Des Moines, IA ?The final Quinnipiac poll before Election Day shows what the Braley campaign has been seeing for weeks: This race is very tight but Bruce is surging as voters take their final look at the candidates and are hearing from their friends and neighbors about what is at stake and how important it is to vote for Bruce and his plans to fight for the middle class, not the wealthiest few.

"This race is a dead heat but the energy and enthusiasm is with Bruce as voters make their final decisions and cast their ballots," said Sam Lau, Braley for Iowa spokesman. "We know that the more Iowans who vote, the better Bruce will do?and our superior field operation is reaching out to hundreds of thousands of our supporters in the final days to make sure they understand what is at stake and how important it is for them to vote."

This poll comes as Bruce campaigns across Iowa talking to voters about the issues and thousands of volunteers are reaching out to hundreds of thousands of voters to make sure Bruce's supporters are coming out to the polls in this critical and tight race.

With the exception of a single outlier, every single poll of Iowa voters in the last few days has shown this race to be a dead heat heading into Election Day with clear movement in Bruce's direction. Our campaign's modeling of the electorate shows that Bruce is headed to victory on the strength of his clear and significant lead among early voters, the superior Democratic ground efforts that will drive far greater numbers of supporters to the polls, and his strong and consistent lead among independent voters.

Boone, IA - October 29, 2014, Bruce Braley will continue to highlight his plans to fight for all Iowa families, not just the wealthiest few, at canvass kickoffs and grassroots events in Boone and Marshalltown.

Braley will meet with local volunteers and grassroots organizers and encourage all Iowans to vote early. Voting early is the simplest and easiest way to cast a ballot. Iowans can vote early in person from now until November 3. For more information about early voting locations, visit vote.brucebraley.com.

While Bruce works to put Iowa families first, Joni Ernst has made it clear that she stands with millionaires, billionaires and special interests with her out-of-step plans to privatize Social Security, end federal student aid, and protect tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. In contrast, Bruce is fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security, reduce the burden of college costs, and fight for tax breaks for the middle class.

Later in the day, Braley will be joined by Hillary Rodham Clinton for grassroots events in Cedar Rapids and Davenport.

TOMORROW, October 29, 2014

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Davenport, IA - Bruce Braley visited Davenport to speak with grassroots volunteers and organizers at a canvass kickoff and share his vision to be a Senator who fights for all of Iowa's hardworking families, not just the wealthiest few. While Ernst continues to try and hide her out-of-step policies by refusing to meet with newspaper editorial boards across Iowa, Bruce is traveling the state and sharing his vision to be a Senator who puts Iowa families first.

"The excitement surrounding this election is clear to me from the energy and enthusiasm that I see from our fantastic volunteers and grassroots organizers. Iowans face a clear choice, and I'm running for the Senate to fight for all of Iowa's hardworking families. I'm committed to breaking through the gridlock to build an economy that works for all of Iowa's families, not just the wealthiest few. While my opponent has made it clear that she stands for millionaires, billionaires and the special interests backing her campaign, I'll always put Iowa first," said Braley.

In stark contrast to Bruce's focus on policies that put Iowa families first, Sen. Joni Ernst's plans - including privatizing Social Security, protecting corporations that ship jobs overseas from paying their fair share in taxes, abolishing federal student loans, and opposing a minimum wage increase that would give 300,000 Iowans a raise - would have devastating consequences for Iowa's families.

Bruce also spoke on the importance of voting early in this year's midterm election. Iowans can vote early in person from now until November 3. For more information about early voting locations, visit vote.brucebraley.com.

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Des Moines, IA - Today, Braley for Iowa released the following statement on the clear contrast between Bruce Braley and Joni Ernst when it comes to keeping Iowa jobs here in Iowa and where tax cuts should be directed, key issues as Iowans focus on this race and make their decisions in the final days.

"Keeping Iowa jobs where they belong - here in Iowa - is one of the most important issues in this race. While Bruce is working to cut taxes for the middle class and build a strong economy that works for all of Iowa's hardworking families, Joni Ernst puts millionaires, billionaires, and special interests first. Ernst's plans to protect tax breaks for outsourcers and cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires stands in stark contrast to Bruce's strong record of fighting to end tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas and close loopholes that allow big multinational corporations to avoid paying their fair share of taxes," said Braley for Iowa spokesperson Sam Lau.

Bruce will continue traveling the state and talking to Iowans about his plans to fight for all of Iowa's hardworking families, while Joni Ernst favors millionaires, billionaires and special interests that ship Iowa jobs overseas. In a new ad released yesterday by Braley for Iowa, Bruce tells Iowans directly that as their next U.S. Senator, he'll fight to eliminate tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, and instead cut taxes for companies that hire American workers.

