JACKSON - Today U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer’s (D-MI) campaign released a new internal poll from Myers Reserach and Strategic Services, which shows Schauer leading former Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) by 4-points, 44-40 percent, with third party candidates getting 7 percent of the vote. This survey builds on the trends in Schauer’s previous September 22 tracking poll, which showed him leading Walberg by a narrower 2-point margin. Schauer has expanded his lead among independents to 9-points, 45-36.

“Despite an onslaught of ‘false’ and ‘misleading’ attack ads by the NRCC, Mark is continuing to build momentum,” said Zack Pohl, spokesman for Schauer’s campaign. “No matter how much they spend, Walberg’s outsourcing allies can’t cover his own words that he ‘would definitely support the privatization’ of Social Security, that he thinks a plan to abolish Medicare is, ‘a great bill,’ and that, ‘we’re getting jobs back from China.’ It’s clear voters want a Congressman who will fight for Michigan jobs, not China’s.”

Since this is a 5-way race and no candidate has won Michigan’s 7th district with more than 50 percent of the vote since 2004, Schauer is within striking distance of the vote share needed to win on Election Day.

Earlier this week, the Schauer campaign announced it raised over $550,000 during the third quarter fundraising period. With four weeks left before the November 2 election, Schauer still has more than $1.3 million cash on hand.

A memo on the results of the latest Myers survey is attached below.

JACKSON - Today Congressman Mark Schauer (D-MI) called on his opponent, ex-Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI), to stop using campaign robocalls for the remainder of the 2010 election season. In recent weeks, Mr. Walberg’s campaign has used automated robocalls to communicate with voters across the 7th district and defend his support for privatizing Social Security.

“This election is about kitchen table economics, but the last thing Michigan families want are more annoying robocalls during dinnertime,” said Schauer. “My hope is that Mr. Walberg will join me and agree not to use these obnoxious tactics for the rest of the campaign.”

Last week, there were multiple reports of robocalls from Tim Walberg’s campaign, which included a message defending the former Congressman’s record on Social Security. Walberg has previously said, “I would definitely support the privatization of the so-called Social Security system,” and, “There ought to be a date certain, when no longer does anybody have to put into Social Security.” [iCaucus.org, 6/25/10]

Tim Walberg has defended the use of robocalls in the past. In 2008, after Schauer issued a similar challenge, Walberg said, “he believes automated phone calls serve the public interest.” [Jackson Citizen Patriot, 8/29/08]

# # #

JACKSON - A new internal poll released today by Myers Research & Strategic Services shows U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer (D-MI) leading Tim Walberg by 4-points in a head-to-head matchup, 49 to 45 percent. In a multi-candidate race, Schauer leads 45 to 43 percent, with 3rd party candidates getting 5 percent of the vote. No candidate has won Michigan's 7th district with more than 50 percent of the vote since 2004, which puts Schauer within striking distance of the vote share needed to win on November 2.

"Tim Walberg is damaged goods, and voters are remembering why they rejected his extreme policies in the first place," said Zack Pohl, spokesman for Schauer's campaign. "While Walberg supports outsourcing and wants to abolish Medicare, Mark Schauer will fight for what's fair by working to repeal NAFTA and protect Social Security for Michigan seniors."

Less than a month ago, Tim Walberg touted an automated poll from a conservative group on his website, showing him with a 10-point lead over Mark Schauer. [WalbergForCongress.com, 8/26/10]

Despite recent attack ads from Walberg's campaign and the NRCC - which were labeled "simply factually inaccurate" and "false" by one local newspaper - today's poll shows Congressman Schauer is continuing to build momentum. [Jackson Citizen Patriot, 9/22/10, 9/20/10]

A public memo on the results of the latest Myers survey is attached below.

JACKSON - Today Congressman Mark Schauer's (D-MI) campaign announced an endorsement from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), the nation's second-largest senior advocacy organization. The letter from NCPSSM's President and CEO Barbara B. Kennelly says Schauer, "earned the endorsement of the National Committee because you understand and support the critical roles that Social Security and Medicare play in the retirement and health security of our nation's older citizens and their families."

"I'm proud to have the support of the National Committee, and I'm committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare for today's seniors and tomorrow's retirees," said Schauer. "The choice in this election couldn't be more clear. While Tim Walberg supports a radical plan to privatize Social Security and eliminate Medicare as we know it, I'll keep fighting to protect guaranteed retirement and health care benefits for Michigan seniors."

Last month, Congressman Schauer signed a pledge to fight any attempt to privatize Social Security or cut the program's guaranteed retirement benefits. Tim Walberg has said he supports a budget plan introduced by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) that would privatize Social Security and turn Medicare into a private voucher program. [Adrian Daily Telegram, 8/15/10; Battle Creek Enquirer, 9/9/10]

A recent study conducted by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center found that Rep. Ryan's budget plan, "would actually increase the deficit by $1.3 trillion by 2020 because it doesn't take into account $4 trillion in lost tax revenue. Ryan disputes the calculations behind those numbers but says he'd be willing to increase taxes to fix any shortfalls." [Time, 9/4/10]

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare was founded in 1982 to serve as an advocate for the landmark federal programs of Social Security and Medicare and for all Americans who seek a healthy, productive and secure retirement.

