#NVSen: TCJ Research Nevada Senate Poll, Dean Heller (R)- 49%, Shelley Berkley (D)- 47%

From TCJ:
TCJ Research Nevada Senate
Dean Heller (R)- 49%
Shelley Berkley (D)- 47%
10/29-10/30
1000 LV, 3% MOE
Sample consists of 41% Democrat, 37% Republican, and 22% Unaffiliated/Other
| All ID | Democrats | Republicans | Independents | |
| Heller | 49.3 | 10.1 | 90.2 | 57.7 |
| Berkley | 47.2 | 85.4 | 6.7 | 40.2 |
| Undecided | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 2.1 |
Update on Key Senate Races

In Nevada, the NRSC released a new ad that reminds voters that Shelley Berkley is one of the most ethically-challenged members of Congress. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) today released their latest statewide ad – “Failed” – which reminds voters that not only is Shelley Berkley one of the most corrupt members of Congress, she also supported the failed $825 billion stimulus that has failed to get Nevada’s economy working again. … “Not only has it been reported that Shelley Berkley is one of the most corrupt members of Congress, her liberal policies have resulted in higher taxes and fewer jobs for Nevada,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox. “Nevadans simply can’t trust Shelley Berkley and it’s why we are confident that next Tuesday, voters will elect Dean Heller to the U.S. Senate.”
- Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that Dean Heller also believes that Shelley Berkley is one of the most unethical members of Congress. Heller has called Berkley “the most corrupt” person he’s ever met. Republicans have run virtually nonstop ads pointing to her vote in support of a kidney program at a Las Vegas hospital that benefited her husband’s medical practice and led to a House ethics investigation.
- Finally, Morning Score reports that Crossroads GPS is out with a new ad that tells voters that Berkley has been caught 3 threes in scandals. ‘Unethical: lacking integrity. Synonym: Shelley Berkley. Berkley’s been caught three times in scandals: first, urging her boss to buy off politicians with cash, then pushing a judge to go easy on a convicted criminal, a big campaign donor to Berkley. Now, Berkley’s under a bipartisan investigation for enriching herself in office.’
In North Dakota, KFYR reports on yet another poll showing Rick Berg leading Heidi Heitkamp. The race for the U.S. Senate seat in North Dakota remains very tight, but there has been some movement in this race since our last poll…The NBC North Dakota News latest Mason-Dixon poll of 625 likely voters shows that Republican candidate Rick Berg has opened a two point lead over the Democratic challenger, Heidi Heitkamp. Our poll conducted at the end of September, had the two tied at 47 percent to 47 percent. This poll has Berg ahead 47 percent to 45 percent.
- Meanwhile, the Dickinson Press reports on Rick Berg’s stop at Trinity High School while on this Drive to Restore the American Dream Tour. Lefor didn’t waste much time asking her question — what Berg believes is the most important issue for young Americans like herself. “I think it’s the deficit,” Berg answered. “Today in Greece, they didn’t balance their budget and they got upside down and had problems. Today, their interest rate is 18.5 percent. Just think if you wanted to buy a car and had to pay 18.5 percent. “A strong economy is the most important issue for young adults today and, to make sure we have a strong economy, we need to get our spending and our budget under control.”
- Finally, Politico’s Morning Score reports that Crossroads GPS is out with a new ad reminding voters that Heidi Heitkamp would be a roadblock to a President Romney’s efforts to get America working again.
In Massachusetts where Hurricane Sandy is on everyone’s mind at the moment, the Boston Herald reports on the cancellation of the last Senate debate. The local TV stations are off the hook — thanks to U.S. Sen. Scott Brown. A consortium of media, which includes Channels 2, 5, 7 and New England Cable News, had planned to decide this morning whether to hold tonight’s final debate between Brown and challenger Elizabeth Warren — as the Storm of the Century dominates the news….Brown made the decision an easy one when he bailed out of the debate yesterday. “The focus for all of us before, during and after the storm needs to be on emergency response and disaster relief, not campaigns and politics,” his campaign said in a statement. Warren later followed suit, with her campaign manager saying the “focus now must be on public safety and ensuring people get the help they need during the storm and in its aftermath.”
In Montana, the Billings Gazette reports that Denny Rehberg is still criss-crossing the state encouraging people to vote. At Magnum Development, 220 W. Main St., Rehberg kicked off the most recent version of his Liberate Main Street tour across Montana, which he described as a grass-roots-style effort to build enthusiasm among his supporters. “That (enthusiasm) is then going into the neighborhood and having a rally effect,” he said. About 30 people gathered at the Laurel business, which engineers foundations for manufactured homes. Laura Musseter, who owns Magnum Development with her husband, Mike, briefly spoke to the crowd. She told them she has seen businesses struggle and people have trouble getting loans through “ridiculous, senseless regulation” from the government and wants less federal involvement, a common talking point with Rehberg. “Get the government the hell out of our business,” Musseter said.
