployment than they can get to work those… those good jobs that are really out there." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/2/10]

Angle: Extending Unemployment Insurance For Laid Off Workers "Makes It So That They Want To Be Dependent On The Government." During a June 2010 interview on KDWN's Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said, "What has happened is Harry Reid has just extended unemployment and when he did that he not only made it so that people are less employable, but he makes it so that they want to be dependent on the government. This entitlement pays them more than getting a real job." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/2/10]

Angle: Aiding Out-Of-Work Nevadans With Unemployment Insurance Doesn't "Encourage People To Go Back To Work." During a June 2010 interview on Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said, "Harry Reid has extended and extended unemployment benefits which really doesn't do anyone as much good as a job would do them. What we need is stimulation of our economy that really creates jobs in the private sector. We need free market solutions to our job problems here in Nevada and across the nation. And Harry Reid is not thinking about real solutions, all he is doing is putting on these band-aid fixes which is to extend unemployment. And when he does that, what happens is that he takes away the incentive to have a job because if you are making more on unemployment than you can if you go to work for Starbucks or some other place where they have a real job available, because you know that you can't make as much as you are making on unemployment, you'll stay on unemployment. And what that does is it keeps you out of the job market, it makes your skills not as viable because they are now out of date. There are just all kinds of problems that occur when you don't encourage people to go back to work." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/10/10]

Angle Said She Would Have Opposed Extending Unemployment Benefits Because She Opposes "Extending These Unemployment Benefits To The Point Where People are Afraid To Go Out And Get A Job." During a June 2010 interview on Face to Face, Angle was asked whether she would have voted to extend unemployment insurance benefits. Angle answered, "I would have voted no because the truth about it is that they keep extending these unemployment benefits to the point where people are afraid to go out and get a job because the job doesn't pay as much as the unemployment benefit does." [Face to Face, 6/29/10]

Angle: "System Of Entitlement Has Caused Us To Have A Spoilage." During a June 2010 interview on Face to Face, host Jon Ralston confronted Angle on her statements saying unemployment benefits had "spoiled" out-of-work Nevadans.

RALSTON: So you're saying that these tens of thousands of Nevadans they're sitting on their couches they're all spoiled. They don't want to go out and get a job. I'm gonna cut off your benefits. That's your attitude.

ANGLE: Oh now come on Jon.

RALSTON: Spoiled! But you said they're spoiled.

ANGLE: Well I said that it had spoiled our citizenry. That's a little different. They're not spoiled. What has happened is the system of entitlement has caused us to have a spoilage with our um, ability to go out and get a job. [Face to Face, 6/29/10]

Angle: "The Answer Is No. I Wouldn't Have Voted For Unemployment Extensions." During a July 2010 interview with the editorial board of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Angle was asked about recently-passed legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits.

BOARD MEMBER: Speaking of a serious problem, could you tell me how you would have voted whether to extend unemployment benefits? And you've been criticized for talking about a culture of spoiled… spoiled culture of unemployment. It's been characterized 3 or 4 different ways. Can you elaborate on that? Tell me what you meant?

ANGLE: Sure. First of all the answer is no. I wouldn't have voted for unemployment extensions. They're not paid for. We have a maxed out credit card right now. The Republicans, to their credit, said since you want a pay-as-you-go policy then pay for this.

BOARD MEMBER: Excuse me. So, you would have… with the other Republicans you would have voted for it if they had found a way to pay for it with some of the other stimulus funds, or you would have voted against it regardless?

ANGLE: There's a basic problem with unemployment extensions and that is that when you talk about unemployment it was supposed to be a safety net, a way to get from one job to the next. And you keep extending and extending – not we're out over two years of unemployment – I… you probably read the Wall Street Journal as much as I do. There was an interesting article there about the stimulus of unemployment. And I think we need to be very, very careful that we're not incentivizing, instead of providing safety nets for folks. And so yes, if it had been paid for, that's one thing, but also you have to look at the bigger picture – and that is: is this just a mandate for a bigger problem? And government shouldn't always be putting Band-Aids on big problems. They need to be looking at real solutions, and the solution is we need jobs. People don't want to be unemployed or on unemployment insurance. They want to be in work. [Review-Journal, Angle Editorial Board Interview, 7/23/10, Video posted 7/24/10 (emphasis added)]

Review-Journal Columnist: Angle's New Language On Unemployment Benefits Is "No Better Than A Hair-Split From 'Spoiled.'" In a July 2010 column, John L. Smith reacted to Angle's response on unemployment benefits during her editorial board interview with the Review-Journal. He wrote, "Although she made much of Reid's responsibility for facilitating Nevada's bruising 14.2 percent jobless rate, Angle said she would have voted against extending unemployment benefits because 'they're not paid for. We have a maxed out credit card. ... I think we need to be very, very careful that we're not incentivizing instead of providing a safety net for folks.' In other words, she believes extending benefits that amount to a few hundred bucks a week is encouraging the jobless to avoid seeking work. Frankly, 'incentivizing' is no better than a hair-split from 'spoiled.' Although a conservative economist might applaud her, I'll bet many of Nevada's nearly 200,000 jobless are insulted. Surely most would love to find work that pays the bills." [Review-Journal, John L Smith Column, 7/28/10]

FACT: ANGLE DOESN'T THINK IT'S THE JOB OF A UNITED STATES SENATOR TO CREATE JOBS

Angle On Jobs: "Ok, As Your U.S. Senator I Am Not In The Business Of Creating Jobs." [Elko County Forum, 05/11/10]

Angle On Creating Jobs: It's Someone Else's Job. During a May 2010 campaign event, Angle said, "People ask me, what are you going to do to develop jobs in your state? Well that's not my job as a US Senator, to bring industry to the state. That's the Lieutenant Governor's job. That's your State Senator's and Assemblyman's job. That's your Secretary of State's job, to make a climate here in this state, ya'll come." [Angle Campaign Event, 5/14/10]

Angle Doubled Down On Jobs Comments; Said, "When I Said That As A United States Senator That Was Not My Job To Create Jobs, It's True." During a June 2010 interview on Chalice Jackson's internet radio show, Angle said, "But really we know that the government doesn't create jobs and Harry Reid has been saying that he's creating jobs, but really what has happened is that the unemployment rate in Nevada has gone from four percent to fourteen percent. And so he has not created jobs, in fact he has created more problems with unemployment than he has created any kind of jobs. We know from President Reagan that the government is not the solution. It is the problem. And so when I said that as a United States Senator that was not my job to create jobs, it's true." [Chalice Jackson Show, 6/23/10]

FACT: ANGLE WOULDN'T HAVE LIFTED A FINGER TO SAVE 22,000 JOBS AT CITYCENTER

Las Vegas Sun: "Reiterating her position that government should stay out of the way of business, even when it asks for help, Angle said this week that she would not have intervened to help rescue CityCenter when the project was on the brink of losing its financing." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/9/10]

Angle Would Not Have Acted To Save CityCenter, Called It "Shuffling … Deck Chairs On The Titanic." During a July 2010 interview with Alan Stock, Angle was asked if she, like Reid, would have acted to save CityCenter. Angle said, "No, I would not. You know the reason is because he may have saved jobs in CityCenter, but he actually cost jobs in other parts of the city. And you know that as well as I do. The issue here becomes bailouts, right? And stimulus. We want something that is not going to bail out and stimulate, what we want is deregulate, lower taxes, give businesses some breathing room to do what they do best which is create jobs. And just shuffling these, if you will, the deck chairs on the Titanic is not going to solve the problem. And so shifting employment from one arena to the next is not going to solve the problem. What we really need is real jobs, permanent, full-time jobs with a future. And that can only be provided by the private sector, government does not provide jobs." [KXNT, Alan Stock in the Afternoon, 7/7/10]

Immediately After The Interview, Angle Doubled Down. During a July 2010 episode of Face to Face, Jon Ralston reported that, after her interview with Alan Stock, Angle reiterated her opposition to helping save CityCenter. Angle said, "Well, I said that it wouldn't be something I would have done because it's not, it's kind of like shifting the chairs on the deck of the Titanic. If you only shift jobs from one place to another when we know that when they put those jobs at CityCenter it was jobs that were taken away, or business that was taken away, from other areas. And so really it actually injured the economy of other businesses, and that's not what government should be doing. Government should stand out of the way, through de-regulation and lower taxes that are able to create a climate where business has some confidence, and when they have confidence they do what they do best, which is create jobs. And that's really what we want here in Nevada is full-time, permanent employment, with a future." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston, 7/7/10]

Ralston: "This is a dicey position for Angle to take. On the one hand, I and others have raised questions about the propriety of a United States Senator pressing a banker to give a loan to a major corporate interest, and his largest campaign donor. But on the other hand, the same Senate candidate who says it's not her job to create jobs now says she wouldn't have tried to save thousands of jobs? That's tough." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston, 7/7/10 (emphasis added)]