JACKSON - Today Congressman Mark Schauer's (D-MI) campaign began airing its first TV ad of the 2010 election cycle. The ad highlights Schauer's votes against spending $350 billion on the Wall Street bailout, against raising his own pay, and against spending $6 billion on the ‘Cash for Caulkers' program, which would provide taxpayer-funded cash rebates for energy efficient home improvement products that are made in China.

"The choice in this election couldn't be more clear," said Zack Pohl, spokesman for Schauer's campaign. "While Tim Walberg supports the unfair trade and outsourcing policies that wrecked Michigan's economy, Mark Schauer is focused on fighting for what's fair, and fighting to level the playing field to help our businesses create jobs here - not China."

Schauer's first ad, titled "Ask," can be viewed below.

BACKGROUND:

• In one of his first major votes after taking office, Schauer voted against the Obama administration's request to spend another $350 billion on the Wall Street bailout. [H.J. Res. 3, RC 27, 1/22/09]
• Since taking office, Schauer has voted twice against raising his own pay. [Jackson Citizen Patriot, 4/27/10]
• Earlier this year, Schauer stood up to his own party and voted against spending $6 billion on the ‘Cash for Caulkers' program, which would provide taxpayer-funded cash rebates for energy efficient home improvement products that are made in China. [Battle Creek Enquirer, 5/7/10]

"For once, Tim Walberg and I can agree on something," said Schauer. "We both agree that Walberg wants to take us back to the failed Bush policies that shipped our jobs overseas and wrecked Michigan's economy. The difference is, I think that's the last thing our families and businesses can afford right now. We need a level playing field to help businesses create jobs here - not China - and that's exactly what I'm focused on."

At a Republican primary debate last month, Tim Walberg said he's planning to, "do the same thing I've done before," if he wins this November. [WILX, 7/21/10]

During Tim Walberg's two years in office, Michigan's unemployment rate nearly doubled from 6.9% to 10.6%, and we are still digging out of the economic crisis that began on Walberg's watch. [DELEG Press Release, 3/7/07; 1/21/08]

In related campaign news, Congressman Schauer was endorsed by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce earlier today. According to the Chamber's announcement, it chose to endorse candidates that, "clearly represented the type of leadership and vision needed to get our state back on track."

NOTE: The complete text from today's WILX story is available below.

Schauer, Walberg Ramp Up Campaigns
Both hold campaign events Wednesday in downtown Jackson
Posted: 3:25 PM Aug 25, 2010
Reporter: Liam Martin
Email Address: [email protected]

JACKSON -- It is deja vu all over again.

Democratic incumbent Mark Schauer taking on Republican Tim Walberg for the 7th Congressional District of the U.S. House.

The two have met before in 2008, when Schauer wrested the seat from then-incumbent Walberg.

Now the roles have reversed -- and the venom seems to only have increased.

"They will get very negative," Walberg, 59, said Wednesday of the Schauer campaign. "They understand that the American people have awakened; and they understand that the only way to win this election is to go negative."

Schauer, 48, countered that it's Walberg's people going on the offensive.

"They started attacking me from Day 1," said Schauer, who also served in the Michigan Senate from 2003 to 2009. "And what I'm going to do is talk about my vision of what's good for Michigan."

Wednesday the campaigns found themselves just blocks away from each other in Jackson.

Schauer stopped in at the downtown fire station to check out new masks -- made possible by a federal grant that he sponsored.

He made the rounds thanking the city's firefighters and took som time to call Walberg out on his plans to privatize social security.

"I believe that's a promise that was made to senior citizens and to future generations to make sure that seniors won't have to live in poverty," Schauer said. "So it's a very different philosophy."

Over at the Commonwealth Center, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, stopped in to speak at a fundraiser for Walberg. His security detail whisked him off before we could talk to him, but we did speak with Walberg -- he said his campaign will hinge on just a couple of key issues.

"Jobs and economy," he said matter-of-factly.

And he added his belief that Bush-era policies will help get the economy back on its feet.

"[Voters] see that this approach, having been given a chance, isn't working and is going further down the wrong trail," said Walberg, who served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1983 to 1998.

Schauer, again, countered.

"I voted to eliminate a tax loophole that rewarded big companies for outsourcing our jobs," he said. "Tim Walberg supports that, so there's a very real difference."

Some early shots in what promises to be a very long, very nasty campaign.

http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/101496119.html

JACKSON - Next Wednesday, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) will headline a fundraiser for Tim Walberg at the Commonwealth Commerce Center in Jackson from 8:00-9:30am. Earlier this summer, Boehner told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "he'd favor increasing the Social Security retirement age to 70." Today Congressman Mark Schauer (D-MI) called on Walberg to tell voters whether or not he agrees with Boehner's plan to increase the retirement age and cut Social Security benefits for Michigan seniors.

