January 25, 2012

Contact: Sarah Rivin

302-328-9036

Delaware Democratic Party Still Seeks Answers From Romney Ahead Of April Primary

(WILMINGTON, DE) – Even though Mitt Romney released his 2010 tax returns and a projection of his 2011 income tax report this week, he’s got a long way to go before he’s actually honest with the American people.  The Delaware Democratic Party repeats its request for Romney’s financial disclosure ahead of the April 24^th presidential primary.

Even Mitt’s father, as a presidential candidate himself, released 12 years of returns.  His reasoning?  “One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show.”

We know he has possession of 23 years worth of tax returns from when he was vetted as a vice presidential candidate in 2008 by John McCain.  Now he’s released only 1 year of information to the public – and that tell us the real story.

His tax forms show he’s hand bank accounts in Switzerland, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands – known offshore havens where the wealthy can keep their cash tax-free.  And Mitt Romney only closed the Swiss account in 2010 after an investment advisor told him it could be politically embarrassing. (Reuters, 1/24/12; The National Journal, 1/24/12)

Romney’s missing 21 years of tax records are also of particular concern because he has hidden what he paid in taxes, and what he acquired in mass fortune, during his time as a corporate raider for Bain Capital.

“The bottom line is that Delawareans deserve to know the whole story ahead of the primary in April,” said the Delaware Democratic Party Executive Director, Joe Aronson.  “We need to know more about Mitt’s investments and his business decisions, especially because he’s one of the wealthiest candidates for president in history.  In a time when careful financial management counts for everything, we have to be able to trust our president to make important decisions that will determine the direction of our economy.

“It’s also worth looking at the bigger picture, here.  Can we expect hardworking people to find nothing wrong with Romney’s tax rate of just 13.9% in 2010?  I think we should expect people to see a flaw there.  His tax rate is about half the rate most middle-class Americans pay.  And under Mitt Romney’s proposed tax plan, his tax rate would actually go down.  That’s just absurd.  Romney clearly doesn’t understand what our families need and he’s certainly not going to make decisions that work for us.”

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Delaware Democratic Party Stands With President Obama On Need For Jobs

(WILMINGTON, DE) – President Obama has continually emphasized that we still need to do more to create jobs and grow the economy.  In his third State of the Union address tonight, the President laid out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last.

Under President Obama’s leadership, our economy is growing again – the numbers speak for themselves.  America has added a total of 3.2 million private sector jobs over the last 22 months.  American manufacturing is creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s.  The President signed into law new rules to hold Wall Street accountable and we’ve agreed to cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion.  That’s the President’s record of being on the side of working American families.

Even though our economy has started showing signs of improvement, American families are still struggling.  And President Obama has a clear plan to make a strong economic foundation a reality – an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.

“The President has made it clear time and time again that he understands what working families across the country are going through,” said the Delaware Democratic Party’s Executive Director, Joe Aronson.  “His speech tonight was an additional reminder he’s the only presidential candidate out there who’s willing to do what’s necessary to actually get people back to work and help our economy get moving.

“Our economic growth has been slow, but we are finally starting to see things turning around.  President Obama has pushed for strategic policies that have gotten us back on track, and he proved tonight that we can expect more of the same going forward.  He’s been clear about our need for more jobs and about how to realize that end – that’s just not something that can be said for Republicans in the field.”

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January 20, 2012

Contact: Sarah Rivin

302-328-9036

Delaware Democratic Party Echoes Calls For Romney’s Tax Records

(WILMINGTON, DE) – The Delaware Democratic Party condemns Mitt Romney’s continual refusal to release his tax records.  In the interest of fully informing voters as Delaware’s presidential primary on April 24^th quickly approaches, we ask again that Romney release his federal income tax returns.  Disclosing that information is a practice every Republican and Democratic nominee for president has adhered to for decades.

At this week’s Republican presidential debates in South Carolina, Romney dodged nearly every question aimed at him – especially those regarding his income tax returns.  Asked Monday if he’d release his tax records, Romney bumbled, “If that’s been the tradition, I’m not opposed to doing that.”  But, “Time will tell.”  And last night the best he could do when asked if he’d release the records was “Maybe”.