MGM: "Ms. Angle's Statement Is Ridiculous On Its Face." In response to Angle's comments on CityCenter, MGM Resorts issued the following statement: "Ms. Angle's statement is ridiculous on its face. Senator Reid's support of our significant private investment in Las Vegas came during our company's darkest hour. He saved, not only 10,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent private sector jobs at CityCenter, but the jobs of 50,000 employees at our other resorts that would have been jeopardized had our company followed CityCenter into bankruptcy." [MGM Resorts International, 7/7/10]

Las Vegas Sun: "Angle's Stunning Statement Shows How Far Out Of Touch She Is With Reality." In a July 2010 editorial, the Las Vegas Sun wrote, "Angle's stunning statement shows how far out of touch she is with reality. MGM Resorts issued a statement calling Angle's comments 'ridiculous,' adding that Reid 'saved not only 10,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent private-sector jobs at CityCenter but the jobs of 50,000 employees at our other resorts that would have been jeopardized had our company followed CityCenter into bankruptcy.' But Angle's comments are more than ridiculous, they are factually wrong. There was no stimulus or bailout. There were no jobs lost in other parts of the city because of Reid's action. Government didn't create any jobs, MGM Resorts — the state's largest private employer — did, and the jobs are 'real.'" [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

Sun: "Had She Been In The Senate Instead Of Reid, Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs Would Have Been Lost." According to the Las Vegas Sun, "But Angle says a senator's role isn't to create jobs and apparently doesn't think a senator should help workers or businesses. Had she been in the Senate instead of Reid, tens of thousands of jobs would have been lost." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

Sun: "Angle Just Doesn't Get It." According to the Las Vegas Sun, "Angle just doesn't get it. What Reid did was exactly what anyone should want a senator to do. He went to bat for a local business and for Nevada's workers. Angle has shown a cold heart toward workers and their families, preferring instead to stick to her narrow anti-government ideology." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

FACT: ANGLE WOULD HAVE OPPOSED FUNDING TO SAVE 1,400 NEVADA EDUCATION JOBS, SAID "I THINK THE EMERGENCY IS ONLY IN HARRY REID'S MIND

Reid Passed Legislation Providing $83 Million In Funding To Save 1,400 Education Jobs In Nevada. In August 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "Senate Democrats on Wednesday defeated a Republican filibuster and cleared a path for a $26 billion bill to rescue cash-starved states contemplating layoffs to teachers and other public employees. For Nevada, the legislation promises $83 million to bolster school budgets and $79 million to cushion a shortfall in state spending on health care for the poor, said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev." According to the Department of Education, the funding would save approximately 1,400 Nevada education jobs. [Review-Journal, 8/4/10; Department of Education, Education Jobs Estimates, 8/6/10]

Angle On Saving 1,400 Education Jobs: "The Emergency Is Only In Harry Reid's Mind." During an August 2010 interview with Andrew Napolitano and Michelle Bachmann on Fox Business News, Angle agreed with Rep. Bachmann when she said funding to save education jobs was "money laundering," saying, "Well I think the emergency is only in Harry Reid's mind as Michele put so succinctly. This is an emergency for the Democrats, it is a way to solidify their base if you will with our taxpayer dollars. I say no, Nevada voters are much wiser than that, they know that this emergency is only in Harry Reid's mind." [Fox Business News, 8/9/10]

Angle Called Saving Education Jobs A Giveaway To "Special Interests." During an August 2010 interview with Roger Hedgecock, Angle said, "He has promoted the stimulus plans, and now he's wanting to promote another one as an emergency act. All it is, is really promoting money to his special interest groups – those unions – and what is going to do to Nevada is this stimulus new bill is going to take money out of Medicaid and food stamps instead of hiring… he wants to hire teachers and our population has gone down so much that we don't have those jobs for teachers anymore because of what Harry Reid has been doing. I mean we could just go on and on with the poor public policy that he has been promoting. And it's

all for Harry Reid; it has nothing to do with Nevada." [The Roger Hedgecock Show, 8/9/10]

Sharron Angle is accusing Senator Reid of something that non-partisan fact checkers have called "shocking" and "misleading."

And even more facts:

Fact Check: Angle's Shocking – And Misleading – Viagra Claim. The non-partisan website, factcheck.org debunked Sharron Angle's claim that Harry Reid voted to use taxpayer dollars to pay for Viagra for convicted child molesters. According to Factcheck.org, "That sensational claim hasn't gotten any more true since the first time we addressed it, shortly after the health care bill was passed." [Factcheck.org 10/8/2010]

Politifact On Angle's Viagra Charge: "That Isn't The Case." In a fact check of Sharron Angle's TV ad claiming that Harry Reid voted to give Viagra to sex offenders, the non-partisan Politifact.com found "The ad implies that Reid actively wanted to give subsidized Viagra to sex offenders, but that isn't the case. First, what Reid actually did was vote against an amendment that would have stopped using taxpayer dollars for that purpose. Second, Senate Democrats made it clear at the time that they were not voting on the merits of the amendment, but rather to salvage their bigger legislative priority, the health care bill itself. Finally, Reid didn't actively bring up this issue; it was proposed by a senator opposed to the broader health care bill. We should also mention that the use of taxpayer dollars for sex-offender Viagra was -- and is -- a hypothetical. While CRS concluded that there was nothing in the current law to stop it from happening, the earliest it could start is in 2014 -- so there's ample time for lawmakers or federal officials to write laws or regulations to stop it before then." [Politifact.com, 10/8/2010]

KOLO: Called Angle's Viagra Attack "FALSE." In an October 2010 adwatch, KOLO reported, "During the debate on the health care reform bill, Republicans opposed to the bill as a whole offered a number of amendments to slow or kill it entirely. The margin was razor thin. Senate Democrats knew any changes, no matter how small, would kill the bill. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma proposed an amendment prohibiting prescription drug coverage for Viagra for convicted sex offenders, citing a Congressional Research Service report that there was nothing to prohibit such coverage. It was a poison pill that made reform supporters choose between passing a bill or helping opponents write ads like this … At this point the issue of insurance coverage allowing Viagra for convicted sex offenders is hypothetical. The CRS only concluded there was nothing in the bill to prevent it, but this portion of the health care reform bill won't take effect until 2014, leaving plenty of time to address it. In any case the ad clearly implies that the Senator actively sought to give Viagra to these criminals. His vote wouldn't have done that so, on both context and fact this claim fails the test. It's FALSE." [KOLO, 10/12/10]

FACT: ANGLE WANTS TO BRING THE NATION'S NUCLEAR WASTE TO YUCCA MOUNTAIN FOR REPROCESSING

Angle: "We Should Think Of Ourselves As A Recycle Land." In 2002, the Reno Gazette Journal reported "veteran lawmaker Sharron Angle, the Republican candidate for District 26, said most of the people she has spoken with during her door-to-door campaign believe the state should no longer fight Yucca Mountain. 'We shouldn't think of ourselves as a nuclear wasteland, we should think of ourselves as a recycle land,' Angle said, adding that the state should seek compensation in the form of transportation or storage fees." [Reno Gazette-Journal, 10/2/02 (emphasis added)]

Angle: "Yucca Mountain Has Some Real Potential." In a September 2009 interview on Face to Face with Jon Ralston, Angle said, "Yucca Mountain has some real potential. I think that you know, we have some research and development that should be going on and be looking at how to reprocess that. You know, we're thinking about this in like 19th century terms, that we don't have the technology to really take care of what's coming into our state and we should really look at the potential there. Well at least take a look at it, instead of demonizing it and demogoging it, the way Harry Reid has." [Face to Face, 9/23/09]

Angle: "We Should Be Looking Into Technologies" To Reprocess Nuclear Waste In Nevada. During a September 2009 campaign event, Angle said, "We have right up the road… I used to live closer to TTR than you guys… closer to Yucca Mountain, and we have technology that France is using to reprocess. When they ship the spent fuels in… Notice I'm covering my words very carefully. When they ship these spent fuels in, we should be looking at the technologies to recycle, to reprocess, reuse… put them into a power plant right here in the state of Nevada. We should also be looking into research and development that would explore the possibilities for these spent nuclear fuels. How can we use them the best? What can we do to get the most out of them and make them the safest? What are those things?" [Sharron Angle Campaign Event, 9/1/2009]

Angle: "This Is One Of Those Places Where We Can Practice Our Lemonade Making." During the same September 2009 campaign event, Angle continued to explain her support for reprocessing at Yucca Mountain, saying, "This is about a resource that we can use. How can we do something with this? I'm just amazed that Harry Reid has demonized this, demagogued it to the point that we're even afraid to talk about it. Because it's so politically incorrect to even mention it. But I think we have to stand up and begin to question what is it that we have here. And I know that there's a lot of us that know how to make lemonade out of lemons. This is one of those places we can practice our lemonade making." [Sharron Angle Campaign Event, 9/1/2009]

Angle: We Need To "Get That Discussion Going" So We Can "Go Forward" On Yucca Mountain. In June Angle told a reporter in response to be being asked about bringing nuclear waste to Nevada, "If we're going to go forward with any kind of discussions about nuclear energy industry here in Nevada we need to make sure that we defeat Harry Reid and get that discussion going because the nuclear energy industry is moving on. They have technologies and science that may not include our Test Site and our research and development facility. I think we need to be talking. We need to be there at the table talking about the potential we have in this state to go forward…" [KLAS Web Extra, 6/17/10]