Background on the contrast between Bruce Braley's plan to protect American jobs and Joni Ernst's pledge to protect tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas:

ERNST OPPOSED RAISING TAXES ON OUTSOURCERS

Ernst Opposed Raising Taxes On Companies That Outsourced Jobs. "[QUESTIONER]: Joni, would you support raising taxes for companies that outsource jobs? [ERNST]: No, no." [IA State Fair RFS Press Conference, 8/8/14] (video)

ERNST SIGNED PLEDGE TO PROTECT TAX BREAKS FOR COMPANIES THAT SHIP JOBS OVERSEAS

July 18, 2013: Ernst Signed The Taxpayer Protection Pledge. "State Senator Joni Ernst has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in her bid for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat. The Pledge, sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform, commits signers to "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses ... and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates." [Americans for Tax Reform, 7/18/13]

Claim That Ernst Pledged To Protect Tax Breaks For Companies That Shipped Jobs Overseas Rated "Mostly True" KCRG reported: "ATR announced July 18, 2013, that Ernst had joined the list of candidates and office holders ? almost exclusively Republicans ? who have signed the pledge. The ad claims the pledge 'protects tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.' As an example of this, NextGen said ATR opposed the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act of 2010 because the measures were funded, in part, with $9.8 billion saved by restricting ways multinational companies could claim the foreign tax credit. In an Aug. 9, 2010, statement, ATR described the funding of the bill as 'tax increases on U.S. employees doing business overseas' and called on lawmakers who signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to vote against the legislation. 'Because this bill is a NET INCOME TAX HIKE, it violates the Taxpayer Protection Pledge that 174 Congressmen have made to their constituents and the American people,' the 2010 statement said. Ernst wasn't in federal office in 2010 and she didn't sign the pledge until three years later. But she has promised to vote with ATR on similar issues in the future, should she win a seat in the U.S. Senate. Conclusion Several Democrat-leaning organizations have used similar attack ads in recent years, attempting to link Taxpayer Protection Pledge signers to jobs leaving the United States. PolitiFact made a good argument in 2010 that because the pledge allows lawmakers to come up with another tax reduction to offset a closed loophole or discontinued tax break, signing the pledge doesn't prevent a lawmaker from opposing a tax break for an offshore company. Part of the stated purpose of the pledge is to keep signers from eliminating tax breaks. While it's possible for a lawmaker to swap out one tax break for another, the intended result is no net increase in taxes for individuals or businesses -- including companies that may move some operations overseas. There's at least one example of pledge signers being pressured to oppose legislation that restricted tax breaks for multinational companies. We score this claim mostly true." [KCRG, 8/1/14]

ATR Called American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 a Taxpayer Protection Pledge Violation. In May 2010, Americans for Tax Reform issued a Tax Pledge Alert to announce that HR 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010, was a Taxpayer Protection Pledge violation. The bill would eliminate $14.451 billion of foreign tax credit loopholes [Americans for Tax Reform, Press Release, 5/20/10; House Committee on Ways and Means, "American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010, HR 4213, 5/28/10]

ATR Opposed Reid-Murray Amendment to Close Tax Loopholes for Employers Doing Business Overseas. In August 2010, the Americans for Tax Reform called the Reid-Murray amendment to HR 1586 a violation of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. According to a press release issued by the Americans for Tax Reform, "The Reid amendment violates the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. ATR will be key-voting against cloture. The tax increases in question are all tax hikes on U.S. employers doing business overseas..." [Americans for Tax Reform, Press Release, 8/3/10]

Denver Post: Signers of ATR Pledge Protect Tax Breaks for Companies Outsourcing Jobs Overseas. According to The Denver Post's "Political Polygraph" series, a Republican candidate's continuing support for the ATR pledge effectively protected tax breaks for companies outsourcing jobs overseas. As reported by the Denver Post, "The pledge Buck made was through Americans for Tax Reform, which circulates a pledge to 'oppose any and all tax increases' for legislators and candidates to sign, and then contacts them when a bill comes up that increases taxes. Ken Buck signed that pledge. In the last year, that organization has opposed legislation to that would eliminate a $14.45 billion loophole for foreign tax credits and increase government school funding and Medicaid through tax increases. So, yes, essentially, Buck has pledged to vote the ATR line, he's reiterated that support since then, and that would mean he's protecting tax breaks for companies outsourcing jobs overseas." [Denver Post, Political Polygraph, 10/31/10]

