In Violation of Election Law, Toomey’s Foreign Corporation Friends Pour Millions into Pennsylvania to Distort Joe’s Record

Toomey Calls It an “Unfortunate Tendency” of the U.S. to Use “Buy American” Language

Congressman Toomey proves once again whose side he is on in the fight for jobs.  As a new report reveals, in violation of U.S. election law, Toomey’s foreign corporation allies are now spending millions to launch attack ads aimed at distorting Joe’s record. This is not surprising given that Congressman Toomey has always put Wall Street and foreign companies ahead of American workers.

In a shocking passage from his 2009 book, The Road to Prosperity, Congressman Toomey reveals his belief that the United States has the “unfortunate tendency” to use “buy American” language.  Meanwhile, he recently argued that the United States should model Hong Kong.  

“This simply proves how out-of-touch Congressman Toomey is with Pennsylvania,” said Sestak spokesman Jonathon Dworkin.  “He has a clear record of fighting on behalf of Wall Street and China at the expense of American workers. Joe believes it’s time to put ordinary Pennsylvanians first by investing in small business and the middle class to create jobs.”

The Chamber of Commerce uses tax loopholes to avoid disclosing contributions from foreign corporations. “Because the United States Chamber is organized as a 501(c)(6) business league under the federal tax code, it does not have to disclose its donors, so the full extent of foreign influence on its political agenda is unknown. But Tuesday’s report sheds light on how it raises money abroad. Its affiliate in Abu Dhabi, for example, the American Chamber of Commerce, says it has more than 450 corporate and individual members in the United Arab Emirates who pay as much as $8,500 a year to join.” [New York Times, 10/5/10]
In his 2009 book, The Road to Prosperity, Toomey wrote “When Congress passed President Obama’s spending bill, protectionist ‘buy-American’ language was included.  This unfortunate tendency is not limited to the United States.” [The Road to Prosperity, p. 211, 2009]

Yesterday, the Toomey campaign refused to say whether he would have voted for legislation aimed at preventing China from manipulating their currency, “Last week, Sestak voted for a measure that would allow the U.S. to seek trade sanctions against China and other nations for manipulating their currency to gain trade advantages. It passed the House, 348-79, and was sent to the Senate. The Toomey campaign could not immediately say whether Toomey supports the bill.” [Associated Press, 10/6/10]

According to the Morning Call, Congressman Toomey wants a regulatory system more like Hong Kong. “I was seeing pretty close up which economies were succeeding and which ones weren’t, and there is an unmistakable correlation,” Toomey said. “Those that are heavily regulated and centrally controlled underperform. And those like Hong Kong, where there is regulation but it is sensible, they thrive.” [Allentown Morning Call, 9/26/10]

In his book, Toomey said, “Foreign subsidies should be seen for what they are: Gifts to American consumers at the expense of foreign taxpayers…Certainly, substantial foreign subsidies (if not offset by tariffs) would result in fewer American cars sold, and consequently fewer American auto workers.” [The Road to Prosperity, p. 112-113].