Republican State Senator Harri Anne Smith endorsed Bright

Dothan Eagle Newspaper


By Lance Griffin

Published: October 20, 2008

Hours after Republican State Senator Harri Anne Smith endorsed Democratic Congressional candidate Bobby Bright, the executive director of the Alabama Republican Party alleged Monday that Smith shopped her endorsement between Bright and fellow Republican Jay Love.

John Ross told the Dothan Eagle Monday that Bill Harris, who was Smith’s campaign manager during her Republican Congressional primary race with Love, told him on Oct. 7 that Smith was prepared to endorse Bright in exchange for $150,000 to help retire her campaign debt.

However, Ross said Harris told him Smith was willing to entertain offers from the Love campaign.

When reached by the Dothan Eagle, Harris said that he did have a conversation with Ross, but declined to comment further.

“I’m not going to discuss any conversation because, as a campaign manager, I have a confidentiality agreement I signed with her,” Harris said. “Unless Sen. Smith allows me to say anything, I’m not at liberty to confirm or deny anything.”

Earlier Monday, Smith publicly endorsed Bright in Dothan at the beginning of Bright’s “America First Truck Tour.”

“In our opinion, this endorsement was not about issues or policy, it’s about money,“ said Phillip Bryan, spokesman for the Alabama Republican Party.
Smith said her endorsement was not about money.

“I made that endorsement because it was the right thing to do,” Smith said. “I did it because that’s what I believe in.”

Smith denied having any conversations with Bright about money in exchange for an endorsement. When asked if she had any knowledge of a conversation between Harris and Ross about her endorsement, she declined to comment.

“I’m not going to get in the fray,” Smith said. “I’m going to be above that.”
Bright called the allegations “ridiculous” and “libelous”.


“I never as mayor offered anybody any money for anybody’s endorsement and I have never given anybody authority to act on my behalf,” Bright said. “This is exactly what happened in the Republican primary, and it is now happening in this election and people need to vote on Nov. 4 to clean up this type of politics and campaigning. This is desperation politics and smear politics at its worst.”

According to campaign records filed with the Federal Election Commission, Smith finished her 2nd Congressional District campaign with a debt of about $404,000.
Smith becomes the second major Wiregrass Republican to endorse Bright’s campaign. Dothan mayor Pat Thomas announced he would support Bright on Aug. 18.


Smith and Love were involved in a bruising primary race this year, prompting current Congressman Terry Everett, R-Rehobeth, to issue a statement asking both candidates to stop their negative campaign ads.


Speaking in front of Bright supporters Monday morning, Smith said Love lied about her and her record during their Congressional campaign.


“Jay Love lied about my record just to further his own agenda and now he’s lying about Bobby,“ Smith said. “Bobby knows what’s important to the Wiregrass because he’s one of us.“


You can view the Video HERE : http://www.dothaneagle.com/dea/news/local/article/harri_anne_smith_backing_bobby_bright/41926/#fragment-1

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Endorsements

Endorsement:

The Montgomery Independent

OCTOBER 16, 2008

Bright would be in best position to help 2nd District Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright and State Rep. Jay Love are in a spirited and close race for Congress in the 2nd District. The Independent supported both these men for the positions they currently hold and will do so again for the one who doesn’t go to Washington.

A crucial issue in the race is which of the two would be able to best “bring home the bacon” to the district and that boils down to which candidate will have the most clout in his party and which party will have the most clout in Congress.

It appears the Democrats, who already have a solid majority in the House of Representatives will pick up another 12 to 18 House seats in November and will further solidify their majority in the Senate.Mayor Bright, who has been welcomed with open arms to the Blue Dog coalition of conservative Democrats, will be in an excellent position because of what is expected to be an overwhelming Democratic majority, to ensure that adequate funding continues for the district’s military installations and farmers.

Of course being better at “bringing home the bacon” is not the sole reason to vote for a congressional candidate, but it is a mighty powerful one in light of the current economic situation in the country.

We also believe Mayor Bright would, like Rep. Love, take his conservative Alabama values with him to Washington.A minus we see in the election of Mayor Bright is that Montgomery would lose an excellent mayor and leader.

He has been at the forefront of the economic progress our city as made in the past decade.But because Mayor Bright would be in a much better position to do good for the 2nd Congressional District, we recommend his election.

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Love Took Over $14,000 in Per Diem Payments

AL-02: Jay Love Took Over $14,000 in Per Diem Payments While Living in Capitol City

by Brandon English

Oct 10, 2008


Republican candidate Jay Love (AL-02) has made it clear that he loves raising taxes, given that he voted for the largest tax increase in Alabama history. Now, it has come to light that Love also loves cheating Alabama taxpayers for his own personal gain. Alabama Representative Jay Love accepted $14,300 in taxpayer funded daily allowances even though he lived less than eight miles from the Alabama State House.