FACT: THE KOCH BROTHERS AND AFFILIATES SHIPPED AMERICAN JOBS OVERSEAS

LA Times' Tim Rutten: "Organizations That Monitor Employment Practices Also Cite Koch Industries As One Of The Most Ruthless Exporters Of American Manufacturing Jobs To Foreign Countries." "California, birthplace of the modern environmental movement, remains one of the greenest of blue states, even while it struggles to cope with levels of unemployment unseen since the Depression. That makes the budding relationship between Republican senatorial candidate Carly Fiorina and billionaire industrialists David and Charles Koch all the odder. The Kochs own and run America's second-largest privately held company, Koch Industries ? an amalgam of oil, gas, pipeline, chemical, fertilizer and wood products companies, including Georgia-Pacific. Lump them together, and the Koch brothers have the country's third-largest fortune ? $35 billion ? after Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. [...] For years, according to the New Yorker article, the brothers and their company funded organizations promoting 'environmental skepticism,' including the notion that acid rain is 'a myth.' Charles Lewis, founder of the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, told Mayer that when it comes to the amount of money they donate to politics, 'the Kochs are on a whole different level.... They are the Standard Oil of our times.' Organizations that monitor employment practices also cite Koch Industries as one of the most ruthless exporters of American manufacturing jobs to foreign countries. Before she was ousted as chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, Fiorina laid off 30,000 workers and outsourced thousands of positions abroad, so perhaps the Kochs sense a kindred spirit." [Tim Rutten, LA Times, 9/25/10]

Koch Industries Affiliate Laid Off 150 People In North Carolina, Outsourced Jobs To Mexico. In 2003, Koch laid off 150 employees at a KoSa plant in Shelby, North Carolina.  In 2004, the Department of Labor certified that a portion of 150 employees who had been laid off at a plant in Shelby, NC, were eligible for TAA as a result of outsourcing to Mexico. [Department of Labor, Trade Adjustment Assistance Petition 53343, 1/12/04; Charlotte Business Journal, 10/10/03]

Koch Industries Affiliate Laid Off 260 Workers In California, Outsourced Jobs To China. In 2007, following an increase in importation of cutlery from China, Dixie Consumer Products, a GP subsidiary, closed a facility that made cutlery in Los Angeles, California, laying off all 260 workers.  The Department of Labor certified that workers who lost their jobs were victims of outsourcing to China.  [Department of Labor, Trade Adjustment Assistance Petition 62268, 10/23/07; California Employment Development Department, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act Notices, 2007]

Koch Industries Affiliate Laid Off 400 Employees In Delaware, Outsourced Jobs To Canada. In 2008 and 2009, Invista laid off 400 employees at a facility in Seaford, Delaware. The Department of Labor certified that the employees' jobs had been outsourced to Canada. [Department of Labor, Trade Adjustment Assistance Petition 64931, 2/6/09; Department of Labor, Trade Adjustment Assistance Petition, 1/13/09; AP, 10/14/08]

Koch Industries Affiliate Laid Off Workers In Wisconsin, Outsourced Jobs To China, Taiwan And Canada. In 2009, after beginning to import Angel Soft tissue products from a company with facilities in China and Taiwan Georgia-Pacific laid off workers at a plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In 2010, the Department of Labor verified that their jobs had been outsourced to China, Taiwan, and Canada. [Department of Labor, TAA Decision 73539, 7/12/10; Department of Labor, Trade Adjustment Assistance Petition, 9/19/12; Department of Labor, Trade Adjustment Assistance Petition, 11/6/12]

BRALEY BACKED LEGISLATION TO END TAX BREAKS FOR CORPORATIONS THAT SHIP JOBS OVERSEAS

Braley Supported Legislation to End Tax Breaks for Corporations that Ship Jobs Overseas. Rep. Braley is a co-sponsor and supporter of legislation to end tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas.  Specifically, the bill would close tax loopholes for companies that are incorporated overseas but managed and controlled in the United States. This proposal would raise $6.6 billion in revenue over the next 10 years. [HR 3793, 12/19/13; Rep. Maffei Press Release, December 18, 2013; Syracuse Post-Standard, 12/18/13]

BRALEY SUPPORTED TAX BREAKS FOR COMPANIES THAT HIRE UNEMPLOYED WORKERS

Braley's Back To Work Act Became Law As Part Of The HIRE Act, Encouraged Hiring By Exempting Employers From Paying Payroll Taxes If They Hired An Unemployed Worker. In February 2011, The Waterloo-Courier reported, "A bill that provided a 'simple tweak' to the tax code has helped more than 100,000 Iowans get back to work and should be extended, said U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo Tuesday. Braley pushed renewal of his Back To Work Act, which he introduced in 2010, while touring the MetoKote Corp. plant in Cedar Falls Industrial Park. The coating and painting company hired a dozen workers using the act statewide, company officials said. 'This is one of the things we can do to get the economy back moving again and get people back to work,' Braley said... The law, which was passed as part of the larger HIRE Act, exempts employers from paying Social Security taxes if they hire a person who was unemployed for more than 60 days. That employer also gets an additional tax credit if it keeps the new hire on the payroll for a year." [Waterloo Courier, 2/2/11]

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