Tucson, Ariz. – Today, Giffords for Congress is releasing a new TV ad, “Backing Up Our Veterans.” The ad features U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brian Kolfage discussing how Gabrielle helped him find the medical care he needed after he was severely wounded in Iraq.

“Congresswoman Giffords truly cares about veterans, and she backs it up,” Kolfage says in the ad.

The ad begins airing tomorrow in the Tucson media market.

As the only person in Congress married to someone on active duty in the military and the first person from Southern Arizona to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, Gabrielle understands the pressures facing military families.

Since taking office, Gabrielle has helped thousands of Southern Arizona veterans like Kolfage obtain the care they earned. She has recovered over $1 million dollars in VA and other benefits owed to these brave Arizona heroes.

Gabrielle is a strong voice fighting for the health care and education that our Southern Arizona veterans need. She voted for the largest VA funding increase in history and for resources for the VA to provide specialized care for 21st Century war injuries, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Gabrielle helped push through the Post-9/11 GI Bill of Rights so our servicemen and women – or their spouses and children – can afford four years of college when they return home.

At a press conference held yesterday in Tucson, Gabrielle announced her endorsement by the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC. The VFW is the largest veterans organization in the nation with more than 2.1 million members.

Giffords was also endorsed by brave Southern Arizona heroes, including General John Wickham (Ret.), who served as U.S. Army Chief of Staff under President Ronald Reagan, and USMC General John Cronin (Ret.), former Commanding General of the 4th Wing and former Commanding General of Marine Corps Base Quantico. Read more about these endorsements here: http://bit.ly/aabciu.

Transcript of “Backing Up Our Veterans”

[Brian Kolfage]
It was September 11th, 2004 and I walked out of my tent. A large blast just threw me to the ground.

[Text Graphic]
Iraq War Veteran Brian Kolfage

[Brian Kolfage]
I’d been hit by a rocket. They were trying to stop all the bleeding. Normal people don’t survive that.

[Brian Kolfage]
I met Congresswoman Giffords right after I moved here. She just was helpful and caring in trying to figure out if I had any transitional things I needed to take care of – paperwork, anything I may be facing.

[Brian Kolfage]
Congresswoman Giffords truly cares about veterans and she backs it up.

[Text Graphic]
Gabrielle Giffords helped pass the Wounded Warriors Act to improve veterans’ care.

[Gabrielle Giffords]
I’m Gabrielle Giffords and I’m honored to approve this message.

Gabrielle Giffords is a third generation Southern Arizonan and the only person in Congress with an active duty military spouse. Gabrielle is not like other politicians. She takes an independent view on the issues and was rated Arizona’s most moderate member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009. She’s voted against a Congressional pay raise every time one has come up, and she doesn’t make earmark requests for campaign contributors. Most importantly, Gabrielle stands up for Southern Arizona by working across the aisle to secure the border, protect our military and veterans and create jobs by investing in solar energy.

###

Kelly’s plan to privatize Social Security would gamble seniors’ retirement security in the market.

Tucson, Ariz. – Giffords for Congress today released a new television ad, “A Terrible Gamble.” The ad features Betty Evans, a retired nurse from Tucson, discussing the dangers of Jesse Kelly’s plans to privatize Social Security.

The ad begins running on Tucson television stations tonight.

“I think putting your Social Security money in the stock market would be a terrible gamble,” says Evans in the ad. “I would be very frightened. Jesse Kelly and all the people trying to get rid of Social Security and Medicare need to walk in somebody else’s shoes for a while. We certainly don’t need someone who is more interested in greed and not interested in the rest of the population. Social Security should be a guarantee.”

At Monday night’s AZ-08 debate, Kelly reiterated his commitment to privatizing Social Security. He has repeatedly called to “eliminate” and “phase out” Social Security. At the debate, Kelly again failed to explain how current retirees’ benefits would be met if younger workers stop fully paying into the system.

For 75 years, Social Security has been a bedrock promise between generations. Nine out of 10 Americans over the age of 65 receive Social Security benefits. Without Social Security, half of America’s seniors would live in poverty.

Gabrielle is committed to protecting Social Security, including opposing leaders in her own party who want to raise the retirement age. Gabrielle will never vote to privatize the program.

Gabrielle has been endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, an organization dedicated to fighting for working families and seniors. In their letter, they praised her understanding of and support for “the critical roles that Social Security and Medicare play in the retirement and health security of our nation’s older citizens and their families.”

Gabrielle Giffords is a third generation Southern Arizonan and the only person in Congress with an active duty military spouse. Gabrielle is not like other politicians. She takes an independent view on the issues and was rated Arizona’s most moderate member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009. She’s voted against a Congressional pay raise every time one has come up, and she doesn’t make earmark requests for campaign contributors. Most importantly, Gabrielle stands up for Southern Arizona by working across the aisle to secure the border, protect our military and veterans and create jobs by investing in solar energy.