"When it comes to taking money from hard working taxpayers, Jay Love has no shame," said Kyra Jennings, Southern Regional Press Secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "While living less than 8 miles away from the capitol, he took $14,300 of taxpayers' money in daily allowances in addition to his taxpayer funded salary. Hardworking Alabamans don't get an allowance to go to work, but they paid millionaire Jay Love one and all he did was try to pass the biggest take hike in American history. Millionaire Jay Love should pay back the $14,300 taxpayer allowance he unfairly took."

Background

According to the State Payroll Administrator for the Alabama Comptroller's Office, Jay Love took a per diem a total of 286 days since 2003. Love's per diem payments were $50 a day, totaling $14,300 that Love cheated taxpayers out of for personal gain.


Below is a detailed listing from the Alabama Comptroller's Office of how many days per year Love took a per diem while serving as a State Representative:

2003 - 66 days
2004 - 45 days
2005 - 46 days
2006 - 38 days
2007 - 47 days
2008 - 44 days

Jay Love's Montgomery, Alabama home is 7.5 miles from Jay Love's State House office.


Alabama state legislators receive $3850 a month adjusted annually to reflect any
increase in the cost of living, which comes to $46,200 annually before any cost of living adjustments. Additionally, legislators receive $10 per calendar day, and sessions are limited to 105 calendar days, for an additional $1,050. [Legislator Compensation 2008, National Conference of State Legislators, March 2008 ; Alabama's Legislative Process, Senate Document No. 3]


Rules for Per Diem payment: The current allowance for expenses is $50.00 per diem for three days during each week that the Legislature actually meets during any regular session, special session or organizational session, and $3,850.00 per month expenses year round. Each member is also paid $50.00 per diem for the performance of his or her duties as a member of any duly authorized interim legislative committee or subcommittee thereof, conditional upon actual attendance [Alabama's Legislative Process, Senate Document No. 3]


Jay Love is a millionaire with between $1 and $5 million each in Pike Rd. Invests, LLC and SE Subway Dev, LLC, among his other lucrative assets.[Jay Love personal financial disclosure, 5/10/08]


Jay Love Voted for $1.2 billion in new taxes on Alabama families including:
Love supported raising Property Taxes by $496.5 million annually by the time the taxes took full effect in 2008. [Roll Call Vote 86, HB 3, 6/2/03]
Love supported raising sales taxes by $178 million a year. [Roll Call Vote 41, HB 11, 5/28/03]


Love supported raising income taxes by $461 million year, including raising income taxes on individuals by about 20 percent and on business by about 25 percent. [Roll Call Vote 106, HB 1, 6/2/03]

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Jay Love's Promise to Voters

Promise to the Voters by Rep. Jay Love

1. Our campaign will talk about the issues that matter to the voters of the 2nd Congressional District. I will articulate my position and express a vision that will improve our nation and reflect positively on the people I wish to represent.

2. Our campaign will not run from my political party affiliation. I will stand with my fellow party members on ground we share in common, and I will never attempt to mislead voters by shrinking from a party label that I have willingly chosen.

3. Our campaign will stand behind the statements that I make, the commercials that I produce and the mail that I send. There are clear differences in this race – differences between the political parties and differences between the candidates representing them. It is appropriate to discuss these differences and I will do so in a forthright, honest manner.

4. Our campaign will accurately reflect the views and philosophies of my opponent, his political party and the interests supporting his campaign as we understand them, and as evidence suggests, in our political advertising, mail and other media.

5. Our campaign will proudly and publicly support my party’s presidential nominee and will let the public know when I agree and disagree with the positions he takes.

6. Our campaign will work to ensure that the groups and individuals who contribute to my campaign agree with my political philosophies and principles so there is no confusion among the public as to where I stand on the important issues of the day.

7. Our campaign will not engage in the spreading of false rumors about my opponent’s family members through whisper campaigns or other nefarious methods, nor will we condone anyone who does.

8. Our campaign will publicly post this promise in our district headquarters for staffers and volunteers to read and follow. We will also publish it widely on our new, revised campaign website so that voters will know the principles guiding our campaign.

If elected, I further pledge to the voters that, as their Congressman, I will proudly cast my vote for House Speaker for a conservative Republican who accurately reflects the traditional beliefs and values of the citizens of the 2nd Congressional District. I further pledge I will not vote for Nancy Pelosi or other liberal members for Speaker or House leadership positions, as I believe that runs counter to the wishes of the 2nd District voters.