- Meanwhile, the Daily Caller reports on the increasing desperation from Jon Tester’s side. A group controlled by Democrats is running ads in the Montana Senate race telling voters to vote for the Libertarian candidate, Dan Cox, in what appears to be an attempt to split the vote between him and the Republican candidate — and help propel Democratic Sen. Jon Tester to re-election. According to Open Secrets, Montana Hunters and Anglers has spent $1,089,694 this cycle attacking Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg, who is challenging incumbent Tester for his Senate seat. The latest ad attacks Rehberg and goes on to tell viewers, “Vote Cox: the real conservative.” But the leadership of Montana Hunters and Anglers, according to its website, is not made up of the conservatives or libertarians that one would expect from a group running that type of message. Rather, it is made up of Democratic donors, one Democratic state senator, and several donors to Tester.
In Virginia, two new statewide ads from the NRSC and Crossroads GPS hammer Tim Kaine for his record of cutting education funding and supporting cap-and-trade.
In Ohio, the Toledo Blade reports that Treasurer Josh Mandel released his 10-point plan to repeal Sherrod Brown’s job-killing healthcare law. Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, on Monday issued a 10-point plan for health-care reform, beginning with repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Mandel, who is challenging Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, held a news conference at a Sylvania Township surgical office with podiatrist Dr. Bruce Saferin. The plan, labeled “Healthcare: Quality, Access & Affordability,” advocates a series of steps using tax benefits, transparency, tort reform, health savings accounts, and other measures to replace the law passed in 2010, commonly known as Obamacare.
- Meanwhile, Politico’s Morning Score reports that Crossroads GPS is up with a new ad telling voters that we need to stop liberal Democrat Sherrod Brown and his job-killing policies. ‘With Sherrod Brown in Washington, Ohio has its share of ups and downs. Taxes on Ohio manufacturers and job creators go up, Ohio jobs go down. Nearly 290,000 jobs lost. Wasteful government spending and federal debt go up, Ohio’s economy goes down. Sherrod Brown’s support for Obama goes up to 95 percent, Ohio’s economy goes down.’
- Finally, Governor Kasich tells Politico that because of Josh Mandel and himself, the Buckeye State has begun their economic rebound. Ohio’s resurgence is also being championed by Republicans — though, unsurprisingly, with a different twist. Republican Gov. John Kasich, who joined Mandel for a stop at a chicken processing company Thursday, told workers that the state has gained 112,000 jobs in recent years and “we’re starting to hit our stride.” Yet Kasich argued that the progress is in spite — not because — of Washington. Mandel grabbed that baton and ran with it. “In Washington, it’s been over three years since the United States has passed a budget. But here in Ohio, Gov. Kasich and the Legislature, they took an $8 billion operating budget shortfall and balanced the budget and now they have a billion-dollar surplus,” Mandel said inside the company’s warehouse.
In Wisconsin, Politico’s Morning Score reports that Crossroads GPS is up with a new ad asking voters if extreme politicians like Tammy Baldwin are really making a difference? ‘Are extreme politicians like Tammy Baldwin really making a difference? So far Tammy’s voted to raise taxes, to cut $700 billion from Medicare spending, for trillions in new debt, and Washington is more broken than ever.’
- Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that Tommy Thompson continues to hammer Rep. Baldwin on her vote against September 11th. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks remained a focus of Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race for a second week, as Republican Tommy Thompson released another ad on the topic in the waning days of the campaign against Democrat Tammy Baldwin. … Thompson first brought up the Sept. 11 attacks last week in an ad criticizing Baldwin’s 2006 vote against a resolution to honor victims.
In Arizona, the Arizona Republic’s editorial board writes that given the flack Richard Carmona has received for his misleading ad, it’s probably safe to assume that Democrats might like a do-over. If political campaigns were allowed to have “do-overs,” we’re guessing Richard Carmona would like a mulligan for his TV ads that make Arizona’s Republican Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl appear to be endorsing the Democrat’s race for the Senate. They are not. They back Jeff Flake to replace Kyl. The ad in question features McCain and Kyl saying nice things about Carmona when he was up for his appointment as surgeon general. Neither McCain nor Kyl is saying nice things about Carmona now. They’ve unveiled pro-Flake ads. … The fake endorsements were bad. The defense of the ad made it worse. Time for a do-over.