###

Tucson, Ariz. – Today, Giffords for Congress is releasing a new TV ad, “Her Heart is with Small Business.” The ad features Southern Arizona small business owner Dot Kret discussing Gabrielle’s strong support for small business.

“She could relate to what I was going through as a small business owner,” Kret says. “Because Congresswoman Giffords did run a business, her heart is with small business.”

The ad begins airing tonight in the Tucson media market.

A former small business owner herself, Gabrielle knows the challenges facing Southern Arizonans firsthand. She has a strong record of supporting small businesses and is working hard to put Southern Arizona’s economy back on track:

• She voted for tax cuts to small business owners to help them afford the cost of operating their business.
• She helped pushed through the HIRE Act to cut taxes for businesses that hire unemployed workers, creating new jobs and helping small businesses expand.
• She authored the Solar Manufacturing Advancement Act, which provides a 30 percent tax credit for investments in plants or machinery to manufacture renewable energy technologies.
• She sponsored the Solar Technology Roadmap Act that that serves as a guide for solar research and authorizes $2.5 billion for the Department of Energy Solar Energy Technology program.

###

Transcript of “Her Heart is with Small Business”

[Dot Kret]
When she and I first met, she could relate to what I was going through as a small business owner,

[Text Graphic]
Dot Kret
Small Business Owner
Tucson, AZ

[Dot Kret]
because Congresswoman Giffords did run a business. Her heart is with small business.

[Voice Over]
Having run a business and met a payroll, Gabrielle Giffords understands the struggles workers and small businesses face.

[Text Graphic]
Gabrielle Giffords
Understands Small Business

[Voice Over]
That’s why she voted for tax cuts for small business and the middle class,

[Text Graphic]
Tax Cuts
Small Business
Middle Class

[Voice Over]
And new incentives for solar to create jobs.
[Text Graphic]
New Incentives
Create Jobs

[Dot Kret]
She understands that small businesses are the key to job creation.

[Gabrielle Giffords]
I’m Gabrielle Giffords and I approve this message.

Gabrielle Giffords is a third generation Southern Arizonan and the only person in Congress with an active duty military spouse. Gabrielle is not like other politicians. She takes an independent view on the issues and was rated Arizona’s most moderate member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009. She’s voted against a Congressional pay raise every time one has come up, and she doesn’t make earmark requests for campaign contributors. Most importantly, Gabrielle stands up for Southern Arizona by working across the aisle to secure the border, protect our military and veterans and create jobs by investing in solar energy.

###

Tucson, Ariz. -- Today, Giffords for Congress released a new TV ad “Absolutely None,” highlighting the dangers of Jesse Kelly’s plan to cut more than $1 billion dollars more from Arizona schools.

The ad begins airing in the Tucson media market tonight.

Even as Arizona schools struggle under the weight of bigger class sizes, teacher layoffs and the elimination of full-day kindergarten in many districts, Kelly has repeatedly expressed opposition to any federal support for Arizona public schools and called for eliminating the Department of Education. This would deny Arizona schools and students more than $1 billion dollars every year in critically needed funding.

Kelly’s plan would also eliminate millions of dollars in federal student loans, such as Pell Grants. This would make it even harder for families trying to make ends meet to send their kids to college.

Gabrielle Giffords knows that Arizona’s most important resource -- and our most important long-term economic investment -- is our children. She voted to bring home $1.6 billion to Arizona schools last year alone. And this summer she voted for emergency funding to save more than 3,300 Arizona teachers’ jobs in a bill that was paid for by closing tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas.

She is a champion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education programs and voted in favor of the America COMPETES Act to provide over $33 billion in funding to STEM education.

Gabrielle also supported the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (HR 3221). This bill, which became law in March, reforms the system of federal student loans to save taxpayers $87 billion. It invests $77 billion of those savings back into education, including increasing the maximum Pell Grant from $5,350 in 2009 to $6,900 in 2019 and keeping interest rates low on subsidized federal student loans. It directs $10 billion back to the Treasury to reduce entitlement spending.

Gabrielle Giffords is a third generation Southern Arizonan and the only person in Congress with an active duty military spouse. Gabrielle is not like other politicians. She takes an independent view on the issues and was rated Arizona’s most moderate member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009. She’s voted against a Congressional pay raise every time one has come up, and she doesn’t make earmark requests for campaign contributors. Most importantly, Gabrielle stands up for Southern Arizona by working across the aisle to secure the border, protect our military and veterans and create jobs by investing in solar energy.

###

Transcript of “Absolutely None”

[Gabrielle Giffords]

I’m Gabrielle Giffords and I approve this message.

