If you would like to donate or get involved with Senator Mark Pryor's (D. AR) re-election bid, you can do so here:Big news in the entertainment world yesterday with CBS announcing that Stephen Colbert will be replacing David Letterman on The Late Show. Some of us are sad to see Letterman leave the Late Show and others will miss Colbert on the Colbert Report. Wherever you come down on the switch, it’s a big change on late night TV.In honor of the big news, the Democratic Party of Arkansas is highlighting the “Top Ten Congressman Cotton Whoppers.” It was tough to whittle the list down to ten, but give it a read.
Once you do, I think you’ll see why we’re working so hard to #CancelCotton come November.
10. Tom Cotton’s first ad of the campaign was rated “False” by Politifact and was “called out for its jaw-dropping falsity” for claiming Mark Pryor voted for “special subsidies”
9. Tom Cotton claimed he would call the winner of his fill-in-the-blank twitter contest but never called Pryor for Senate Deputy Campaign Manager Erik Dorey when he won with 105 Retweets and 111 Favorites.
8. Tom Cotton said he supported no changes to Medicare for current retirees but repeatedly supported legislation that would do away with free cancer screenings, wellness visits for Medicare recipients and reopen the prescription drug donut hole.
7. Tom Cotton claimed he supported no changes to Social Security benefits for current beneficiaries, but he was the only Arkansan to vote for the Republican Study Committee budget that included switching to the chained CPI for cost-of-living adjustments that would cut Social Security for current beneficiaries.
6. Tom Cotton told Arkansans he planned “to apply for health insurance through the Arkansas exchange” but instead chose a non-grandfathered plan and avoided Arkansas’s health exchange.
5. Tom Cotton told Arkansans “I will refuse my federal tax payer subsidies and my staff is going to follow my lead and do the same thing” (See Whopper #10) but Cotton’s staff kept their employer match.
4. Tom Cotton claimed he opposed funding for Arkansas Children’s Hospital because the legislation had not been considered by committee but the bill was fully considered by committee.
3. Tom Cotton says he can’t disclose any information about his McKinsey clients but Cotton has already disclosed that he worked for the Federal Housing Authority and marketing multivitamins and calcium supplements.
2. Tom Cotton said, he would never “vote to slash $700 billion" from Medicare, but he voted for that exact same amount of Medicare savings in Paul Ryan's budget.
1. Tom Cotton claims he works to reduce violence against women but he was the only Arkansan to vote against both versions of the Violence Against Women Act.
BACKGROUND:
CENTRAL CLAIMS OF COTTON’S FIRST AD WAS RATED FALSE
Politifact Rated Cotton’s First Ad “False,” Saying “This Assertion Falls Wide Of The Facts.”“Cotton said Pryor voted for "special subsidies" for lawmakers and staff in congress ‘so they’re protected from Obamacare’… Cotton relies on an interpretation of the law that independent experts say is wrong. The assertion falls wide of the facts, and we rate this claim False.” [Politifact, 10/9/13]
Politifact: Cotton’s First Ad “Relies On An Interpretation Of The Law That Independent Experts Say Is Wrong.”“Cotton relies on an interpretation of the law that independent experts say is wrong. The assertion falls wide of the facts, and we rate this claim False.” [Politifact, 10/9/13]
Steve Barnes: Cotton’s Commercial Has Been “Called Out For Its Jaw-Dropping Falsity.” Steve Barnes wrote in the Baxter Bulletin: “The commercial has been running for days now, and for almost as long it has been called out for its jaw-dropping falsity. I saw it for the first time while watching the Razorbacks fall to Florida and, as weathered by political cynicism as I consider myself to be, I was nonetheless startled by its uncommon brazenness.” [Steve Barnes, Baxter Bulletin, 10/11/13]
Steve Barnes: Cotton’s Ad Is A “Blatant Falsehood” Endlessly Repeated “In The Hope That Voters Are Sufficiently Ill-Informed Or Frightened Or Angry Enough To Swallow It.” Steve Barnes wrote in theBaxter Bulletin about Cotton’s ad: “It is a blatant falsehood, endlessly repeated by the most strident opponents of the A.C.A. in the hope that voters are sufficiently ill-informed or frightened or angry enough to swallow it.” [Steve Barnes, Baxter Bulletin, 10/11/13]
