On the Issues, Every #PASEN Democrat Will Beat Toomey in the General Election

PITTSBURGH, PA — While our three strong Democratic candidates for United States Senate engaged in a spirited debate on the issues tonight, it’s important to remember that each of them would provide a winning contrast with Pat Toomey in the general election. Katie McGinty, John Fetterman and Joe Sestak are all committed to sensible solutions on comprehensive immigration reform, improving education, enacting criminal justice reform, raising the minimum wage, and protecting our environment.

What our candidates showed tonight is this: the argument against Pat Toomey makes itself.

Why?

  • Toomey opposes comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform

  • Toomey voted against funding for rural education

  • Toomey disparages police brutality protesters in his advertisements

  • Toomey voted against increasing the minimum wage four times

  • Toomey believes the natural gas industry should not be regulated by the federal government

“The contrast could not be more clear — Pennsylvania’s Democratic nominee for the US Senate will represent the values of our voters,” said Preston Maddock, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. “Pat Toomey not only has nothing to show for his years in Washington, but his views for the future are well outside the mainstream. Tonight’s debate proves that Toomey has an uphill battle against a fierce Democratic opponent no matter whom prevails on April 26.”

BACKGROUND:

TOOMEY VOTED AGAINST COMPREHENSIVE BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION REFORM

Toomey Voted Against Final Passage Of Bipartisan Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Including Incremental Path To Citizenship. In June 2013, Toomey voted against: “Passage of a bill that would overhaul U.S. immigration policies, create an incremental path to citizenship for most illegal immigrants in the country and institute new border security measures. It would require the Homeland Security Department to complete certain security measures, including 700 miles of fencing along the southern border, nationwide use of its E-Verify system and a biometric entry-exit system at all international airports and seaports, before illegal immigrants who receive provisional legal status can become permanent residents. It would make available $42.5 billion for additional border control agents, the 700-mile fence and monitoring technology, such as cameras and drones. It would create visa programs for agricultural and low-skilled workers and qualified entrepreneurs, and increase temporary visas available for high-skilled workers from 65,000 to 115,000 annually. The bill would create a program to allocate green cards, up to 250,000 each year, on a merit-based system, with consideration given to family ties in the United States and the country’s economic needs. It would require DHS to annually audit its E-Verify system and begin removal proceedings for at least 90 percent of people who stay beyond the duration of their visas. It also would prevent immigrants from claiming Social Security benefits for work they did while unauthorized and bar non-citizens from receiving public assistance.” The bill passed by 68-32. [CQ, 6/27/13, S.744, Vote 168, 6/27/13]

·       Toomey Voted Against An Immigration Bill That Provided A Path To Citizenship For Millions Of Unauthorized Immigrants. “Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey attended the event, as well as the fifth-grade class of Our Lady of Peace School in Clarks Summit. Toomey told the crowd how important it was for the children to witness ‘so quintessentially an American moment.’ After the ceremony, Toomey said he would like to see the Congress complete immigration reform, though he thinks making small changes would be more effective than a complete overhaul. Toomey voted no on Senate bill 744, an immigration bill the Senate passed in June that would, among other changes, provide a path to citizenship for millions of unauthorized immigrants.” [Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice, 10/26/13]

·       Toomey Did Not Support The Immigration Bill That Provided Undocumented Immigrants A Pathway To Legal Resident Status. “The coalition, which includes the region’s major Jewish organizations such as HIAS Pennsylvania and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, sent letters on Monday to Pennsylvania’s senators, Republican Pat Toomey and Democrat Bob Casey, urging the lawmakers to support the legislation that provides undocumented immigrants a pathway to legal resident status. The legislation moved closer to passage that evening when the Senate voted on an amendment to the bill to spend about $40 billion over the next decade on border security. Casey voted for the measure, which received a 67-27 vote; Toomey voted against it.  […] Toomey voted against the amendment because it ‘does not solve the fundamental problem of our current immigration policy,’ he said in a statement following the vote, adding that he does not expect to support the immigration reform bill. ‘Absent substantive changes – which do not appear possible in the Senate at this point – I am unlikely to support the underlying bill,’ the statement read.” [Jewish Exponent, 6/27/13]

