Kratovil recently launched two new television ads, “Middle” and “Red Tape.” The ad “Middle” highlights recent newspaper endorsements that underscore Frank’s record of independent leadership along with Andy Harris’s extremist record. The ad “Red Tape,” focuses on Kratovil’s work to save jobs in the 1st District and his votes against wasteful spending like the $3 trillion budget and the healthcare bill. Both ads are available online at here.
“Middle” focuses on recent endorsements including the Annapolis Capital, the Baltimore Sun, and the Harford Aegis. The Capital called Kratovil a “vastly better choice” than Harris. The Baltimore Sun said Kratovil is the only one “who will actually try to fix what they’re angry about.”
The endorsements also highlight Harris’s extremist record. Even his hometown newspaper, the Harford Aegis, cited Harris’s “eight-year record as an obstructionist state senator, with virtually nothing accomplished to benefit his Harford constituents.”
The ad concludes with Kratovil to camera stating, “Washington is overrun by the left and the right but like you, I’m more interested in creating jobs, cutting the debt and getting tough on illegal immigration. I’m Frank Kratovil and I approve this message because as one of the ten most independent members of Congress, I’m in the middle with you.”
“Red Tape” begins with Frank in his dining room. He says, “You’ve seen a lot of attacks from Andy Harris. Here’s what I’ve done.” Kratovil notes his work to save jobs in the crab industry, to prevent the closure of local car dealerships, and to crack down on illegal immigration.
Kratovil continues, “And when they came to me to vote for the $3 trillion budget and the healthcare bill, I stood up and said no.”
The ad concludes with Kratovil stating, “The problem with Washington is there’s too much fighting between the left and the right. I’m Frank Kratovil and I approve this message because I’m more interested in helping you.”

Today WBAL covered the Candidates Forum held on Sunday in Queen Anne’s County. The story highlighted the fundamental differences between the two candidates, stating that “the candidates view the world differently.” The story also noted that Harris recently said he doesn’t “know what independent means,” and Kratovil’s opening statement  underscoring his ability to “work across party lines to solve problems.”

Harris’s statement punctuates his 12-year record of partisanship and obstructionism in the Maryland Senate. Harris  frequently was the ONLY member — Democrat or Republican — to vote against common sense measures like expanding the child care tax credit, cleaning up toxic waste sites, reducing class sizes and creating the state’s cancer treatment program.

In contrast, Frank Kratovil has a proven record of independent leadership. He is ranked one of the top 10 most  independent members of Congress for voting against the health care bill, funding for the bank bailout and the $3 trillion federal budget. Kratovil has worked to protect the Chesapeake and crack down on illegal immigration. He has
again been endorsed by his predecessor Republican Wayne Gilchrest.

Watch the entire WBAL segment here.

Andy Harris, the national Republican Party, and obscure outside groups that do not have to disclose their donors have continued to run ads making false claims about Frank Kratovil. Here are the facts.

FALSE CLAIM: Frank Kratovil follows the party line.
FACT: Frank Kratovil has been ranked one of the top 10 most independent members of Congress. The statistics that Harris and his allies are using are misleading. As reported by The Hill magazine, the entire Congress votes the same way on more than 50% of all votes — these include measures to honor veterans and recognize Constitution Day. Even members of Republican leadership like John Boehner and Eric Cantor vote with Nancy Pelosi nearly 60% of the time. Frank Kratovil has a proven record of independent leadership. He has voted against $6 trillion in wasteful spending including the health care bill, the $3.4 trillion federal budget, and the bank bailout. Newspapers describe Kratovil as “not afraid to defy Pelosi” and “more than willing to go against his party.” Frank has been endorsed by the Harford Aegis, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the NRA and former Republican Congressman Wayne Gilchrest.

FALSE CLAIM: Kratovil hurt Maryland employment by supporting the Recovery Act.
FACT: Economists from across the political spectrum agree that the Recovery Act was needed to prevent a much deeper recession. The non-partisan and neutral Congressional Budget Office found that the legislation saved or created between 2 to 3 million jobs. Harris also repeats the false claim that the legislation sent jobs to China. This has been called flatly “incorrect” by the independent Politifact. In fact, it is Andy Harris who has pledged to protect tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.

FALSE CLAIM: Frank Kratovil did not vote against the bank bailout.
FACT: In January 2009, Frank Kratovil voted for a joint resolution to prevent the release of $350 billion in bank bailout funds. Had both chambers passed this resolution, the funds would not have been released. Frank has a proven record of fiscal restraint — he has voted against more than $6 trillion in wasteful spending including the healthcare bill and the bank bailout.

FALSE CLAIM: Kratovil is a big spender.
FACT: Frank Kratovil has voted against $6 trillion in wasteful spending during his first term in office, including the $3.4 trillion budget, $350 in bank bailout funds, and the healthcare bill. Frank Kratovil also cosponsored a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Kratovil helped prevent Congressional pay raises and enact PAYGO, which requires Congress to account for every dollar it spends.