Steve Barnes: “The Substance Of The Cotton Commercial Has Been So Thoroughly Discredited By So Many Independent Fact-Check Organizations That The Autopsy Need Hardly Be Repeated.”“The substance of the Cotton commercial has been so thoroughly discredited by so many independent fact-check organizations that the autopsy need hardly be repeated here, though the bottom line seems to demand it: members of Congress do not enjoy any exemption and never did; they received, and receive, the same employer contribution toward health insurance coverage as any other individual with group benefits; and the language that temporarily stripped them of such subsidy was the product of a Republican-sponsored amendment, a little time bomb that was de-fused when the Republican Speaker helped Democrats secure a waiver from Mr. Obama. That is not a columnist’s interpretation, analysis, or opinion. It is fact.” [Steve Barnes, Baxter Bulletin, 10/11/13]
CLAIM: COTTON CLAIMED HE WOULD CALL THE WINNER OF HIS TWITTER CONTEST
TRUTH: COTTON DID NOT CALL CONTEST WINNER
Cotton’s Campaign Tweeted: “Fill In The Blank. The Person With The Most Rts + Favorites Will Get A Call From Tom Next Week!” [@TomCottonAR, twitter, 3/17/14]
Erik Dorey Won The Contest With 105 Retweets And 111 Favorites, A Decisive Victory. @erikdorey responded to @TomCottonAR’s tweet with “.@TomCottonAR not perfect, but Pryor works to improve it while Cotton wants to drop 100,000 Ark. families from the security of new coverage.” Erik Dorey’s tweet received 105 retweets and 111 favorites, making him the clear winner. [@erikdorey, twitter, 3/17/14]
Tom Cotton Never Called Erik Dorey Or Reached Out In Any Way. In a personal interview, Erik Dorey revealed that he was never called or contacted by Rep. Tom Cotton, despite his promise to call the twitter contest winner. [Personal interview, Erik Dorey, 4/11/14]
CLAIM: COTTON SUPPORTED NO CHANGES TO MEDICARE… FOR THOSE CURRENTLY RECEIVING BENEFITS OR FOR THOSE NEARING RETIREMENT
Cotton’s Website Claimed He Supported No Changes To Social Security. Cotton’s website said, “Tom Cotton supported no changes to Medicare… for those currently receiving benefits or for those nearing retirement.” [Tom Cotton, 4/9/14]
TRUTH: COTTON SUPPORTED REPEALING FREE CANCER SCREENINGS AND WELLNESS VISITS FOR MEDICARE RECIPIENTS
Cotton Cosponsored Legislation To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. Cotton cosponsored H.R. 45, a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act including a repeal of funding for the Medicaid expansion. [H.R. 45, cosponsored 2/6/13]
Cotton Supported Repealing Annual Wellness Visits And Free Cancer Screens For Seniors. According to PolitiFact, “Preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs. Everyone on Medicare is now eligible for free preventive care as a result of President Barack Obama’s health care law. Seniors’ annual wellness visits would be covered, as well as flu shots and a number of screenings for cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, HIV, and cholesterol (complete list is here). These services would not require co-pays.” [PolitiFact, 8/18/12]
Affordable Care Act Included Doctor Visits Without Co-payments Or Deductibles. According to Consumer Reports, the health care law included “Free preventive care and annual checkups. The law focuses on prevention and primary care to help people stay healthy and to manage chronic medical conditions before they become more complex and costly to treat. New private health plans must cover and eliminate cost-sharing (co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible) for proven preventive measures such as immunizations and cancer screenings. Additional preventive measures for women kicked in August 2012, including free well-woman visits, screening for gestational diabetes, domestic violence screening, breast-feeding supplies, and contraception, all with no cost-sharing.” [Consumer Reports, 9/20/11]
Affordable Care Act Included For Free Yearly Wellness Visit. According to the AARP, “Until Jan. 1 [2011], Medicare did not cover any routine exams except for the ‘Welcome to Medicare’ exam for new beneficiaries. The Affordable Care Act created the once-a-year wellness visit as a new benefit, paying doctors to perform it and making it free to patients. By the end of June, Medicare had paid for nearly 1 million such visits, according to CMS.” [AARP, 7/22/11]
COTTON SUPPORTED INCREASING COST FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BY RE-OPENING MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE
Cotton Support Re-Opening The Prescription Drug Donut Hole, Would Increase Prescription Costs For Seniors. According to PolitiFact, “The ‘doughnut hole.’ The law gradually closes the so-called "doughnut hole" for seniors on the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program over 10 years. Before the law, seniors whose annual drug costs exceeded $2,830 shouldered the entire payment without government assistance until they hit an out of pocket limit of $4,550. Once "catastrophic coverage" is triggered, the government paid 95 percent of costs. The health care law gives beneficiaries who reach the doughnut hole a $250 tax-free rebate. Federal subsidies will kick in, gradually reducing the patient’s share of the payment from 100 percent to 25 percent by 2020. Plus, seniors in the doughnut hole receive a 50 percent discount on covered brand-name drugs.” [PolitiFact, 8/18/12]
GOP Budget Repeals Provision That Closed Donut Hole in Medicare Prescription Drug Program. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, “Among other elements, the House GOP budget would repeal: The provisions that closed the “doughnut hole” in Medicare Part D.” [Bipartisan Policy Center, 3/12/13]
Ryan Budget Would Increase Prescription Drug Costs For Seniors By Re-opening Prescription Drug Doughnut Hole.“The Ryan budget would repeal health reform’s provisions that improve Medicare benefits, including closure of the Medicare prescription drug donut hole and coverage of preventive services without cost sharing. These repeals would adversely affect current Medicare beneficiaries as well as those not yet eligible. Health reform has begun to close the donut hole — the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage that many seniors experienced once their annual drug costs exceeded $2,840. Before health reform, seniors had no additional coverage until their costs hit $6,448. Starting in 2011, seniors in the coverage gap began receiving a discount on brand-name and generic prescription drugs. These discounts and Medicare coverage will gradually increase until 2020, when the entire donut hole is closed. The Ryan budget would reopen the drug donut hole. Health reform also requires both private insurance companies and Medicare to cover preventive care services without any cost sharing. Preventive care includes screenings for chronic illnesses like diabetes and cancer and routine vaccines. The Ryan budget would reinstate cost sharing in Medicare for these preventive benefits. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/15/13]
COTTON SUPPORTED CHANGES TO MEDICARE THAT WOULD INCREASE MEDICARE PREMIUMS BY OVER $300 PER YEAR
PolitiFact: Restoring Medicare Savings Would Increase Medicare Premiums $342 Per Year. According to PolitiFact, “Restoring $716 billion in Medicare cost savings. Romney has said he will replenish $716 billion in Medicare spending reductions in the health care law over the next decade. Some analysts say reinstating the savings will will drive up premiums for Medicare Part B beneficiaries, reported the New York Times on Aug. 21, 2012. Premiums are pegged to Medicare’s overall costs, so when costs go up, premiums go up. Marilyn Moon, vice president and director of the health program at the American Institutes for Research, used official data to compute how out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries might increase. We reached Moon, and she reviewed her methodology with us. She calculated that restoring the Medicare spending would raise co-payments and premiums by by $342 a year on average over the next 10 years. By 2022, the annual increase would rise to $577.” [PolitiFact, 8/18/12]
COTTON SUPPORTED TURNING MEDICARE INTO A VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE 59 AND YOUNG
Cotton Was The Only Member Of The Arkansas Delegation To Vote For Republican Study Committee Budget That Would Turn Medicare Into A Voucher System For People Age 59. In 2013, Cotton was the only member of the Arkansas delegation to vote in favor of the Republican Study Committee Budget. According to the Southwest Times Record, the Republican Study Committee budget “would turn Medicare into a voucher system, raise the full retirement age to 70 and provide smaller cost-of-living adjustments by using a different method to calculate inflation. The RSC budget, which was offered as an amendment to a House budget resolution, was rejected in March.” The budget was rejected by a vote of 104-132. [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 3/20/13; Southwest Times Record, 11/13/13]
The Hill: RSC Budget Turns Medicare Into A Voucher Program At A Faster Rate Than The Ryan Budget. As reported by The Hill: “The key difference between the two proposals [the RSC and Ryan budgets] is the plan to overhaul Medicare. While Ryan calls for implementing his ‘premium support’ plan for future beneficiaries age 54 and younger, the RSC budget would start the change for people 59 and below.” The Hill, 3/15/13]
The Commonly Accepted Definition Of “Approaching Retirement” Is 55 And Younger Since The FY11 Ryan Budget.
