A couple of press releases from the Radnofsky camp illustrate Kay Bailey Hutchison's hypocrisy. KBH is now upset that an increase of the minimum wage has failed to pass even though she has voted against an increase in the minimum wage twice previously. What's the difference? Estate tax repeal!
Sen. Hutchison lies about failed legislative proposal
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison claimed that the failed estate tax bill seeking to give away $268 billion in tax revenue to couples with estates worth more than $10 million was a tax break intended for "middle class and poor people."
Complaining yesterday about the defeat of her efforts to give $268 billion to only the wealthiest families (couples with estates worth over ten million dollars), Hutchison said, "It is an excuse to make it a do-nothing Congress. And we are turning our back on the middle-class and poor people in this country who depend on the minimum wage and death-tax relief."
Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate Barbara Ann Radnofsky responded: "If she had said this under oath, it would have been perjury." Sen. Hutchison described perjury as a "mere technicality" in 2005 on "Meet the Press."
Sen. Hutchison voted against raising the minimum wage in March 2005 and November 1999.
And not only has Kay Bailey Hutchison lied about the bill, she will not give Barbara Ann an opportunity to challenge her face to face about her lies:
Radnofsky Opponent Avoids Call for Debate
Houston, Tx. Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has avoided Democratic nominee Barbara Ann Radnofsky's offer to travel to Amarillo for a public issues discussion at a location already chosen by the Hutchison campaign for a Monday, August 7 public issues discussion sponsored by the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and the Globe-News Performing Arts Centre.
Hutchison has remained silent in the face of Radnofsky's condemnation of the Ku Klux Klan's planned immigration rally, and Hutchison has announced plans to discuss immigration issues in Amarillo the first business day after the Klan rally.
"My opponent has no valid reason to avoid the many debate opportunities offered to her, other than her fear and reluctance to defend her liberal spending and her ineffective legislative puffery, a tactic that has never worked in Congress. After her tour of the Performing Arts Centre on Monday she will take questions from the audience and hold a press conference. The voters of Texas deserve to see a public debate."
Radnofsky denounced the planned Klan rally earlier this week, and added: "Senator Hutchison, following so closely on the heels of the Klan rally, should denounce this hate group."
Staging a debate would be an excellent way to distract from the rally in Amarillo, but Kay Bailey Hutchison has refused to debate Barbara Ann.
People, this race is a pick up opportunity with an opponent who is running scared. Unfortunately, Kay Bailey Hutchison does not pay attention to her constituents, so writing or calling her will fall on deaf ears. Instead, please write your local newspaper, call in to talk radio and tv stations, and blog about Kay Bailey's refusal to debate Barbara Ann. If you get it published, Barbara Ann will even post it on her website. You can start with the Houston Chronicle (hint).