Script

FACTS

Rob Simmons is George Bush's Number One supporter in Connecticut .

Congressional Quarterly: Simmons votes with Bush more than any other member of the Congressional Delegation. An independent study conducted by Congressional Quarterly focused on votes made in 2005 where the President expressed a position. The rankings were determined by how many times the member's vote agreed with the Presidential position on the legislation. Simmons topped the delegation in Presidential support, and was the member who opposed the President the least. [CQ Weekly, January 9, 2006]

CQ's Connecticut Delegation Bush Support Rankings:

Simmons votes with Bush: Tax breaks for big oil companies. A failed economic plan. Bush's disastrous policy in Iraq .

Rob Simmons: Connecticut 's #1 Supporter of Big Oil. Simmons is the only member of the Connecticut delegation to vote for the Bush Energy Bill 5 times. The bill gave billions in tax breaks to oil companies, increases our dependence on fossil fuels, and has done nothing to lower the cost of fuel. (Vote#320 - 2001 , Vote#145 - 2003 , Vote #630 - 2003 , Vote#132 - 2005 , Vote 445 - 2005)

Rob Simmons: A consistent supporter of Bush's Failed Economic Policies. Rob Simmons wasted no time after coming to Congress in 2001 to pledge his full support for George W. Bush's failed economic policies, supporting measures that gave away trillions of dollars to corporations and the wealthy while opposing tax breaks for middle class families. (Vote #135 - 2006, Vote #182 - 2003, Vote #225 - 2003, Vote #103 - 2002, Vote #149 - 2001, Vote #45 - 2001, Vote #75 - 2001)

June 16, 2006: Simmons supports Bush "stay the course" Iraq policy. On June 16 th , Simmons supported a resolution drafted by GOP leadership to stay the course in Iraq . In floor remarks, Simmons offered his "qualified support" for the war, saying there was "much in the resolution to like" [Vote # 288 - 2006]

November, 2005: Simmons Met with Bush on Iraq for talking points on Iraq War. "Two days earlier, Bush met with 18 members of Congress, including Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2nd District, to urge them to "tell the truth about what's going on in Iraq," as Rep. Ray H. LaHood, R- Ill., one of the meeting participants, put it. "He said the message about Iraq just wasn't getting out." Simmons proceeded to stress Iraq and the rightness of the cause on Nov. 11 as he traveled through eastern Connecticut ." [Hartford Courant, November 20, 2005] Click here to Watch Simmons bring that message home to Connecticut.

Simmons Opposed Setting Benchmarks for Success in Iraq. In 2005, Simmons voted against an effort to require President Bush to submit a plan for success in Iraq , supply the military with adequate equipment and other resources to complete their mission, and provide veterans with adequate health care services. The proposal was rejected, 203-227. [Vote #398, - 2005]

Simmons Voted Against Accounting For Billions Of Taxpayer Dollars Spent On Iraq. In 2005, Simmons voted against an amendment to provide $5 million to establish a select committee to investigate reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan , including contracting procedures, protection against money laundering, and the allocation of contracts to foreign companies and small businesses. In October 2004, the International Advisory and Monitoring Board released an audit of the Bush Administration's management of Iraqi oil proceeds and other funds in the Development Fund for Iraq . Problems found involved hundreds of millions of dollars, numerous sole source contracts and missing and nonexistent contract files. The amendment was rejected, 191-236. [Vote #72 - 2005]

Simmons' Quotes on the War

August 31, 2006: Simmons continues support of Bush on Iraq: "But many embattled Republicans remain reluctant to break with the administration's current approach. Rep. Rob Simmons, another Connecticut Republican facing a difficult campaign in a Democratic-leaning district, said he will oppose any effort by Shays to establish a pullout deadline. 'I don't think that is a good idea,'" Simmons said. - [Washington Post, August 31, 2006]

