WASHINGTON -- The conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity is launching radio and Internet advertisements urging a pair of Georgia Republican freshmen to oppose an extension of the Export-Import Bank as its authority expires June 30.
AFP, which is part of the network funded by the billionaire Koch Brothers, is putting radio ads up in Augusta and Savannah, along with digital ads targeting Reps. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler; and Rick Allen, R-Evans.
Carter has been publicly supportive of extending the bank -- and taken heat on TV from the Club for Growth for it. Allen has kept a low profile, and Michael Harden, AFP's state director, reported that Allen was noncommittal when the group lobbied him personally.
The bank's fate is a long-running Chamber of Commerce v. tea party split within the Republican Party. It finances U.S. companies' business deals overseas, which supporters say creates jobs and foes say amounts to crony capitalism.
"You have a lot of these Fortune 500 companies that are making sure the members of Congress hear from them to extend the Export-Import Bank," Harden said. "But we want to make sure we are sticking up for the taxpayers to call in and get the counter-message out."
The fight is not that easily cast, however: Atlanta Fortune 500 company Delta Air Lines is fighting renewal of Ex-Im, while the comparatively scrappy Gulfstream (in Carter's district) wants to keep it.
The powerful U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pushing to keep Ex-Im, including a web ad praising Carter for fighting "to save Georgia jobs and strengthen our economy."
Harden would not reveal how much AFP is paying for the ad campaign. When asked, he replied: "Enough."
Here are the scripts for the radio ads (each one has a version for each congressman):
...
"Need a loan? The Export-Import bank can get you one for the right price, at least that's what some people think. More than 30 investigations for fraud, 80 criminal indictments. Kickbacks, corruption, and sweetheart deals for foreign corporations. So why do some Washington politicians still trust this scandal-plagued bank with our money? Call (706) 228-1980 and tell congressman Rick Allen to vote no on reauthorizing the export-import bank. Paid for by Americans for Prosperity."
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