- Meanwhile, Senator McCain and Senator Kyl are in a new ad reminding voters that they support Jeff Flake for the U.S. Senate. McCain: Richard Carmona’s latest ad is the most shameful of all, implying Jon and I support him – we don’t. Kyl: We helped Carmona 10 years ago, but found he’s not the kind of man to represent you in the U.S. Senate. McCain: It’s not just that he supports the Obama agenda. His ads prove Carmona lacks integrity. Kyl: We support Jeff Flake. He’s a proven reformer, and he’s honest.
- Finally, National Democrats are under fire for a tasteless tweet. As the Daily Caller reports: A Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) official described a new ad featuring Sen. John McCain and Sen. Jon Kyl as a “hostage video” — a somewhat unfortunate choice of words given Sen. McCain’s military history. DSCC Communications Director Matt Canter tweeted Monday afternoon that, “The new McCain & Kyl #azsen ad is awful. Talk about a hostage video. Why not admit we like Carmona a lot but now he has a D after his name.” McCain was held hostage in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.
In Indiana, the Indianapolis Star reports that Richard Mourdock called on Republicans to join him in defeating Joe Donnelly and keeping Harry Reid from being majority leader next year. Richard Mourdock told a crowd of the state’s most influential Republicans on Monday that his battle with Democrat Joe Donnelly for a seat in the U.S. Senate is a fight for the future of the nation…”We’re eight nights away from making Harry Reid as insignificant in the United States Senate as we made Pat Bauer in the Indiana House of Representatives,” Mourdock said of the Senate majority leader…. Pence told the crowd that Indiana must elect Mourdock so the GOP can control the Senate. “This election is not about party,” he said. “It’s about our country.”
In Maine, Morning Score reports that Crossroads GPS is up with an ad telling voters that Angus King is an influence peddler who only helps himself at the expense of Mainers.
In Florida, the Naples Daily News reports that Connie Mack continues to make inroads with voters in the Sunshine State. Before Monday, all Norma Quijano knew about U.S. Rep. Connie Mack came from the attack ads she’d seen on television. After listening to Florida’s Republican U.S. Senate nominee for 10 minutes, Quijano’s opinion changed. She was sold. Mack was her man. “I’m a Republican supporter, but I was doubtful of him because of the advertising campaign out there,” said Quijano, 52, a Cuban-American school teacher from Hialeah, outside Miami. “I see now the sincerity in the things he’s saying.
- Meanwhile, the Tampa Tribune reports that later this morning Governor Mitt Romney will join Connie Mack on the campaign trail. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, accompanied by U.S. Senate candidate Connie Mack IV, will hold an airport rally in Tampa on Wednesday morning. The event will be at the Landmark Aviation terminal at 2450 N. Westshore Blvd., near Tampa International Airport. The rally will begin at 10:45 a.m., with doors opening at 8:45 a.m.
In Nebraska, Deb Fischer’s campaign is hammering liberal New York Democrat Bob Kerrey for telling voters that his first vote in the U.S. Senate will be for Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid. Today, on KFAB’s The Good Morning Show, Bob Kerrey was asked whether he would vote for Harry Reid for U.S. Senate Majority Leader. Kerrey replied, “Yes.” “Harry Reid and Bob Kerrey cut a secret deal that prompted Kerrey to suddenly move from his home in New York to run for Senate in Nebraska. And now, Bob Kerrey says he’ll vote for Harry Reid for majority leader,” said Fischer spokesman Daniel Keylin. “What exactly did Harry Reid promise Bob Kerrey? And what did Bob Kerrey promise Harry Reid? Nebraskans deserve to know.”
In New Mexico, the New Mexico Telegram reports that a new poll has Heather Wilson leading liberal Congressman Martin Heinrich. The former Rep. Heather Wilson campaign released a poll showing she has a narrow lead over Rep. Martin Heinrich — 44 percent to 43 percent. The poll shows that Independent American Party candidate Jon Barrie takes six percent of the vote and that seven percent are still undecided.
- Meanwhile, New Mexico Watchdog reports that the largest Native American tribe in the country is supporting Heather Wilson over Heinrich. The Navajo Nation Council has declared its support for Heather Wilson for U.S. Senate. An October 17, 2012, letter signed by Johnny Naize, the Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, while not explicitly calling upon tribal members to vote for Wilson, sends a clear message that the leaders of the largest Native American tribe in the country support her over Democratic opponent, Rep. Martin Heinrich. They left nothing to guess when they wrote to Wilson, “Our Nation and our Navajo people are in dire need of leaders such as you who can advocate for sensible solutions and sustainable economic development.”
