Washington, DC - The Club for Growth today announced its opposition to the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization (HR 2072/S 1547). The Club opposes the reauthorization because the bank’s actions are market-distorting subsides that pick winners and losers in the private sector. If the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization comes to a vote, it will be included as a "Key Vote" in the Club for Growth's 2012 Congressional Scorecard.

“The Export-Import Bank is a prime example of corporate welfare that should have been eliminated years ago,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “By picking winners and losers, politicians and bureaucrats are distorting trade flows. It’s time to end the Ex-Im Bank for good.”

To see how members of Congress have done on previous Club for Growth scorecards, go to www.ClubForGrowth.org/projects.

The following is the text of the Club for Growth's Key Vote Alert on the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization (HR 2072/S 1547)

KEY VOTE ALERT

"NO" on Export-Import Bank Reauthorization (HR 2072/S 1547)

The Club for Growth urges all members of Congress to vote “NO” on reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank.  Congress may take up consideration of HR 2072 or S 1547, or possibly some new proposal before the Bank’s current authority expires at the end of May.  A vote on this reauthorization, and perhaps procedural votes, will be included in the Club’s 2012 Congressional Scorecard. 

The Export-Import Bank’s actions are nothing more than market-distorting subsidies that pick winners and losers in the private sector.  Market forces should dictate trade flows, not bureaucrats and politicians.

While supporters of the Ex-Im Bank claim that it is self-sufficient and doesn’t add to the federal deficit, the real problem is that the Bank’s financing helps some companies to the detriment of other firms and taxpayers.  A prime example, among many, is the Bank providing financing for foreign airlines to buy American aircrafts, thus allowing those companies to better compete against American airlines.  In addition, Congress and the President are trying to expand the Bank’s $100 billion finance cap by at least 35%.  President Obama has a laudable goal of doubling exports within five years, but he shouldn’t be allowed to goose the numbers by handing out market-distorting tax dollars to companies that curry the most favor or have the best lobbyists.  Not only should members of Congress reject this expansion of authority, but they should reject the Bank’s charter and shut it down for good.

Club for Growth President Chris Chocola: “Tommy Thompson must not support Governor Walker, because he keeps undercutting him every chance he gets.”

Washington, DC – The Club for Growth PAC issued the following statement today slamming Tommy Thompson for his support of Democrat State Senator Tim Cullen’s run for Governor of Wisconsin in a recall election against incumbent Republican Scott Walker.

Thompson has also broken with Scott Walker on high-speed rail, and he has stated his opposition to “Right-to-work” legislation in Wisconsin, and even endorsed a labor-backed pro-ObamaCare group with Madison liberal and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin.

“Tommy Thompson must not support Governor Walker, because he keeps undercutting him every chance he gets,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “We need Republicans in the U.S. Senate who will fight on principle to lower spending, cut regulation and repeal ObamaCare. Tommy Thompson won’t do any of those things.”

Background: Tommy Thompson and Tim Cullen

Tommy Thompson said that “if there is a recall, I think Tim [Cullen] should jump into it.”: “I absolutely abhor recalls,” Thompson said. “But if there’s a recall, I would much rather have Tim Cullen run than the other Democrats that are running. I still support Scott Walker and always will. I think he’s doing a wonderful job. … But if there is a recall, I think Tim should jump into it.” (Janesville Gazette, 1/14/12)

Tim Cullen on collective bargaining: “I believe in collective bargaining. I would like to see collective bargaining restored.": Despite talk of neutral stances, Cullen did have several criticisms of Gov. Walker. As a leader, Cullen said he would talk and negotiate with his employees rather than be forceful, as he said Walker was. "I believe in collective bargaining. I would like to see collective bargaining restored." (Beloit Daily News, 1/19/12)

Tim Cullen on the Walker’s collective bargaining legislation: “Tommy Thompson would have never put that bill forward.”: "Nothing in my background prepared me to operate in this rigidly divided environment," Cullen said. "Tommy Thompson would have never put that bill forward." He feared the Democrats were at a "tipping point," where the downside of staying in Illinois would outweigh the value of staying. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/5/11)

During the height of Walker’s fight over collective bargaining, Tim Cullen said he was hoping Thompson would get Walker to negotiate with the public employee unions: Cullen got a call from Thompson last week and is hoping his old friend will persuade Walker to negotiate. But that won't be easy. Under Walker's tribal political theory, governing is a never-ending cycle of revenge killings. (Washington Post, 2/27/11)

Washington, DC – First Tommy Thompson endorsed a pro-ObamaCare organization with Madison liberal Tammy Baldwin, then he broke with Scott Walker and announced that he would support “really high-speed rail.” Now, just like Tammy Baldwin, Thompson shockingly opposes “Right-to-Work” legislation in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Public Radio reported: “Thompson described himself as a compromiser not a divider, and said he opposes ‘right to work’ legislation because it could heat tensions between workers.” (Milwaukee Public Radio, 1/24/12)        

“Tommy Thompson sounds like he has more in common with Madison liberal Tammy Baldwin and President Obama than he does with Wisconsin conservatives,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola.  “He supported ObamaCare, supports big government, and now we find out he opposes Right-to-Work legislation in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Republicans should reject Tommy Thompson and his liberal agenda.”

Thompson all over the map in a desperate attempt to hide his record of support for high speed rail

First, Thompson was “chairman of the Amtrak board…” and was “an energetic and vocal advocate for high-speed rail”…

Thompson even had an Amtrak locomotive named after him…

But then, Thompson said that he would have rejected federal funding to build a high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee…

But then he reversed himself, saying that “I would’ve changed high speed trains into really being high-speed trains…I would’ve changed it and I would’ve had it immediately Milwaukee to Madison, no-stop. Make it high speed and make it my train.”

And then he flip-flopped in a panic, issuing a statement saying that “I have consistently opposed the rail project between Milwaukee and Madison, and I believe Governor Scott Walker did the right thing to reject the line.”

But in the same statement, Thompson appeared to qualify his opposition to high-speed rail, adding that “High speed rail may work in certain densely populated areas of the country but not in Wisconsin, and not when the urgently federal government urgently needs to reduce spending and balance the budgets.”

“It appears Tommy Thompson is a bigger fan of high speed rail than Joe Biden. He was the Chairman of the Amtrak board and even had a train named after him,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola.  “This panic-stricken attempt to hide his support for high speed rail is ridiculous and silly. Tommy Thompson is a big government Republican and his desperate attempts to hide his record are laughable.”

 The Club for Growth expects that this week and next, Congress will vote to “disapprove” of President Obama’s request to raise the debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion dollars.

 This vote will undoubtedly be accompanied by a self-congratulatory press release from your local Republican Congressman or Senator, stating something like:

 “It is outrageous that President Obama is raising the debt ceiling yet again to feed his gluttonous spending habit. Obama and the Democrats are out of control. I stand with the tea party and conservatives everywhere in expressing my OUTRAGE!!!!!!!” – Republican Representative X.

The hypocrisy of many of these so-called “tea party conservatives” will be on full display. The Club for Growth remembers the exact vote in which 28 Republican Senators and 174 Republican House Members voted to give President Obama the authority to raise the debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion. It was Roll Call Vote #690 in the House, and Roll Call Vote #123 in the Senate. I’ve helpfully listed the Republican “Yes” votes for you in this email.

Please feel free to ask any of the below Republicans who express their outrage over a $1.2 trillion debt limit increase why they voted for the law that allowed the debt limit increase in the first place.

Senate vote: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00123

House vote: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll690.xml