Contact:
Tim Buckley
617-523-5005

Maryland Home Is Where The Cash Is For Markey

Markey Reaps MD Cash, Little Support In Malden, Returns The Actual Chevy Chase’s Check

Boston- Today The Boston Herald reported that the “Congressman From Maryland,” Ed Markey received nearly seven times the financial support from his hometown of Chevy Chase, Maryland compared to Malden, Massachusetts. Adding to the embarrassment, Markey’s campaign rejected a contribution from the actor, Chevy Chase claiming he never signed the check.

“These embarrassing numbers are proof that Ed Markey has the support of his real hometown in the Washington D.C. beltway, but not the people of Malden that he put in his rear view mirror decades ago,” said Kirsten Hughes MassGOP Chairman. “In addition to these contributions, his votes to kill jobs in the fishing and medical device industries, essential Massachusetts job creators, show just how disconnected he really is from this state.”

Also today, shocking video of Chevy Chase finding out Ed Markey returned his check.

Ed Markey feels Chevy Chase love
BOSTON HERALD
By Hillary Chabot and Joe Battenfeld
5/21/13

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2013/05/ed_markey_feels_chevy_chase_s_love

Edward J. Markey may deny Chevy Chase, Md., is his home but the tony suburb has been very neighborly to his Senate campaign, pitching in more than $60,000 in big bucks donations — more than six times what he got from his Malden hometown, reports show.

Markey has sought to downplay his million-dollar residence outside Washington, but the Herald has learned he also has another Chevy Chase campaign connection. The Democratic congressman got a $500 contribution from the actor Chevy Chase — which his campaign promptly returned, according to campaign finance reports.

“Don’t ask me …I have no idea. It’s a surprise to me that anybody returned any money to me,” the former “Saturday Night Live” comedian and star of National Lampoon’s “Vacation” movies told the Herald in a phone interview. “Maybe (Markey) thought it was a joke. That does happen to me a lot.”

A spokesman for Markey’s campaign said the $500 check from Chase was refunded because he didn’t sign it, and did not return a follow-up letter asking him to verify the donation.
The Democratic Senate nominee has long been criticized for being out of touch with Malden, and has owned his Chevy Chase home for more than 20 years.

A Herald review of Markey’s campaign finance records shows that 50 residents of Chevy Chase, Md., gave the Democratic congressman $61,260 in itemized donations of more than $200.

But just eight Malden residents gave their hometown candidate big money donations, totaling only $4,300. In addition, Markey got another 60 smaller donations from Malden, bringing the congressman’s hometown haul to a whopping $9,821, according to figures provided by the campaign.

(Click here for the full story)

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Associated Press

5/13/13

Contact:
Tim Buckley
617-523-5005

Must Be Nice:
Markey Paid No Fees On Bounced Checks, Did Not Monitor Balance

Boston- The Boston Globe reported today that “the Congressman from Maryland,” Ed Markey paid zero fees when he bounced 92 checks and did not bother to check the balance on his account.

“Typical of a career politician, Ed Markey got a sweetheart deal from an exclusive bank to avoid the fees that working families have to pay when they overdraw their accounts,” said MassGOP Chairman Kirsten Hughes. “Ed Markey showed just how out of touch he is when he admitted he didn’t bother to look at his account balance. After voting to raise his own pay six times it is no wonder Markey wasn’t concerned, his account was brimming with taxpayer dollars.”

GOP group hits Markey for ’90s House bank scandal
The Boston Globe
By Josh Miller
5/13/13

A new web video from the National Republican Senatorial Committee hits Senate Democratic hopeful Edward J. Markey for his involvement along with more than 300 other members in a check-bouncing scandal more than 20 years ago.

Although the video is currently not backed by any money online or on TV, the fifty-second video gives a window into a potential line of attack Republicans may use against the longtime congressman in paid advertisements in the run-up to the June 25 special election.

The House bank allowed members, who got paid at the end of the month, to overdraft their accounts without penalty.
…

“Had I more closely monitored my daily balance, I would not have been misled by the monthly statements from the bank that always indicated that I had a positive balance,” Markey said in a statement to the Globe in April, 1992. Markey wrote $47,780 in overdrafts, according to that 1992 Globe article.

This morning, a spokesman and a spokeswoman for Markey’s campaign did not return requests for comment.

(Click here for the full story)

Another Day, Another Failed Attack And Distract Tactic From Markey

Background:

Ed Markey was criticized for going negative first and for using Osama Bin Laden’s image to smear his opponent.