Toomey Opposed The Committee Substitute Amendment That Became Bipartisan Immigration Bill. In June 2013, Toomey voted against: “Committee-reported substitute amendment that would overhaul U.S. immigration policies, offer a path to citizenship for most illegal immigrants in the country and institute new border security measures. It would require the Homeland Security Department to establish a biometric entry-exit system at the nation’s 10 busiest airports within two years of enactment and annually audit its E-Verify system. It also would require the department to notify federal law enforcement, intelligence and national security agencies of individuals who overstay their visas. It would increase temporary visas available for high-skilled workers from 65,000 to 115,000 annually, with a cap of 180,000.” The substitute amendment passed by 68-32. [CQ, 6/27/13; Committee-Reported Substitute Amendment to S.744, Vote 166, 6/27/13]

TOOMEY VOTED AGAINST REAUTHORIZING SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS PROGRAM

Toomey Voted Against Reauthorization Of Secure Rural Schools Program To Fund Rural Schools In Regions With Untaxed Federal Lands. In 2012, Toomey voted against: “Baucus, D-Mont., amendment no. 1825 that would reauthorize, for one year, payments in lieu of taxes made to rural communities and the Secure Rural Schools program. The programs fund rural schools and other local government services in areas with large amounts of federal land that can not be taxed to support those services. The amendment would be offset with changes to federal employee retirement regulations and other tax provisions.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 82-16. [CQ, 3/8/12; S. Amdt. 1825 to S. 1813, Vote 29, 3/8/12]

TOOMEY LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN AD THAT CRITICIZED PROTESTERS OF POLICE BRUTALITY

Huffington Post: Toomey Launched A Re-Election Campaign Ad That “Chastises Protesters Who Oppose Police Brutality.” “Combine the notion that black protesters are criminals with the desire to boost police resources and you get Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), ‘the voice of hardworking law enforcement families in Washington,’ according to a new campaign ad. Toomey hasn’t been shy about his stance on these topics on the Senate floor, but now he’s bringing the issues onto the campaign trail with a re-election ad that chastises protesters who oppose police brutality. […] Toomey’s ad appears to be referring to the protests and riots that rocked Baltimore and Ferguson, Missouri, following the high-profile deaths of Freddie Gray and Michael Brown. Gray died last April from a fatal spinal cord injury sustained while in police custody. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer following a much-disputed altercation in August 2014. Support for law enforcement and criticism of protesters has been a common refrain among some presidential campaigns this cycle, notably that of Donald Trump. But the topic isn’t new to Toomey.” [Huffington Post, 3/25/16]

·   Headline: “Police Brutality Protesters ‘Destroyed American Cities,’ Senator’s New Ad Claims.”  [Huffington Post, 3/25/16]

TOOMEY VOTED AGAINST INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE 4 TIMES

Toomey Voted Against Increasing The Minimum Wage 4 Times:

·       Toomey Voted Against Increasing The Federal Minimum Wage. In March 2015, Toomey voted against: “Sanders, I-Vt., amendment no. 881 that would create a deficit neutral reserve fund to allow for legislation that would increase the federal minimum wage.” The amendment was rejected by 48-52. [CQ, 3/26/15; S.Amdt.881 to S.Con.Res.11, Vote 93, 3/26/15]

·       Toomey Voted Against Advancing A Bill To Increase The Federal Minimum Wage To $10.10. In April 2014, Toomey voted against: “Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Reid, D-Nev., motion to proceed to the bill that would increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 by 2016. It would gradually increase the minimum cash wage for workers who receive tips until it equals 70 percent of the federal minimum wage for other workers. It also would amend the tax code to extend through 2016 the $500,000 cap for small business expensing of investments eligible for deductions, including allowances for computer software and qualified real property.” The motion failed 54-42. [CQ, 4/30/14; S.2223, Vote 117, 4/30/14]

