Tim Walberg - Michigan's 7th District
Tim Walberg
PRIMARY DATE: August 8th, 2006
Are you as frustrated with this Republican Congress as we are? Despite Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, and a Republican President, we still can't get Social Security reformed, federal spending under control or get the tax cuts that revitalized our economy made permanent.
The chief obstacle is a handful of liberal Republicans - Republicans who regularly vote with our Democratic foes and who never really bought into the Ronald Reagan, limited-government idea in the first place.
In the past, you've heard us call these sorts of Republicans RINOs (Republican in Name Only).
How would you like to help send one of these liberal RINO incumbents into an early retirement? With your help, we can make an important change in a key congressional seat and send a powerful message to the other liberal Republicans who think this is a good time for them to pull the party to the left.
In Michigan's GOP primary, we have a RINO in our sights.
Rep. Joe Schwarz (MI-07) is one of the most liberal Republicans in the House. He's also one of the most vulnerable to a primary challenge we've ever seen.
How bad is Joe Schwarz?
He makes the case against himself so well, we'll let him do most of the talking.
While running for governor, Schwarz said, "Prop A was the biggest tax increase in the history of the state...I helped write it; it was a great idea."
The Detroit Free Press reported that, "Only one of the three Democrats running for governor, U.S. Rep. David Bonior, has gone as far as Schwarz on advocating tax increases."
The Detroit Free Press also reported that Schwarz considered rolling back the Bush tax cuts to help finance Hurricane Katrina spending: "Schwarz said the nation had an obligation to rebuild the devastated region, 'and if that means suspending or rescinding some of the tax cuts that have already been made, so be it.'"
In August of 2004, FreedomWorks reported: "In a campaign debate a few weeks ago, Schwarz also said that he opposes Social Security personal accounts and would instead favor raising the payroll tax: 'Social Security is on very shaky ground right now. There are only three things you can do or a combination to make sure Social Security is not on shaky ground. You either raise the pay-in, you cut the pay-out, or you raise the age of eligibility. My guess, unfortunately, is that young people are probably going to have to be doing more pay in.'"
Need more? Consider these "highlights" from Schwarz's record in Congress:
- He voted for a "transportation" bill laden with literally thousands of pork projects - including the notorious "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska, a $223 million span to connect Gravina Island (pop. 50) to the booming megalopolis of Ketchikan (pop. 8,900).
- He sided with the labor unions to make sure federal rebuilding contracts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina will pay so-called prevailing wages (i.e., higher-than-market wages that rip-off taxpayers).
- He helped hold a budget-cutting bill hostage until the provision for energy exploration in Alaska was stripped out.
- He voted against an amendment that would have minimized the damage caused by the horrible Supreme Court decision that says the government can seize your home and give it to another private party.
Of course, Schwarz isn't against everything - he did vote to continue spending taxpayer funds on Viagra.
Tim Walberg - one of the good guys.
Former Michigan State Rep. Tim Walberg just announced he will challenge Congressman Schwarz in the Republican primary in Michigan's 7th congressional district.
Tim had a stellar record in the State Legislature, repeatedly advocating pro-growth economic policies and fighting for taxpayers. He's also a candidate with a backbone, who defied his own party's leadership when it wouldn't side with taxpayers.
Tim believes in limited government and is sharply critical of the Supreme Court's Kelo decision, which weakened private property rights.
When he ran for Congress last year, the Lansing State Journal quoted Tim as saying "I will work continually to leave more resources with our families, businesses, and non-profit organizations. First, I will seek to reduce government spending so more resources can be left directly with the people. Every dollar the politicians spend is one less dollar in the pockets of American families and businesses. Second, I will strive to cut tax rates to increase incentives to work, save, and invest."
We can use a lot more of that common sense pro-growth medicine in Congress.
A Race We Can Win.
Running as the most liberal Republican in a field with six strong candidates, Schwarz finished first in the 2004 GOP primary with just 28% of the vote - that is, 72% of the voters cast their ballots against Schwarz.
Unfortunately, Michigan does not have a runoff election, so 28% was good enough to win the nomination.
Walberg ran in the same race and finished a strong third, despite having been outgunned by richer (one candidate put in over $500,000 of his own money) or better-funded candidates.
Both our analysis of that race and a poll we recently conducted in the district convinces us that Walberg has a very good chance to win if he has the funding to carry his Reaganite pro-growth message to the voters.
Here's where Club members like you come in.
You have the power to help Tim Walberg defeat Schwarz. The incumbent will be raising money from special interests here in Washington. But Club members can be the great equalizer in this race, donating the funds to provide Tim with the resources to upset this incumbent...and put all other liberal Republicans on notice that they, too, are vulnerable in a GOP primary.
This is a heavily Republican seat - Bush beat Kerry by nine points.
When Tim first ran for the State Legislature, he ran against a liberal Republican incumbent in the primary, and won.
We think the odds are good for that history to repeat here.
Now is the time for all good men and women to stop complaining about a Republican Congress that won't limit government and start donating to Republican candidates who share our pro-growth values.
Please give Tim's campaign the most generous donation you can.
PAID FOR BY CLUB FOR GROWTH PAC AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. 202-955-5500.