In Michigan, the Flint Journal and its sister papers endorsed Pete Hoekstra for Senate. Hoekstra appears to have a better grasp of how national politics should shape the federal agenda today. The country must move away from huge government spending on stimulus programs, war and a policy of short-term budgeting by default. The most pressing issues right now are tax reform, taming federal spending and generating some new energy in Congress to end an environment of political gridlock. Hoekstra’s reputation is as a politician who isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers, even within his own Republican ranks. That’s refreshing. Yet he realizes that compromise is the key to political wins in Washington. For example, he worked on the budget committee in the House during the 1990s that reached agreement on spending and welfare reform amid polarizing political figures Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich.
#NVSen Update: Shelley Berkley is One of the Most Ethically-Challenged Members of Congress

In Nevada, the NRSC released a new ad that reminds voters that Shelley Berkley is one of the most ethically-challenged members of Congress. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) today released their latest statewide ad – “Failed” – which reminds voters that not only is Shelley Berkley one of the most corrupt members of Congress, she also supported the failed $825 billion stimulus that has failed to get Nevada’s economy working again. … “Not only has it been reported that Shelley Berkley is one of the most corrupt members of Congress, her liberal policies have resulted in higher taxes and fewer jobs for Nevada,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox. “Nevadans simply can’t trust Shelley Berkley and it’s why we are confident that next Tuesday, voters will elect Dean Heller to the U.S. Senate.”
- Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that Dean Heller also believes that Shelley Berkley is one of the most unethical members of Congress. Heller has called Berkley “the most corrupt” person he’s ever met. Republicans have run virtually nonstop ads pointing to her vote in support of a kidney program at a Las Vegas hospital that benefited her husband’s medical practice and led to a House ethics investigation.
- Finally, Morning Score reports that Crossroads GPS is out with a new ad that tells voters that Berkley has been caught 3 threes in scandals. ‘Unethical: lacking integrity. Synonym: Shelley Berkley. Berkley’s been caught three times in scandals: first, urging her boss to buy off politicians with cash, then pushing a judge to go easy on a convicted criminal, a big campaign donor to Berkley. Now, Berkley’s under a bipartisan investigation for enriching herself in office.’
#NVSen: Harry Reid Says Senate Unlikely to Continue Ethics Probe of Fellow Nevada Democrat

From Roll Call:
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has predicted that the Senate will not take up the House ethics investigation of fellow Nevada Democrat Rep. Shelley Berkley if she unseats Sen. Dean Heller (R) on Nov. 6, even though the Senate’s ethics rules and precedent seem to indicate that it has the authority to examine allegations related to the conduct of lawmakers before their arrival in the chamber.
“The Select Committee was intended ‘to be free to investigate anything which, in its judgment, seemed worthy, deserving, and requiring investigation’ and ‘would not be limited to alleged violations of Senate rules, but it would take into account all improper conduct of any kind whatsoever,” the Senate Ethics Manual states.
Reid told the Las Vegas Sun earlier this week that the House investigation into whether Berkley broke ethics rules or laws when she intervened to save a kidney transplant program at a hospital where her physician husband had a lucrative contract was “politically driven nonsense.”
“The Ethics Committee in the House is different than what we have in the Senate. Much different. If this were not an election year, [the issue] would be long gone,” Reid told the newspaper in an interview Monday.
A Reid spokesman said the Senator was simply pointing out that the investigation began after the issue was raised by Nevada’s Republican Party.
The House Ethics Committee announced in July that it was forming an investigative subcommittee to determine whether Berkley violated “any law, rule, regulation, or other applicable standard of conduct … with respect to alleged communications and activities with or on behalf of entities in which Representative Berkley’s husband had a financial interest.”
Given the timetable of the committee’s previous investigations, it is unlikely that the matter will be concluded before Berkley leaves the House at the end of this Congress.
#NVSen: Berkley Votes Against Jobs, Wants Higher Gas Prices, and Flip-Flops on Keystone

Last night, at the “other debate,” Senator Dean Heller and embattled Seven-Term Congresswoman Shelley Berkley squared off and once again Berkley was flailing about issuing misleading & inaccurate answers on her record and stances on issues.
Berkley’s Solution for High Gas Prices: Make Them Even Higher
(Las Vegas, NV) – Gas prices are soaring in Nevada, but Congresswoman Shelley Berkley’s only solution is to follow President Obama and Nancy Pelosi’s lead and drive costs even higher. Instead of working to actually lower prices, she attempts to distract Nevadans from her record on policies that will drive prices so high, Americans won’t be able to afford gas at all.
Shelley Berkley’s long record on energy has forced gas prices higher:
- Berkley has voted against increasing energy production as many as twenty times.