COTTON SUPPORTED CHANGES TO MEDICARE THAT COULD CAUSE THE PROGRAM TO UNRAVEL, INCREASING PREMIUMS TO SENIORS ENROLLED IN MEDICARE TODAY
Cotton Voted For FY 2014 Ryan Budget. In 2013, Cotton voted for passage of the controversial Ryan Budget that would “[restructure] of Medicare into a ‘premium support’" system beginning in 2024. It would call for an overhaul of the tax code, under which the alternative minimum tax would be repealed, the six current individual income tax brackets would be consolidated into two and tax credits and deductions would be eliminated or curtailed. The budget was adopted by a vote of 221-207. [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 3/21/13]
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Ryan Budget “Would Transform Medicare Into A Voucher-Like System Known As Premium Support.”“At a time when retiring baby boomers and mounting medical prices have made federal health-care spending the biggest single driver of the nation's rising debt, the House budget from Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would transform Medicare into a voucher-like system known as premium support, which Obama and Democrats adamantly oppose. But Cantor, like Obama, is suggesting cost-saving changes within the existing Medicare program.” [Arkansas-Democrat Gazette, 3/29/13]
Texarkana Gazette: Ryan Plan “Calls For Entitlement Cuts, Including Medicaid Cuts And A Voucher System Privatizing Medicare For Future Recipients.” According to an editorial by the Texarkana Gazette, “But the president may have a point as well. Speaking against a plan by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., that calls for entitlement cuts, including Medicaid cuts and a voucher system privatizing Medicare for future recipients, he said the proposal would amount to a tax on middle-class families and the poor.” [Editorial, Texarkana Gazette, 3/18/13]
CBPP: Ryan Plan Could Cause Medicare To “Become Less Financially Viable” And “Unravel.” According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Chairman Ryan claims that his proposal ‘ensur[es] that traditional Medicare remains an option. ’Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Under premium support, traditional Medicare would tend to attract a less healthy pool of enrollees, while private plans would attract healthier enrollees (as occurs today with Medicare and private Medicare Advantage plans). Although the proposal calls for “risk adjusting” payments to health plans — that is, adjusting them to reflect the average health status of their enrollees — the risk adjustment process is highly imperfect and captures only part of the differences in costs across plans that stem from differences in the health of enrollees. Inadequate risk adjustment would mean that traditional Medicare would be only partially compensated for its higher-cost enrollees, which would force it to raise premiums to make up the difference. The higher premiums would lead more of Medicare’s healthier enrollees to abandon it for private plans, very possibly setting off a spiral of rising premium costs and falling enrollment for traditional Medicare. Over time, traditional Medicare would become less financially viable and could unravel — not because it was less efficient than the private plans, but because it was competing on an unlevel playing field in which private plans captured the healthier beneficiaries and incurred lower costs as a consequence.” [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/15/13]
CBPP: Under Ryan Plan “People Now Age 55 Or Older Might Well Face Higher Premiums And Cost Sharing For Traditional Medicare, A More Limited Choice Of Providers, Or Both.” According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Chairman Ryan says that his proposal would not affect people age 55 and older, but this claim, too, is unlikely to be true. As fewer new beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare, the population in traditional Medicare would gradually get older, sicker, fewer in number, and much more expensive per person to cover. Moreover, as the size of the Medicare population shrank, administrative costs would rise relative to benefit payments, traditional Medicare’s power to demand lower payment rates from providers would erode, and providers would have less incentive to participate in the program. As a result, people now age 55 and older might well face higher premiums and cost sharing for traditional Medicare, a more limited choice of providers, or both.” [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/15/13]