Even a New York Times editorial notes, “It is not too much to ask someone seeking the nation’s highest office to sacrifice some personal privacy to reassure voters that they have no hidden entanglements.”

Voters have reason to be especially concerned given recent revelations about Romney’s offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands.  ABC News explains, “The Caymans are best known as one of the world’s greatest tax havens, where secrecy is the rule.”

Romney’s investments include at least 12 separate funds that could hold as much as $30 million in the Cayman Islands.  “In fact, official documents show Bain Capital has set up some 138 secretive offshore funds in the Caymans that are nothing more than a post office box,” says ABC.

“We’re echoing the calls of Democrats and Republicans alike from across the country who just want to know the kind of information commonly released by presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney’s own father,” said Delaware Democratic Executive Director, Joe Aronson.  “At this point, we’re all anxious to see what he’s been hiding.

“This week, Mitt Romney finally told us he pays taxes at around a 15 percent rate.  That’s lower than the tax rate paid by the typical working family, and it’s definitely not anything near what we’d expect a billionaire to pay.  Of course he doesn’t want people to know the truth about his income taxes.

“Romney also said this week that he’d ‘probably’ release the information in April.  The Delaware presidential primary election is scheduled for April 24, and I can tell you we’d all like to see his federal income tax information before that date.  That’s a reasonable request.”

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(WILMINGTON, DE) – South Carolina’s Governor, Nikki Haley, will speak in Wilmington this Thursday at the Republican State Committee’s annual Salute at Vicmead fundraiser.  Haley has been a champion of the radical Tea Party movement and her invitation from the state GOP only emphasizes Delaware Republicans’ allegiance to extreme conservative interests.  In South Carolina, Haley has been best known for going after teachers, seniors, and hardworking middle class families while giving her friends an extra boost.

The examples of Haley’s radical agenda are endless.  Her bill to dramatically reduce funding for Medicaid would not only limit people’s access to healthcare, but could also result in over 5,000 job losses and over $165 million in lost income.  [South Carolina Healthcare Voices 3/11/11]

Haley also vetoed a bill to give more money to schools.  But it was overridden.  Senate Education Committee chairman Sen. John Courson, a Republican, said school districts desperately need the money.  “If it’s not there, then you’ll have teachers risking losing jobs.  You’re going to have administrators risking losing jobs…It just would be, it would be horrific,” said Courson. [WSPA 6/28/11]

Haley is now under fire for signing into South Carolina law what is considered by many to be one of the most restrictive voter ID laws in the nation.  If approved by the US Department of Justice, the law will disproportionately affect minorities, seniors, and young adults, who are the least likely to already have picture IDs.  [The State, 5/19/11]

In the midst of her endless attacks on her hardworking constituents, Nikki Haley has wasted thousands of taxpayer dollars for her own benefit.  In June, Haley took an extravagant trip to Paris, supposedly to bring jobs back to South Carolina, but the benefits of the trip are still unclear. [The Post and Courier, 9/5/11]

Even Republicans in South Carolina who supported her are already tired of her tricks.  “Most members of the general assembly felt they’d been misled by Haley and her staff,” said Pickens County GOP Chairman Phillip Bowers.  He added, “I can’t find any that trust the administration.” [Politico, 7/4/11]

“Delaware Republicans’ invitation to Governor Haley shows their support for extreme Tea Party policies,” said Delaware Democratic party Executive Director Joe Aronson.  “Under Governor Jack Markell’s leadership, Democrats in Delaware are taking real action to create jobs and improve the quality of life for all Delawareans. Governor Nikki Haley keeps pushing her radical agenda that attacks our schools, health services, and basic voting rights all while taking extravagant Parisian vacations on the taxpayers’ dime.”

“Nikki Haley’s policies don’t work in South Carolina and they won’t work in Delaware,” said Aronson.  “In standing with Haley, the Delaware GOP supports the Tea Party’s extreme assault on our values.  The Delaware Democratic Party chooses to stand with our working families.”

