Today, the Democratic Party of Arkansas announced a new TV ad titled “Five” that highlights Congressman Cotton’s irresponsible record of voting against federal disaster aid. The ad will run statewide and is a significant six-figure ad buy.
Congressman Cotton was the only member of Arkansas’s congressional delegation to vote against disaster aid five times. Congressman Cotton voted against four bills to fund disaster aid in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, including a $9.7 billion FEMA only funding bill. Money from the Hurricane Sandy relief bill helped Americans rebuild after Hurricane Sandy hit the northeast and money from that bill was used to help Arkansans recover from severe ice storms in 2013.
Congressman Cotton also opposed the bipartisan compromise omnibus budget earlier this year. That budget contained funds for FEMA and other disaster aid programs that are being used right now to help the residents of Mayflower, Vilonia and other hard hit areas of central Arkansas rebuild and recover from the April 27th tornado.
Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Vincent Insalaco released the following statement:
“When disaster strikes our neighbors or our fellow Americans, Arkansans are among the first to roll up their sleeves and ask, ‘How can I help?’ We saw that spirit on display from the first responders and churches that stepped up to help in the immediate aftermath of April’s storms. Natural disasters can happen anywhere and that’s why federal disaster aid is so important. Congressman Cotton’s repeated votes against disaster aid were irresponsible and wrong.”
The Democratic Party of Arkansas has been highlighting Congressman Cotton’s irresponsible votes against disaster aid since January of 2013.
View “Five” HERE
TRANSCRIPT:
NEWS CLIP: “Devastation this morning after a series of deadly tornados ripped across the Mid-South on Sunday.”
NARRATOR: You think it will never happen here but it did.
So we wonder why Congressman Tom Cotton voted 5 times against disaster relief?
5 times against relief designed to help people recover from tornados and floods.
Cotton was the only member of Congress from Arkansas to vote that way.
Turns out his Wall Street backers opposed disaster aid and so did Tom Cotton.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas is responsible for the content of this advertising.
Background:
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Deadly Tornado Slams State; Fatalities Verified In 3 Counties. “A tornado ripped through the state Sunday, killing at least 11 people, injuring dozens more and destroying multiple homes, the National Weather Service, state and law enforcement officials said. A tornado struck western Pulaski County and continued northeast ramming through Mayflower and Vilonia, said Charles Dalton of the National Weather Service in North Little Rock. Just before 9 p.m., the tornado roared into White County, then swept into Jackson County and southern Independence County, Dalton said. Early estimates show that the tornado was on the ground ‘for at least 30 to 40 miles,’ he said. Matt DeCample, spokesman for Gov. Mike Beebe, confirmed that five people were dead in Faulkner County, five in Pulaski and one in White.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 4/28/14]
IN OFFICE JUST A YEAR, COTTON VOTED 5 TIMES AGAINST DISASTER AID
Vote #1: Cotton Opposed A $9.7 Billion FEMA-Only Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill — The Only Member of the Arkansas Delegation To Do So. The Pine Bluff Commercial reported: “Rep. Tom Cotton , R-Dardanelle, voted Friday against legislation that would ensure the federal government has the money to pay flood insurance claims resulting from Hurricane Sandy. Cotton was one of 67 House Republicans to oppose the measure allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to borrow $9.7 billion to cover damage claims from the storm that ravaged New York, New Jersey and Connecticut two months ago. Reps. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, and Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, voted in favor of the bill. The Senate swiftly approved it by voice vote – with no objections.” [Pine Bluff Commercial, 1/4/13; H.R. 41, Vote 7, 1/4/13]
Vote #2: Cotton Voted Against A $17 Billion Bill To Meet Immediate Needs of Communities Affected By Hurricane Sandy, Including Funding The Disaster Relief Fund—The Only Member of the Arkansas Delegation To Do So. In 2013, Cotton voted against the substitute amendment that would provide $17 billion to address immediate needs relating to damage sustained from Superstorm Sandy, including $5.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund, $5.4 billion to aid public transportation systems in New York and New Jersey, $3.9 billion for Department of Housing and Urban Development community development programs, $1.4 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $287 million for repairs to national parks, lands and facilities, $236 million for Veterans Affairs medical activities and construction projects, $144 million for Coast Guard acquisition and construction, $100 million for the Department of Health and Human Services' Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund and $100 million for Small Business Administration disaster loans. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 327-91. [CQ; HR 152, Vote #15, 1/15/13]
