AFP Launches 7-Figure TV Effort Holding Senators Donnelly, McCaskill Accountable for “NO” Votes on Tax Reform

Grassroots group running TV, digital ads as part of multimillion-dollar tax reform campaign

Arlington, Va.  – Americans for Prosperity (AFP) will launch a major ad campaign in Missouri and Indiana Thursday informing citizens about Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Claire McCaskill’s (D-MO) broken promises on tax reform.

The grassroots group is investing nearly $4 million in TV and digital ads asking citizens to hold Senators Donnelly and McCaskill accountable by urging them to support policies that put hardworking taxpayers first. 

Throughout their careers, both senators have paid lip service to tax reform but ultimately put partisan politics ahead of growth and prosperity for their constituents by voting against the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. With tax reform, people will be able to keep more of their hard-earned money for everyday expenses like food, gas, diapers and school supplies. 

Hardworking Americans are already seeing the benefits of the law as hundreds of companies invest in their employees and communities by creating jobs and increasing wages. Senators Donnelly and McCaskill voted to deny individuals and families these benefits, choosing party over the well-being of citizens in their states.

This ad effort is part of AFP’s campaign to connect Americans to the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and hold accountable lawmakers who voted against the pro-growth reform. The grassroots group has already begun a major campaign to promote the historic tax reform law with the goal of ensuring all Americans understand the impact in their daily lives.

View the Indiana ad here
View the Missouri ad here

AFP President Tim Phillips released the following statement:

“Joe Donnelly and Claire McCaskill promised tax reform for years but chose partisan politics over Indiana and Missouri families when they had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide tax relief.  Americans deserve better, which is why AFP is committed to ensuring citizens see the pro-growth benefits of tax reform despite dismissals and deception from ‘no’ votes like Donnelly and McCaskill.”

BACKGROUND:

Senator Claire McCaskill said she’d support tax cuts for hardworking families, but when she had the chance, she said no.

In 2015, Sen. McCaskill called the U.S. Tax system “broken” and in need of reform.

SENATOR MCCASKILL: “Today I think we are in agreement that the current U.S. tax system is broken and needs reform. Our corporate tax rate is among the highest in the industrialized world. Our worldwide tax system is out of sync with the territorial models our economic peers have implemented. We lag behind other countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the value of the research credits we provide, and we risk losing out as our European allies move forward with new plans to incentivize the flow of intellectual property to their borders.”(“Impact Of The U.S. Tax Code On The Market For Corporate Control And Jobs,” Hearing Before The Permanent Subcommittee On Investigations Of The Committee On Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, 07/30/15; “Impact Of The U.S. Tax Code On The Market For Corporate Control And Jobs,” Time Stamp: 00:17:00, United States Senate, 07/30/15)

In 2017, Sen. McCaskill continually stressed the importance of tax reform but ultimately chose to stand in the way of providing Missourians the tax relief they need.

SENATOR MCCASKILL: “I’m a new member, and I had this idea that I was coming to this committee to actually consider important items of finance to our government, and there is no more important item of finance to our government than the structure of our tax code. There is nothing that is more impactful on our economy or on business and job creation in this country than the tax code. If we cannot have a hearing in the United States Senate in the Committee on Finance on tax code reform, then I don’t know why we have this committee. It doesn’t make sense to me.” (“Tax Reform,” Time Stamp: 01:53:35, C-SPAN, 07/18/17)

SENATOR MCCASKILL: “I certainly support lowering the corporate tax rate so we’re globally competitive. I could live with somewhere in the low 20s. And, depending on what they would do on a child tax credit or on making sure that kids can afford college, retirement income.” (“Sen. Clare McCaskill: GOP ‘Could Get A Bipartisan Vote’ On Taxes,” Time Stamp: 01:43, NBC News, 10/30/17)

Senator Joe Donnelly said he’d support tax cuts for hardworking Hoosiers, but when he had the chance, he said no. Throughout his career in public office, he’s supported reducing the corporate tax rate, called middle-class tax relief “of critical importance,” and encouraged tax simplification that preserved the mortgage interest deduction. Despite supporting these provision, Donnelly voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

In 2012, Joe Donnelly called for reducing the corporate tax to 25 percent saying it would bring companies back to the U.S.

CONGRESSMAN DONNELLY: “I would support reducing the tax on small businesses, and all businesses, corporations to 25%. And what we’re able to do by that is it’s able to make our companies more competitive, and it will help us to be able to bring more businesses right back to our own country.”(IndianaDebate, “2012 Indiana US Senate Debate,” YouTube, 10/16/17, @12:22)

In 2007, Donnelly said “I believe middle-class tax relief is of critical importance.”

CONGRESSMAN DONNELLY: “As your congressman, I believe middle-class tax relief is of critical importance to what should be one of our country’s top priorities: strengthening the middle class. That is why I was pleased to recently vote for The Temporary Tax Relief Act. Named for the temporary one-year provision that would protect over 33,000 Second District taxpayers from an unexpected tax increase under the Alternative Minimum Tax, this legislation also would provide additional tax relief to Hoosier families where they need it the most.” (Representative Joe Donnelly, “DONNELLY: Some Tax Relief For Middle Class;” Kokomo Tribune, 12/6/07)