Yesterday The Hill magazine published an article reiterating the misleading aspect of statistics on the frequency of voting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

From The Hill:
The House Republican leader, Rep. John Boehner (Ohio), votes with liberal Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) a majority of the time…. The percentages do not reveal a hidden bipartisanship in the rancorous 111th Congress, but they do throw into sharp relief the statistic that campaign ad makers use more than any other to cast opponents as ideological rubberstamps.

Rep. Eric Cantor (Va.), the House Republican whip, and Rep. Pete Sessions (Tex.), head of the GOP’s House campaign committee, are even cozier with Pelosi. They’ve voted with her 57 percent of the time. And Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.), the conservative firebrand who has compared the Democratic agenda to socialism? She’s with Pelosi on 58 percent of House votes.

The Hill article highlights the extremely flawed logic behind Harris’s false claims attacking Kratovil’s record of independent leadership.

The fact is that Frank Kratovil has a proven record of independent leadership. He is ranked among the 10 most independent members of Congress. Frank Kratovil has voted against $6 trillion in wasteful spending including the health care bill, the $3.4 trillion federal budget, and the bank bailout. Kratovil has been described by newspapers as “not afraid to defy Pelosi” and “more than willing to go against his party.”

Kratovil has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC and the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police.

Kratovil recently began running an ad confronting this misleading attack. It is running in the Salisbury and Baltimore markets and can be seen here.

Today The Aegis published its 2010 endorsement for Frank Kratovil. Despite having endorsed Andy Harris in the 2008 election, The Aegis cited the fact that Kratovil has proven his independence and commitment to the 1st District.

The editorial speaks of Kratovil’s willingness “to be part of the solution while protecting the conservative interests of constituents.” In contrast, the paper cited Harris’s ”eight-year record as an obstructionist state senator.”

The endorsement notes that Kratovil has “delivered to his District” while Harris had “virtually nothing accomplished to benefit his Harford constituents,” saying his record “portends more of the same if he goes to Congress.” The Aegis clearly laid out the choice facing voters this election — Frank Kratovil, a moderate Congressman focused on solutions or state Senator Andy Harris, “someone who stands apart and criticizes and brings nothing to the table.”

The endorsement reflects Frank’s proven record of independent leadership, having worked to bring fiscal restraint to Washington by voting against more than $6 trillion in wasteful spending. Frank has also fought to create and save jobs in the 1st District by expanding tax credits for small business, protect the Chesapeake Bay while balancing the needs of the region’s agriculture industry, and improve services for veterans.

The Aegis endorsement comes on the heels of endorsements from the National Rifle Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC and the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police. With 20 days until Election Day, momentum is clearly building for Frank Kratovil.

From The Aegis, October 13, 2010:

This general election there are again three races for U.S. House of Representatives that affect voters in Harford County.

In the Second District, roughly the lower third of the county along the I-95/40 corridor, we recommend re-election of incumbent Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, the Democrat, over Republican Marcello Cardarelli. In the Sixth District, roughly the upper third along the northern tier, we recommend re-election of incumbent Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, the Republican, over Democrat Andrew Duck.

In the eight years Ruppersberger and Bartlett have represented Harford, each has been understanding of the needs of their constituents and well engaged in representing those diverse interests in Washington. Both deserve to continue their service.

In the First District, roughly the central third of the county, we recommend that Harford voters return incumbent Rep. Frank Kratovil to Washington. Despite what we suspect will be the temptation of many of our local conservative voters to support Republican challenger Andy Harris over the more moderate — by degree, anyway — Democrat Kratovil, the difference between the two is actually more fundamental than political ideologies. Do we want a congressman who is willing to be part of the solution while protecting the conservative interests of constituents, as Kratovil has frequently during the past two years? Or, do we want someone who stands apart and criticizes and brings nothing to the table, which sums up Harris?

While we endorsed Harris with reservations in this same race two years ago because of his ties to Harford, his eight-year record as an obstructionist state senator, with virtually nothing accomplished to benefit his Harford constituents, portends more of the same if he goes to Congress. That’s not our idea of representative government, a concept Kratovil not only understands, but also has delivered to his district.

Harris is running another false attack on Frank Kratovil in an attempt to hide his record and support for extreme policies that will cost Maryland families.

Frank Kratovil voted for the Recovery Act in the middle of an economic emergency at a time when economists across the political spectrum said it was necessary to prevent an even deeper crisis. Economists agree that the Recovery Act has saved or created 3 million jobs and that unemployment would be higher today without the measure. Factcheck.org cited the Congressional Budget Office finding that the stimulus did create jobs, concluding, “Simply put, more people would be unemployed if not for the stimulus bill.”

Frank Kratovil has a proven record of fiscal restraint, opposing more than $6 trillion in spending and introducing a bill to cut discretionary spending.

Harris’s ad also repeats a debunked claim that the stimulus legislation funded jobs in China. The non-partisan, Pulitizer Prize–winning Politifact has found this claim to be “false.” In fact, it is Harris who has pledged to protect tax breaks for companies that outsource American jobs.