- Berkley voted for a national energy tax that even President Obama admitted would cause energy prices to “necessarily skyrocket.” Washington Democrats continue to admit lowering gas prices is not a goal for the Administration (“Pence Claims that Obama said Energy Costs Will Skyrocket with a Cap-and-Trade Plan,” PolitiFact.com, 6/11/2009)
- Berkley voted against the Keystone pipeline four times, which even former President Clinton said the country should “embrace.” The Keystone Pipeline would create 20,000 American jobs and invest $5.4 billion in the United States economy. (Darius Dixon and Dan Berman, “Bill Clinton: ‘Embrace’ Keystone XL,” Politico, 1/29/2012).
- Berkley has voted against streamlining regulations to help promote renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal on federal lands. Just last month, Shelley Berkley voted against development of oil shale energy and opposed providing companies the regulatory certainty they need to hire.
- Berkley has opposed policies that could increase oil and gas production by more than 10 million barrels of oil per day and create 1.4 million more jobs by 2030.
Berkley Votes Against Jobs Bill for Lyon County
And Helps Her Campaign
Shelley Berkley likes to talk about “jobs, jobs, jobs” but when it comes to walking the walk, she would rather receive campaign support from an East Coast environmental special interest group than create jobs in a county that consistently struggles with the highest unemployment in Nevada.
Take a look at the facts:
- Shelley Berkley sponsors a Nevada jobs bill for Lyon County. Berkley signs on as a cosponsor to the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act on February 15, 2012, which would have created nearly 800 jobs in Nevada.
- The League of Conservation Voters sends a letter to congressional offices stating that they are opposed to the bill that includes the Nevada jobs bill.
- Despite being a cosponsor, Shelley Berkley votes against the Nevada jobs bill (Roll Call Vote 387, June 19, 2012).
- Unemployment rate in Lyon County at the time of her vote: 14.8% – the highest in the state.
- On July 25, the League of Conservation Voters begins running political ads against Dean Heller, spending a total of $242,928.
- On September 19, the League of Conservation Voters begins a phone program promoting Shelley Berkley.
- On September 25, 2012, the League of Conservation Voters releases a poll it commissioned for Shelley Berkley. Notably, it’s the only public poll that shows the seven-term Congresswoman ahead.
- The League of Conservation Voters is now running an absentee ballot program for the Nevada U.S. Senate race.
Flip-Flop Alert: Berkley Claims Support For Keystone Pipeline
But she voted to kill the measure and send jobs to China
Seven-term Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has long demonstrated she has little concern about the truth, and her alleged support for the Keystone pipeline is no different.
Shelley Berkley has already voted against the Keystone pipeline FOURT times: (H.R. 1938, CQ Vote #650); (H.R. 3630, CQ Vote #923); (H.R. 3408, CQ Vote #71); (H.R. 4348, Roll Call Vote #170)
Votes that sent jobs to China:
- “Canadian government officials, meanwhile, have boosted support for westward-flowing pipelines in order to diversify toward Asian markets. That effort accelerated after the White House earlier this year rejected a big pipeline-expansion project, TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone XL, which would have sent more Alberta crude south of the border. … Mr. Harper and other Canadian officials have said they want to open up new markets for Canada’s resources in China and Asia, instead of relying on the U.S. as its biggest buyer.” (Edward Welsch, “With $5 Billion Pipeline Project, Canada Looks to Bypass U.S. For Asia,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/12/12)
And drive gas prices higher.
- Shelley Berkley has opposed domestic production as many as twenty times, causing gas prices to rise for Nevada families and businesses.
- Shelley Berkley voted for a national energy tax that would raise taxes and increase cost of gasoline, heating oil and other energy. (House Vote 477, H.R. 2454, Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Passage; June 26, 2009)
- National Association of Manufacturers Study estimated the national energy tax would increase gas prices by 26% by 2030 and destroy 2.4 million jobs.
(“State-by-State Analysis of Waxman-Market Cap and Trade Legislation Paints Dour Picture for Nation’s Economy,” National Association of Manufacturers, 8/12/2009)
- National Association of Manufacturers Study estimated the national energy tax would increase gas prices by 26% by 2030 and destroy 2.4 million jobs.
#NVSen: New Add Slams Berkley Trip to Italy on Taxpayers Dime!

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Robin Leach, call your agent.
Republicans in their latest ad in the U.S. Senate race for Nevada take a shot at Rep. Shelley Berkley for leading a congressional delegation to Italy after wrapping up an official conference in neighboring Slovenia in May 2008.
Presented in the fashion of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” the commercial seeks to raise a fresh question about Berkley’s ethics, suggesting her personal wealth made her cavalier about taxpayer dollars.
“Congresswoman Shelley Berkley is rich. Really rich. But that doesn’t stop her from charging taxpayers for her fancy trips,” according to a narrator doing a Leach impression. “It’s time to tell Shelley Berkley the party is over.”