CLAIM: TOM COTTON SUPPORTED NO CHANGES… SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THOSE CURRENTLY RECEIVING BENEFITS OR FOR THOSE NEARING RETIREMENT
Cotton’s Website Claimed He Supported No Changes To Social Security. Cotton’s website said, “Tom Cotton supported no changes to… Social Security for those currently receiving benefits or for those nearing retirement” [Tom Cotton, 4/9/14]
TRUTH: COTTON VOTED TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
Cotton Was the Only Member Of The Arkansas Delegation To Vote for Republican Study Committee Budget That Transformed Medicare Into Voucher System, Raised the Eligibility Age For Medicare To 70 And Cut Social Security Benefits. In 2013, Cotton voted for the Republican Study Committee budget that “would assume the transformation of Medicare into a premium support program that would compete against private plans.” According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the budget “transitions Medicare to a premium support system by 2019 for new beneficiaries, and raises the Medicare retirement age to 70 and indexes it to life expectancy… Unlike other budgets, [Republican Study Budget] also addresses Social Security specifically by switching to the chained CPI for cost-of-living adjustments and increasing the full retirement age to 70 and indexing it for life expectancy.” According to the AARP, “Changing the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) using a chained CPI would have a detrimental impact on the economic wellbeing of older and disabled Americans and their family members who receive benefits from Social Security. Small reductions to the annual COLA will accumulate over time so that the largest reductions in benefits will be on the oldest beneficiaries and the long-term disabled. For example, 92- year-old beneficiaries who were on the program for 30 years would see an 8.4% cut in benefits. Disabled children could face even larger benefit cuts over their lifetime. Oldest Americans are the least able to absorb cuts to their benefits as they are more reliant on Social Security for their income and have higher out-of-pocket medical spending and a higher poverty rate than younger Americans.” The budget was rejected by a vote of 104-132. [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 3/20/13; Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, 3/19/13; AARP, October 2012]
Difference in Benefits for Average Earner Retiring in 2011 at Age 65
(in constant 2011 dollars)[Strengthen Social Security, Chained CPI Factsheet, 2011]CHAINED CPI IS A “SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT CUT” TO SOCIAL SECURITY
AARP: “Although Many Have Attempted To Characterize The Chained CPI As A Minor Tweak, It Is In Fact A Significant Benefit Cut That Snowballs Over Time.” According to AARP, “Although many have attempted to characterize the chained CPI as a minor tweak, it is in fact a significant benefit cut that snowballs over time. The adoption of chained CPI would take approximately $340 billion dollars out of the pockets of current and near retirees, working families, veterans and the disabled, as well as the local economies in which they live, in the next 10 years alone. Specific to Social Security, the chained CPI cuts benefits by $127 billion over the next 10 years.” [AARP, 8/12/13]
HEADLINE—AARP To Ways And Means: Chained CPI Is Less Accurate And A Significant Social Security Benefit Cut [AARP,8/12/13]
AARP: “Chained CPI Would Take Approximately $340 Billion Dollars Out Of The Pockets Of Current And Near Retirees, Working Families, Veterans And The Disabled.” According to AARP, “Although many have attempted to characterize the chained CPI as a minor tweak, it is in fact a significant benefit cut that snowballs over time. The adoption of chained CPI would take approximately $340 billion dollars out of the pockets of current and near retirees, working families, veterans and the disabled, as well as the local economies in which they live, in the next 10 years alone. Specific to Social Security, the chained CPI cuts benefits by $127 billion over the next 10 years.” [AARP, 8/12/13]
