Nov 5, 2021 - Politics & Policy
First look: Conservative group aims $2m at frontline Democrats on BBB
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A conservative anti-tax group is dropping $2 million on a new ad campaign, urging vulnerable House Democrats in Virginia and other swing districts to oppose President Biden's $1.75 trillion social spending plan.
Why it matters: The Coalition to Protect American Workers, led by former Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Marc Short, is seizing on Democrats' poor election performance on Tuesday to hit key frontline members ahead of an expected House vote on the package.
- The attack ads come as several House moderates are more publicly airing their concerns with the size and scope of Biden's sweeping Build Back Better proposal, threatening its approval.
- Democratic groups have been outspending Republicans in public campaigns to shape the debate on Biden's agenda.
Details: The ads focus on the package's IRS tax enforcement provision.
- "Biden's massive tax increase plan includes a staggering $80 billion to help recruit an army of IRS agents, agents aggressively coming for every dime they can grab," the narrator says.
- The ad is reminiscent of the group's previous ads pressuring lawmakers, including Republicans, to oppose the measure.
By the numbers: The broadcast and cable ads will target House Democratic members in swing states across the country.
- $104,500 hitting Rep. Cindy Axne in Des Moines, Iowa.
- $103,970 on Rep. Abigail Spanberger in Richmond, Virginia (watch the ad).
- $102,995 on Rep. Elaine Luria in Norfolk, Virginia (watch the ad).
- $80,545 on Rep. Jared Golden in Bangor, Maine.
- $80,500 on House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal in Springfield, Mass.
- $10,000 on Rep. Henry Cuellar in Laredo, Texas, and $69,2225 in San Antonio.
- $78,500 on Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in Harlingen, Texas.
- $78,300 on Rep. Elissa Slotkin in Detroit, Mich.