“Still whining about his opponent’s refusal to take that phony-baloney ‘People’s Pledge,’ U.S. Rep. Ed Markey is first out of the box with a scurrilous Web video attacking Republican U.S. Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez. (Boston Herald Editorial Staff, “Markey goes negative,” Boston Herald, 5/8/13)

Ed Markey voted to kill Massachusetts jobs.

In June 2012, Markey Voted Against Repealing The Medical Device Tax. “Passage of the bill that would repeal an excise tax of 2.3 percent on medical devices created under the 2010 health care overhaul. It also would repeal the overhaul law’s restrictions on using tax-preferred accounts to pay for over-the-counter drugs and allow individuals to recoup up to $500 of unused funds that are left in their flexible-spending arrangements (FSAs) after the end of a plan year. It also would make individuals who receive subsidies to help buy coverage in the state insurance exchanges liable for the full amount of any overpayments.” (H.R. 436, CQ Vote #361: Passed 270-146: R 233-0; D 37-146, 6/7/12, Markey Voted Nay)

The Medical Device Tax Could Jeopardize About 24,000 Massachusetts Jobs and 43,000 Jobs Nationwide. “Lobbyists for medical device makers say implementation of the tax could jeopardize about 43,000 jobs nationwide in a $64.7 billion industry. They say companies have shed about 6,000 jobs in the past year, some in anticipation of the tax, while others might scuttle expansion plans or cut back on research that can lead to medical breakthroughs.” (Bob Salsberg, “Medical Device Makers: Jan. 1 Tax Could Cost Jobs,” The Associated Press, 12/28/12)

Ed Markey voted to increase taxes for nearly every American, a move President Obama called “unacceptable” and said would cost “over a million jobs.”

In 2010, Markey Voted Against The Tax Cut Compromise. “Levin, D-Mich., motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill that would extend the 2001- and 2003-enacted tax cuts for all taxpayers for two years and revive the lapsed estate tax, setting the tax rate at 35 percent on estates worth more than $5 million for 2011 and 2012. It also would extend unemployment insurance benefits for 13 months and cut the employee portion of the Social Security tax by 2 percentage points.” (H.R. 4853, CQ Vote #647: Motion agreed to, thus clearing the bill for the president 277-148: R 138-36; D 139-112, 12/17/10, Markey Voted Nay)

President Obama Said Failing To Extend The Tax Cuts Could Cost The County “Well Over A Million Jobs.” “In his weekly address on the radio and the Internet, Obama said that failing to extend the tax cuts could cost the nation ‘well over a million jobs’ and families around the nation would see their taxes increase on Jan. 1.” (Nicholas Johnston, “Obama Says Tax Cut Compromise ‘Good Deal’ For Americans, Will Boost Growth,” Bloomberg, 12/11/10)

Obama Said It Was “Unacceptable” To Allow Tax Rates To “Go Up For Just About Everyone In Our Country.” “‘If Congress doesn’t act, tax rates will automatically go up for just about everyone in our country,’ he said. ‘That’s unacceptable to me.’” (Nicholas Johnston, “Obama Says Tax Cut Compromise ‘Good Deal’ For Americans, Will Boost Growth,” Bloomberg, 12/11/10)

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MassGOP Delivers Special Interest, Telecom and PAC Checks To Markey

Boston- Today, the MassGOP delivered three oversized checks to 36 year Congressman Ed Markey to remind him that he has taken over $5M in campaign contributions from special interests, political action committees and the telecommunications industry whose interests he regulates in Congress. As the Boston Herald and a Boston Globe columnist pointed out, Markey’s broken record on the People’s Pledge is hypocritical and a self serving political ploy to boost his listless campaign.

“Ed Markey has been in congress so long it is possible he forgot about the millions he has taken from outside groups looking to influence his vote so these checks should serve as a clear reminder,” said Tim Buckley MassGOP spokesman. “Ed Markey’s hypocritical People’s Pledge stunt is a distraction from his long record of voting to kill Massachusetts jobs, weaken our country’s defenses and raise taxes repeatedly.”

Background:

Ed Markey Is Weak On Terrorism.

