AT&T FUNDING DIAZ-BALART - AND CALLING IN FAVORS

(Miami, FL) - Recent filings from the Federal Election Commission show Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart has accepted $10,000 from AT&T - the maximum allowed from a single corporate donor - despite his involvement in a campaign donation scandal with an AT&T subsidiary in 1997.

Diaz-Balart has long been on the AT&T dole. A 1997 Miami Herald investigation revealed Diaz-Balart, then a state senator, amended a state bill to save AT&T $40 million owed to Florida consumers.

AT&T was Diaz-Balart’s very first donor for this campaign, giving $2,500 on April 9, 2007 and, in a series of eight payments, maxed out on Sept. 15, 2008.

“Corporate America has been very, very good to Mario Diaz-Barlat and it continues to shower treasures on him,” says Andy Diaz, spokesman for Joe Gacia, Democratic candidate in Florida’s 25th Congressional district. “Mario Diaz-Barlat has rewarded his corporate benefactors with tax breaks, lax regulations and fantastic fortunes. But the working people of Florida suffer as a result, with unfair taxes, brutal gas prices, lack of healthcare and one of the worst foreclosure rates in the nation.”

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FRESH OIL MONEY FLOWS TO MARIO DIAZ-BALART AS HIS CAMPAIGN RUNS DRY

(Miami, FL) - A week after accepting thousands from Exxon Mobil Corporation, a new filing with the Federal Election Commission shows Mario Diaz-Balart has accepted thousands more from out-of-state energy companies.

“Big oil, little oil, now they’re all rushing to support the floundering campaign of Mario Diaz-Balart,” said Andy Diaz, spokesman for Joe Garcia, Democratic candidate in Florida’s 25th Congressional district. “The plight at the pump has punished ordinary Floridians. But Mario Diaz-Balart has ignored them, doling out billions in tax breaks to the oil companies. The gravy train for the oil companies ends when Joe Garcia is elected to Congress.”

A new filing with the Federal Elections Commission shows that Diaz-Balart has accepted $5,000 from Independent Petroleum Association of America Wildcatters fund, and another $1,000 from the Political Action Committee of Phoenix, AZ-based Pinnacle West.

Mario Diaz-Balart has accepted over $70,000 from energy companies for his 2008 campaign.

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BIG OIL’S RECORD PROFITS FUELING MARIO DIAZ-BALART

(Miami, FL) - Six days after sending thousands of dollars to fuel Mario Diaz-Balart’s campaign, Exxon Mobil Corp. reported the largest quarterly profit in U.S. corporate history. [CNNmoney, 10/30/08]

“Mario Diaz-Balart has worked hard to enrich Exxon Mobil while ignoring average Floridians struggling to fill their tanks,” said Andy Diaz, spokesman for Joe Garcia, Democratic candidate in Florida’s 25th Congressional district. “Mario Diaz-Balart voted to give Exxon Mobil billions in tax breaks — now Exxon Mobil is returning the favor, cutting checks to Diaz-Balart.”

Exxon Mobil Corp. reported a third-quarter net profit of $14.83 billion yesterday, its biggest U.S. quarterly profit ever. Despite falling oil and gas prices, Exxon Mobil’s profit was up 58 percent over the previous year. [Bloomberg, 10/30/08]

Mario Diaz-Balart accepted $3,000 from Exxon Mobil just six days before it reported that record profit. [FEC.gov pdf]

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(Miami, FL) - The Joe Garcia campaign today released its latest ad. The ad features Donald Fuller Haring, who was awarded a Purple Heart while serving in Iraq. The ad calls attention to veteran’s issues and Mario Diaz-Balart’s failure to help those who serve our country. Haring, a lifelong Republican, is supporting Joe Garcia.

“Mario Diaz-Balart put our troops in harm’s way but turned his back on them when they came home,” said Andy Diaz, spokesman for Joe Garcia. “Our veterans are disproportionally affected by the economic crisis, but Mario Diaz-Balart even voted against protecting service members from bankruptcy.”