FACT: NEVADA HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO GAIN BY LETTING THE NATION DUMP ITS NUCLEAR WASTE AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN; COULD KILL TOURISM, NEVADA'S LARGEST INDUSTRY

Sun Editor Brian Greenspun: "Can You Imagine How Many Jobs Will Be Lost When The Tourists Refuse To Come To Las Vegas Because They Don't Want To Visit The Deadly Nuclear Waste That Used To Be In Their Own Back Yards?" In a February 2009 column, Sun editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "If you think tourism is on its backside now — as a result of a recession — can you imagine how many jobs will be lost when the tourists refuse to come to Las Vegas because they don't want to visit the deadly nuclear waste that used to be in their own back yards? With Sen. Reid poised to run that stake right through its ugly heart, here come Jim Gibbons and Sue Lowden to try to save the day for the people who would destroy our way of life." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 2/15/09]

Ensign: "Anyone Who Believes There Is A Magical Source Of Funding For Our State If We Accept The Project Is Completely Wrong." In a January 2009 editorial, the Sun reported that Senator Ensign said, "I would caution against any Nevada group showing support or an openness to Yucca Mountain … The leaders of our state have historically and consistently worked together in a bipartisan manner to oppose this horrible policy for our state and country, and that resolve has brought us to the end of the road for Yucca Mountain. Now is not the time to change the doomed fate of this project, and anyone who believes there is a magical source of funding for our state if we accept the project is completely wrong." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 1/2/09]

Sun: "There Is No Amount Of Compensation That Can Make Up For The Dangers Nevada Would Inherit With A Dump." In a January 2009 editorial, the Sun wrote, "After touring Yucca Mountain with other members of the Nevada Republican Party's Central Committee last month, party Chairwoman Sue Lowden made a disturbing suggestion on her Internet blog Dec. 22. She said that if Congress doesn't repeal the law that designated Yucca as the sole potential dump site, then Gov. Jim Gibbons should appoint someone 'to immediately begin negotiations with the Department of Energy in order to protect Nevada's interests and assure that our citizens are adequately compensated for providing this service to the nation.' Sorry, but there is no amount of compensation that can make up for the dangers Nevada would inherit with a dump." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 1/2/09 (emphasis added)]

Sun: "Here's Some Dialogue: There Are No Benefits." In a January 2009 editorial, the Sun wrote, "Clark County Republican Party Chairman Bernie Zadrowski also weighed in last week on the party's Web site with an inane endorsement of Lowden's call for a debate on Yucca Mountain. 'She has merely, and rightly, asked for a dialogue to be opened up so that we may understand any and all potential benefits, as well as detriments,' Zadrowski wrote. Here's some dialogue: There are no benefits." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 1/2/09]

Greenspun: "The Thought Of Trading Our Futures For A Few Dollars — Real Or Imagined — Is Offensive." In a February 2009 column, Sun editor Brian Greenspun wrote, "Why are Gov. Jim Gibbons and his champion, Nevada GOP Chairman Sue Lowden, doing all they can to breathe life into the moribund dump, thereby threatening countless thousands of Nevadans, their kids and those not yet born? For the life of me, I have no idea! … Just why Lowden has decided Republicans in this state should be on the side of the rich and powerful power companies and against Nevada's hardworking men and women who need a tourist-friendly state in which to prosper is beyond me. The thought of trading our futures for a few dollars — real or imagined — is offensive, especially when fostered by a person and a party that have always decried federal assistance of any kind." [Las Vegas Sun, Brian Greenspun Column, 2/22/09 (emphasis added)]

FACT: REPROCESSING DOESN'T WORK IN NEVADA

Bruce Breslow: "In Fact, Yucca Mountain May Be The Worst Possible Site In The Nation For Reprocessing." [Review-Journal, Breslow Letter, 2/14/10]

Bruce Breslow: Reprocessing Produces A Weapons-Grade Nuclear Byproduct And Will Be Incredibly Costly To Taxpayers. In a February 2010 letter to the editor, Bruce Breslow, Executive Director of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects, wrote, "Our nation tried and made quite a mess of reprocessing. It creates a by-product of weapons-grade plutonium and changes the solid waste into a nasty liquid waste stream. The current cost of cleaning up the reprocessed mess in Hanford, Wash., is estimated at $205 billion to $260 billion. France and England reprocess. As part of that process, they pump millions of gallons of liquid radioactive waste annually into the sea. The French also store weapons-grade plutonium on site with anti-aircraft batteries next to their plant in Normandy. The process is heavily subsidized by their governments." [Review-Journal, Breslow Letter, 2/14/10]

Breslow: "No One Has The Technology To Close The Fuel Cycle And Eliminate The Waste." In a February 2010 letter to the editor, Bruce Breslow, Executive Director of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects, wrote, "At a 2009 U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board meeting in Maryland, the topic was 'Closing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle.' The top reprocessing firms in the world -- AREVA, Energy Solutions and GE-Hitachi -- were invited to explain what they could do in the United States. After their presentations, one thing was clear: No one has the technology to close the fuel cycle and eliminate the waste. All three companies suggest they can reduce the volume of high-level waste by a factor of four. But the overall volume of waste actually increases by four to six times. It produces less high-level waste, converted to liquid form, but literally tons more mixed waste, transuranic waste and low-level nuclear waste. Unlike in Europe, we do not allow pumping such liquid waste into the ocean." [Review-Journal, Breslow Letter, 2/14/10]

Breslow: Reprocessing "Is Water-Intensive" And Would Require Resources Nevada Simply Doesn't Have. In a February 2010 letter to the editor, Bruce Breslow, Executive Director of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects, wrote, "Reprocessing is water-intensive and would require a nuclear power plant. The desert surrounding Yucca Mountain, about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, has no unallocated groundwater, especially the massive quantity of water needed for reprocessing (upwards of 35,000 to 50,000 acre feet). The state engineer reports that the five water basins around Yucca Mountain are already over-appropriated." [Review-Journal, Breslow Letter, 2/14/10]

Breslow: "The chance of licensing a nuclear plant in a volcanic field prone to earthquakes is slim." [Review-Journal, Breslow Letter, 2/14/10]

Breslow: Taxpayers Would Be On The Hook For Billions, And "No One Has Offered A Financial Model That Is Acceptable To The U.S. Financial Markets." In a February 2010 letter to the editor, Bruce Breslow, Executive Director of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects, wrote, "Even with reprocessing, all three firms said they'd still need a permanent deep geologic repository for high-level waste. The firms would need ratepayers or taxpayers to pay the billions required to reprocess, unless they use the money in the federal nuclear waste fund … No one has offered a financial model that is acceptable to the U.S. financial markets. The U.S. nuclear industry stated it is 'against paying one more dime for reprocessed fuel,' which is six times more expensive than new uranium fuel, which is cheap and plentiful." [Review-Journal, Breslow Letter, 2/14/10]

Ensign: Reprocessing Won't Work At Yucca Mountain Because It Requires Too Much Water Nevada Doesn't Have. During an August 2010 interview with KXNT's Alan Stock, Senator John Ensign said nuclear reprocessing might a good idea, but that Yucca Mountain was the wrong place to do it – chiefly because it requires too much water that Nevada doesn't have.

Ensign: Yucca Mountain was a place where they were going to bury very valuable fuel. We should have been just thinking about recycling. Jimmy Carter started us back in 1978 stopped us from recycling nuclear waste. The French, the British and the Japanese all reprocess their waste. There is even newer technology, this country ought to be going that way. We've spent about $10 billion on Yucca Mountain so far, we still had another $90 billion to spend to build that repository and that only would have housed the waste that has been produced in the United States up to date. Not the waste that was going to be produced in the future. We developed techniques to store the waste for up to 100, 200 years on site right where it exists right now. You can leave it there, it's safe, while you're even debating what you're going to do with the waste. But to spend $100 billion on Yucca Mountain was a complete waste. So now what do we do? The Nevada Test Site is the size of Rhode Island surrounded by mountains, Yucca Mountain is just to the edge of that. It has incredible potential and we ought to look for every you know type of way, outdoor laboratories, we can do things with national defense, do things so we can really make UNLV and UNR two of the world class research facilities in the country.

Stock: Why not reprocess?

Ensign: Well, reprocessing takes a lot of water. We don't have a lot of water here in the desert. They have a facility in South Carolina where they want to reprocess and we ought to absolutely, this country should be going toward reprocessing of nuclear waste. You can reduce the toxicity, the radio toxicity of nuclear waste and you also reduce the radio, what are called half-lives, the radio toxicity of the half-lives, instead of tens of thousands of years you can reduce it down to hundreds of years and reduce the volume way down at the same time. And guess what? You get clean energy when you do it.

Stock: Phil, appreciate your call. If we can truck the so-called waste or the rods here, we can truck water in too and we can have reprocessing here. And if we don't do it, New Mexico wants to do it.

Ensign: Umm, New Mexico is not a place to do reprocessing, either. They don't have enough water. It really needs to be in a place where they have enough water.