"If Tim Walberg agrees with John Boehner's plan to cut retirement benefits by raising the retirement age to 70, he should be honest for a change and say so," said Schauer. "If not, he should have the courage to stand up for Michigan values by refusing to raise money with someone who wants to cut Social Security benefits."

During a June interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Boehner said, "I think that raising the retirement age - going out 20 years, so you're not affecting anyone close to retirement - and eventually getting the retirement age to 70 is a step that needs to be taken." [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 6/29/10]

Last week, Tim Walberg issued a statement that said, "I have always opposed privatization of the Social Security system." However, several newspapers printed quotes from a recent interview Tim Walberg gave to the far-right group Independence Caucus, where he said, "Yeah, when you throw the word privatization out, a seasoned campaigner like me understands that that is a buzzword that is just about as negative as a noose hanging around your neck. But in talking with you, we all understand what that means, and I would definitely support the privatization of the so-called Social Security system." [Citizen Patriot, 8/16/10]

Congressman Schauer recently signed a pledge to protect Social Security, and fight any attempt to privatize the program or cut retirement benefits for Michigan seniors. [Daily Telegram, 8/15/10]

"It's time to stop rewarding companies for shipping our jobs to China," said Schauer. "Michigan voters deserve to know if Tim Walberg would support this important legislation to save thousands of teaching jobs across the state, or if he will continue to defend outsourcing as ‘both necessary and good for the nation's economy.'"

The legislation will save 140,000 teacher jobs nationally, and will create or save an additional 150,000 jobs for police officers, firefighters and nurses. The bill is completely paid for, and will cut the national deficit by $1.4 billion over 10 years.

BACKGROUND:

• Tim Walberg has signed a pledge to defend tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas:
  • In May 2010, Americans for Tax Reform stated that their pledge required opposition to The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010. The legislation would have closed a variety of different loopholes that actually create tax incentives for companies to move American jobs overseas. [Americans for Tax Reform, 5/20/10, Washington Post, 6/9/10]
  • Tim Walberg has signed the ATR pledge. [www.atr.org]
• During a 2004 debate, Walberg agreed that outsourcing was "both necessary and good" for the nation's economy. [Lansing State Journal, 4/27/04]

JACKSON - Today the pro-outsourcing group "Americans for Prosperity" launched a $260,000 smear campaign against Congressman Mark Schauer (D-MI) with misleading TV ads that aim to distort Schauer's record of fighting for Michigan families and businesses.

"This shadowy group was founded by a billionaire CEO whose company actually won an award for outsourcing American jobs to China," said Zack Pohl, spokesman for Schauer's campaign. "Since Tim Walberg has pledged to defend tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas, it's no surprise that his special interest allies are willing to spend whatever it takes to buy this election. Mark Schauer doesn't work for the special interests - he's fighting to help our businesses create jobs here, not in China."

The Americans for Prosperity ad falsely claims Schauer voted to increase the national debt, when in fact he voted against increasing the national debt ceiling and publicly called on Speaker Pelosi to pass a budget that cut government spending. [WTVB, 2/5/10; Citizen Patriot, 3/25/10]

Additionally, the ad falsely claims Schauer voted to cut Medicare for seniors. In fact, the health care reform bill Schauer voted to pass was endorsed by AARP. At a town hall meeting earlier this year, Michigan AARP government affairs director Felicia Wasson said, "We would never support a plan that cuts Medicare." [Detroit News, 3/30/10]

Background

• Americans for Prosperity Founded by billionaire CEO:
  • "Mr. Koch, a major contributor to the Republican Party and supporter of conservative causes... helped establish the nonprofit Americans for Prosperity Foundation, which supports free-market policies." [New York Times, 7/10/08]
  • "Americans for Prosperity got over $5 million from Koch Foundations between 2005 and 2008." [MSNBC, 3/31/10]
• Koch Industries subsidiary won award for outsourcing American jobs to China:
  • "Freeborders and INVISTA Named Winners of Outsourcing Excellence Award; Prestigious Award Recognizes New Sales and Sourcing Platform for the Global Textile Industry." [Freeborders Press Release, 6/1/06]
  • Invista is a key subsidiary of Koch Industries. [http://www.invista.com/page_whois_shareholder_en.shtml]
• Walberg has signed a pledge to defend tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas:
  • In May 2010, Americans for Tax Reform stated that their pledge required opposition to The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010. The legislation would have closed a variety of different loopholes that actually create tax incentives for companies to move American jobs overseas. [Americans for Tax Reform, 5/20/10, Washington Post, 6/9/10]
  • Tim Walberg has signed the ATR pledge. [www.atr.org]

"I'm looking forward to a spirited campaign of ideas about what direction we should take to get our economy back on track. Voters will have a clear choice this November, between going back to the tried-and-failed Bush policies that drove our economy off a cliff, or laying the groundwork for an economic recovery. While Mr. Walberg has a very clear record of defending tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship our jobs overseas, I will remain focused on leveling the playing field so our businesses can create jobs here - not in China."