Milwaukee, WI –   Terrence Wall’s campaign has launched a statewide radio ad full of misleading and deceptive attacks against Senator Feingold after a weeklong firestorm over the fact that Wall had not paid state income taxes in four of the last five years.

Wall has received withering criticism from leading conservative radio talk show hosts Charlie Sykes, Jeff Wagner, and Mark Belling.

In addition, the Wisconsin State Journal revealed this weekend that Wall has not paid any state income taxes for nine of the last 10 years. 

Fact Check of Wall Campaigns First Attack Ad- 1/22/2010

Wall Street Bailouts

Wall’s ad says “Terrence Wall says no more Wall Street bailouts.”

But in 2008, as the economy was headed toward collapse, Wall wrote that “I don’t think Wall Street should be regulated…” 

In addition, now as a political candidate, Wall’s website says, there should be “appropriate regulation to Wall Street speculators.” But during a panel discussion last year, Wall said his company tried to make money from the Wall Street bailouts when they applied to “become the sub-manager for the TARP funds…” 

Senator Feingold has been independent and stood up to parties and Presidents, voting against de-regulating Wall Street and voting against the Wall Street bailout.

Government Spending

Wall’s ad attacks Senator Feingold as a “career politician” who has supported “increased spending” and “pork barrel projects.”

Senator Feingold has made a career of being tough on wasteful, Washington, government spending.

Nobody has been a bigger champion of getting rid of the wasteful earmarks. Feingold has lead bipartisan efforts on this issue, joining with Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and others in efforts to end the practice of this type of unauthorized spending altogether.

Feingold has been named numerous times to the non-partisan Concord Coalition's "Honor Roll" for his votes to cut the federal deficit. He has been named the top "Taxpayer Guardian" in the Senate by Taxpayers for Common Sense, an independent, non-partisan group that monitors the spending of taxpayer money.  Feingold has also been recognized by the pro-Republican group Club for Growth for his votes to curb wasteful spending.

Feingold’s Control Spending Now Act would return the hundreds of billions of Wall Street bailout funds remaining back to the U.S. Treasury.  And just yesterday, Feingold joined with Senator John Thune (R-SD) in an effort to cancel the Wall Street bailout altogether. 

Listening Sessions

Wall’s ad claims that Feingold “Might visit every county but he’s not listening to what Wisconsin has to say.”

Holding true on a promise he made to Wisconsin in his first campaign, Feingold has continued to hold open, town hall style meetings, called Listening Sessions, in all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties every year – over 1200 to date and 16 in the month of January alone.  These events are open to anyone.   

By contrast, Wall kicked off his campaign this week by holding private press events that were closed to the public in only six cities in Wisconsin.  He also officially "launched" his primary campaign this past Wednesday with a “Senator’s Club” and is asking people to “max out” with $4,800 contributions in return for special access to his campaign.

Health Insurance Reform

Wall’s radio ad says he has “a health care plan to lower costs for working Americans.”  However, Terrence Wall has said “our (health care) system isn’t broken.”

If it isn’t broken why does he want to fix it?

The fact is Wall’s so called “plan” would put out-of-state insurance company bureaucrats in charge of Wisconsinites health care. Wall’s “plan” would also allow out-of-state insurance companies to sell plans in Wisconsin based on the rules of the insurance company’s home state, rather than the laws of Wisconsin - leading to the weakening of consumer protections for Wisconsinites and the denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions.   

Senator Feingold has supported and voted for health care reform that provides stability, security, and portability to the insured, as well as provides affordable access to the uninsured - lowering costs for families, small businesses and government, and ending unfair insurance company practices like denying people coverage due to a preexisting condition.

He has also has been a leader on and has proposed bipartisan legislation, with Senator Susan Collins (R-MA), that encourages small businesses to pool together to bring larger purchasing power to the marketplace. 

Taxes

Wall’s ad says “Terrence Wall is committed to creating jobs in Wisconsin by lowering taxes and getting government out of the way.”

However, Wall supports irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations on Wall Street that are paid for by middle class tax payers and future generations.

Senator Feingold has worked with Wisconsin business leaders on job creation initiatives and supports tax cuts for all Wisconsin businesses that are committed to hiring more workers.

Following up on a report from Wispolitics.com that indicated that Wall has not paid taxes in four of the last five years, the Wisconsin State Journal reported over the weekend that Wall has not paid state income taxes in nine of the last 10 years.