In Advance of GOP Presidential Debate, The Delaware Democratic Party Releases New Job Loss Estimates that would Result From GOP’s Extreme Policies

Republican Candidates’ Extreme Budget Plans Would Cost 9.5 Million American Jobs, More than 21,000 in Delaware

(NEW CASTLE, DE) – The Delaware Democratic Party, based on a new analysis conducted by the Democratic National Committee, released an estimate of jobs that would be lost in Delaware as a result of the Republican presidential candidates’ extreme economic policies. All Republican Party candidates have expressed their support for damaging Tea Party proposals, including a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution like the one in the Tea Party budget plan passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this summer.

The DNC’s analysis found that the balanced budget amendment alone, if in place in 2012, would result in the loss of 9.5 million American jobs and 21,910 jobs right here in Delaware. That could sink the U.S. into the kind of deep depression the country hasn’t experienced since the Great Depression.

This new analysis looked at the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) August deficit projections for 2012 ($991 billion deficit with CBO options for Iraq drawdown, extension of all tax provisions and Alternative Minimum Tax indexing and accounting for the so-called “Doc” fix). Using the conservative Romer-Bernstein rule of thumb that 1 percent of GDP equates to 1 million jobs, it concluded that if the radical plan were fully established in 2012 and nearly a trillion dollars in federal spending was slashed, the balanced budget amendment would cost 9.5 million jobs nationwide.

Because of the balanced budget amendment’s strict requirements for deep cuts, hard spending caps and a two-thirds majority to raise revenue, reversing the negative effects of these extreme Tea Party Republican policies would be virtually impossible.  Despite the damaging consequences, every Republican presidential candidate, courting the far-right Tea Party vote, has voiced support for a balanced budget amendment to the constitution or the Tea Party plan which contains one.

Prior to the Republican debate, State Party Executive Director Joe Aronson released the following statement on the report:

“9.5 million American jobs and 21,910 jobs here in Delaware.  The possibility of a second Great Depression and devastation for the middle class, small businesses, students and seniors. The end of Medicare and deep cuts to Social Security.  That’s what’s at stake in 2012. Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul are willing to pay that price to appeal to the most extreme and narrow elements of the Tea Party.  Fiscal responsibility is undoubtedly important for our country, but what these Tea Party-loving Republicans support would lay ruin to our country and is beyond irresponsible.

“The drastic cuts to education, health care, infrastructure, research and development, higher education, Social Security, Medicare and job training supported by the Republican candidates would cost us millions of jobs if the plan were fully implemented in 2012 and would make us less competitive in the 21^st Century.  These wrongheaded policy choices are the result of a Republican Party whose main priority is appeasing the Tea Party fringe.

“Americans want real solutions to the problems we face. We need a plan to create real jobs in the short term and lay a foundation for long-term economic growth.  The extreme Republican proposals would fail on all fronts.”
Link to Report: http://my.democrats.org/DNC-report

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Republican National Committee Chairman to Promote Extreme Tea Party Views in Delaware

Reince Priebus to Speak in Georgetown Saturday, Continue Tea Party Support

(GEORGETOWN, DE) – Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus will speak in Georgetown Saturday, August 20, to help launch the Republican initiative “Operation Win Back Delaware”.  As Chairman, Priebus has aligned the Republican Party’s views with those of the Tea Party.  His speech Saturday is an extension of the same extreme conservative positions that have launched a nationwide attack on middle class ideals as well as teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and all public employees.

Priebus rose to prominence as Chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party and is closely aligned with Wisconsin Tea Party Governor Scott Walker and his extreme agenda. The RNC Chair has gone so far to say he is “proud” of what Governor Walker has done in Wisconsin. [Roll Call 3/11/11]

Priebus has also strongly courted the Tea Party. In comments at the National Press Club earlier this year Priebus stated, “We need to play well in the sandbox with the Tea Party movement … certainly in Wisconsin we did that. We’re not in competition …  we’re part of it.” [Milwaukee – Wisconsin Journal Sentinel 1/3/11]

“Chairman Priebus would like nothing more than to bring Wisconsin style Tea Party politics to Delaware,” said Delaware Democratic Party Executive Director Joe Aronson. “While Democratic leadership here in Delaware is focused on creating jobs and improving quality of life for average Delawareans, Chairman Priebus wants to bring his Wisconsin style extreme policies to our state.”

