Show Your Support for Compassionate Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe

A Letter from NOW President Kim Gandy

April 18, 2003

I recently sent an e-mail to Maine NOW members and activists, alerting them to the name-calling ad campaign intended to punish Sen. Olympia Snowe for being a fiscally moderate compassionate Republican. Sen. Snowe is being attacked because she prevailed in the recent Senate debate over the tax cut amount for next year. She and a few allies insisted on a moderate tax cut of $350 billion and not a penny more, rather than the $726 billion originally offered by the President and the $550 billion agreed to by the House. She understands that the giant tax reduction for the very wealthy can come only at the expense of programs helping women and children.

I'm sending a copy of my Maine e-mail to all of you because Sen. Snowe represents not just the citizens of Maine, but all of us in her one-woman campaign to find common ground in the fractious U.S. Senate. When I met with Sen. Snowe's chief of staff a few weeks ago, I gave her this exact same message.

Please thank Sen. Snowe and tell her to hold firm against all the odds, and disregard the name-calling, threats and barbs. For those of you who are not Maine residents, just scribble a note on your personal or organizational letterhead with a simple message of thanks and FAX it to her Senate office in D.C. Fax: 202-224-1946. Calls and e-mails from out-of-staters may not get through.

Here's the note we sent to Maine NOW members and activists last week:

Forgive us for once again sending you e-mail about a Maine issue, but we knew you would want a "heads up" about a new and hurtful TV ad campaign aimed at your state and your Senator—see the news release below.

The "More Tax Cuts for Millionaires" group, aka the Club for Growth, has gone too far in their recent tactics and name-calling. Read their press release below and then think of one or more ways to counter this vitriol and thank Senator Snowe for her attempts to limit the tax cuts to $350 billion. (We know that most of us don't think that there should be ANY tax cuts at this time, and you should certainly say that as well while you are sticking up for her.)

Sen. Snowe at least tried to find a balance and should not be pilloried for caring about many of the things we hold dear. Call the Senator's office and thank her for her earlier work (the child tax credit is partially refundable because of her efforts) and ask her to hold firm on the tax cut amount. Write a letter to the editor criticizing this outrageous attack and publicly announce that you would welcome and support Sen. Snowe becoming an Independent. Ask others to call or write, thanking Sen. Snowe and/or encouraging her to find a new party.

If you have an opportunity, please take a minute to let me know that you've taken action and how it turned out.

Thank you so much.
Kim Gandy, NOW President
now@now.org

U.S. Newswire 16 Apr 10:07

Hard-Hitting TV Ads To Target "Franco-Republicans"; Ads Criticizing Voinovich, Snowe, Houghton for Opposing Bush Tax Cut

News Advisory:

The Club for Growth, the nation's leading tax cut organization will unveil a new television advertising campaign that criticizes U.S. Senators George Voinovich (R-OH) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Rep. Amo Houghton (R-NY) for their votes to reduce the Bush tax cut.

"Senators Voinovich and Snowe and Rep. Houghton have single-handedly thwarted the central piece of President Bush's economic stimulus package," said Club for Growth president Stephen Moore. "Not only is this a defeat for the president, it is a defeat for the Republican Party. President Bush has won significant military victories in Iraq with the help of strong, dependable allies. Why are his so-called allies in the House and Senate so eager to impede economic progress? These 'Franco-Republicans' are as dependable as France was in taking down Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

"For too long, Americans have been double taxed on dividends. In order to increase economic growth, employment and productivity, businesses need to have the legislated tax cuts take effect sooner than scheduled. Senators Voinovich and Snowe and Rep. Houghton need to realize that a substantial tax cut is necessary and affordable. Deep tax cuts will increase personal savings and investment and will also increase tax revenues," said Moore.

The ads, which are slated to begin April 19, will air in the following media markets: Portland, Maine; Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio and Elmira, New York. The ads will be unveiled at a Washington, D.C. press conference on Friday, April 18.

Copyright 2003, U.S. Newswire