Diaz-Balart on veterans:
• Mario Diaz-Balart voted against increasing Department of Defense survivor benefits. (Roll Call 144, 2006)
• Diaz-Balart voted against military pay raises. (Roll Call 554, 2003)
• Diaz-Balart voted against $3.6 billion to enhance quality of life for the troops (Roll Call 546)
• Diaz-Balart voted against minimum rest periods for troops (Roll Call 796, 2007)
• Diaz-Balart voted against protecting service members from bankruptcy (Roll Call 107, 2005)
• Diaz-Balart voted against expanding healthcare for reservists (Roll Call 221, 2005)

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DIAZ-BALART MUST RETURN CASH FROM DIRTY BUNDLER
Diaz-Balart fundraiser scammed American taxpayer out of $180 million

The Miami Herald and the New York Times today reported that Republican fundraiser Harry Sargeant cost taxpayers $180 million by inflating profits on contracts to provide fuel to the U.S. military in Iraq. Sargeant, who is the finance chairman of the Florida Republican Party, has given Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart $18,400. [Miami Herald, 10/17/08; New York Times, 10/16/08].

“Mario Diaz-Balart needs to return the thousands he got from Harry Sargeant immediately,” said Andy Diaz, spokesman for Joe Garcia. “Then Diaz-Balart needs to explain to the people of the 25th District the extent of his relationship with Harry Sargeant, who scammed American taxpayers out of $180 million.”

In August, the McCain campaign returned $50,000 in donations from Harry Sargeant after it was discovered that Sargeant was funneling money from Mideast Oil interests into American campaigns. Mario Diaz-Balart has refused to return any of Sargeant’s contributions. [Miami Herald, 10/17/08]

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DIAZ-BALART IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL ELECTION LAW
Diaz-Balart’s attack ads break FEC regulation

(Miami, FL) - The South Florida AFL-CIO today filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission regarding violations of Federal Election Law by Florida 25th Congressional District candidate Mario Diaz-Balart. Diaz-Balart has been running radio ads on Spanish stations in which he never verbally approves the communication. This is in direct violation of 11 C.F.R. 110.11(c)(3), the “Stand by Your Ad” Provision. The ad can be downloaded here.

“If Mario Diaz-Balart is going to go on Spanish radio and spread lies about Joe Garcia and important union issues, he should at least stand by what he says,” said Andy Diaz, spokesman for Joe Garcia. “Diaz-Balart must stop running these lies, or he needs to stand publicly by them.”

According to Federal regulation 11 C.F.R. 110.11(c)(3), “[a] communication transmitted through radio must include an audio statement by the candidate that identifies the candidate and states that he or she has approved the communication.” [emphasis added]

Over the past week, Mr. Diaz-Balart has aired at least two different advertisements of 12 to 15 minutes on numerous occasions on at least three South Florida radio stations-WBQA 1140 AM, WAQI 710 AM, and WSUA 1260 AM. On WSUA 1260 AM, the ads aired on Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, from 9:30-9:45 a.m. None of the ads include the legally mandated disclaimer by the candidate saying that he approves the message.

We’re in a position to win this race becase of everything you have done!

ROTHENBERG REPORT: FLORIDA 25 RACE A “TOSS-UP”
Influential, nonpartisan newsletter upgrades Joe Garcia campaign

(Miami, FL) - The Rothenberg Political Report, a reputable, nonpartisan newsletter that analyzes political campaigns, has changed its rating of the race in Florida’s 25 Congressional District to “Toss-Up.” [The Rothenberg Political Report, 10/14/08]

“The Joe Garcia campaign continues to pick up momentum,” said Andy Diaz, spokesman for Garcia. “The voters have responded to our positive message of change, and the media and the pundits have taken notice.”

The race had previously been rated as “Lean Republican.”

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