Andy Tobin’s at it again – after his special interest allies dragged him across the primary finish line – he’s padding his campaign coffers at a closed-door fundraising event today headlined by House Republican leaders like Kevin McCarthy. Republicans’ latest effort to prop up Tobin’s flailing campaign is just more proof that he will rubberstamp their out-of-touch agenda that makes taxpayers foot the bill for giveaways to special interests.
“Washington Republicans are propping up Andy Tobin because they need a reliable vote for an out-of-touch agenda that rewards special interests at the expense of Arizona families,” said Tyrone Gayle of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Whether it’s Andy Tobin’s lengthy record hurting the middle class or his eagerness to take his marching orders from leaders who want to stack the deck for special interests, Washington Republicans are eager to bankroll Tobin’s campaign because they know they can count on his vote for their reckless agenda.”
BACKGROUND
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Headlining Andy Tobin Fundraiser [Fundraising Invitation, Accessed 9/16/14]
Tobin Voted for and Strongly Defended Bill Protecting Businesses that Deny Service Based Solely on Religious Belief. In February 2014, Tobin voted for a bill that protects Arizona businesses from lawsuits after denying services based on religious belief. Opponents of the bill argued that the legislation would lead to businesses discriminating against people, such as homosexuals, based solely on the business owner’s religious belief. “The bill’s intent is to protect the business community’s freedom of expression under the First Amendment,” Tobin said. The bill passed 33-27 and was later vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer. [SB 1062, 2/20/14; ABC 15, 2/22/14]
Headline: Arizona business leaders plead for veto of SB 1062 [Phoenix Business Journal, 2/24/14]
2007: McCarthy Voted Against Prohibiting Job Discrimination On The Basis Of Sexual Orientation. In November 2007, McCarthy voted against a bill that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “prohibit[ed] job discrimination on the basis of an individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation. It would [have] define[d] sexual orientation as heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality. An employee who alleged discrimination would [have] be[en] required to demonstrate that the nature of the discrimination was intentional. As amended, it would [have] exempt[ed] religious organizations. It also would [have specified] that the bill would not [have] alter[ed] the federal definition of marriage as being between a man and woman.” The vote was on passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007. The House passed the bill by a vote of 235 to 184. The Senate took no substantive action. [House Vote 1057, 11/7/07; Congressional Quarterly, 11/7/07; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3685]
Tobin Called Republican-Passed CR That Led to Shutdown “Very Appropriate.” On October 6, 2013, Tobin said that he supported the Republican-passed continuing resolution demanding changes to the Affordable Care Act. “Tobin told The Arizona Republic, ‘I don’t think (Republicans are) being extreme on this issue,’ by demanding changes to the Affordable Care Act in exchange for approving temporary government funding, despite the president’s promised veto. ‘For the Republican majority to have offered this (continuing resolution) was very appropriate.’” [Arizona Republic, 10/06/13]
McCarthy Voted Sixteen Times Against Re-Opening Government, which was Tied to ACA Funding. Following the government shutdown, Rep. Kevin McCarthy voted sixteen times against efforts to vote on a clean government funding resolution by allowing consideration of the Senate-passed continuing resolution. New York Times: “So far, however, there has been little tangible headway. Part of the problem is that moderates are behaving a bit too moderately. They have yet to vote with Democrats on procedural maneuvers that could force the hand of the Republican leadership or to sign a petition Democrats are circulating that would require a vote on a short-term spending bill to reopen the government if a majority of House members signed. They are unwilling to defy their leaders to that extent.” [H Res 370, Vote #509, 10/02/13; HJ Res 59, Vote #512, 10/02/13; HR 3230, Vote #515, 10/03/13; HJ Res 72, Vote #517, 10/03/13; H Res 371, Vote #519, 10/04/13; HJ Res 85, Vote #521, 10/04/13; HJ Res 75, Vote #523, 10/04/13; H J Res 77, Vote #527, 10/7/13; HJ Res 84, Vote #529, 10/08/13; H Res 373, Vote #531, 10/08/13; HR 3273, Vote #533, 10/08/13; HJ Res 90, Vote #536, 10/09/13; HJ Res 79, Vote #539,10/10/13; HJ Res 76, Vote #541, 10/11/13; HJ Res 380, Vote #543, 10/11/13; HJ Res 80, Vote #547, 10/14/13; New York Times, 10/07/13]
Tobin Voted to Make it Easier for Employers to Fire Women for Using Birth Control. In April 2012, Tobin voted in favor of House Bill 2625 that would make it easier for employers to fire women for using birth control for contraception despite the employer’s moral objection. The bill would also allow any employer to refuse to cover contraception on their health insurance plan unless a woman proved they were taking it to treat a medical condition. [Huffington Post, 3/14/12; HB2625, 50th Legislature 2nd Regular Session,4/19/12]
2011: McCarthy Voted To Defund Planned Parenthood. In April 2011, McCarthy voted for a resolution that, according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “bar[red] the use of funds made available in the bill to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. or its affiliates.” The vote was on a concurrent resolution to order the House clerk to make a correction in the enrollment of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2011 by inserting the proposed amendment. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 241 to 185, and it was then sent to the Senate, which rejected it. [House Vote 271, 4/14/11; Congressional Quarterly, 4/14/11; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res. 36]