NEW COLEMAN AD HIGHLIGHTS SENATOR COLEMAN’S LEADERSHIP IN ROOTING OUT GOVERNMENT WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE

Angry Al Franken continues his campaign of lies and deception about Senator Norm Coleman's record as Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.  Today, in response to Franken’s deliberate campaign of deception, the Coleman for Senate campaign released a new ad setting the record straight on Norm Coleman as a taxpayer watchdog and his record of holding government accountable to taxpayers.

As Chair and Ranking Member, Norm Coleman has exposed more than $80 billion in waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government, busted defense contractors over unpaid taxes, strengthened our national security by closing security loopholes and fought for an independent investigator to look into reconstruction efforts in Iraq.  And, he's returned billions of dollars to the U.S. Treasury.

“Norm Coleman has earned widespread praise for his bipartisan efforts to protect American taxpayers by exposing over $80 billion in government waste, fraud and abuse,” said Cullen Sheehan, campaign manager. “”While Norm Coleman was protecting taxpayers, and looking out for their interests, Al Franken was not paying his taxes, and looking out for his own interests.”

“Watchdog” can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/colemanforsenate.

“Watchdog” Script:

ANNCR: “Saturday Night Live isn’t the only fiction Al Franken writes. The real Coleman record? Billions in waste uncovered. Defense contractors busted. Security loopholes closed. Norm championed an independent Iraq investigator. Supported over 100 non-partisan reviews, including no-bid contracts. He’s been called a “watchdog.” Praised for his valuable service. And Al Franken? He makes things up for a living.”

“Watchdog” Backup:

Billions In Waste Uncovered. Permanent Subcommittee in Investigations. (Source: http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Subcommittees.Home&SubcommitteeID=88ed6460-02ee-40a9-84a9-e278af44313c&Initials=PSI)

Defense Contractors Busted. “More than 27,000 defense contractors owe a total of $3 billion in unpaid taxes, according to government records reviewed by U.S. congressional investigators. That represents almost 14 percent of the contractors registered with the U.S. Defense Department as of February 2003, according to auditors at the General Accounting Office - the investigative arm of Congress. They tallied total taxes owed by the contractors in the budget year that ended Sept. 30, 2002. Most of the contractors were small businesses that failed to send to the Internal Revenue Service the taxes withheld from their employees' paychecks for Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes. ‘It's more than irritating. It's outrageous,’ said Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, who asked the GAO to look into the problem.”   (MARY DALRYMPLE, “Thousands of defense contractors owe $3 billion in unpaid taxes, U.S. congressional investigation finds,” Associated Press, February 11, 2004)

Security Loopholes Closed. “But yesterday there was news of at least one piece of highly praiseworthy congressional oversight that has clearly exposed a nuclear security loophole through which terrorists could drive a truck bomb. The loophole has been tightened with new screening procedures, including the prerequisite of a face-to-face interview or a site visit for those applying for the NRC licenses. For this, Coleman and the GAO deserve a nod of gratitude. And the senator will doubtless (and properly) cite the case in his difficult reelection bid next year.  The moral of the case is that oversight works.”  (Editorial, “Kudos to Coleman” The Hill, July 13, 2007)

Norm Championed An Independent Iraq Investigator. 
• Senate passed legislation to extend the office of SIGIR, supported by Senator Coleman. Senate Vote 264, 11/14/06, (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00264 )
• Senate passes Coleman/Collins Amendment to DOD Authorization to expand and extend SIGIR Senate Vote 359, 10/1/07,  (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00359 )

Supported Over 100 Non-Partisan Reviews, Including No-Bid Contracts. SIGIR, an office Senator Coleman helped create and strengthen, conducted more than 100 reviews, including no-bid contracts. (http://www.sigir.mil/reports/quarterlyreports/Jul08/Default.aspx)

He’s Been Called A “Watchdog.” “Coleman, Levin and other Medicare watchdogs deserve praise for documenting yet another serious problem and initiating steps to end it. This bipartisan effort inspires confidence that lawmakers can go forward from here to tackle Medicare's other woes and nurse the program back to health.”  (Editorial, “Dead doctor scam is a new low for Medicare; Harsher penalties needed for those guilty of defrauding it” Star Tribune, July 10, 2008)

Praised For His Valuable Service. “A Senate subcommittee headed by Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., has done a valuable service by highlighting these abuses.” (Editorial, “Don’t Let Contractors Off The Hook” Philadelphia Inquirer, June 21, 2005)