[Jesse Kelly]

I can tell you what I think the federal government’s role in education is, and that is none. Absolutely none.

[Text Graphic]

Jesse Kelly

Tucson Meet & Greet

8/17/10

[Voice Over]

Wait a second.

After record cuts to our schools, Jesse Kelly would eliminate the Department of Education,

[Text Graphic]

Jesse Kelly

“The entire Dept. of Education can go away”

Kelly, Northwest Republican debate, 2/11/10

[Voice Over]

and cut nearly a billion dollars more from Arizona schools;

[Text Graphic]

Jesse Kelly

Cut $1 billion from Arizona schools

(AZ Dept. of Education 2009 Annual Report)

[Voice Over]

forcing teacher layoffs and overcrowded classrooms;

[Text Graphic]

Jesse Kelly

Teacher Layoffs

Overcrowded Classrooms

(AZ Dept. of Education 2009 Annual Report)

[Voice Over]

eliminating student loans and college scholarships.

[Text Graphic]

Eliminate Student Loans

Jesse Kelly

Dept. of Education, Federal Student Aid

[Jesse Kelly]

None. Absolutely none.

[Text Graphic]

“none… absolutely none.”

[Voice Over]

Jesse Kelly is a risk we just can’t afford.

Tucson, Ariz. -- Today, Giffords for Congress is releasing a new TV ad, “He’s not looking out for my family.”

In the ad, Southern Arizona mom Rachel McMenamin describes how Jesse Kelly’s proposed 23% national sales tax on everyday items like food, gas and medicine would devastate her family.

“We’re really struggling at this point to make ends meet,” she says. “We could never afford to pay 23% more on groceries or gas.”

The ad begins airing tomorrow in the Tucson media market. A transcript of the ad is pasted below.

Jesse Kelly’s proposed 23% national sales tax would give a big tax break to millionaires and corporations that ship jobs overseas while raising taxes on working Southern Arizona families.

The Kelly tax on everyday items like groceries, gas and medicine would raise the overall tax burden paid by 80 percent of Arizonans by an average of more than $3,000 each year. At the same time, it would cut taxes for the wealthiest five percent of income earners by an average of more than $40,000 each year and eliminate corporate income taxes altogether.

While Kelly has recently tried to backpedal from his support of the so-called “Fair Tax,” he endorsed the 23 percent national sales tax enthusiastically for months.

Kelly reiterated his support for this abusive tax in this week’s Tucson Weekly cover story. When asked by a local senior if he supported the proposal, he is quoted as responding with a resounding, “Yes Ma’am.”

TRANSCRIPT of “He’s not looking out for my family”

[Rachel McMenamin]
We’re really struggling at this point to make ends meet. We could never afford to pay 23% more on groceries or gas.

[Text Graphic]
Rachel McMenamin
Tucson, AZ

[Rachel McMenamin]
Jesse Kelly’s sales tax is going to hurt my family and other families in the middle-class.

[Text Graphic]
Jesse Kelly’s 23% Sales Tax

[Rachel McMenamin]
People like Jesse Kelly are going to be supporting corporations over people.

[Text Graphic]
Jesse Kelly
Eliminate Corporate Income Tax

[Text Graphic]
Jesse Kelly
23% Tax on You

[Rachel McMenamin]
He’s not looking out for me. He’s not looking out for my family.

[Rachel McMenamin]
We could not afford Jesse Kelly’s tax. We absolutely couldn’t.

[Gabrielle Giffords]
I’m Gabrielle Giffords and I approve this message.

Gabrielle Giffords is a third generation Southern Arizonan and the only person in Congress with an active duty military spouse. Gabrielle is not like other politicians. She takes an independent view on the issues and was rated Arizona’s most moderate member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009. She’s voted against a Congressional pay raise every time one has come up, and she doesn’t make earmark requests for campaign contributors. Most importantly, Gabrielle stands up for Southern Arizona by working across the aisle to secure the border, protect our military and veterans and create jobs by investing in solar energy.
###

Today marks just 39 days until the Election.

As one of Gabrielle’s supporters, you have helped to build our campaign and we want you to know what our goals are and how we are going to achieve them in the final weeks leading up to the vote.

So last night our campaign manager Rodd McLeod recorded a short “State of the Race” update taking you inside our plans to win on November 2nd.

You and I both know there is a lot at stake this election. Gabrielle’s opponent, Jesse Kelly, has dangerous ideas for Arizona and for our country, including eliminating Social Security, corporate income taxes and even the minimum wage.

As you will see in the video, our targets are high. We need you and thousands of others like you to double-down on your investment in Gabrielle over the next 39 days. Working together to meet these goals, we will win in November.

Let’s give it all we’ve got!

Melissa Blaustein
New Media Director
Giffords for Congress