Stock: Can't truck it in?

Ensign: You can't truck that much in.

Stock: Alright. I mean I don't know how much…

Ensign: It's just a question of the cost. [KXNT, Alan Stock Show, 08/30/10]

    ANGLE WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

    Angle On The Department Of Education: "I Would Go Through To The Elimination." During a May interview on KNPR's State of Nevada, Angle was asked:

    Host: Would you eliminate the Department of Education or simply cut it back?

    Angle: I would like to go through to the elimination. We start by defunding it, and the reason that we should eliminate it is because it's not the federal government's job to provide education for our children… [KNPR, State of Nevada, 5/19/10]

    Angle: "I Am For Abolishing The Department Of Education." In the June 10, 2010, edition of her campaign's "Angle Examiner," Angle addresses her stance on the Department of Education:

    Q. Why do you want to eliminate the Department of Education?

    A. As a former teacher and grandmother of ten, nobody is more committed to educating our children than I am. I simply don't believe that that is best accomplished via unfunded mandates from bureaucrats in Washington. I believe that education decisions are best made at the state and local level by parents and teachers who are invested in the lives of the children whom they have been tasked with teaching. Rather than have a gigantic government department that has failed our kids time and again, I would rather put that money as close to the state and local level as possible. That's why I am for abolishing the Department of Education. [The Angle Examiner, 6/10/2010]

    Angle In Her Own Words: "The Federal Department Of Education Should Be Eliminated." According to Sharron Angle's website, she "believes that the Federal Department of Education should be eliminated." [Sharron Angle Website, accessed 6/15/10]

    Angle Said She Would Eliminate Departments Of Education And Energy, The EPA. In a March 2010 e-interview with Nevada News and Views, Angle was asked, "Is there a Federal department/cabinet position you would support eliminating?" Angle answered, "Yes. There are several Federal departments that are not covered by the Constitutional Federal enumerated powers clause and should be given back to the states per the Tenth amendment. Those cuts should include the Department of Education, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, IRS code, audit the FED leading to cuts, National Endowment of the Arts, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, Planned Parenthood funding, funding of czars and more. I include these cuts in my economic policy for taking back our government." [Nevada News and Views, 3/22/10]

    Conservative Republican Senators Say Eliminating Department Of Education "Doesn't Make Sense." According to a June article in Politico, "Sharron Angle may quickly find that some of her more controversial views won't fly in the Senate GOP Conference if she becomes Nevada's next senator – even with some of the most conservative Republicans in the upper chamber…Small government conservatives said it doesn't make sense to eliminate the Energy and Education departments – as she's called for in the past." [Politico, 6/15/10]

    IF SHARRON ANGLE GETS HER WAY AND CAN ERADICATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION...

    Nevada Students Would Have Lost Tens Of Millions In College Aid, Including Almost $80 Million In Pell Grants. If the Department of Education were eliminated, Nevada stands to lose out on higher education funding under college affordability programs such as the Pell Grants administered by the Department of Education. The estimated funding for higher education funding for Nevada in 2009 was $84,925,219, including $79,900,000 in Federal Pell Grants and $2,203,846 in work-study grants giving direct aid to students. [Department of Education Funding state by state tables 2011]

    Almost 30 Thousand Nevada Students Received Pell Grants During The 2008-2009 School Year. If the Department of Education were eliminated, Nevada college students stand to lose out on Pell Grants administered by the Department of Education. According to the Pell Grant program's annual report, 29,917 Nevada students were recipients of Pell Grants during the 2008-2009 school year. [Department of Education, 2008-2009 Federal Pell Grant End-Of-Year Report]

    Nevada Students Would Have Lost More Than $415 Million In College Loans. If the Department of Education were eliminated, Nevada stands to lose out on student loan funding administered by the Department of Education. The estimated student loan volume for Nevada in 2009 was $415,698,687. [Department of Education Funding state by state tables 2011]

    Nevada Schools Would Have Lost More Than $227 Million In Funding. If the Department of Education were to be eliminated, Nevada stands to lose out on funding for elementary and secondary education programs that benefit students across Nevada. The estimated funding for elementary and secondary education programs in Nevada for 2009 was $227,121,821. [Department of Education Funding state by state tables 2011]

    Funding Included More Than $75 Million For Special Education. If the Department of Education were to be eliminated, Nevada stands to lose out on special education funding under programs administered by the Department of Education. The estimated funding for special education funding for Nevada in 2011 is $75,444,098. [Department of Education Funding state by state tables 2011]

    Funding Included More Than $1.7 Million For School Technology. If the Department of Education had not existed in 2009, Nevada would have lost out on $1,722,107 in Education Technology State Grants. [Department of Education Funding state by state tables 2011]

    Nevada Would Have Lost More Than $4.2 Million For Adult Literacy Programs. If the Department of Education were to be eliminated, Nevada stands to lose out on adult literacy funding under programs administered by the Department of Education. The estimated funding for literacy funding for Nevada in 2009 was $4,265,382. [Department of Education Funding state by state tables 2011]

    Clark County Would Have Lost As Many As 98 Teach For America Teachers. If the Department of Education were to be eliminated, the Clark County School District stands to lose 98 teachers working under the Teach For America program, which receives funding from the Department of Education. [Teach For America website]

    ANGLE DOESN'T THINK IT'S THE JOB OF A UNITED STATES SENATOR TO CREATE JOBS

    Angle On Jobs: "Ok, As Your U.S. Senator I Am Not In The Business Of Creating Jobs." [Elko County Forum, 05/11/10]

    Angle On Creating Jobs: It's Someone Else's Job. During a May 2010 campaign event, Angle said, "People ask me, what are you going to do to develop jobs in your state? Well that's not my job as a US Senator, to bring industry to the state. That's the Lieutenant Governor's job. That's your State Senator's and Assemblyman's job. That's your Secretary of State's job, to make a climate here in this state, ya'll come." [Angle Campaign Event, 5/14/10]

    Neither Angle Nor Her Campaign Disputed The Accuracy Of Either Quote. In July 2010, FactCheck.org assessed the Reid campaign's ad using both of these quotes from Angle. According to the report, "The remainder of the ad quotes Angle, and does so accurately. She's heard saying, 'People ask me, what are you going to do to develop jobs in your state? Well, that's not my job as a U.S. senator.' The audio is taken from a shaky, cell-phone video of Angle speaking to a small gathering, which Reid's campaign had posted on YouTube in June. The quote is in context. In the video, Angle continues: '. . . to bring industry to the state. That's the lieutenant governor's job, that's your state senators' and assemblymen's job. That's your secretary of state's job, to make a climate in the state that says, "Y'all come."' According to Reid's campaign Web site, that video was taken at an Angle campaign event on May 14, 2010. Angle's campaign, contacted by FactCheck.org, did not dispute the accuracy of the video. The Reid ad also shows another cell-phone video of Angle saying, at a different appearance, 'I am not in the business of creating jobs.' The full quote, as posted by Reid on YouTube, is, 'As your senator, I am not in the business of creating jobs.' The Reid campaign says that one was taken at a forum in Elko County, Nevada on May 11, 2010. Angle's campaign didn't dispute the accuracy of this video, either." [FactCheck.org, 7/14/10 (emphasis added)]

    Angle Doubled Down On Jobs Comments; Said, "When I Said That As A United States Senator That Was Not My Job To Create Jobs, It's True." During a June 2010 interview on Chalice Jackson's internet radio show, Angle said, "But really we know that the government doesn't create jobs and Harry Reid has been saying that he's creating jobs, but really what has happened is that the unemployment rate in Nevada has gone from four percent to fourteen percent. And so he has not created jobs, in fact he has created more problems with unemployment than he has created any kind of jobs. We know from President Reagan that the government is not the solution. It is the problem. And so when I said that as a United States Senator that was not my job to create jobs, it's true." [Chalice Jackson Show, 6/23/10]

    ANGLE WOULDN'T HAVE LIFTED A FINGER TO SAVE 22,000 JOBS AT CITYCENTER

    Las Vegas Sun: "Reiterating her position that government should stay out of the way of business, even when it asks for help, Angle said this week that she would not have intervened to help rescue CityCenter when the project was on the brink of losing its financing." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/9/10]

    Angle Would Not Have Acted To Save CityCenter, Called It "Shuffling … Deck Chairs On The Titanic." During a July 2010 interview with Alan Stock, Angle was asked if she, like Reid, would have acted to save CityCenter. Angle said, "No, I would not. You know the reason is because he may have saved jobs in CityCenter, but he actually cost jobs in other parts of the city. And you know that as well as I do. The issue here becomes bailouts, right? And stimulus. We want something that is not going to bail out and stimulate, what we want is deregulate, lower taxes, give businesses some breathing room to do what they do best which is create jobs. And just shuffling these, if you will, the deck chairs on the Titanic is not going to solve the problem. And so shifting employment from one arena to the next is not going to solve the problem. What we really need is real jobs, permanent, full-time jobs with a future. And that can only be provided by the private sector, government does not provide jobs." [KXNT, Alan Stock in the Afternoon, 7/7/10]

