Fact Check:
Rob Andrews’ Misleading Math

BARRINGTON – In a series of recent interviews, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews has proposed repealing the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, using the money instead to fund big government programs. The only problem is Andrews says he plans spend the same money seven different ways, and the numbers just don’t add up.

In an interview with the Courier-Post, Congressman Andrews said that he supported eliminating the tax cuts and spending the higher tax revenues to “pay back the nation’s debt and use the rest to institute universal health care for children.” (“Andrews, Glading agree on bailout,” The Courier-Post, September 23, 2008)

The United States’ public debt is approximately $9.7 trillion. The Joint Committee on Taxation reports that allowing the entire 2001 and 2003 tax cuts to expire would only raise $2.4 trillion in revenue – over ten years!

The Tax Policy Center reports that maintaining the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for those who earn less than $250,000 a year would cut the total revenue to $1.6 trillion.

That means Rob Andrews’ math is a mere $8.1 trillion off – and that’s without even beginning to look at health care.

But it doesn’t stop there. He has other plans for how to spend the money, too.

Just two days before the Courier-Post interview, Andrews told the Gloucester County Times that he advocates funding transportation projects such as the interstate redesign and the rail line extension by “letting the Bush tax cuts expire.” (“Congressional hopefuls sound off on transit mess,” The Gloucester County Times, September 21, 2008)

Over the past two years, Andrews has also suggested using the higher taxes to pay for veterans’ health care (US Fed News, March 14, 2007); to reduce the deficit (US Fed News, November 29, 2006); and to expand health coverage for the uninsured (Philadelphia Inquirer, November 13, 2006).

“Some of these projects are things we ought to pursue,” said Dale Glading, Andrews’ opponent in the 1st Congressional District race. “However, Rob either doesn’t understand basic math or he is once again insulting the voters’ intelligence.”

“You simply cannot spend the same money seven different ways,” Glading challenged. “To mislead the public into thinking otherwise is simply another instance of Rob being untruthful with South Jersey voters.”

“People in South Jersey are tired of politicians lying through their teeth just to get re-elected,” Glading concluded. “The voters are demanding someone who will be honest with them, and Rob Andrews has proven time and again that he has his own version of the truth.”

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Paid for by Dale Glading for Congress.