Pederson Unveils New Campaign Themes, But Can-t Hide Continued Lack of Substance

PHOENIX In a campaign that continues to be all spin and no substance, Jim Pederson unveiled new campaign themes in a transparent attempt to try to break with his long liberal record. While the Kyl Campaigns Tucson Office has been open since January 1 and has already registered more than 1,100 volunteers, Pederson tried to make news by announcing the opening of the Pederson Campaigns Tucson Office. In Pedersons March 6th press release, he announced the new campaign themes of fiscal responsibility, strong national security, quality education and energy independence. Unfortunately for Pederson, Jon Kyl has built a solid record of leadership on all of these issues, and Jim Pedersons record is either non-existent or continues to walk the liberal line. While Jon Kyl has a distinguished record as a national leader on issues including fiscal responsibility and national security, Jim Pedersons only record is with the Federal Election Commission from his long list of contributions to liberal candidates and causes, said Andy Chasin, a spokesman for the Kyl Campaign. A summary of the experience and positions of each candidate on these four issues reveals the choice that Arizona voters will have in November: Fiscal Responsibility: * Jon Kyl: The National Taxpayers Union has consistently ranked Kyl at the top of the Senate, receiving an A rating in 10 out of his 11 years in the Senate. www.ntu.org/main/components/ratescongress/index2.php3. Kyl has received the highest ranking in the Senate three times, and the last two years Kyl has been ranked number two in the Senate. Kyl has also received top ratings from Citizens Against Government Waste, which has ranked him #1 in the Senate in each of the last three years of their rankings. www.cagw.org/site/VoteCenter?location=S&page=congScorecard. * Jim Pederson: Said that Kyl was wrong to oppose the Transportation Bill with more than 6,000 pork-barrel earmarks, including the Bridge to Nowhere. [Pederson Release, 2/28/06] Pederson also pledges to raise taxes. [Business Journal, Kyl, Munsil grab on to tax cut wagon in political races. Feb. 8, 2006] National Security: * Jon Kyl: The Arizona Republic called Kyl a recognized authority on terrorism. [Arizona Republic, Kyl Leads Charge vs. Terrorism. September 13, 2001]. Kyl chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security. He served on the Senate Intelligence Committee for eight years and was appointed by Senate leadership in 2004 to a bipartisan working group to examine how best to implement the 9/11 Commissions recommendations for reform of the Senates oversight of intelligence and homeland security. * Jim Pederson: The most Pederson has said on the record about important national security issues is that he endorses a happy medium between national security and privacy rights. [Sierra Vista Herald, U.S. Senate Candidate Pederson Visits Area. Jan. 26, 2006.] Quality Education: * Jon Kyl: Since 2001, budgets Senator Kyl has supported have increased funds for the Department of Education by 35 percent: $57.6 billion for the Department of Education in FY2006 [Conference report to accompany H.R. 3010, H.Rept. 109-337], $56.6 billion for the Department of Education in FY2005*, $55.7 billion in FY2004 [Roll Call No. 3, January 22, 2004], $53.1 billion in FY2003 [Roll Call No. 34, February 13, 2003], $49.9 billion in FY2002 [Roll Call No. 378, December 20, 2001], and $42.2 billion in FY2001 [The conference report to accompany H.R. 4577 passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 15, 2000]. Within those totals, Pell Grants increased by 49 percent, special education grants to states increased by 67 percent, and programs authorized under the No Child Left Behind Act increased by 45 percent. * Jim Pederson: Repeatedly criticizes the rising cost of college tuition at state universities, even though its a state responsibility. [Pederson Release, 1/24/06] Energy Independence: * Jon Kyl: Senator Kyl helped win a waiver of federal rules to increase gasoline supplies and moderate prices in the state after Hurricane Katrina last year [Kyl Urges Extension of Phoenix Fuel Blend Exemption, Phoenix Business Journal, September 9, 2005], and won an exemption for Arizona from a costly summertime ethanol requirement that limits supplies, increases gas prices, and leads to dirtier air [Arizona Republic, July 30, 2005]. Kyl just won a change in the formula allocating federal energy assistance money so that Arizona gets a fairer share [Senate Approves $1 Billion to Help Poor with Energy Costs, KPHO News 5, www.kpho.com, March 8, 2006]. * Jim Pederson: Supports increasing taxes on oil exploration. [Pederson Release, 2/14/2006] * The Senate did not have an opportunity in 2004 to vote separately on education funding, which was ultimately incorporated into H.R. 4818, the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Senator Kyl explained his opposition to that broader measure in a weekly column, A Lousy Way to Legislate, November 29, 2004.