Claim: “She cut taxes for millionaires like herself”
Ad(s): Cards (Sleight of Hand)
Sponsor(s): Majority PAC & Connecticut’s Future PAC
Air Dates: Sept. 21-25, 2012
Total Estimated Spending On This Claim: $30,880
Race: Connecticut U.S. Senate
Markets: Hartford
Stations: WCCT, WFSB, WTIC, WTNH, WVIT
FactCheck.org Summary: “Let’s first look at the 2010 debate to extend the Bush-era tax cuts.At the time, President Obama and Democratic leaders wanted to extend the tax cuts for two years but only for those with incomes under $250,000, while Republican leaders wanted to keep the rates unchanged for all taxpayers.Then House Minority Leader, now House Speaker, John Boehner said on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation’ on Sept. 12, 2010 that he would vote to extend the tax cuts for those earning $250,000 or less if there was no other option. But he added that he would ‘fight to make sure that we extend the current tax rates for all Americans.’Even though Boehner included a major caveat and stressed his desire to keep fighting for an across-the-board tax extension, there was speculation in the media that Republicans might back down. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell ended that speculation a day later by reiterating that Republican senators opposed raising taxes for any taxpayers.By that point, CBS News reported Boehner was ‘back on message’ and unequivocally supported extending the tax cuts for all taxpayers. Republicans were united, and ultimately the Bush tax cuts were extended for two years for all. During this brief period of Beltway bloviation and the ensuing media speculation, McMahon was asked if she supported McConnell’s position over Boehner’s. McMahon answered “yes,” according to a Sept. 14, 2010 article in the Connecticut Mirror. The Democratic sponsors of the ad say the Mirror story proves that McMahon ‘supported blocking middle-class tax relief to save Bush tax cuts for [the] wealthy.’ That’s not true. It is only evidence that she supported keeping the tax cuts for all taxpayers.”