Ed Markey Opposed Wiretaps For Suspected Terrorists. “Passage of the bill that would authorize electronic surveillance of communications by suspected terrorists for specified periods without first obtaining approval from the secret court established by the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Warrantless surveillance could be conducted for up to 90 days if an armed or terrorist attack against the United States has occurred, or if there is an ‘imminent threat.’ The president would have to notify congressional Intelligence committees and the FISA court of such surveillance. The bill would extend the amount of time intelligence agencies can conduct warrantless electronic surveillance in ‘emergency situations’ before seeking FISA court approval to seven days.” (H.R. 5825, CQ Vote #502: Passed 232-191: R 214-13; D 18-177; I 0-1, 9/28/06, Markey Voted Nay)

Markey Voted Against A Bill Creating The Department Of Homeland Security. “Passage of the bill that would consolidate 22 agencies into a new cabinet-level Homeland Security Department charged with protecting domestic security. Merged agencies in the new 170,000-employee department would include the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Customs Service, the Secret Service and the Transportation Security Administration. It would split the Immigration and Naturalization Service between immigration enforcement and citizen services and put both under the new department. It would give the president the ability to exempt some employees from collective bargaining units for national security reasons. It also would give the department the ability to make changes to personnel rules but would establish a process for unions to object to and negotiate on those changes.” (H.R. 5710, CQ Vote #477: Passed 299-121: R 212-6; D 87-114; I 0-1, 11/13/02, Markey Voted Nay)

In 2005, Markey Voted Against A Bill That Would Have Made Permanent Several Provisions Of The PATRIOT Act That Were Set To Expire. “Adoption of the conference report on the bill that would make permanent 14 of the 16 provisions of the anti-terrorism law known as the Patriot Act set to expire at the end of the year, and extend for four years the two provisions on access to business and other records and ‘roving’ wiretaps. It would permanently extend provisions that expand law enforcement’s power to investigate suspected terrorists. The measure would allow recipients of ‘national security letters’ demanding information to consult with a lawyer and to challenge it in court. It also would permit ‘sneak and peek’ searches and seizures of property, and would allow a delay of up to 30 days for notifying individuals of such searches.” (H.R. 3199, CQ Vote #627: Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 251-174: R 207-18; D 44-155; I 0-1, 12/14/05, Markey Voted Nay)

Ed Markey Voted To Kill Medical Device Industry Jobs In Massachusetts.

In June 2012, Markey Voted Against Repealing The Medical Device Tax. “Passage of the bill that would repeal an excise tax of 2.3 percent on medical devices created under the 2010 health care overhaul. It also would repeal the overhaul law’s restrictions on using tax-preferred accounts to pay for over-the-counter drugs and allow individuals to recoup up to $500 of unused funds that are left in their flexible-spending arrangements (FSAs) after the end of a plan year. It also would make individuals who receive subsidies to help buy coverage in the state insurance exchanges liable for the full amount of any overpayments.” (H.R. 436, CQ Vote #361: Passed 270-146: R 233-0; D 37-146, 6/7/12, Markey Voted Nay)

The Medical Device Tax Could Jeopardize About 24,000 Massachusetts Jobs and 43,000 Jobs Nationwide. “Lobbyists for medical device makers say implementation of the tax could jeopardize about 43,000 jobs nationwide in a $64.7 billion industry. They say companies have shed about 6,000 jobs in the past year, some in anticipation of the tax, while others might scuttle expansion plans or cut back on research that can lead to medical breakthroughs.” (Bob Salsberg, “Medical Device Makers: Jan. 1 Tax Could Cost Jobs,” The Associated Press, 12/28/12)

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Voter Turnout Data Show Markey “Failing Spectacularly,” “Glaring Weakness”

“Town-by-town primary turnout numbers show Markey failing, sometimes spectacularly, to turn out the constituencies he will need the most when he faces Gomez in June.”

Markey’s murky path forward

Paul McMorrow, Commonwealth Magazine

May 3, 2013

http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/News-and-Features/Online-exclusives/2013/Spring/012-Markeys-murky-path-forward.aspx

But a closer look at Tuesday’s primary results reveals glaring weaknesses underpinning Markey’s seemingly strong primary showing.

Markey topped Lynch by 14 points on Tuesday. But the returns from Tuesday appear to confirm the overwhelming narrative that hung over the Senate primary campaign: that most voters tuned out a terribly uninteresting political contest. Statewide turnout in the Democratic contest Tuesday was 7.6 percent lower than it was for the 2009 Senate special election primary held to fill Ted Kennedy’s former seat. Forty-four thousand more voters showed up on a bleak December day in 2009 to cast votes for Kennedy’s would-be successors, than showed up on a warm April day to vote in the Markey-Lynch contest.

…

But they’re also an indication that Markey, a long-serving congressman who went out of his way to clear the field of competitors months ago, has struggled to excite the Democratic base he laid claim to when he and the party’s leadership began elbowing potential candidates out of the race in December. Putting an exclamation mark on that point is a post-primary poll released on Friday by Public Policy Polling showing Markey up by only four points on Republican nominee Gabriel Gomez.

Town-by-town primary turnout numbers show Markey failing, sometimes spectacularly, to turn out the constituencies he will need the most when he faces Gomez in June.