Vote #3: Cotton Voted Against Adding $33.7 Billion to Hurricane Sandy Disaster Supplemental for Long-Term Recovery Efforts And Funded The Disaster Relief Fund. In 2013, Cotton voted against an amendment that would add $33.7 billion for long-term recovery and mitigation spending to address damage from Superstorm Sandy. The total includes $12.2 billion for Department of Housing and Urban Development community development activities; $6.1 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund; $5.5 billion for transit support; $4 billion for Army Corps of Engineers projects; $700 million for social services programs; and $474 million for repairs to national parks, wildlife refuges and facilities. It also includes an additional $2 billion to repair federal-aid highways. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 228-192. [CQ; HR 152, Vote #22, 1/15/13]
Vote #4: Cotton Voted Against $50 Billion Disaster Supplemental Providing Emergency Aid to Communities Hit By Hurricane Sandy And Funded FEMA Disaster Relief Fund. In 2013, Cotton voted for passage of the bill that would provide about $50.5 billion for communities hit by Superstorm Sandy. Nearly all funding would be designated as emergency spending exempt from discretionary caps, except for $5.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund. As amended, the bill would include about $11.5 billion for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, $10.9 billion for transit systems, $16 billion for Department of Housing and Urban Development community development programs, $5.4 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $708 million for repairs to national parks, wildlife refuges and facilities, $234 million for Veterans Affairs medical activities and construction projects, $274 million for Coast Guard projects and $520 million for Small Business Administration disaster loans. The bill passed by a vote of 241-180. [CQ; HR 152, Vote #23, 1/15/13]
Vote #5: Cotton Voted Against The FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill That Funded Disaster Relief Fund. In January 2014, Cotton voted against Rogers, R-Ky., motion to concur in the Senate amendments to the bill with a House amendment that would provide about $1.1 trillion in discretionary appropriations in fiscal 2014 for federal departments and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2014 spending bills. Included in that total is: $20.9 billion for Agriculture, $51.6 billion for Commerce-Justice-Science, $572 billion for Defense, including $85.2 billion for overseas contingency operations associated with the war in Afghanistan and other counterterrorism operations, $34.1 billion for Energy-Water, $21.9 billion for Financial Services, $39.3 billion for Homeland Security, $30.1 billion for Interior-Environment, $156.8 billion for Labor-HHS-Education, $4.3 billion for the Legislative Branch, $73.3 billion for Military Construction-VA, $49 billion for State-Foreign Affairs, and $50.9 billion for Transportation-HUD. [CQ Floor Votes, H.R. 3547, Vote 21, 1/15/14]
COTTON VOTED 5 TIMES AGAINST FUNDING FOR FEMA’S DISASTER RELIEF FUND THAT HELPS PEOPLE RECOVER FROM TORNADOES AND FLOODS
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund Provides Disaster Assistance For Response And Recovery Efforts Associated With Tornadoes And Floods. “The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is an appropriation against which FEMA can direct, coordinate, manage, and fund eligible response and recovery efforts associated with domestic major disasters and emergencies that overwhelm State resources pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Through the DRF, FEMA can fund authorized Federal disaster support activities as well as eligible State, territorial, tribal, and local actions, such as providing emergency protection and debris removal.” According to their monthly reports, the Disaster Relief Fund regularly provides funding for floods and tornadoes. [FEMA, Disaster Relief Fund, accessed 5/29/14; FEMA, Disaster Relief Fund: Monthly Report, 4/30/14]
Cotton Voted Five Times Against Funding FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. [H.R. 41, Vote 7, 1/4/13; HR 152, Vote #15, 1/15/13; HR 152, Vote #22, 1/15/13; HR 152, Vote #23, 1/15/13; H.R. 3547, Vote 21, 1/15/14]