“Reince Priebus and the Tea Party would have us believe that taking away pension plans, collective bargaining rights and attacking unions is the way to go, but instead it will leave valued employees like teachers, firefighters and policemen without protection” said Aronson.  “The Delaware Democratic Party rejects Priebus’s radical Tea Party ideals and stands firmly with the working people of Delaware.”

-END-

Aronson joins the Democratic Party with an impressive string of accomplishments under his belt. Most recently, Aronson served as the Executive Director of the North Dakota Democratic Non-Partisan League. Under his leadership, the Party experienced its most successful fundraising year in Party history, and recruited hundreds of young progressives into the party organization. Originally from Minnesota, Aronson has worked on campaigns for Senator Al Franken, Representative Collin Peterson, and numerous Minnesota legislators in both their campaigns and government offices. Aronson is a graduate of Saint John’s University.

“I am extremely impressed with Joe’s credentials and his commitment to the progressive cause,” said State Chairman John D. Daniello. “I look forward to seeing what new ideas and perspective he can bring to our party organization.”

“I’m really excited to be part of this strong party with such great leaders and elected officials,” Aronson said. “I look forward to getting out across the state and meeting with all of our activists and supporters to ensure that 2012 is another successful year for the Delaware Dems.”

Contact Katie Ellis, (302) 353-0807

In response to mounting protests over Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s extreme proposals to eliminate collective bargaining rights for state employees, Delaware Democratic Party Chairman John D. Daniello issued the following statement:

“Collective bargaining rights have been a lynchpin of our democracy, allowing workers to have some control over their working conditions. We can thank the labor movement for improvements to all of our standards of living, like the 40-hour workweek, workers compensation, minimum wages, and child labor laws. Across the country, extremists now seek to reverse gains made by the middle class over the last century, using the excuse of balancing budgets to wage an assault on American workers. Instead of attempting to dismantle the middle class, I believe we must build on past progress and continue strengthening the position of our working families by focusing on job creation and improving the quality of life.

“I stand with the state employees of Wisconsin, and with all of our men and women in labor, and call on Governor Walker and his confederates across the country to find sane solutions to balancing their state budgets.”

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“We have selected an excellent candidate in Tim Sheldon,” said Erik Schramm, New Castle County Democratic Chairman. His years of experience serving our county as County Council member will equip him to serve our county and its residents well.”

Wilmington City Chairman Mark Murowany added, “I am proud of our selection, and also of the process allowing all Democratic committee members to take part. I am confident that Councilman Sheldon will run an excellent campaign and become our next Council President.”

Councilman Tim Sheldon, the Democratic candidate for New Castle County Council President., gave the following statement on his nomination:

“I am honored to be selected by my fellow Democrats to run for this office, and I look forward to having a conversation with all New Castle County residents about how we can improve the quality of life in our county.”

Bill Dunn, who also sought the nomination, congratulated Sheldon on his victory, and thanked the Democratic party for conducting an open, fair, and transparent process to select their nominee.

Please visit Tim’s website here.

“Glen Urquhart’s plans to drastically increase taxes are wrong for the middle class,” said Shripal Shah, Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Under Glen Urquhart’s radical tax plan, middle class families would see an increased tax burden while the wealthiest Americans like himself got a break. Glen Urquhart’s agenda may serve the interests of his fellow millionaires well, but it represents exactly what Delaware can’t afford right now.”

BACKGROUND:

Millionaire Glen Urquhart supports the Fair Tax over the current tax code. Urquhart said the fair tax would be “much m ore fair, much simpler,” and would allow the government to get rid of the IRS. [WHYY First Radio, 4/17/10]

According to Factcheck.org, under the Fair Tax, everybody earning between $15,000 and $200,000 per year would pay more per year while those earning more than $200,000 would see their overall tax burden decrease. In Delaware, middle income families would see their taxes increase by $2,633 per year. The top one percent would see their taxes cut by $192,393 a year. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy; Factcheck.org, 5/31/07]

According to his financial disclosure form, Urquhart is worth several million dollars. Urquhart’s assets are valued between $11 and $39 million and earned him a minimum of $259,000 in income in 2009. [Delaware News Journal, 8/12/10; Urquhart Personal Financial Disclosure, filed 5/14/10]

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For Immediate Release, September 15, 2010

CONTACT: Jennifer Crider & Shripal Shah (202) 485-3440