AARP: “Specific To Social Security, The Chained CPI Cuts Benefits By $127 Billion Over The Next 10 Years.” According to AARP, “Although many have attempted to characterize the chained CPI as a minor tweak, it is in fact a significant benefit cut that snowballs over time. The adoption of chained CPI would take approximately $340 billion dollars out of the pockets of current and near retirees, working families, veterans and the disabled, as well as the local economies in which they live, in the next 10 years alone. Specific to Social Security, the chained CPI cuts benefits by $127 billion over the next 10 years.” [AARP, 8/12/13]
CLAIM: COTTON WOULD ENTER ARKANSAS HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE
Cotton: I Now Plan To Apply For Health Insurance Through The Arkansas Exchange And Will Forgo The Unlawful Subsidy Being Offered To Members Of Congress. Rep. Cotton’s website states, “I now plan to apply for health insurance through the Arkansas exchange and will forgo the unlawful subsidy being offered to Members of Congress.” [Rep. Cotton, Cotton blog, 12/3/13]
Cotton: “I, As A Member Of Congress, Must Buy Insurance -- If I Get Insurance Next Year -- On These Exchanges.” At a meeting of the Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus, Cotton stated: “I, as a member of Congress, must buy insurance -- if I get insurance next year -- on these exchanges. I have repeatedly tried to enroll online and I can never get past repeated error messages, as so many Arkansans and so many people around the country can't.” [Tom Cotton, Mississippi Delta Caucus Meeting, 10/18/13] (tracking footage)
Cotton: I Was Required By Law To Sign Up For The Obamacare Exchanges. From the transcript of an October 2013 RNC press call: Reince Preibus: And as you all may know, Congressman Cotton is required now to join the Obamacare exchanges and he actually tried to sign up on Tuesday, and I'll let him take it from here. Cotton: Thank you, Chairman Priebus. And good morning to everyone. Yes, I was required to sign up by law. And I tried on Tuesday. If I had continued to be trying, I might still be on hold and wouldn't be able to join you for this call. But, I ended up scrapping it because I didn't think it was going to work. I think the Chairman hit the nail on the head when he said the law just isn't ready for prime time. The President has been delaying key portions of it for months now. As the Chairman said, he's delayed the mandate on big businesses to provide insurance for their employees. He delayed many of (the?) anti-fraud and privacy protection(s?) and the income eligibility provisions of these online exchanges. He's delayed the exchanges for small businesses. And, as we see continuously over the last few days, the exchanges simply are not ready for prime time. [Tom Cotton, RNC Press Call, 10/04/13]
TRUTH: COTTON CHOSE A NON-GRANDFATHERED PLAN, AVOIDING THE HEALTH EXCHANGE
Cotton Chose A Non-Grandfathered Private Insurance Plan That Would Last Through The End Of 2014.“Cotton, who is in a different demographic of health insurance shoppers, chose a grandfathered private insurance plan that will last through the end of 2014 - when, like all other grandfathered plans, it will be canceled under the Affordable Care Act. The first-term congressman is young, healthy and his insurance rates would have soared if he had signed up for insurance on the exchanges this year, he said. The high rates help subsidize older people and those with pre-existing conditions.” [Democrat-Gazette, 2/10/14]
CLAIM: MY STAFF WILL FORGO FEDERAL SUBSIDIES TO PURCHASE HEALTH CARE
Cotton Said “I Will Refuse My Federal Tax Payer Subsidies And My Staff Is Going To Follow My Lead And Do The Same Thing Because We All Agree That We Should Follow The Same Rules As Every Arkansan Follows.” In an interview on KARK Cotton said, “So, I’ve introduced legislation to block the special exemption for Congressman and Senators and their staffers that the President that unlawfully granted, and if the Senate continues to refuse to take up that legislation then when we go into the healthcare exchanges on January 1, I will refuse my federal tax payer subsidies and my staff is going to follow my lead and do the same thing because we all agree that we should follow the same rules as every Arkansan follows.” [KARK, 9/18/13]