COTTON WAS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE ARKANSAS DELEGATION TO VOTE AGAINST DISASTER RELIEF FUNDING 5 TIMES
Cotton Opposed A $9.7 Billion FEMA-Only Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill — The Only Member of the Arkansas Delegation To Do So The Pine Bluff Commercial reported: “Rep. Tom Cotton , R-Dardanelle, voted Friday against legislation that would ensure the federal government has the money to pay flood insurance claims resulting from Hurricane Sandy. Cotton was one of 67 House Republicans to oppose the measure allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to borrow $9.7 billion to cover damage claims from the storm that ravaged New York, New Jersey and Connecticut two months ago. Reps. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, and Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, voted in favor of the bill. The Senate swiftly approved it by voice vote – with no objections.” [Pine Bluff Commercial, 1/4/13; H.R. 41, Vote 7, 1/4/13]
Club For Growth Told Members To Vote Against $9.7 Billion To Help Flood Victims Of Hurricane Sandy. [CQ: Vote 7, 1/4/13; Club for Growth Scorecard, 2013]
Cotton Voted Against A $17 Billion Bill To Meet Immediate Needs of Communities Affected By Hurricane Sandy, Including Funding The Disaster Relief Fund—The Only Member of the Arkansas Delegation To Do So. In 2013, Cotton voted against the substitute amendment that would provide $17 billion to address immediate needs relating to damage sustained from Superstorm Sandy, including $5.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund, $5.4 billion to aid public transportation systems in New York and New Jersey, $3.9 billion for Department of Housing and Urban Development community development programs, $1.4 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $287 million for repairs to national parks, lands and facilities, $236 million for Veterans Affairs medical activities and construction projects, $144 million for Coast Guard acquisition and construction, $100 million for the Department of Health and Human Services' Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund and $100 million for Small Business Administration disaster loans. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 327-91. [CQ; HR 152, Vote #15, 1/15/13]
Club For Growth Told Members To Vote Against A Reduced $17 Billion Sandy Aid Package. [CQ; Vote 15, 1/15/13; Club for Growth Scorecard, 2013]
ARKANSAS NEWSPAPERS NOTED THAT COTTON SERVED HIS WALL-STREET BACKERS IN OPPOSING DISASTER AID
Brummett: “Cotton Has Served His Wall Street-Based Underwriters By Opposing Disaster Aid.” “Huckabee remains detested by the Ayn Randian economic libertarian group, the Club for Growth, that underwrote the congressional campaign of Tom Cotton in 2012. In turn, Cotton has served his Wall Street-based underwriters by opposing disaster aid and student loans and the better interests of Arkansas farmers. Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the House Budget Committee, is a usual Club for Growth favorite who, like Cotton, champions a dramatically reformed and reduced government role in human services.” [John Brummett, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 3/16/14]
CLUB FOR GROWTH AND AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY—GROUPS THAT HAVE SPENT MILLIONS PROMOTING COTTON—OPPOSED DISASTER RELIEF FUNDING
Americans for Prosperity Opposed The Sandy Aid Package. According to Americans for Prosperity, “On behalf of more than two million Americans for Prosperity activists in all 50 states, I urge you to oppose the Hurricane Sandy disaster-aid supplemental, H.R. 152. The bill has serious policy and procedural problems. Unless the legislation is fully offset with other spending reductions, I urge you to vote NO on the Hurricane Sandy disaster-aid supplemental, H.R. 152. Americans for Prosperity will include this vote in our congressional scorecard. [Key Vote Alert, AFP, 1/28/13]
Club For Growth Warned Members It Would “Punish” Those Who Voted For Disaster Aid Package. “The conservative Club for Growth said Friday that it will punish House members who voted for a flood insurance measure aimed at helping pay for Hurricane Sandy’s damage. The Club will ‘key-vote’ the measure, using it to compile an annual rating for each lawmaker.” [The Hill, 1/4/13]
Club For Growth Told Members To Vote Against $9.7 Billion To Help Flood Victims Of Hurricane Sandy. [CQ: Vote 7, 1/4/13; Club for Growth Scorecard, 2013]
Club For Growth Told Members To Vote Against A Reduced $17 Billion Sandy Aid Package. [CQ; Vote 15, 1/15/13; Club for Growth Scorecard, 2013]
Club For Growth Told Members To Vote Against A Smaller $33 Billion Sandy Aid Package. [CQ; Vote 22, 1/15/13; Club for Growth Scorecard, 2013]
Club For Growth Opposed Passage Of The Sandy Aid Bill. [CQ; Vote 23, 1/15/13; Club for Growth Scorecard, 2013]
