Lowden: Reid’s Claims not Grounded in Facts

(Lowden for Senate) – “Senator Reid is digging in to his campaign war chest more than a year out from Election Day to try to convince Nevadans that we cannot do without his power and prestige in Washington. Just like other Washington politicians, he shows a complete disconnect with the real problems Nevadans face here at home. For instance, Harry Reid claims that he has saved tens of thousands of jobs in Nevada. What he doesn’t want known are the facts, and these are the facts:

Approximately 50,000 more Nevadans are out of work today than there were prior to Senator Reid pushing his government spending plan earlier this year.

Since Senator Reid’s government spending plan passed earlier this year, Nevada’s unemployment has increased by nearly 40 percent.

As Senate Majority Leader and key architect of the federal stimulus bill, Nevada ranked dead last – of all 50 states – in receiving support from the federal government.

Nevada has nearly the highest unemployment rate in the country – second only to Michigan. And, Nevada has the highest home foreclosure rate in the country.

As a fixture of Washington for the past three decades, Senator Reid has taken us from a rank of 33rd in federal funding for Nevada, per capita – to a rank of 49th in federal funding.

When Harry Reid was elected to the US Senate, Nevada taxpayers received 98 cents back on every tax dollar we sent to Washington. Today, we receive just 65 cents. There are 48 other states out there who should be sending Senator Reid “thank you” notes for all the money he takes from Nevada to fund other states’ priorities.

“On top of all this, Harry Reid is trying to spend even more of our limited tax dollars. He wants our money so he and his Washington friends can take over our financial industry, our auto industry and our health care industry. He wants new government entitlement programs while short-changing existing ones. He wants to raid our seniors’ Medicare and push higher taxes on all working Nevadans.

“Senator Reid will run a campaign trying to convince us that Washington knows best, and with his power, we will prosper. The facts above seem to indicate the exact opposite. This is called ‘disconnect’ – and it thrives in Washington, where Harry Reid reigns supreme.”