    Ralston: "This is a dicey position for Angle to take. On the one hand, I and others have raised questions about the propriety of a United States Senator pressing a banker to give a loan to a major corporate interest, and his largest campaign donor. But on the other hand, the same Senate candidate who says it's not her job to create jobs now says she wouldn't have tried to save thousands of jobs? That's tough." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston, 7/7/10 (emphasis added)]

    Las Vegas Sun: "Angle's Stunning Statement Shows How Far Out Of Touch She Is With Reality." In a July 2010 editorial, the Las Vegas Sun wrote, "Angle's stunning statement shows how far out of touch she is with reality. MGM Resorts issued a statement calling Angle's comments 'ridiculous,' adding that Reid 'saved not only 10,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent private-sector jobs at CityCenter but the jobs of 50,000 employees at our other resorts that would have been jeopardized had our company followed CityCenter into bankruptcy.' But Angle's comments are more than ridiculous, they are factually wrong. There was no stimulus or bailout. There were no jobs lost in other parts of the city because of Reid's action. Government didn't create any jobs, MGM Resorts — the state's largest private employer — did, and the jobs are 'real.'" [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

    Sun: "Had She Been In The Senate Instead Of Reid, Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs Would Have Been Lost." According to the Las Vegas Sun, "But Angle says a senator's role isn't to create jobs and apparently doesn't think a senator should help workers or businesses. Had she been in the Senate instead of Reid, tens of thousands of jobs would have been lost." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

    ANGLE WOULD HAVE OPPOSED $83 MILLION IN FUNDING TO SAVE 1,400 EDUCATION JOBS IN NEVADA

    Angle On Saving 1,400 Education Jobs: "The Emergency Is Only In Harry Reid's Mind." During an August 2010 interview with Andrew Napolitano and Michelle Bachmann on Fox Business News, Angle agreed with Rep. Bachmann when she said funding to save education jobs was "money laundering," saying, "Well I think the emergency is only in Harry Reid's mind as Michele put so succinctly. This is an emergency for the Democrats, it is a way to solidify their base if you will with our taxpayer dollars. I say no, Nevada voters are much wiser than that, they know that this emergency is only in Harry Reid's mind." [Fox Business News, 8/9/10]

    Angle Called Saving Education Jobs A Giveaway To "Special Interests." During an August 2010 interview with Roger Hedgecock, Angle said, "He has promoted the stimulus plans, and now he's wanting to promote another one as an emergency act. All it is, is really promoting money to his special interest groups – those unions – and what is going to do to Nevada is this stimulus new bill is going to take money out of Medicaid and food stamps instead of hiring… he wants to hire teachers and our population has gone down so much that we don't have those jobs for teachers anymore because of what Harry Reid has been doing. I mean we could just go on and on with the poor public policy that he has been promoting. And it's all for Harry Reid; it has nothing to do with Nevada." [The Roger Hedgecock Show, 8/9/10]

    ANGLE HAS YET TO SAY WHETHER SHE WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED CRITICAL TAX RELIEF THAT SAVED CLOSE TO 2,000 JOBS BUILDING TERMINAL 3 AT MCCARRAN AIRPORT

    Tax Relief In The Recovery Act Helped Keep Close To 2,000 Nevadans On The Job Working On The Third Terminal At McCarran Airport. In January 2010, the Review-Journal's "Political Eye" reported, "Reid on Tuesday toured the construction project that is Terminal 3 at McCarran International Airport. The $2.4 billion project saved more than $70 million in large part to a provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also called the stimulus law, that Reid as Senate majority leader helped to pass. 'It's fitting that Sen. Reid tour this project given the role he's played in its ongoing development,' said Rosemary Vassiliadis, deputy director of the Clark County Department of Aviation. 'His efforts to include Alternative Minimum Tax relief in last year's stimulus package helped keep this project on track, and will ultimately save our department millions of dollars in debt service costs in the years to come.' Vassiliadis said AMT relief is projected to save the department $72.4 million in reduced debt service costs over the 30-year life of the applicable bonds issued to pay for the project." According to the Associated Press, "Reid touted the role the project is playing employing more than 1,700 construction workers. Vassiliadis says last year's federal stimulus package helped keep the project alive. She says a tax provision will let the county save more than $72 million in interest on construction bonds." [Review-Journal, The Political Eye, 1/13/10; Associated Press, 1/12/10]

    Angle's Campaign Has Yet To Respond To Questions About Whether She Would Have Supported This Critical Tax Relief. During a September 2010 appearance on "Week In Reivew," KLAS' Nathan Baca said of the Angle Campaign, "If you send an email to the campaign wanting some sort of response you'll either get it within that same day or you won't get it for weeks. It just depends on whatever stance it is. I asked her campaign a question about whether or not she would support the AMT tax holiday that actually helped out McCarran terminal 3. Asked that question a few weeks ago because that was a big Reid thing. We talked to the airport people, that saved thousands of jobs. I'm still waiting for an answer on that one and that was 3 weeks ago. Once in a while, send another email, 'what's up with this?' And there is no answer." [Nevada Week In Review, 9/4/10]

    Despite Senator Reid's record delivering billions for personnel, UAVs, National Guardsmen and fencing to help secure the US-Mexico border, Sharron Angle persists in making this false accusation because she thinks it will distract voters from her extreme and dangerous agenda. The DREAM Act has been endorsed by the Department of Defense and many conservative Republican Senators including Kansas Senator Sam Brownback. Newspapers have editorialized specifically that the DREAM Act is NOT amnesty.

    And even more facts:

    FACT: REID HAS PASSED BILLIONS IN FUNDING FOR PERSONNEL, UAVs, NATIONAL GUARDSMEN AND FENCING TO HELP SECURE THE US-MEXICO BORDER

    2007: Reid Led The Senate In Passing Close To $7 Billion In Border Funding; Funding Went For Guards, Fencing, UAVs. In December 2007, Reid led the Senate in passing an omnibus appropriations bill that included "$6.8 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to secure the borders, including funds to continue limited use of National Guard troops on the border and hire 3,000 additional border patrol agents. The bill provides $1.2 billion for border security fencing to complete 370 miles by the end of FY 2008 and almost $15 million for additional unmanned aerial systems to patrol the border." [PL 110-161, 12/26/07; Lieberman Press Release, 12/19/07]

    During The Immigration Debate, Reid Supported Sending National Guard Personnel To Secure The Border. In May 2006, Reid voted for an amendment to comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would authorize the National Guard to help secure the US-Mexico border. [Vote 137, 5/22/06]

    2010: Under Reid's Leadership, The Senate Passed $600 Million To Secure The Border. "Democrats Charles Schumer of New York and Ben Cardin of Maryland - returned from their August recess Thursday to give the chamber's approval for $600 million in emergency funding to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border. The measure, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives, now advances to President Barack Obama's desk. Obama is expected to sign it on Friday … Among other things, the bill provides for roughly 1,500 new law enforcement agents, new unmanned aerial vehicles, new forwarding operating bases and $14 million in new communications equipment." [CNN, Political Ticker, 8/12/10]

    $600 Million Included Funding For Two Additional Predator Drones To Patrol The US-Mexico Border. According to Reuters, "The U.S. government will have unmanned surveillance aircraft monitoring the border with Mexico starting Wednesday, a top official said on Monday … Earlier this month, President Barack Obama signed a $600 million bill that would fund some 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, customs inspectors and other law enforcement officials along the border, as well as paying for two more unmanned drones. Napolitano said the additional aircraft pledged under the bill, together with the new aircraft soon to begin operations in Texas, would increase the Customs and Border Protection drone fleet to six by the start of next year. The Predator B drones are made by defense contractor General Atomics. They carry equipment including sophisticated day and night vision cameras that operators use to detect drug and human smugglers, and can stay aloft for up to 30 hours at a time." [Reuters, 8/30/10]

    Under President Obama And Democratic Leadership We Have More Boots On The Ground At The US-Mexico Border Than We Have Since Woodrow Wilson Was President. According to Politifact, the last time the US had more personnel securing the US-Mexico border was in 1916, when Woodrow Wilson sent troops to the border after Poncho Villa launched a surprise attack on Columbus, NM. [Politifact, 7/1/10]

    FACT: THE DREAM ACT IS NOT AMNESTY FOR PEOPLE WHO WILLFULLY BROKE THE LAW. In a September 2010 editorial, the Los Angeles Times reported, "The DREAM Act should not be controversial; it does not grant "amnesty" or reward people who broke immigration laws. Rather, it acknowledges that thousands of promising young people are not to blame for the misdeeds of their parents. Furthermore, its passage is clearly in the economic interest of the country. All children in the U.S. are entitled to a public K-12 education (worth roughly $113,568 per child in California), and given this significant investment, it makes little fiscal sense to foreclose further opportunity for young illegal immigrants just when they are poised to repay the society that nurtured them. Of all the nation's immigrants, these students and military veterans should be welcomed into the community of citizenship. Raised in the U.S., educated in U.S. schools and acculturated to U.S. society, they have deep roots here and no allegiance elsewhere. And it is to everyone's advantage that they become gainfully employed future taxpayers instead of struggling laborers. Workers with a bachelor's degree far out-earn those without one, garnering an average of $1 million more in income over their working lifetime, according to the U.S. Census, and paying a heftier share of taxes." [Los Angeles Times, Editorial, 9/20/10]

    FACT: THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THE DREAM ACT. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Pentagon officials support the Dream Act. In its strategic plan for fiscal years 2010-2012, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness cited the Dream Act as a 'smart' way to attract quality recruits to the all-volunteer force." [Wall Street Journal, 9/18/10]

    FACT: THE DREAM ACT DOES NOT GIVE SPECIAL TUITION RATES TO PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY. IT ALLOWS YOUNG PEOPLE WHO OBTAIN LEGAL STATUS TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND RECEIVE IN-STATE TUITION IF AND ONLY IF THE STATE THEY LIVE IN ALLOWS IT.