Berkley at the time was U.S. chairwoman of the Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue, a group of House lawmakers that meets twice a year with counterparts from the European Union to share ideas on economics, security matters and immigration among other topics.
In 2007, Berkley hosted the international conference in Las Vegas.
The trip to Ljubljana, Slovenia, and then to Italy caused a stir at the time after its itinerary was reported in the Washington Post by columnist Al Kamen, who regularly shines spotlights on lawmaker and bureaucrat travel to exotic destinations.
The conference in Slovenia was held May 23 to May 26. The lawmakers went on to Italy, flying home on May 30, according to U.S. House records.
In Venice, Kamen reported the group was to stay at “the spectacular Westin Europa and Regina Hotel, right on the Grand Canal, where the cheapo rooms run about $1,000 a night.” According to Kamen, the rooms were steeply discounted for the official visitors to fit an “enhanced per diem,” which was $400 for hotel and $223 for meals and incidentals.
From there the group traveled to Naples, where it stayed at “the lovely Hotel Excelsior, right on the water,” according to Kamen.
According to U.S. House records, the delegation consisted of seven Democrat and three Republican lawmakers plus seven staffers All told they put in for per diem and other expenses totaling $55,047 for the weeklong trip. The Italy portion cost $30,550.
Nevada Jobs or Money for Her Flailing Campaign: What is More Important to Berkley? #NVSen

(Reno, NV) — Shelley Berkley likes to talk about “jobs, jobs, jobs” but when it comes to walking the walk, she would rather receive campaign support from an East Coast environmental special interest group than create jobs in a county that consistently struggles with the highest unemployment in Nevada.
Take a look at the facts:
- Shelley Berkley sponsors a Nevada jobs bill for Lyon County. Berkley signs on as a cosponsor to the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act on February 15, 2012, which would have created nearly 800 jobs in Nevada.
- The League of Conservation Voters sends a letter to congressional offices stating that they are opposed to the bill that includes the Nevada jobs bill. (Letter attached).
- Despite being a cosponsor, Shelley Berkley votes against the Nevada jobs bill (Roll Call Vote 387, June 19, 2012).
- Unemployment rate in Lyon County at the time of her vote: 14.8% – the highest in the state.
- On July 25, the League of Conservation Voters begins running political ads against Dean Heller, spending a total of $242,928.
- On September 19, the League of Conservation Voters begins a phone program promoting Shelley Berkley.
- On September 25, 2012, the League of Conservation Voters releases a poll it commissioned for Shelley Berkley. Notably, it’s the only public poll that shows the seven-term Congresswoman ahead.
- The League of Conservation Voters is now running an absentee ballot program for the Nevada U.S. Senate race.
“Shelley Berkley has received her payback, on the back of Lyon County’s unemployed. While she may dismiss these events as pure coincidence, the fact that the seven-term Congresswoman is currently under ethics investigation raises a question that must be asked, ‘Did Congresswoman Berkley sell out her vote and her state for political gain?’ While we hope this is not the case, Congresswoman Berkley did a complete 360 degree turn on an issue for no reason at all,” said Chandler Smith, Heller for Senate spokeswoman.
#NVSen Factcheck: Berkley Votes for National Energy Tax

(Reno, NV) – Shelley Berkley voted for a national energy tax that would cost Nevada thousands of jobs.
Fact: Shelley Berkley voted for a national energy tax that would increase costs of gasoline, heating oil and other energy for families:
- Called the “Waxman-Markey” cap and trade bill, this legislation would impose a national energy sales tax that would harm families across Nevada. (House Vote 477, H.R. 2454, Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Passage; June 26, 2009)
Fact: Even though the legislation would drive up costs for Nevada’s middle class:
- Increase Gas Prices by 26% by 2030.
- Increase Electricity Prices 50% by 2030.
- Destroy 2.4 Million Jobs.
(“State-by-State Analysis of Waxman-Market Cap and Trade Legislation Paints Dour Picture for Nation’s Economy,” National Association of Manufacturers, 8/12/2009)
Fact: President Obama said the Cap and Trade plan is designed to force prices to skyrocket:
“ ‘Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket,’ Obama told the Chronicle. ‘Coal-powered plans, you know, natural gas, you name it, whatever the plans were, whatever the industry was, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.”
(Catherine Richert, “Pence Claims that Obama said Energy Costs Will Skyrocket with a Cap-and-Trade Plan,” PolitiFact.com, 6/11/2009)
#NVSen Factcheck: Who Supports Small Business in Nevada?

(Reno, NV) – Shelley Berkley claims she is for small businesses, but her small business agenda is nothing more than more bank bailouts.
Fact: The so-called “Small Business Jobs Act” was just another bank bailout.
