Travis Childers “Gets It,” Alan Nunnelee Doesn’t
New Ad Unveils Nunnelee’s Tax and Travel Agenda
Booneville, MS – Today, Childers for Congress aired its fourth district-wide television advertisement for the 2010 campaign. The ad, entitled “Get It,” informs voters about how Alan Nunnelee used taxpayer dollars to pay for a personal flight on a State Highway Patrol plane in the midst of negotiations surrounding Mississippi’s budget crisis. Nunnelee used the plane for personal travel the day after Medicaid reimbursements were stopped and just days before an emergency State legislative session, at which Nunnelee broke his pledge to never raise taxes by raising taxes on sick people in hospital beds.
The 30-second ad compares Travis Childers’ record of creating jobs and opposing wasteful spending to Alan Nunnelee’s record of using taxpayer dollars to fund personal plane rides while simultaneously increasing taxes for hard-working North Mississippians.
Alan Nunnelee’s Tax and Travel Itinerary
BUDGET CRISIS
6/10-6/30/09: Mississippi’s state budget is in crisis and the State government is within days of shutting down. [WLOX, 6/11/09; Meridian Star, 6/23/09]
MEDICAID RUNS OUT OF FUNDING
6/19/09: The Division of Medicaid sends out letters notifying medical providers that reimbursements will be stopped until after July 1st – the day before Nunnelee gets his own personal flight on a state Highway Patrol plane. Many local pharmacists, physicians, and home health suppliers don’t get reimbursed from Medicaid for more than two weeks as budget negotiations stall. [Leader Call (AP), 6/19/09]
NUNNELEE FLIES STATE PLANE INSTEAD OF TAKING 3 HOUR DRIVE TO JACKSON
6/20-6/21/09: Alan Nunnelee gets his own personal flight on the state Highway Patrol plane from Tupelo to Jackson, and the next day gets another personal flight for him alone from Jackson to Tupelo. Nunnelee is the only passenger logged on the plane, and the plane makes two dead-leg trips to accommodate him. [Mississippi Department of Public Safety Flight Data, 6/20/09-6/21/09]
Nunnelee’s ride on the state plane is in the midst of negotiations to raise taxes on sick people using hospital beds. [NEMS Daily Journal, 6/22/09]
NUNNELEE RAISES TAXES ON SICK PEOPLE, BREAKS PLEDGE JUST DAYS AFTER HIS PERSONAL FLIGHT
6/30/09: Nunnelee passed the hospital tax days after his personal flight on the state plane…but he previously signed a pledge not to raise taxes. [Commercial Appeal, 6/30/09; Americans for Tax Reform Press Release, 7/21/2003]
Below is a transcript of the new ad:
TRAVIS:
I’m Travis Childers. [Travis at kitchen table]
I went to work full-time at age 16 when my father died.
So, when it comes to tough times, I get it.
[Travis at construction site]
I’ve worked on creating jobs and opposed wasteful spending in Washington.
[Protecting Jobs. Opposing Big Budgets.]
VOICEOVER:
And Alan Nunnelee?
[Nunnelee profile in State plane]
He wasted tax money flying the State plane during a budget crisis.
[State of Mississippi Office of Air Transport Services document]
Then broke his no tax pledge and raised our taxes.
[Taxpayer Protection Pledge signed by Nunnelee]
TRAVIS:
I’m Travis Childers and I approved this message because when it comes to taxes and keeping his word, Alan Nunnelee just doesn’t get it. [Travis at kitchen table]
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Paid for by Childers for Congress
9/24/10