    AASCU: The DREAM Act And Similar Bills "Would Make It Easier For States To Charge In-State Tuition Rates To Undocumented Students, But They Would Not Require States To Do So." In August 2007, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities wrote, "Bills have been introduced in Congress that would make it easier for states to charge in-state tuition rates to undocumented students, but they would not require states to do so. If enacted, such legislation would clarify the legal ambiguities but would not end debate in statehouses. First introduced in the Senate in 2001 and later made part of the Senate's Comprehensive Immigration Reform Acts of 2006 and 2007, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would provide a path for immigrant children to obtain legal status and allow states to offer them in-state tuition and financial aid." [American Association of State Colleges and Universities, August 2007]

    FACT: THE DREAM ACT HAS ENJOYED SUPPORT FROM SOME OF THE SENATE'S MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS

    Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting "Amnesty" Through The DREAM Act In 2009:

    Richard Lugar, R-IN

    Mel Martinez, R-FL [S 729, Introduced 3/26/09]

    Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting "Amnesty" Through The DREAM Act In 2007:

    Mike Crapo, R-ID

    Chuck Hagel, R-NE

    Richard Lugar, R-IN

    John McCain, R-AZ [S 774, Introduced 3/6/07]

    Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting "Amnesty" Through The DREAM Act In 2005:

    Norm Coleman, R-MN

    Susan Collins, R-ME

    Mike Crapo, R-ID

    Mike DeWine, R-OH

    Chuck Hagel, R-NE

    Richard Lugar, R-IN [S 2075, Introduced 11/8/05]

    Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting "Amnesty" Through The DREAM Act In 2003:

    Orrin Hatch, R-UT

    Sam Brownback, R-KS

    Norm Coleman, R-MN

    Susan Collins, R-ME

    Mike Crapo, R-ID

    Mike DeWine, R-OH

    Chuck Grassley, R-IA

    Chuck Hagel, R-NE

    Richard Lugar, R-IN

    John McCain, R-AZ [S 1545, Introduced, 7/31/03]

    Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting "Amnesty" Through The DREAM Act In 2001:

    Orrin Hatch, R-UT

    Sam Brownback, R-KS

    Mike DeWine, R-OH

    Pete Domenici, R-MN

    Chuck Grassley, R-IA

    Richard Lugar, R-IN [S 1291, Introduced 8/1/01]

    The US Conference Of Catholic Bishops Support The DREAM Act. In an April 2009 letter, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, "On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), I write to express our support for S. 729, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act). This legislation would make a difference in the lives of undocumented youth who were brought to the United States by their parents and now, because of their lack of legal status, face obstacles to their future. By removing such barriers, the DREAM Act permits immigrant students to pursue a promising future through college education or military service. Those who would benefit from the DREAM Act are talented, intelligent, and dedicated young persons who know only the United States as their home. They can become some of the future leaders of our country, provided we are wise enough to provide them the opportunity to pursue their dreams … This bill also offers students a fair opportunity to earn U.S. citizenship if they commit to and complete at least two years of college or two years of honorable service in the military … It is important to note that these young persons entered the United States with their parents at a young age, and therefore did not enter without inspection on their own volition. The DREAM Act represents a practical, fair, and compassionate solution for thousands of young persons in our nation who simply want to reach their God-given potential and contribute to the well-being of our nation." [US Conference of Catholic Bishops, 4/6/09 (emphasis added)]

    Sharron Angle might not like to admit it, but thanks to Harry Reid, the Recovery Act has created and saved jobs around the state and helped keep Nevada from hurting even more during these tough economic times.

    And even more facts:

    FACT: THE RECOVERY ACT CREATED AND SAVED JOBS IN NEVADA, HELPING THE STATE AVOID AN EVEN WORSE ECONOMIC SITUATION THAN IT ALREADY FACES

    The Recovery Act Has Already Created Or Saved 29,000 Jobs In Nevada. According to a July 2010 report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the Recovery Act has created or saved roughly 29,000 jobs in Nevada. [White House Report, 7/14/10]

    Gazette-Journal: "Economists Say There's Little Doubt The State Would Be In Even Worse Shape Without Aid From Washington." In August 2010, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported, "While U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Republican U.S. Senate challenger Sharron Angle, a former assemblywoman, debate whether the federal government has helped or hurt Nevada, economists say there's little doubt the state would be in even worse shape without aid from Washington. Money from the feds — including about $3.2 billion in stimulus funds awarded to the state from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus bill — has helped prevent layoffs of state workers and extend unemployment benefits for the jobless, experts say … 'Without federal aid, we could be talking Great Depression levels of unemployment in Nevada,' said Elliott Parker, professor and chairman of the economics department at the University of Nevada, Reno." [Reno Gazette-Journal, 8/14/10]

    The Recovery Act Has Invested Nearly $570 Million In Clean Energy Projects Around Nevada. According to a September 2010 release, "Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement on a U.S. Department of Energy report that details the progress being made in Nevada from clean energy investments through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 'The Recovery Act is playing a significant role in our effort to put Nevadans back to work on projects that develop clean energy resources and clean energy technologies. From the transmission line that will connect the northern and southern parts of the state, to the numerous solar and geothermal projects already underway, Nevada is leading the charge toward energy independence and a thriving clean energy economy.' According to the Department of Energy's report, $568.6 million in Recovery Act funds are boosting Nevada's investment in clean energy including projects ranging from home energy efficiency, smart grid, and geothermal power generation, to solar system and advanced battery manufacturing." [Reid Release, 9/15/10]

    EXAMPLES OF JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING CREATED OR SAVED THANKS TO THE RECOVERY ACT

    Tax Credits are helping Amonix To Build A Solar Manufacturing Plant In Southern Nevada--putting 300 jobs. [Reid Press Release, 5/15/10]

    $12 Million For Geothermal Projects At Hawthorne Army Depot And Fallon Naval Air Station-- More Than 200 Jobs. [Gazette-Journal, 4/16/09]

    $90 Million For Other Nevada Geothermal Projects, Nearly 1,100 Jobs. [Review-Journal, 10/29/09; Reid Press Release, 10/29/09]

    Debt-Cancellation Provision Allowed Harrah's To Protect 31,000 Jobs In Nevada Alone. [Las Vegas Sun, 10/23/09]

    Financing For A $550 Million Transmission Line Connecting Northern and Southern Nevada-- More Than 1,000 Jobs. [Review-Journal, 1/12/20; Las Vegas Sun, 3/8/09; Reid Release, 8/20/10]

    $138 Million To Help NV Energy Install Smart Meters Across The State, Creating More Than 200 Jobs And Helping Nevada Families And Businesses Reduce Energy Costs. [Review-Journal, 10/27/09]

    Nevada News Bureau: Road Construction Projects Funded By The Recovery Act "Will Have Created Or Saved 5,600 Construction Jobs By The End Of The Year." [Nevada News Bureau, 5/19/10]

    The Recovery Act Is Bringing about $26 Million For The Meadowood Interchange, Which Will Create As Many As 1,200 Jobs. [NDOT, Recovery Act Projects, 1/28/10; Gazette-Journal, Editorial, 3/19/09; Review-Journal, Road Warrior Column, 3/1/09]

    Tax Relief That Helped Keep 2,000 Nevadans Working On The Third Terminal At McCarran Airport. [Review-Journal, The Political Eye, 1/13/10; Associated Press, 1/12/10]

    Funding To Weatherize Nevada Homes Has Created At Least 70 Jobs. [KSNV, 6/3/10]

    Funding That Saved At Least 3,500 Nevada Education Jobs. [Review-Journal, 12/10/09]

    More Than 2,400 Education Jobs Were Created Or Saved In Clark County Alone Thanks To The Recovery Act. [Las Vegas Sun, 8/1/10]

    Washoe County Schools Got More Than $6 Million In Recovery Act Funding That Created Or Saved At Least 84 Jobs. [Daily Sparks Tribune 5/19/09; Gazette-Journal, 10/7/09]

    COPS Grants Will Fund 18 Law Enforcement Jobs In Northern Nevada. [Daily Sparks Tribune, 7/28/09]

    Funding For Work At Reno-Tahoe Airport Is Creating Between 130 And 180 Jobs. [Gazette-Journal, 3/29/09; Associated Press, 8/14/09]

