"Just Won't Do" Radio Ad

Script

Context

The worst economic downturn since the Great Depression ... even more jobs lost Upstate. 

But Jim Tedisco refuses to say whether he supports President Obama's economic policies ... refuses to say whether he supports the jobs stimulus law.

Worst Economic Decline Since Great Depression

According to the Wall Street Journal, many experts believe this is the worst economic decline since the great depression.

"This has been the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. There is no question about it," said Mark Gertler, a New York University economist who worked with fellow academic Ben Bernanke, now the Federal Reserve chairman, to explain how financial turmoil can infect the overall economy. "But at the same time we have the policy mechanisms in place fighting it, which is something we didn't have during the Great Depression." [Wall Street Journal, 9/18/08]

Jobs Have Been Lost In Upstate New York

Over the last three months of 2008, New York lost 102,900 private sector jobs.

This includes a jump in unemployment numbers for New York State, outside of New York City, from 4.3% in November 2007 to 5.9% in November 2008 and 6.6% in December 2008. [New York State Department of Labor, 1/22/09]

Times-Union: Tedisco "Cant Be Serious" On Refusal to Take Stand on Recovery

On February 19, 2009, the Albany Times-Union attacked Jim Tedisco's refusal to take a position on the economic recovery package saying "he can't be serious."

They wrote, "That Mr. Tedisco would suggest that his position on what just might be the most contentious issue in Washington is a "hypothetical question" raises serious questions about his qualifications to serve in Congress." ­[Times-Union, 2/19/09]

Schenectady Daily Gazette: Tedisco "Wrong" To Not Take Position on Recovery Bill

On March 1, 2009, Jim Tedisco's hometown newspaper criticized his refusal to take a position on the economic recovery bill in an editorial.

They wrote, "Tedisco was still stonewalling - implying that it was OK for him not to weigh in on the question because it's already been settled, the legislation having been passed. Well, he's wrong." [Schenectady Daily Gazette, 3/1/09]

Instead, Jim Tedisco attacked his opponent, and The Times Union confirms Jim Tedisco's attack on Scott Murphy, quote, "misrepresents the facts."   Scott Murphy has paid all his taxes.

Albany Times-Union: Attack on Murphy "Misrepresents the Facts"

According to a fact-check article conducted by the Albany Times-Union, the allegations against Murphy are not accurate and ignore the fact that the tax liabilities were and are the responsibility of the company that purchased his.

According to the Times-Union:

The Republican committee's claim that Murphy "dodged" taxes oversimplifies and misrepresents the facts.

...

For all three warrants, iXL took on Small World's debts and liabilities as part of the January 1998 merger agreement, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and merger documents provided by the Murphy campaign. [Albany Times-Union, 2/15/09]

Glens Falls Post-Star Editor: "Smear" Against Murphy Lacks Understanding of Business Liability

According to an article by the Projects Editor of the Glens Falls Post-Star, the "smear" campaign against Murphy lacks an understanding that the outstanding liabilities of a purchased company become the liabilities of the surviving corporation.

According to Doolittle:

The next thing Tedisco's side did was produce documents showing that, 10 years ago, Murphy paid a tax bill late.

Then they produced another document showing that, 11 years ago, when Murphy sold his business, its liabilities included two small unpaid tax bills.

I'm guessing most voters have also paid a bill or two late in their time.

And I think most people understand that, when you sell a business, its liabilities become the responsibility of the new owner.

...

Republicans start with a big edge in this congressional race, made bigger by Tedisco's political prominence. But it's going to be a stretch, I think, for his side to smear Murphy as one of those nasty "businessmen" or ruthless "entrepreneurs."

Most voters still respect the guts and the smarts it takes to start your own business, and make it work, the way Murphy did.

It's not that Murphy's background will necessarily make him a better congressman than a former guidance counselor and basketball coach. But no way will it make him a worse one. [The Glens Falls Post-Star, 2/6/09]

His company in Glens Falls invests in upstate businesses and he's helped create over a thousand jobs, but Scott Murphy places caps on executive compensation at those companies.

Murphy Invests in Job Creation Upstate

Murphy's company, Advantage Capital, invests in companies creating jobs in Upstate.

Murphy and the company provide capital investments to small companies looking to expand.

Advantage Capital measures its success with two bottom lines: returns for investors and significant community impact including job creation.

Murphy Has Helped Create Over 1,000 Jobs

Through businesses he has founded and companies he has provided critical capital to, Murphy has helped create over 1,000 jobs.

Many of these jobs are in cutting-edge sector like clean energy solutions and internet technologies.

Murphy's company provided investment for a number of expanding companies that are creating Upstate jobs including those like Kionix, an Ithaca, NY technology firm. [CBS-Albany, 2/25/09; Murphy for Congress Website]

Murphy Routinely Places Caps on Executive Compensation

During Murphy's investments in small businesses, contracts are often written to explicitly limit executive compensation.

Additionally, when Scott has been involved in companies, bonuses have been related to performance targets at small start-up companies that routinely run a loss during their first years on the way to becoming successful companies. [Murphy for Congress Release, 2/5/09]

Scott Murphy supports caps on executive compensation for companies receiving federal bailout money, too.  Jim Tedisco?  Again, he refuses to say. In times like these, that just won't do.  Scott Murphy for Congress.  A businessman who knows how to create jobs in Upstate New York.

Tedisco Refused to State Position on Obama Exec Compensation Caps that Murphy Supports

Scott Murphy is the only candidate in this race who has come out in favor of caps on executive compensation for companies receiving bailout money.  His opponent, Tedisco refused to state his position on the issue even though the proposal was straightforward. Tedisco was pressed by the reporter several times on the specific policy of capping compensation at $500,000 for executives of companies receiving bailout money. [Glens Falls Post-Star, 2/10/09]

"I'm Scott Murphy, running for Congress, and I approved this message."  Paid for by Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and authorized by Scott Murphy for Congress.