·       Toomey Voted Against Raising Minimum Wage By $1 Over Two Years. “Toomey voted against such measures as increasing the minimum wage by $1 over two years and authorizing state grants to hire teachers and reduce class size.”[Allentown Morning Call, 6/20/10]

·      Toomey Voted Against Raising The Minimum Wage. In March 2000, Toomey voted against: “Passage of the bill, as amended, that would increase the federal hourly minimum wage by $1 over two years.” The bill passed by a vote of 282-143. [CQ, 3/9/00; H.R. 3846, Vote 45, 3/9/00]

TOOMEY SAID EPA OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE REGULATING NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY, REGULATIONS SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE STATE

Toomey Said The EPA Was “Completely Out Of Control” And Should Not Be Regulating The Natural Gas Industry. “And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is ‘completely out of control,’ said Toomey, a Republican. The EPA is ‘trying to do things’ that Congress itself refuses to go forward with, he said. Toomey said the EPA shouldn’t be regulating the natural gas industry.” [Towanda Daily Review, 8/30/13]

Toomey: “I Don’t Think We Need The Federal Government To Come In And Impose A New Overlay Of Regulations Over Top Of What Is Already In Place.” “Toomey said that he has toured many drill sites and has found that the companies are complying with safety standards and that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to find where hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, methods used in the recovery of the natural gas has adversely impacted nearby water supplies.  ‘I have to believe that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is capable of properly regulating the industry,’ he said, adding that the state agency does need additional manpower and resources to carry out its duties as the industry grows.  Toomey added that he does not believe federal regulations or oversight need to be imposed.  ‘I don’t think we need the federal government to come in and impose a new overlay of regulations over top of what is already in place,’ he said. ‘The drilling requirements and best practices often differ because of the location (of the natural gas) and (rock) formation, but the DEP knows that better than the EPA.  ‘Additional EPA regulation will only add to the cost. In my opinion, the DEP can do the job.” [Herald-Standard, 10/8/12]

TOOMEY VOTED TO EXEMPT FRACKING AND NATURAL GAS STORAGE FROM SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT

Toomey Voted To Exempt Fracking And Natural Gas Storage From The Safe Drinking Water Act. In January 2015, Toomey voted against: “Gillibrand, D-N.Y., amendment no. 48 to the Murkowski, R-Alaska, substitute amendment no. 2. The Gillibrand amendment would remove exemptions of fracking and natural gas storage from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The amendment would clarify that the definition of underground injections includes the underground storage of natural gas and hydraulic fracking fluids. The substitute amendment would immediately allow TransCanada to construct, connect, operate and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the Keystone XL pipeline.” The amendment was rejected by a vote of 35-63. [CQ, 1/28/15; S.Amdt. 48 to S.Amdt. 2 to S. 1, Vote 41, 1/28/15]

TOOMEY CLAIMED EPA HAD NOT DISCOVERED NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF FRACKING ON NEARBY WATER SUPPLIES

Herald-Standard: Toomey Said The EPA Had Yet To Find Where Hydraulic Fracturing, Or Fracking, Methods Used In The Recovery Of The Natural Gas Has Adversely Impacted Nearby Water Supplies. “Toomey said that he has toured many drill sites and has found that the companies are complying with safety standards and that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to find where hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, methods used in the recovery of the natural gas has adversely impacted nearby water supplies.  ‘I have to believe that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is capable of properly regulating the industry,’ he said, adding that the state agency does need additional manpower and resources to carry out its duties as the industry grows.  Toomey added that he does not believe federal regulations or oversight need to be imposed.  ‘I don’t think we need the federal government to come in and impose a new overlay of regulations over top of what is already in place,’ he said. ‘The drilling requirements and best practices often differ because of the location (of the natural gas) and (rock) formation, but the DEP knows that better than the EPA.  ‘Additional EPA regulation will only add to the cost. In my opinion, the DEP can do the job.” [Herald-Standard, 10/8/12]

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