    Truckee Meadows Wildfire Restoration Projects Funded By The Recovery Act Were Expected To Create At Least 121 jobs. [Nevada Small Business Development Center Website]

    Lincoln County Wildfire Management Work Funded By The Recovery Act Was Expected To Create Or Save 28 Jobs. [Nevada Division of Forestry, Press Release, 3/13/09]

    Clean Water And Drinking Water Programs Funded By The Recovery Act Created More Than 128 Jobs. [Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, Drinking Water Recovery Projects, Clean Water Recovery Projects]

    FACT: REID PASSED CLOSE TO $300 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF IN THE RECOVERY ACT

    More Than One Third Of The Recovery Act Was Tax Relief. According to the New York Times, "The final bill includes $507 billion in spending programs and $282 billion in tax relief, including a scaled-back version of Mr. Obama's middle-class tax cut proposal, which would give credits of up to $400 for individuals and $800 for families within certain income limits. It will also provide a one-time payment of $250 to recipients of Social Security and government disability support." [New York Times, Economic Stimulus]

    More Than 1 Million Nevada Families Received A Tax Break Under The Recovery Act's Making Work Pay Tax Cut. According to a White House report on the impact of the recovery act on Nevada, "The President's tax-cut – which covers more Americans than any in history – is putting more than $500 million back in the pockets of more than 1 million hard-working Nevada families." According to the Democratic Policy Committee, "These tax cuts would be distributed to millions of families by reducing tax withholding from workers' paychecks - the money goes directly into Americans' paychecks so they get it right away." [White House Report, 4/22/08]

    Recovery Act Extended Energy Tax Credits To Consumers. According to the Department of Energy, consumers could take advantage of a number of tax credits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install certain energy-efficient products in their homes and a 30% tax credit for homeowners who install renewable energy systems in their homes. [Department of Energy, Consumer Energy Tax Incentives, What the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Means to You]

    Other Recovery Act Tax Relief:

    Homebuyer Credit. Homebuyers who purchased homes this spring and summer were eligible for an $8,000 tax credit

    Education benefits. The American opportunity credit and enhanced benefits for 529 college savings plans, helping families and students cover the costs of a college education

    Earned Income Tax Credit. Increased in 2009 and 2010 to help struggling families.

    Additional child tax credit. More families will qualify for the ACTC in 2009 and 2010.

    Money Back for New Vehicles. Taxpayers who bought new cars and certain other new vehicles in 2009 can deduct the state and local sales taxes they paid as well as other taxes and fees they paid in states with no sales tax

    Health Coverage Tax Credit. This credit increased from 65 percent to 80 percent of qualified health insurance premiums, and more people are eligible

    Work Opportunity Tax Credit. This expanded credit adds returning veterans and "disconnected youth" to the list of new hires that businesses may claim

    Net Operating Loss Carryback. Small businesses can offset losses by getting refunds on taxes paid up to five years ago. [IRS, Recovery Act Tax Provisions]

    Harrah's Senior Vice President Jan Jones: Reid's Debt-Cancellation Provision "Allowed Us To Protect 31,000 Jobs In Nevada Alone." [Las Vegas Sun, 10/23/09]

    Tax Relief In The Recovery Act Helped Keep Close To 2,000 Nevadans On The Job Working On The Third Terminal At McCarran Airport. [Review-Journal, The Political Eye, 1/13/10; Associated Press, 1/12/10]

    Recovery Act Tax Credits Are Allowing Amonix Inc. To Build A Solar Manufacturing Plant In Southern Nevada – Putting Close To 300 Nevadans Back To Work. [Reid Press Release, 5/15/10]

    FACT: OUT-OF-WORK NEVADANS WOULD GET NO HELP FROM SHARRON ANGLE. SHE THINKS LAID OFF WORKERS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ARE "SPOILED" AND WOULDN'T VOTE TO EXTEND THOSE BENEFITS

    Steve Sebelius: "Angle's Modern-Day Welfare Queens: The Unemployed." In a June 2010 blog post, Las Vegas CityLife Editor Steve Sebelius wrote, "Would-be U.S. senator Sharron Angle says we've "spoiled" our workers by offering unemployment compensation to those laid off by no fault of their own. Sure, the unemployment rate in Nevada is 14 percent — which Angle is trying to lay at the feet of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. But those 14 percent probably don't appreciate these comments." [Slash Politics, 6/21/10]

    Angle: Unemployed Nevadans Who Depend On Unemployment Insurance Are "Spoiled." During a May 2010 interview on KRNV, Angle said, "You can make more money on unemployment than you can going down and getting one of those jobs that is an honest job, but it doesn't pay as much. And so that's what's happened to us is that we have put in so much entitlement into our government that we really have spoiled our citizenry and said you don't want the jobs that are available." [KRNV, 5/25/10]

    One Week Later, Angle Said Extending Unemployment Insurance Is "A Terrible Thing." During a June 2010 interview on KDWN's Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said extending unemployment insurance was "a terrible thing. You know, I was criticized for saying that Americans won't do certain jobs and the reason that they won't do certain jobs is because they get more pay on unemployment than they can get to work those… those good jobs that are really out there." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/2/10]

    Angle: Extending Unemployment Insurance For Laid Off Workers "Makes It So That They Want To Be Dependent On The Government." During a June 2010 interview on KDWN's Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said, "What has happened is Harry Reid has just extended unemployment and when he did that he not only made it so that people are less employable, but he makes it so that they want to be dependent on the government. This entitlement pays them more than getting a real job." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/2/10]

    Angle: Aiding Out-Of-Work Nevadans With Unemployment Insurance Doesn't "Encourage People To Go Back To Work." During a June 2010 interview on Heidi Harris in the Morning, Angle said, "Harry Reid has extended and extended unemployment benefits which really doesn't do anyone as much good as a job would do them. What we need is stimulation of our economy that really creates jobs in the private sector. We need free market solutions to our job problems here in Nevada and across the nation. And Harry Reid is not thinking about real solutions, all he is doing is putting on these band-aid fixes which is to extend unemployment. And when he does that, what happens is that he takes away the incentive to have a job because if you are making more on unemployment than you can if you go to work for Starbucks or some other place where they have a real job available, because you know that you can't make as much as you are making on unemployment, you'll stay on unemployment. And what that does is it keeps you out of the job market, it makes your skills not as viable because they are now out of date. There are just all kinds of problems that occur when you don't encourage people to go back to work." [KDWN, Heidi Harris in the Morning, 6/10/10]

    Angle Said She Would Have Opposed Extending Unemployment Benefits Because She Opposes "Extending These Unemployment Benefits To The Point Where People are Afraid To Go Out And Get A Job." During a June 2010 interview on Face to Face, Angle was asked whether she would have voted to extend unemployment insurance benefits. Angle answered, "I would have voted no because the truth about it is that they keep extending these unemployment benefits to the point where people are afraid to go out and get a job because the job doesn't pay as much as the unemployment benefit does." [Face to Face, 6/29/10]

    Angle: "System Of Entitlement Has Caused Us To Have A Spoilage." During a June 2010 interview on Face to Face, host Jon Ralston confronted Angle on her statements saying unemployment benefits had "spoiled" out-of-work Nevadans.

    RALSTON: So you're saying that these tens of thousands of Nevadans they're sitting on their couches they're all spoiled. They don't want to go out and get a job. I'm gonna cut off your benefits. That's your attitude.

    ANGLE: Oh now come on Jon.

    RALSTON: Spoiled! But you said they're spoiled.

    ANGLE: Well I said that it had spoiled our citizenry. That's a little different. They're not spoiled. What has happened is the system of entitlement has caused us to have a spoilage with our um, ability to go out and get a job. [Face to Face, 6/29/10]

    Angle: "The Answer Is No. I Wouldn't Have Voted For Unemployment Extensions." During a July 2010 interview with the editorial board of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Angle was asked about recently-passed legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits.

    BOARD MEMBER: Speaking of a serious problem, could you tell me how you would have voted whether to extend unemployment benefits? And you've been criticized for talking about a culture of spoiled… spoiled culture of unemployment. It's been characterized 3 or 4 different ways. Can you elaborate on that? Tell me what you meant?

    ANGLE: Sure. First of all the answer is no. I wouldn't have voted for unemployment extensions. They're not paid for. We have a maxed out credit card right now. The Republicans, to their credit, said since you want a pay-as-you-go policy then pay for this.

    BOARD MEMBER: Excuse me. So, you would have… with the other Republicans you would have voted for it if they had found a way to pay for it with some of the other stimulus funds, or you would have voted against it regardless?