Fact: Former Nevada Democratic Congresswoman Dina Titus said “it’s very seldom that I would vote on the same side with Dean Heller but in this case I was worried about it being a bank bailout.” (Nevada Newsmakers, April 17, 2012)
Fact: Nevada continues to lead the nation in unemployment for nearly three years.
Fact: Billions of taxpayers’ dollars were mismanaged through the Small Business Lending Fund, which was created by this legislation.
According the Wall Street Journal:
“More than half of $4 billion in federal funds disbursed this year to spur small-business lending by community banks was used to repay bailout funds that the banks received under the government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program.
The Small Business Lending Fund was meant to raise capital at smaller banks, which tend to lend more heavily to small businesses, in the hopes of jump-starting growth and employment. But instead of directly lending to small businesses, many of the banks used the money to rid themselves of higher-cost TARP debt and tougher restrictions.
“It was basically a bailout for 100-plus banks,” said Giovanni Coratolo, vice president of small-business policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “From a point of view of a small business owner, it was very ineffective in getting funds out to small business.” (“Tale of Two Loan Programs,” Wall Street Journal, October 20, 2011)
Berkley has repeatedly voted to raise taxes on job creators even within the last few months.
- On July 27, 2012, Shelley Berkley voted against H.R. 8, the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012, which would extend tax relief for job creators earning over $250,000 and could cost Nevada 6,000 jobs and more than 900,000 nationwide. (H.R. 8, House Roll Call Vote #545)
- On April 17, 2012 Congresswoman Berkley voted against the Small Business Tax Cut Act. The bill would give a 20% tax cut that will help 22 million hard-working small businesses retain and create more jobs. The legislation would ultimately provide $46 billion in tax relief to small businesses and could affect as many as 45,000 small businesses in Nevada with between 1-500 employees.
Before an audience of business leaders in Nevada, candidate Berkley claimed she “wants to eliminate the estate tax, a popular Republican position.” (Cristina Silva, Rep. Berkley champions small businesses in Vegas, Associated Press, 4/11/12)
But in fact the seven-term Congresswoman voted against the estate multiple times, including once when then-Congressman Heller proposed the motion.
- In 1999, Berkley voted against a tax cut package that would reduce estate and gift taxes until they were completely eliminated in 2009.
- In 2001, 2002 and 2003, Berkley voted to replace a bill that would repeal the estate tax by 2010 with different legislation bill that would keep the estate tax, but raise the exemption threshold.
- In 2007, Berkley voted against a motion to permanently repeal the estate tax.
- In 2009, Berkley voted against repealing the estate tax two times, once when then-Congressman Dean Heller proposed the motion.
- In 2012, Berkley voted against a budget that would eliminate the estate tax.
Shelley Berkley supported ObamaCare, the massive government healthcare takeover known for destroying jobs and small businesses:
- ObamaCare costs 800,000 jobs at a time when Nevada leads the nation in unemployment. (Jeffrey H. Anderson, “CBO Director Says ObamaCare Would Reduce Employment by 800,000 Workers,” The Weekly Standard, 2/10/2011)
- ObamaCare is forcing one in eight small businesses to either terminate their plan or notify employees it is going to be eliminated. (“Some Small Businesses Say Health Insurers Are Dropping Their Coverage, Kaiser Health News, July 25, 2011)
- ObamaCare discourages job creation by raising the price of hiring: “If you increase the price of labor, companies will buy less of it. Requiring employers to buy health insurance for some workers makes them more expensive, at least in the short run. Particularly vulnerable are low-skilled workers…” (Robert Samuelson, “The folly of Obamacare,” Washington Post, August 4, 2012)
Shelley Berkley has repeatedly voted federal regulations that are stunting job growth in Nevada and across the country.
- On June 19, 2012, Berkley voted against the Grazing Improvement Act, which means she chose to protect federal regulations over Nevada’s family businesses. The Grazing Improvement Act would give grazers greater certainty about their permit renewal. Without this bill, permit holders are forced to rely on year-to-year appropriations bill.
- Berkley voted against the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act (H.R. 4078), which would put a stop to the government’s ever-increasing burden on businesses and the economy.
- A recent Gallup poll showed that 46 percent of small business owners are not hiring because they are worried about new government regulations. As many as 48 percent say they are worried about the potential costs of health care. (“Health Costs, Gov’t Regulations Curb Small Business Hiring,” Gallup, February 15, 2012)
And Congresswoman Berkley has voted against 20 bipartisan jobs bills:
1) Berkley opposed the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act (H.R 872).
Bill reduces overlapping and unnecessary regulation on pesticides and reduces costs to both farmers and small business owners.
2) Berkley opposed the Energy Tax Prevention Act (H.R. 910).