TRUTH: COTTON ALLOWED HIS STAFF TO KEEP THEIR EMPLOYER MATCH SUBSIDY TO PURCHASE HEALTH CARE
Cotton Congressional Staff Would Keep Their Employer Match Despite Cotton’s Criticism.“Cotton’s D.C. staff took note of the congressman’s choice, and while he didn’t mandate that any of them opt out of the D.C. exchange and forgo the federal employer contribution, several have. He said his office has set aside part of its budget - which is paid by the federal government - to reimburse the federal government for its contributions to those employees’ health accounts.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 2/10/14]
Cotton Co-Sponsored A Bill To Prohibit Government Subsidies For Health Care Premiums Going To Members Of Congress Or Their Staff. Cotton co-sponsored the “No Special Deal for D.C. Insiders Act of 2013”: “A bill to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to prohibit a government subsidy or contribution for the premiums of a health plan by a Member of Congress or Members’ staff or congressional leadership or committee staff; to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.” [Library of Congress, H.R. 3066, introduced 9/9/13]
CLAIM: COTTON OPPOSED FUNDING FOR THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S HOSPTIAL BECAUSE THE LEGISLATION HAD NOT BEEN CONSIDERED BY COMMITTEE
Cotton Staff Told Reporter That He Opposed Funding For Pediatric Residency Programs At The Arkansas Children’s Hospital Because It Was Not Considered By A Committee.“Cotton of Dardanelle voted against a House version of the bill in February 2013 that authorized $330 million in federal spending each year through federal fiscal year 2017. That version was approved by the House 352-50 and has sat in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions since. Cotton spokesman Caroline Rabbitt said the congressman opposed the funding bill in 2013 because the bill did not go to committee and was “fast-tracked to the floor with short notice for the vote.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 4/2/14]
TRUTH: THE BILL PROVIDING FUNDING FOR PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY PROGRAM WAS FULLY CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Issued A Correction Because They Were Given Erroneous Information By Cotton’s Staff; Pediatric Residency Programs Legislation Was Considered By A House Committee. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette issued a correction that read, “The 2013 U.S. House version of a bill to fund pediatrician training at Children’s Hospital went through the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Because of erroneous information from the staff of U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., an article Wednesday about this year’s House vote on a Senate bill to fund that program incorrectly stated that the 2013 bill did not go through committee.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 4/2/14]
CLAIM: COTTON WAS PREVENTED FROM DISCLOSING CLIENTS ON HIS PERSONAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Cotton Did Not Disclose His Clients On His Personal Financial Disclosure Form.
TRUTH: COTTON DISCLOSED CLIENTS HE WORKED FOR WHILE AT MCKINSEY
Cotton’s Campaign Revealed That Cotton Worked For The Federal Housing Authority While At McKinsey And Pointed Reporters To A McKinsey Report About His Work There.“David Ray, a Cotton spokesman, says that Cotton never actually worked for an insurance company as even a consultant. Instead, Ray says the “insurance” in the bio refers to an assignment working for the Federal Housing Authority, in the office of multifamily housing programs, to improve its service in providing insurance to lenders who finance apartment buildings. In other words, he worked on an assignment to make the government more efficient. (The successful effort is described on page 10 of
“Notably, that biographical writeup that has Cotton working through McKinsey in ‘insurance’ also has him working in ‘health care.’ Cotton’s campaign tells me the ‘health care’ work is subject to nondisclosure rules about particulars, but that it had to do with consulting an unidentified client on growth opportunities for over-the-counter products such as multivitamins and calcium supplements.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, opinion, 4/1/14]Description: https://mail.google.com/...