Simmons offered 'qualified' support for "stay the course" Iraq Resolution. On June 16 th , Simmons supported a resolution drafted by GOP leadership to stay the course in Iraq . In floor remarks, Simmons offered his "qualified support" for the war, saying there was "much in the resolution to like' [Vote # 288 - 2006]

Simmons said Republicans have provided "aggressive" oversight of Iraq war. "Meanwhile, Republicans defend Congress's record of oversight of the war effort. 'I would say that as a member of the Armed Services Committee we have done our best to pursue that responsibility in an aggressive fashion,' Simmons said in a recent interview." [The Day, June 20, 2006]

Simmons said Iraq war success dependent on "American Will." In a February Journal Inquirer op-ed, Simmons writes the success of US soldiers relies "upon the will of the American people." [Journal Inquirer, February 2, 2006]

Simmons said the debate about Iraq should not be public. In November, 2005 Simmons told the Associated Press debate about the Iraq War should be a private matter: "It's appropriate for Congress to have these conversations, but not in public," [AP, November 19, 2005]

Simmons said "It's Not Responsible" to Set a Withdrawal Date. In June 2004, according to the Hartford Courant , "Simmons said setting a withdrawal date would put troops at risk. 'I think it's inappropriate to be specific. It's not responsible." [ Hartford Courant, 6/30/04]

One Year After Going to War, Simmons Said it "Was the Right Thing to Do." On March 19, 2004, one year after the U.S. invaded Iraq and no weapons of mass destruction found, Simmons said, "I continue to think the war was the right thing to do." [Hartford Courant, 3/19/04]

Simmons Said His Vote Was Not a Declaration of War. Despite his vote in favor of the resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq , Simmons called his vote "not a declaration of war," but "a declaration of will." [Hartford Courant , 3/19/04]

Simmons Said Waiting for a U.N. Resolution Was Not Worth the Sacrifice. According to Gannett News , Simmons said, "having once supported working with U.N. inspectors, 'Nobody is going to sacrifice a U.S. city waiting for a U.N. resolution.'" [Gannett News Service, 3/14/03]

Respected State Legislator, Chaired the Public Health Committee.

Joe Courtney, an accomplished State Legislator. Joe represented the citizens of Vernon in the 56th House District in the Connecticut General Assembly for four consecutive terms -- from 1987 to 1994. During this tenure, Courtney served as House Chairman for both the Public Health and Human Services Committees. Joe took up the fight for better health care. As Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Universal Health Insurance, Courtney was instrumental in proposing reforms that resulted in increased access and better health care for all Connecticut citizens.

Respected on both sides of the aisle. Joe was voted 'most conscientious' and the 'Democrat most admired by Republicans' in a 1994 Connecticut Magazine poll of his colleagues in the state legislature. The Manchester Journal Inquirer wrote "Courtney is something all too rare in any legislature - a person of great competence and great decency." [ Connecticut Magazine - October 1994, Manchester Journal Inquirer - April 26, 1994]

And helped create Connecticut 's prescription drug program.

Joe Courtney helped write Connecticut 's ConnPACE prescription drug law. Joe co-sponsored landmark legislation that permanently established the ConnPACE prescription program that for nearly twenty years provided seniors with affordable access to prescription drugs. Joe's hard work made permanent an easy-to-understand prescription drug plan that provided life saving medicines available to seniors for a reasonable co-payment. [Public Act 87-3, 1987]

Joe Courtney worked to keep ConnPACE working for seniors. As chairman of the General Assembly's Public Health Committee, Joe championed legislation in 1991 that created a 11% manufacturer's rebate on drug purchases, saving the state more than $11 billion . When an amendment was offered to kill the bill, Joe successfully protected this money-saving arrangement. This agreement was similar to the bulk purchasing utilized by Veterans Affairs but is missing from Medicare Part D.   (36-100 defeat of House Amendment Schedule "A" (LCO 5382). Public Act 91-8 (SB 2013), passed April 4, 1991 .