Legislation prohibits the federal government from regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and prevents a needless increase in energy prices for American households and businesses.
3) Berkley failed to vote on a Resolution of Disapproval Regarding FCC’s Regulation (H.J. Res. 37). Legislation prevents the federal government from regulating the Internet and broadband providers.
4) Berkley opposed the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act (H.R 1230). Bill reduced energy prices and creates jobs by promoting offshore oil and natural gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico and the Virginia coast.
5) Berkley voted against the Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act (H.R. 1229). Bill promotes job creation and reduces energy prices by reinstating oil drilling permits in the Gulf Coast.
6) Berkley voted against the Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act (H.R 1231).
Legislation promotes lower energy costs and job creation by allowing drilling in at least 50 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf areas known to contain the most oil and gas.
7) Berkley opposed the Jobs and Energy Permitting Act (H.R 2021).
Bill promotes job growth and reduces energy costs by expediting the process of obtaining an offshore drilling permit.
8) Berkley voted against the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act (H.R 2018), which prevents federal government from interfering with a state’s water quality program once that state has already met existing federal standards.
9) Berkley opposed the Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011 (H.R. 1315). Legislation promotes consumer protection and allows the Financial Stability Oversight Council to vote to set aside any harmful federal regulation.
10) Berkley voted against the North American-Made Energy Security Act (H.R. 1938)
Legislation creates jobs and ensures energy security by ending the needless delay of the construction and operation of the Keystone XL pipeline.
11) Berkley opposed the Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act (H.R. 2587). Legislation would guarantee private companies the ability to develop their businesses in the state that offers the best opportunities for growth, job creation and stability.
12) Berkley voted “no” on the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts (TRAIN) Act (H.R. 2401). Legislation mandates an evaluation of the economic impacts of EPA regulations and delay the final dates for both the maximum achievable control technology (Utility MACT) standards and the cross-state air pollution rule (CSAPR) until the full impact has been studied. Both regulations would cost consumers and businesses $184 billion from 2011-2030 and would skyrocket electrical prices.
13) Berkley voted against the EPA Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2250). Bill alleviates the excessive regulatory burden placed on employers by the EPA’s Boiler MACT rules, potentially costing companies $14 billion and 224,000 American jobs, and replacing them with sensible, achievable rules that do not destroy jobs.
14) Berkley voted against the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act (H.R. 2273). Legislation provides consistent, safe management of coal combustion residuals in a way that protects jobs and encourages recycling and beneficial use.
15) Berkley opposed the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011 (H.R. 3010). Legislation would require agencies to assess costs and benefits of new regulations on small businesses.
16) Berkley voted against the Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act of 2011. Legislation closes loopholes used by federal agencies that allow them to impose costly, job-crushing regulations.
17) Berkley voted to kill the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act (H.R. 3094). Bill would make sure President Obama’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) could not impose sweeping new regulations that threaten American jobs.
18) Berkley opposed the Regulatory Flexibility Act (H.R. 527). Legislation would require federal agencies to analyze fully the impact a new regulation would have on small businesses, before the agency adopts the regulation.
19) Berkley voted against the Regulatory Accountability Act (H.R. 3010). The bill would update and reform the rulemaking process by setting mandatory rulemaking principles.
20) Berkley voted against the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011 (H.R. 10), which would increase accountability for and transparency in the federal regulatory process. The REINS Act would result in more carefully drafted and detailed legislation, an improved regulatory process, and a legislative branch that is truly accountable to the American people for the laws imposed upon them.
21) Berkley voted against the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 1633). Legislation would keep the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any regulation revising the National Ambient Air Quality Standard applicable to coarse particulate matter under the Clean Air Act for at least one year from the date of enactment.
New WSJ/NBC Poll: Heller 49% Berkley 43% #NVSen

WSJ/NBC Poll: GOP’s Heller Leads Nevada Senate Race
From the Wall Street Journal:
Democrats’ hopes of wresting a Nevada Senate seat from the GOP is looking tougher, as a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Marist poll shows Republican Sen. Dean Heller leading Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley 49%-43% among likely voters.
Democrats at the campaign’s outset targeted Nevada, along with Massachusetts, as states where they had a shot of capturing seats currently held by Republicans. Mr. Heller was not elected, but rather appointed after Republican Sen. John Ensign resigned under an ethics cloud.
Ms. Berkley has been locked in a tight race with Mr. Heller, and her challenge was made harder when the House Ethics Committee announced in July that it would investigate whether she used her position to benefit a Las Vegas medical practice connected with her husband, a physician and kidney expert. Ms. Berkley has said she was fighting for a nephrology practice that plays an important role in the state, as any good representative would do.


