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Olson turns to grassroots to fight Democrat-paid ads
By AUDREY M. MARKS
With a reported $1 million to be spent in television advertising by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on the behalf of U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Stafford, Republican candidate Pete Olson is combating the current ads with outreach to district supporters.
“This barrage of negative advertising is an attempt by the National Democrat Party to smear my record of supporting lower taxes,” Olson said in an Aug. 21 e-mail to campaign supporters.
The most recent batch of political ads to hit the airways addresses Olson’s support for a 23 percent national sales tax on every retail purchase, through legislation referred to as the FairTax.
The television ad paid for by the DCCC, the fundraising arm of House Democrats, focused on how the FairTax would increase the cost per gallon of gas by $1 and spike the cost of everyday items.
But Olson and a tax advocacy group are crying foul.
“Left out of the ad, of course, is the fact that under the FairTax all federal withholding is eliminated from paychecks, retail prices are expected to actually fall as embedded tax costs are eliminated and the most regressive taxes of all—FICA payroll taxes—become a thing of the past,” Ken Hoagland, spokesman for Americans for Fair Taxation said in a press release.
Americans for Fair Taxation, a non-partisan income tax advocacy group, does not endorse candidates, and does not have a political action committee to donate to those running for office, according to a press release.
During an Aug. 18 meeting with reporters Olson reinterated his support for the FairTax, a move that abolish the Internal Revenue Service and income taxes.
The FairTax would “result in a 12 to 14 percent tax decrease” for most people, Olson said.
In his e-mail to supporters, he notes that repealing the 16th amendment is considered a “long-term goal.”
Additionally the tax would eliminate Social Security, Medicare, and payroll taxes.
If enacted households, depending upon size, would receive a monthly payment of tax on purchases up to the poverty level, so to avoid penalizing low-income citizens under the FairTax.
Researchers, economists and advocacy groups have hotly debated this proposed tax structure debating it’s merits.
While the bill has netted 72 supporters in the U.S. House of Representatives no action has been taken on the bill since January 2007.
The bill has had a similar life on the Senate side of Capitol Hill with four co-sponsors. According to the Library of Congress there has been no action
Olson is calling on his grassroots supporters to start a campaign among friends and neighbors to set his record straight.
He said he “stands for lower taxes and smaller government - beginning with making the 2001 and 2003 Republican tax cuts permanent.”
Negative campaigning and half truths aren’t a new addition to politics, and in this case the Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee said voters can sift through all the information hurled at them.
"I just ask people how believable is it that any Republican would be running on a 23 percent tax increase," Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said.
But don’t expect these types of advertisements, mailers, or phone calls to stop anytime soon.
With more than $109 million raised by the DCCC and more than $80 million by the NRCC reported in the most recent filing period ending July 30, both Lampson and Olson stand to benefit from the tremendous fundraising efforts.
Cole said during an Aug. 18 meeting with reporters that in addition to a direct cash donation the NRCC will be coordinating donations to help Olson with advertising.
Cole did not describe the future ads as negative, but as painting a clear picture between the two candidates differences.
“This barrage of negative advertising is an attempt by the National Democrat Party to smear my record of supporting lower taxes,” Olson said in an Aug. 21 e-mail to campaign supporters.
The most recent batch of political ads to hit the airways addresses Olson’s support for a 23 percent national sales tax on every retail purchase, through legislation referred to as the FairTax.
The television ad paid for by the DCCC, the fundraising arm of House Democrats, focused on how the FairTax would increase the cost per gallon of gas by $1 and spike the cost of everyday items.
But Olson and a tax advocacy group are crying foul.
“Left out of the ad, of course, is the fact that under the FairTax all federal withholding is eliminated from paychecks, retail prices are expected to actually fall as embedded tax costs are eliminated and the most regressive taxes of all—FICA payroll taxes—become a thing of the past,” Ken Hoagland, spokesman for Americans for Fair Taxation said in a press release.
Americans for Fair Taxation, a non-partisan income tax advocacy group, does not endorse candidates, and does not have a political action committee to donate to those running for office, according to a press release.
During an Aug. 18 meeting with reporters Olson reinterated his support for the FairTax, a move that abolish the Internal Revenue Service and income taxes.
The FairTax would “result in a 12 to 14 percent tax decrease” for most people, Olson said.
In his e-mail to supporters, he notes that repealing the 16th amendment is considered a “long-term goal.”
Additionally the tax would eliminate Social Security, Medicare, and payroll taxes.
If enacted households, depending upon size, would receive a monthly payment of tax on purchases up to the poverty level, so to avoid penalizing low-income citizens under the FairTax.
Researchers, economists and advocacy groups have hotly debated this proposed tax structure debating it’s merits.
While the bill has netted 72 supporters in the U.S. House of Representatives no action has been taken on the bill since January 2007.
The bill has had a similar life on the Senate side of Capitol Hill with four co-sponsors. According to the Library of Congress there has been no action
Olson is calling on his grassroots supporters to start a campaign among friends and neighbors to set his record straight.
He said he “stands for lower taxes and smaller government - beginning with making the 2001 and 2003 Republican tax cuts permanent.”
Negative campaigning and half truths aren’t a new addition to politics, and in this case the Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee said voters can sift through all the information hurled at them.
"I just ask people how believable is it that any Republican would be running on a 23 percent tax increase," Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said.
But don’t expect these types of advertisements, mailers, or phone calls to stop anytime soon.
With more than $109 million raised by the DCCC and more than $80 million by the NRCC reported in the most recent filing period ending July 30, both Lampson and Olson stand to benefit from the tremendous fundraising efforts.
Cole said during an Aug. 18 meeting with reporters that in addition to a direct cash donation the NRCC will be coordinating donations to help Olson with advertising.
Cole did not describe the future ads as negative, but as painting a clear picture between the two candidates differences.
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