CLAIM: “I WOULD NEVER DO WHAT MARK PRYOR DID, WHICH IS TO SLASH 700 BILLION DOLLARS” FROM MEDICARE
Cotton Said He Would Never “Slash 700 Billion dollars” From Medicare. In an interview with Mountain Talk Radio, Cotton said, “I would never do what Mark Pryor did, which is vote to slash 700 billion dollars which is causing so many Arkansans who are on Medicare advantage to lose flexibility and essentially lose their plan entirely.” [Interview, Mountain Talk, 2/24/14]
TRUTH: COTTON VOTED FOR THE SAME MEDICARE SAVINGS HE IS ATTACKING SENATOR PRYOR FOR
PolitiFact: Paul Ryan's Budget Relies On The Same $700 Billion In Savings From Medicare That Mitt Romney And Other Republicans Have Been Attacking Democrats About. According to PolitiFact, “Cutter said that Romney attacked Obama for cutting $700 billion out of Medicare, but ‘Paul Ryan protected those cuts in his budget.’ Again, with this item we are not addressing whether they are cuts, but simply whether she is correctly characterizing Ryan's plan. Cutter is correct that the Ryan budget plan included cost savings that were part of the future health care law. Just recently, the Romney campaign backed away from that play, saying Romney’s plan would restore the spending that the health law is set to curtail, such as extra funding for private insurers under the Medicare Advantage plan. Still, Cutter was right about the Ryan plan. We rate her statement True.” [PolitiFact, 8/12/12]
Cotton Voted For Ryan Budget. In 2013, Cotton voted for passage of the controversial Ryan Budget that would “[restructure] of Medicare into a ‘premium support’" system beginning in 2024. It would call for an overhaul of the tax code, under which the alternative minimum tax would be repealed, the six current individual income tax brackets would be consolidated into two and tax credits and deductions would be eliminated or curtailed. The budget was adopted by a vote of 221-207. [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote #88, 3/21/13]
Ryan Plan Included Same Medicare “Cuts” Cotton Criticized. According to Forbes, “The Path to Prosperity keeps, but repurposes, Obamacare’s Medicare cuts and tax increases, while repealing the law’s spending on the uninsured. Those two components can be thought of as accounting for nearly $2 trillion of the Ryan budget’s $4.6 trillion in net deficit reduction.” [Forbes, 3/16/13]
Cotton Supported Both The FY 2013 Ryan Plan And The Republican Study Committee Plan. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported in 2012: “For his part, Tom Cotton says he supports either the Paul Ryan plan or something called the Republican Study Committee plan.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/29/12]
CLAIM: COTTON WORKS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Cotton Claimed He Worked To Reduce Violence Against Women. Cotton’s website read, “Tom works to reduce violence against women.” [Tom Cotton, 4/9/14]
TRUTH: COTTON WAS THE ONLY ARKANSAN TO VOTE AGAINST BOTH VERSIONS OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Cotton Opposed Final Violence Against Women Act That “Strengthens Protections of Particular Groups of Women at Particular Risk.” In 2013, Cotton voted against passage of the bill that would reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act for five years. The law, which expired in 2011, provides protections and assistance programs to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. The bill would authorize funds for law enforcement training programs, prosecution and victim services. It would give American Indian tribal courts additional authority over non-tribal domestic violence offenders. It would make it illegal for victim services organizations that receive grant funding through the law to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. It also would extend through 2017 a law that provides protections and assistance programs to trafficking victims. It would allow underage sex-trafficking victims to receive assistance under grants provided to help children exposed to violence. The bill passed (thus cleared for the president) by a vote of 286-138. As reported by CNN, “According to advocacy groups, the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act approved Tuesday strengthens protections of particular groups of women at particular risk.” [CQ; S 47, Vote #55, 2/28/13; CNN, 2/28/13]
Cotton Even Voted Against Republican Substitute Violence Against Women Act. In 2013, Cotton voted against the Republican substitute Violence Against Women Act that would reauthorize for five years federal grant programs that provide funds to states, law enforcement and nonprofit organizations for services provided to victims of violence and for the prosecution of offenders. It would give American Indian tribal courts additional authority over non-tribal domestic violence offenders and allow accused individuals to appeal to have their proceedings moved from tribal courts to a U.S. District Court. It also would require immigrant spouses subject to abuse -- and who seek U visas given to crime victims willing to help law enforcement agencies in the investigation or prosecution of the crime -- to comply with "any reasonable request" for assistance made by law enforcement regarding their case. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 166-257. [CQ; S. 47, Vote #54, 2/28/13]