…

Markey did best in towns where apathy ruled the day and turnout was low. This does not appear to be a winning formula for a candidate with a reputation for failing to excite voters’ passions.

…

Still, the low turnout for Markey in traditionally liberal strongholds during the primary is troubling. Suddenly, a candidate who hasn’t faced a real fight in decades has a lot of work ahead of him.

(Click here for the full story)

Phone: 617 249 4113

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Against $500 M Tax Hike Before They Were For It: 25 Dems Flip-Flop On Budget Vote

Boston- Last night, every Democrat in the House supported a state budget which relies on $500 million in new taxes, yet 25 members voted against this same tax hike plan just weeks ago. While it is not known what changed about the tax hike that even some Democrats called bad for the middle class, the Boston Globe pointed out that fear of retribution from party bosses may have spurred the change of heart:

“House members this week were combing line items for evidence that any colleagues who voted against DeLeo’s original transportation bill had faced retribution in the form of reduced appropriations for their districts or priorities.” (Jim O’Sullivan, House approves $34 billion spending plan,” The Boston Globe, 4/25/13)

“These 25 Democrats flip-flopping and forcing a half billion dollar tax hike on Massachusetts when state spending is increasing while families are taking home less is sadly par for the course,” said Kirsten Hughes, MassGOP Chairman. “These hypocritical Democrats are now responsible for a bloated and irresponsible budget financed with a massive tax hike during a bad economy.”

25 House Democrats Opposed Speaker DeLeo’s $500 million tax hike plan:

Denise Andrews – Orange
James Arciero -Westport
Brian Ashe – Longmeadow
Bruce Ayers – Quincy
James Cantwell – Marshfield
Nick Collins – South Boston
Josh Cutler – Duxbury
Stephen DiNatale – Fitchburg
Diana DiZoglio – North Andover
James Dwyer – Woburn
Tricia Farley – Bouvier-Pittsfield
John Fresolo – Worcester
Sean Garballey – Arlington
Colleen Garry – Dracut
Danielle Gregoire – Marlborough
Jon Hecht – Watertown
Paul Heroux – Attleboro
Mary Keefe – Worcester
James Miceli – Wilmington
Thomas Petrolati – Ludlow
Denise Provost-Somerville
Dave Rogers – Cambridge
Dennis Rosa – Leominster
Carl Sciortino – Somerville
David Sullivan – Fall River
Walter Timilty – Milton
Jonathan Zlotnik – Gardner

(Roll Call: House, No. 3415)

Even Democrats Said The Plan Will Hurt Middle Class Families. “Patrick on Thursday vowed to veto the plan put forward by House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray, calling it too small to address the state’s needs, saying it hits middle class taxpayers, and labeling it a “pretend fix” to a problem of underfunded infrastructure that has been neglected for years.” (Matt Murphy and Michael, “DEMPSEY: ‘HIGHLY UNLIKELY’ THAT HOUSE WILL GO ABOVE $500 MIL ON NEW TAXES,” State House News Service 4/5/13)

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Contact:
Tim Buckley
617-523 5005

MassGOP Calls On Markey, Lynch To Denounce DNC’s Marathon “Political Ploy”

Boston- After The Boston Herald reported that the Democratic National Committee used the Boston Marathon bombing for a “crass political ploy” to data mine, MassGOP Chairman Kirsten Hughes called on Congressmen Steven Lynch and Ed Markey to denounce the tactic.

“Ed Markey and Steven Lynch saw firsthand the devastation of the bombings and the exemplary actions of our state’s government leaders, public safety officials and citizens,” said Kirsten Hughes MassGOP Chairman. “Lynch and Markey know it is wrong to use the marathon bombing for political gain and it is up to them to tell their national party that.”

The Boston Herald:

“It took only one week for a partisan group — in this case the Democratic Party — to turn the terror bombings in Boston into a crass political ploy.

“Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was behind this tasteless tactic, sending out an email and tweet asking people to sign a supposed ‘thank you note’ to the first responders. That would be nice except for the fact that in order to “sign” the note, you have to give the Democratic party your email account and ZIP code.”

…

“This is a classic ‘data mining’ technique that candidates and political organizations use to target voters to raise money. The thank you note even includes a disclaimer saying the DNC can use the information they get for any political purposes or even advertising.

“Pretty clear, right? Not 
apparently to Democrats, who not only refused to apologize, but actually defended the blatant fundraising pitch while blaming Republicans for ‘politicizing’ the issue by criticizing Democrats.” (Joe Battenfeld, “Political ploy masked as gratitude? No thank you,” The Boston Herald, 4/23/13)

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