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"Bright Republican" signs irk Love, GOP

Bob Johnson

Montgomery Advertiser

AUGUST 01, 2008

First there were the "Reagan Democrats" and then Bill Clinton had his conservative, GOP-leaning "soccer moms." Now Democratic 2nd District congressional candidate Bobby Bright has his "Bright Republicans."Signs began popping up this week in yards around the south and central Alabama district that say "I'm A Bright Republican."

It's ruffling the feathers of 2nd District Republican nominee Jay Love and GOP officials, who like to call Bright "a Pelosi Democrat."Bright, the three-term mayor of Montgomery, called himself an independent before deciding to run for Congress as a Democrat. He is receiving financial support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and from the "blue dogs," a group of conservative Democratic congressmen.Bright is trying to break a Republican hold on the district that stretches back to 1964.

Bright and Love, a state representative from Montgomery, face off in the Nov. 4 general election. The winner will replace Republican U.S. Rep. Terry Everett of Rehobeth, who is retiring after representing the district for 16 years.Bright said he had the signs made because his promise to put aside divisive partisan politics in Washington is playing well across party lines.

"We have a groundswell of Republicans supporting us. Many of them are requesting the signs," Bright said. "Our campaign represents all people across party lines."In campaign speeches Bright has described himself as a conservative who is "pro life," "pro gun" and supports a "strong military."

But Republicans said Bright has accepted money from congressional Democrats, who include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and will vote with liberal Democrats if elected to Congress.

"I think it's absurd," Alabama Republican Party chairman Mike Hubbard said of the "Bright Republican" signs. "It just goes to show he's running as far away from the Democratic label as he can. If he's so conservative, why is he taking money from Nancy Pelosi and Charlie Rangel?"

"If this weren't so dishonest, it would almost be funny," said Love's campaign manager, Michael Lowry.Love, a two-term state legislator and Montgomery businessman, said Bright has taken thousands of dollars in campaign money from the Democrats."I don't think the people are going to buy this. I think it's part of his strategy to say to one group 'I'm a Republican,' and to another 'I'm a Democrat' and to another group 'I'm an independent,'" Love said.Auburn Montgomery political scientist D'Linell Finley said the signs remind him of former President Clinton's appeal to soccer moms in the 1990s.

"There are Republicans who will support Bobby Bright. He's been a popular mayor and he has won elections with Republican support," Finley said. He added that it's common in the South for Democrats to be more conservative and independent than in other parts of the country.Finley said he isn't surprised that Republicans are trying to link Bright to the national Democratic Party and to politicians like Pelosi and Rangel."They are using those names to try to rally their conservative base," Finley said.Bright said supporters of his campaign, including Democratic organizations, "are investing in me and my ideals."He said he will push his own agenda, not a liberal one as the Republicans claim, if he is elected to Congress."I'm going to push for America first and for District 2 second. I'm going to put any kind of party preference in the back seat," Bright said.

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Bobby Bright for Congress

Bobby Bright is a democrat seeking the 2nd Congressional District seat that was left open when Rep Terry Everett retired. He is a graduate of Thomas Goode Jones School of Law and the National Judicial College. He worked as an attorney for 16 yrs before becoming running for mayor. He has served as mayor for the city of Montgomery (the capitol of Alabama) for the past 9 yrs.

His accomplishments include; Central Alabama Planning and Development Commission,Director of The Alabama Baptist Board,Director of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board and Member of the Governor's Homeland Security Task force.

Mayor Bobby Bright is married to retired judge Lynn Clardy Bright and has three children.

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REPUBLICAN JAY LOVE

Jay Love was elected to the Alabama Legislature in November of 2002 and is currently serving his second term in office. He holds the position of Minority Whip in the Alabama Republican Caucus leadership and serves as the Ranking Republican member of the important Government Finance and Appropriations budget-writing committee. He also serves on the House Constitution and Elections Committee.
Throughout his time in the office, Jay has enjoyed several legislative accomplishments. Because of his ability to work with Republicans and Democrats alike, Jay successfully convinced the Legislature to pass the first tax cuts enjoyed by Alabamians in more than 70 years. He continues to push for additional state tax cuts for Alabama’s middle class families and small business owners.
Jay has also co-sponsored important legislation, such as the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which protects unborn life from violent crime. In addition, he made national headlines by sponsoring legislation that would prevent minors from being exposed to violent or sexually explicit video games.
Jay and his wife, Cheri, have been married for 13 years and have four children – Rachel, Addison, Rebecca and Caroline. Active in his church, he serves as a Deacon at First Baptist in Montgomery and also holds a seat on the Finance Committee.

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