Americans For Prosperity Opposed The Omnibus Appropriations Bill That Funded The Disaster Relief Fund. [Press Release, AFP, 1/14/14]
Club For Growth Told Members To Vote Against Omnibus Appropriation That Funded Disaster Relief Program. [Key Vote Alert, Club for Growth, 1/14/14]
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY HAS SPENT NEARLY $2 MILLION SUPPORTING TOM COTTON
February 2014. Americans For Prosperity Spent $606,000 On Attack Ads Against Pryor. [Press Release, AFP, 2/5/14]
March 2014: Americans for Prosperity Spent $700,000 On Attack Ads Against Pryor. [Press Release, AFP, 3/13/14]
April 2014: Americans For Prosperity Spent $540,000 On Ads Attacking Pryor. [Press Release, AFP, 4/1/14]
May 2014: Americans For Prosperity Launched Television Ad Supporting Cotton. [Press Release, AFP, 5/15/14]
CLUB FOR GROWTH HAS SPENT OVER $1 MILLION SUPPORTING TOM COTTON
February 2013: Club For Growth Launched $151,000 Attack Ad Against Pryor. [Arkansas News Bureau, 2/28/13; 48 Hour Independent Expenditure Reports, FEC.gov, 3/1/13]
August 2013: Club For Growth Spent $142,978 On Ads Opposing Mark Pryor [48 Hour Independent Expenditure Reports, FEC.gov, 8/9/13]
October 2013: Club For Growth Spent $109,548 On Television Ads Opposing Pryor. [48 Hour Independent Expenditure Reports, FEC.gov, 10/9/13]
May 2014: Club For Growth Launched Yet Another Attack Ad On Pryor. [Club for Growth, 5/27/14]
2014: Club For Growth’s PAC Has Bundled Over $400,000 For Tom Cotton’s Campaign. According to the Federal Elections Committee, the Club for Growth PAC has collected and transferred over $445,267.00 in earmarked contributions to Cotton’s Senate campaign. [Tom Cotton for Senate, FEC.gov, 2014]
CLUB FOR GROWTH HAS DEEP TIES TO WALL STREET
Center For Responsive Politics: Club For Growth’s Top Industry Donors Were “Misc. Finance” And “Securities & Investments.” According to the Center for Responsive Politics, in the 2014 cycle Club for Growth’s top industry donors were “Misc. Finance” and “Securities & Investments.” [OpenSecrets, accessed 5/29/14]
USA Today: Club For Growth’s Top Donors—Who Fund More Than Half Of The Organization—Are Wall Street Investors. “Ten individuals, led by prominent tech investor Peter Thiel, donated more than half the money that has flowed since Jan. 1, 2011, to Club for Growth Action Fund, a heavyweight anti-tax group that helped elect Sen. Ted Cruz and other conservatives to Congress and now is at the forefront of the battle to gut President Obama's health care law, campaign records show.” The report went on to list Virginia James (an investor), John Childs (the leveraged buyout specialist and CEO of JW Childs Associates) and Jackson Stephens Jr. (who runs a biotechnology firm in Arkansas) as the Club for Growth’s top funders. [USA Today, 9/25/13]
Over Half Of Club For Growth’s Funding Comes From The Finance, Insurance And Real Estate Industry. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 53.7% Club for Growth’s funding in the 2014 cycle came from the finance, insurance and real estate industry. [OpenSecrets, accessed 5/29/14]
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY IS ALSO FUNDED BY FINANCE INDUSTRY DONORS
Major Americans For Prosperity Donors Were Involved In Investment Banking, Wall Street, And The Finance Industry. According to Mother Jones, “Other heavy hitters slated for meetings with the Koch brothers or their representatives included Carl Berg, a Silicon Valley real estate tycoon worth $1.1 billion; Ken Griffin, who founded the hedge fund Citadel and clocks in at No. 103 on the Forbes 400 (net worth, $4.4 billion); John W. Childs, a top private-equity investor; and Fred Klipsch, the chairman of the headphone and speaker company Klipsch Group.” Other donors included “John Griffin: He's the founder of Blue Ridge Capital, a New York hedge fund,” “Richard ‘Ric’ Kayne: He's the founder and chairman of Los Angeles-based investment firm Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors,” and “Dick Weiss: He's the Core Equity senior portfolio manager at Wells Capital Management.” [Mother Jones, 5/2/14]
IF COTTON HAD GOTTEN HIS WAY, THERE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN FUNDS TO HELP ARKANSANS RECOVER FROM NATURAL DISASTERS
Cotton Opposed The Final Sandy Relief Bill, Which Authorized Approximately $50 Billion In Relief. The Pine Bluff Commercial reported in January 2013: “The House extended $50 billion in assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy following debate last week over the amount of aid and whether it should be offset by spending cuts elsewhere. Lawmakers voted 241-180 for a bill that began as $17 billion for the immediate needs of East Coast communities hit by the October storm, then was expanded with $33.7 billion for long term flood control and other projects. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, voted for the final bill. Reps. Tom Cotton , R-Dardenelle, Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, and Steve Womack, R-Rogers, voted against it.” [Pine Bluff Commercial, 1/18/13; HR 152, Vote #23, 1/15/13]