    ANGLE: There's a basic problem with unemployment extensions and that is that when you talk about unemployment it was supposed to be a safety net, a way to get from one job to the next. And you keep extending and extending – not we're out over two years of unemployment – I… you probably read the Wall Street Journal as much as I do. There was an interesting article there about the stimulus of unemployment. And I think we need to be very, very careful that we're not incentivizing, instead of providing safety nets for folks. And so yes, if it had been paid for, that's one thing, but also you have to look at the bigger picture – and that is: is this just a mandate for a bigger problem? And government shouldn't always be putting Band-Aids on big problems. They need to be looking at real solutions, and the solution is we need jobs. People don't want to be unemployed or on unemployment insurance. They want to be in work. [Review-Journal, Angle Editorial Board Interview, 7/23/10, Video posted 7/24/10 (emphasis added)]

    Review-Journal Columnist: Angle's New Language On Unemployment Benefits Is "No Better Than A Hair-Split From 'Spoiled.'" In a July 2010 column, John L. Smith reacted to Angle's response on unemployment benefits during her editorial board interview with the Review-Journal. He wrote, "Although she made much of Reid's responsibility for facilitating Nevada's bruising 14.2 percent jobless rate, Angle said she would have voted against extending unemployment benefits because 'they're not paid for. We have a maxed out credit card. ... I think we need to be very, very careful that we're not incentivizing instead of providing a safety net for folks.' In other words, she believes extending benefits that amount to a few hundred bucks a week is encouraging the jobless to avoid seeking work. Frankly, 'incentivizing' is no better than a hair-split from 'spoiled.' Although a conservative economist might applaud her, I'll bet many of Nevada's nearly 200,000 jobless are insulted. Surely most would love to find work that pays the bills." [Review-Journal, John L Smith Column, 7/28/10]

    FACT: ANGLE DOESN'T THINK IT'S THE JOB OF A UNITED STATES SENATOR TO CREATE JOBS

    Angle On Jobs: "Ok, As Your U.S. Senator I Am Not In The Business Of Creating Jobs." [Elko County Forum, 05/11/10]

    Angle On Creating Jobs: It's Someone Else's Job. During a May 2010 campaign event, Angle said, "People ask me, what are you going to do to develop jobs in your state? Well that's not my job as a US Senator, to bring industry to the state. That's the Lieutenant Governor's job. That's your State Senator's and Assemblyman's job. That's your Secretary of State's job, to make a climate here in this state, ya'll come." [Angle Campaign Event, 5/14/10]

    Angle Doubled Down On Jobs Comments; Said, "When I Said That As A United States Senator That Was Not My Job To Create Jobs, It's True." During a June 2010 interview on Chalice Jackson's internet radio show, Angle said, "But really we know that the government doesn't create jobs and Harry Reid has been saying that he's creating jobs, but really what has happened is that the unemployment rate in Nevada has gone from four percent to fourteen percent. And so he has not created jobs, in fact he has created more problems with unemployment than he has created any kind of jobs. We know from President Reagan that the government is not the solution. It is the problem. And so when I said that as a United States Senator that was not my job to create jobs, it's true." [Chalice Jackson Show, 6/23/10]

    FACT: ANGLE WOULDN'T HAVE LIFTED A FINGER TO SAVE 22,000 JOBS AT CITYCENTER

    Las Vegas Sun: "Reiterating her position that government should stay out of the way of business, even when it asks for help, Angle said this week that she would not have intervened to help rescue CityCenter when the project was on the brink of losing its financing." [Las Vegas Sun, 7/9/10]

    Angle Would Not Have Acted To Save CityCenter, Called It "Shuffling … Deck Chairs On The Titanic." During a July 2010 interview with Alan Stock, Angle was asked if she, like Reid, would have acted to save CityCenter. Angle said, "No, I would not. You know the reason is because he may have saved jobs in CityCenter, but he actually cost jobs in other parts of the city. And you know that as well as I do. The issue here becomes bailouts, right? And stimulus. We want something that is not going to bail out and stimulate, what we want is deregulate, lower taxes, give businesses some breathing room to do what they do best which is create jobs. And just shuffling these, if you will, the deck chairs on the Titanic is not going to solve the problem. And so shifting employment from one arena to the next is not going to solve the problem. What we really need is real jobs, permanent, full-time jobs with a future. And that can only be provided by the private sector, government does not provide jobs." [KXNT, Alan Stock in the Afternoon, 7/7/10]

    Immediately After The Interview, Angle Doubled Down. During a July 2010 episode of Face to Face, Jon Ralston reported that, after her interview with Alan Stock, Angle reiterated her opposition to helping save CityCenter. Angle said, "Well, I said that it wouldn't be something I would have done because it's not, it's kind of like shifting the chairs on the deck of the Titanic. If you only shift jobs from one place to another when we know that when they put those jobs at CityCenter it was jobs that were taken away, or business that was taken away, from other areas. And so really it actually injured the economy of other businesses, and that's not what government should be doing. Government should stand out of the way, through de-regulation and lower taxes that are able to create a climate where business has some confidence, and when they have confidence they do what they do best, which is create jobs. And that's really what we want here in Nevada is full-time, permanent employment, with a future." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston, 7/7/10]

    Ralston: "This is a dicey position for Angle to take. On the one hand, I and others have raised questions about the propriety of a United States Senator pressing a banker to give a loan to a major corporate interest, and his largest campaign donor. But on the other hand, the same Senate candidate who says it's not her job to create jobs now says she wouldn't have tried to save thousands of jobs? That's tough." [Face to Face with Jon Ralston, 7/7/10 (emphasis added)]

    MGM: "Ms. Angle's Statement Is Ridiculous On Its Face." In response to Angle's comments on CityCenter, MGM Resorts issued the following statement: "Ms. Angle's statement is ridiculous on its face. Senator Reid's support of our significant private investment in Las Vegas came during our company's darkest hour. He saved, not only 10,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent private sector jobs at CityCenter, but the jobs of 50,000 employees at our other resorts that would have been jeopardized had our company followed CityCenter into bankruptcy." [MGM Resorts International, 7/7/10]

    Las Vegas Sun: "Angle's Stunning Statement Shows How Far Out Of Touch She Is With Reality." In a July 2010 editorial, the Las Vegas Sun wrote, "Angle's stunning statement shows how far out of touch she is with reality. MGM Resorts issued a statement calling Angle's comments 'ridiculous,' adding that Reid 'saved not only 10,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent private-sector jobs at CityCenter but the jobs of 50,000 employees at our other resorts that would have been jeopardized had our company followed CityCenter into bankruptcy.' But Angle's comments are more than ridiculous, they are factually wrong. There was no stimulus or bailout. There were no jobs lost in other parts of the city because of Reid's action. Government didn't create any jobs, MGM Resorts — the state's largest private employer — did, and the jobs are 'real.'" [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

    Sun: "Had She Been In The Senate Instead Of Reid, Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs Would Have Been Lost." According to the Las Vegas Sun, "But Angle says a senator's role isn't to create jobs and apparently doesn't think a senator should help workers or businesses. Had she been in the Senate instead of Reid, tens of thousands of jobs would have been lost." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

    Sun: "Angle Just Doesn't Get It." According to the Las Vegas Sun, "Angle just doesn't get it. What Reid did was exactly what anyone should want a senator to do. He went to bat for a local business and for Nevada's workers. Angle has shown a cold heart toward workers and their families, preferring instead to stick to her narrow anti-government ideology." [Las Vegas Sun, Editorial, 7/9/10]

    FACT: ANGLE WOULD HAVE OPPOSED FUNDING TO SAVE 1,400 NEVADA EDUCATION JOBS, SAID "I THINK THE EMERGENCY IS ONLY IN HARRY REID'S MIND

    Reid Passed Legislation Providing $83 Million In Funding To Save 1,400 Education Jobs In Nevada. In August 2010, the Review-Journal reported, "Senate Democrats on Wednesday defeated a Republican filibuster and cleared a path for a $26 billion bill to rescue cash-starved states contemplating layoffs to teachers and other public employees. For Nevada, the legislation promises $83 million to bolster school budgets and $79 million to cushion a shortfall in state spending on health care for the poor, said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev." According to the Department of Education, the funding would save approximately 1,400 Nevada education jobs. [Review-Journal, 8/4/10; Department of Education, Education Jobs Estimates, 8/6/10] Angle On Saving 1,400 Education Jobs: "The Emergency Is Only In Harry Reid's Mind." During an August 2010 interview with Andrew Napolitano and Michelle Bachmann on Fox Business News, Angle agreed with Rep. Bachmann when she said funding to save education jobs was "money laundering," saying, "Well I think the emergency is only in Harry Reid's mind as Michele put so succinctly. This is an emergency for the Democrats, it is a way to solidify their base if you will with our taxpayer dollars. I say no, Nevada voters are much wiser than that, they know that this emergency is only in Harry Reid's mind." [Fox Business News, 8/9/10] Angle Called Saving Education Jobs A Giveaway To "Special Interests." During an August 2010 interview with Roger Hedgecock, Angle said, "He has promoted the stimulus plans, and now he's wanting to promote another one as an emergency act. All it is, is really promoting money to his special interest groups – those unions – and what is going to do to Nevada is this stimulus new bill is going to take money out of Medicaid and food stamps instead of hiring… he wants to hire teachers and our population has gone down so much that we don't have those jobs for teachers anymore because of what Harry Reid has been doing. I mean we could just go on and on with the poor public policy that he has been promoting. And it's all for Harry Reid; it has nothing to do with Nevada." [The Roger Hedgecock Show, 8/9/10]

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