AFP Launches Accountability Ad Campaign Targeting Ex-Im, Corporate Welfare Vote of Rep. Fitzpatrick

Dec 5, 2019 by AFP

HARRISBURG, PA – Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today announced a six-figure direct mail, digital, and newspaper advertising effort to hold accountable 15 members of Congress who recently voted in favor of extending the controversial Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im). Among the targeted members, Pennsylvania Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick was included for his vote to reauthorize the embattled institution. AFP has consistently opposed the reauthorization of Ex-Im, citing the bank’s history of corruption and fiscal mismanagement that rigs the economy in favor of a few well-connected companies.

AFP-PA State Director Ashley Klingensmith issued the following statement:

“The Export-Import Bank has operated and enabled a culture of corruption taxpayers across Pennsylvania are tired of. Congressman Fitzpatrick should be held accountable for voting to prolong the gross mismanagement of taxpayer dollars and this ad campaign aims to do exactly that. Moving forward we urge all lawmakers to work together to unrig the economy so all Americans can succeed.”

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AFP’s Ex-Im accountability campaign will also target Representatives McAdams (UT), Horn (OK), McBath (GA), S. Murphy (FL), Axne (IA), Finkenauer (IA), Davids (KS), Casten (IL), Kinzinger (IL), Wagner (MO), Luetkemeyer (MO), Graves (MO), Long (MO), and Fitzpatrick (PA) for voting “yes” on H.R. 4863, a bill to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank. Read AFP’s key vote letter to lawmakers here.

Background:

Ex-Im has proven to have fallen short of its goals for job creation, export promotion, small business growth, and increasing US competitiveness abroad.

The Heritage Foundation found that from 2009 to 2014 there were 74 cases of fraud allegations.

Ex-Im uses Federal Credit Reporting Act standards to justify its lending, arguing that it would save $14 billion from 2015-2024. But that is not an accurate representation of the bank’s finances.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, if Ex-Im were to use fair-value accounting principles — which are used by most of the government and most of the private sector — the bank would cost taxpayers about $2 billion over that same period.

Our economy doesn’t need the Export-Import Bank.

Earlier this year, AFP unleashed its multiyear “Unrig the Economy” campaign to end government favoritism and has sent more than 35,000 letters to Congress urging lawmakers to vote NO on the failed agency’s extension.

Read more about AFP’s multi-year, multimillion-dollar effort to “Unrig the Economy” here (CNBC).