Without Sandy Supplemental Bill, FEMA Disaster Relief Fund Would Have Run Out Of Funds In 2013. At the start of FY 2013, FEMA had $7.8 billion in the Disaster Relief Fund. In FY 2013, as of July 31, 2013, the Disaster Relief Fund had obligated $9 billion. Without supplemental funding, the Disaster Relief Fund would have no funds. [Disaster Relief Fund: Monthly Report, FEMA, 8/5/13]
Sandy Supplemental Bill Increased FEMA Disaster Relief Funds To Cover Natural Disasters For FY2013. The Sandy Supplemental disaster aid legislation appropriated $11.4 billion to the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund in addition to the original FY 2013 appropriation. [Disaster Relief Fund: Monthly Report, FEMA, 8/5/13]
Cotton Voted Against FY14 Omnibus Appropriations. On January 15, 2014, Cotton voted against passage of the FY14 Omnibus Appropriations. He bill would provide about $1.1 trillion in discretionary appropriations in fiscal 2014 for federal departments and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2014 spending bills. [CQ; H.R. 3547, Vote 21, 1/15/14]
FY14 Omnibus Appropriation Allocated $5.6 Billion To FEMA Disaster Relief Fund. According to FEMA, Congress appropriated $5.6 billion to the disaster relief fund for fiscal year 2014. [Disaster Relief Fund: Monthly Report, FEMA, 2/28/14]
FEMA HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER $2 MILLION TO HELP ARKANSAS RECOVER FROM DEADLY TORNADOES
One Month After Tornado Hit Arkansas, FEMA Had Distributed Nearly $2.3 Million To Survivors Of The Storm. Four weeks after a tornado struck central Arkansas, killing 16 people, amid a severe storm that also caused widespread flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it has distributed nearly $2.3 million to survivors. The EF4 tornado killed people in Pulaski, Faulkner and White counties and damaged sections of Mayflower and Vilonia. More than 5 inches of rainfall in Randolph County washed out county roads and bridges. Individual assistance from FEMA is available to residents affected by the storms in Pulaski, Faulkner, White and Randolph counties. Public assistance for governmental agencies and nonprofit entities is available in Faulkner, Cleburne, Independence, Jackson, Izard, Sharp, Lawrence, Randolph, White, Fulton and Clay counties. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/26/14]
HEADLINE—$2.3 Million From FEMA Goes To Tornado Survivors [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/26/14]
One Month After Tornado Hit Arkansas, FEMA Had Approved $2.5 Million In Low-Interest Disaster Assistance Loans To Survivors Of The Storm. “FEMA said it has also approved $2.5 million in low-interest disaster assistance loans so far, and disaster assistance survey teams have surveyed 1,800 homes. ‘With everyone pulling together, Arkansas will continue along the road to recovery,’ FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton said in a news release.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/26/14]
KARK: More Than 650 People In Faulkner County Received Federal Assistance From FEMA. “On Sunday morning, FEMA reported more than 650 people who live in Faulkner County were already receiving federal financial assistance. The agency reports 655 people have received payments totaling $725,000. That figure will continue to rise throughout the next few weeks. At this point, only Faulkner County has been declared a federal disaster area. That means only tornado victims in that county are eligible for federal financial help.” [KARK, 5/1/14]
HEADLINE—650 Tornado Victims Receiving Assistance From FEMA [KARK, 5/1/14]
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund Funded “Almost $2.2 Million To Uninsured Or Underinsured Residents Of Polk County” In Addition To Another $2.2 Million “In Public Assistance Funds” After A Tornado Came Through Mena, AR. “Following an April 9, 2009, tornado that brought death and destruction to Mena, the Federal Emergency Management Agency funded disaster relief of almost $2.2 million to uninsured or underinsured residents of Polk County. Another $2.2 million in low-interest loans administered through the Small Business Administration funded private rebuilding in the area. FEMA also provided another $2.2 million in public assistance funds, requiring a 25 percent local match, to pay for debris removal, cleanup and remediation of public property and facilities.” [SW Times Record, 5/20/12]
It's very important we make sure Senator Mark Pryor (D. AR) defeats Cotton in November. Click here to donate and get involved with his campaign: