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Rob Steele is an outspoken opponent of the recent investments we have made in Michigan to begin digging out of the recession and putting our economy on track to create the good jobs of the future. From investments in advanced batteries and wind turbines to funds needed to keep teachers, police and firefighters on the job and off the unemployment line, the record is clear:  John Dingell supports these measures and Rob Steele opposes them.  Specifically, Steele opposes the Recovery Act, which invested more than $2 billion in Michigan to create jobs in the advanced battery technology field.  This Act, which Dingell fought for and delivered for Michigan, has brought jobs to Brownstown at a GM facility producing batteries; A123 which is building a new plant in Romulus and expanding its Ann Arbor operation; and thousands of other battery jobs around that state as companies chose to invest in Michigan.  The Recovery Act and other emergency spending proposals like the $10 billion for teachers which passed in August, which Steele opposes, also funded many local grants that kept teachers in the classroom and our police on the beat and companies like Ventower in Monroe, which is creating more than 175 green jobs to build wind turbines.

On outsourcing of jobs, the record is equally clear.  John Dingell voted to close tax loopholes on companies that ship our jobs overseas to places like China and India.  Rob Steele has actually signed a pledge to protect those tax breaks for big corporations.  It is as clear a signal as you can find that Rob Steele is on the side of big corporations and not on the side of Michigan’s working families.

John Dingell is the champion of working families and America’s Watchdog.  He understands that what matters in this economy is creating jobs.

“Michigan needs jobs,” Dingell said. “I have always fought for Michigan workers in good times and in times of urgent need.  They know I will fight for them and deliver for them like I always do.  I will continue to demand for fair trade practices to keep jobs here at home, keep the best minds working here, and protect small businesses and the middle class.”

We’ve brought these jobs back from Mexico… I never thought I would see that… We need these jobs… John Dingell gets it….John Dingell helps the workers.

John Dingell recognizes that we have been facing the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.  Consequently, he has supported a variety of measures to help create new jobs and sustain the ones we have.  He has supported the Recovery Act, which has created over 109,000 jobs in MI, including hundreds of advanced battery and clean energy jobs right here in the 15^th District; “Cash for Clunkers,” which has been credited with helping our auto industry survive the downturn and avoid bankruptcy; HR 1586, which enabled MI to avoid laying off 4,700 teachers, along with many police and firefighter jobs that were on the line.

Rob Steele opposed it… He said no to workers… Said no…How could he do that?…That’s just wrong…Rob Steele doesn’t understand what it’s like to get by in this economy.

Rob Steele says the primary reason he is running for congress is to oppose government spending programs.  Here are some news clips and some of his statements on the subject:

“When people hear Steele is a doctor, they assume he’s running because he opposes Obamacare. He does, but that’s not why he got in. ‘The real thing was the insane spending,’ Steele says. ‘The Detroit News approached me and said, “You must be running on the health care bill.” And I said, ‘No, I’m running on the spending.’ ” (Washington Examiner, 9/20/2010)

“Despite all the evidence, Dingell continues to call the stimulus a ‘tremendous success’. $111 million of your money created (or saved) 55 jobs in LA= $2m per job. Government can ‘create jobs’…it’s just really expensive. (Rob Steele for Congress Facebook page, 9/17/2010)

“As a UM grad, I love the U. But today, when asked how $270 million in Stimulus funds (your tax dollars) ‘secured’ by U of M would help the MI economy and create jobs, John Dingell boasted that 503 jobs should be created. That’s $545,000 per job created! The spending has to stop!” (Rob Steele for Congress Facebook page, 9/9/2010)

“Further evidence that John Dingell is not working in the world of facts: He continues to tout ‘Cash for Clunkers’ as a marketplace success and an ‘energy-efficient’ initiative. In reality, this failed program has no significant environmental benefit and has increased the cost of used cars for struggling families.” (Rob Steele for Congress Facebook page, 9/8/2010)

“My campaign literally has been on three things. Stop the spending. Let the grandkids decide how to spend their own money. Every family has to do it, the government can too. Number two, accountability. Make Congress follow the laws they pass. Make ‘em read the bill before they vote it. Number three, this idea of transparency. Shorter bills, one topic. One change for a week before anybody votes,” Steele said. (Daily Caller, 9/21/2010)

And just this week, a MRP Mailing hit mailboxes attacking John Dingell for supporting the stimulus bill:

“Dingell supported the record $814 Billion stimulus bill, which has failed to create jobs.” (MPR Mailing, 10/20/2010)

Finally, Rob Steele signed the Americans for Tax Reform Pledge, www.atr.org.  The ATR opposed HR 1586, the bill preventing teacher, police and firefighter layoffs, and deemed that signers of the Pledge would be in violation of the Pledge if they did not oppose it.

Rob Steele even supports tax breaks for companies that ship jobs to China and India.

As with the above example, Rob Steele signed the Americans for Tax Reform Pledge, www.atr.org.  Signers of the ATR Pledge opposed legislation earlier this year that closed loopholes on corporations that ship jobs overseas to places like China and India.  This provision passed over the GOP opposition.

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