And Harris attempts to attack Frank’s record of supporting national security projects that create jobs in the 1st district, including WL Gore and Alliant Techsystems, two of the region’s largest employers. Harris is hoping voters will ignore the fact that he has received more than $1 million in support from Wall Street’s biggest special interest group and puts Wall Street ahead of the First District.

“Harris is the only candidate in this race who has pledged to protect tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas. And Harris is the only candidate who, after receiving more than $1 million in support from Wall Street’s biggest special interest group, opposes cracking down on big banks’ risky and abusive behavior,” said Jessica Klonsky, Campaign Manager for Kratovil for Congress. “While Andy Harris continues to side with Wall Street, Frank Kratovil has worked to save and create jobs in the 1st District.”

Stevensville, MD – Today, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund Announced its 2010 endorsement for Frank Kratovil.

“Frank Kratovil has earned the endorsement of the NRA-PVF because has defended the Second Amendment freedoms of law-abiding gun owners, hunters and sportsmen in Maryland and across America,” said Chris W. Cox, chairman of NRA-PVF.  “On November 2, I urge all Maryland NRA Members and gun owners in the 1^st District to vote Frank Kratovil for Congress,” Cox concluded.

“Here in Maryland’s First District, gun ownership, hunting, and recreational shooting are more than just Constitutional rights; they are also a part of our culture and our heritage.  I am, and will continue to be, an advocate for the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding citizens,” stated Kratovil.

In Congress, Kratovil has worked to defend Second Amendment rights. Kratovil cosponsored bipartisan legislation that would allow people who have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in one state to carry their firearm in other states. In 2009, Kratovil opposed the reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, and voted in favor of decriminalizing the carrying firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges by law-abiding gun owners.

Kratovil received an ‘A’ rating on the NRA’s scorecard for his commitment to preserving Second Amendment rights.

Organization Cites Kratovil’s Strong Support for Veterans in Endorsement Letter

Stevensville, MD – The Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee (VFW-PAC) announced its 2010 endorsement for Frank Kratovil.

“This endorsement is based on your strong support for veterans, national security & defense, and military personnel issues,” wrote Salvatore J. Capirchio, Director of the VFW-PAC, in the endorsement letter to Congressman Kratovil.

“Our nation has no higher debt than the one owed to the brave men and women who have secured our freedom by serving in the Armed Forces,” Frank Kratovil said. “I believe we must honor their sacrifice, and that is why I have worked to ensure that our veterans have access to the benefits and services they have earned. I am proud to be endorsed by the VFW-PAC and proud of our nation’s veterans.”

In Congress, Kratovil has worked hard for our nations’ veterans. Kratovil cosponsored legislation that would protect military personnel from increasing health care costs and opposed taxation of VA benefits in the health care reform measure, introduced legislation to provide foreclosure relief to surviving spouses, and voted to enhance benefits for women veterans. Kratovil reauthorized the VA’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, supported the Wounded Veteran Job Security Act, and authored an amendment to increase military mental health personnel.

Chamber of Commerce Says Kratovil’s Election Will Help Produce Economic Growth & Create Jobs

Stevensville, MD – Frank Kratovil has received the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in his bid for the 1^st District’s congressional seat.

“At no other time in our nation’s history has it been more critical that Members of Congress provide leadership that protects and advances the interests of the business community,” Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote in the Chamber’s endorsement letter to Frank Kratovil. “We believe that your election to the U.S. House will help produce sustained economic growth and promote America’s competitiveness in world markets.”

“I am honored to receive the Chamber of Commerce’s endorsement. In Congress, I have fought to encourage growth and expand opportunities for the businesses of my District,” said Congressman Frank Kratovil. “I remain committed to common sense solutions that promote small business, get our economy back on track and create jobs.”

In Congress, Kratovil has cut through bureaucratic red tape to save jobs in the crabbing industry and stood up to GM to save jobs at local auto dealerships.  Kratovil has also worked to create jobs by expanding tax credits for small businesses. His legislation to increase tax deductions for small business start-up expenses became law in September 2010.

Kratovil has also received the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), the nation’s leading advocacy organization for small businesses.

The Chamber’s endorsement letter can be found here.

With the November 2 election less than a month away, momentum is building behind Frank’s campaign. The National Rifle Association and the United States Chamber of Commerce have endorsed Frank Kratovil as the right person for Maryland’s 1st District.

The NRA cited Frank’s efforts to “defend the Second Amendment freedoms of law-abiding gun owners, hunters and sportsmen in Maryland and across America.” Frank has fought hard to uphold these freedoms not just because they are constitutional rights but also because hunting and gun ownership are integral parts of the culture in Maryland’s 1st District.

Frank also received the endorsement of the US Chamber of Commerce because of his pro-business record in Congress. Frank has promoted tax breaks for small businesses and helped save hundreds of Maryland jobs. The President of the U.S. Chamber stated that Frank’s election would “help produce sustained economic growth and promote America’s competitiveness in world markets.”

These endorsements further illustrate Frank’s independent voice and strong record of working to represent the people of Maryland’s 1st District.