Cedar Rapids Weather
Taking a Deeper Look at Claims in 2012 Political AdsBy Addison Speck, Reporter
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - It's no secret by now that political ads make some bold and often vague claims. KCRG took a look at a few currently running on Channel 9 to help viewers understand where some of the claims are sparked from.
We first start with an ad approved by the 2nd Congressional Districts Republican Candidate John Archer. In the ad it says that Loebsack voted to raise taxes on small businesses and big government regulations. Some republicans argue Loebsack's vote for Obamacare amounted to an increased tax on small businesses. But according to Votesmart.org, Dave Loebsack also voted yes to an Income Tax Deduction for small business back in April. He was also one of a few democrats to vote to extend the Bush-era tax cuts. The next ad is approved by Loebsack and frames Archer as being against government programs for seniors. The add attacks Archer by saying he thinks veterans and seniors are dependent and weak for using Social Security and Medicare. The add refers to something Archer said during an interview on a Clinton radio station. Archer argued dependence on government entitlement programs is a weakness. Archer has been quoted in several newspapers about his push to privatize programs like Medicare and Social Security. The state legislative race in Linn County between Renee Schulte and Art Staed is also producing attack ads. An ad against Schulte says she voted for tax breaks to corporations out of state, shifting the tax burden to seniors, and increasing property taxes. Schulte voted for a bill to lower commercial and industrial property taxes as part of a Republican plan to attract more businesses to the state. Democrats argued that would force counties to increase residential property taxes, but that would be decided at the county level. Meanwhile, a group supporting Schulte countered with an ad against Staed. The ad claims Staed spent millions of taxpayer dollars on flower pots in Des Moines. The flower pots were part of a much larger 2007 budget bill. It included funding for roads, prisons, and grants for remodeling the capitol terrace area, which included buying flower pots. Similar state grants have gone to communities throughout the state over the years, but have become targets of wasteful government spending in recent years. Here are two websites where you can look up what a lawmakers have voted for and against and check facts on claims: Fact Check Vote Smart |
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