Barbara Comstock (VA-10): Swamp...
Transcript of Barbara Comstock (VA-10): Swamp...
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Barbara Comstock (VA-10): Swamp Creature
Significant Findings
Comstock received more than $1 million in a taxpayer-funded salary, and if she retired today, she would
receive a congressional pension worth more than $20,000. Comstock also accepted over $18,000 in
privately funded travel.
Comstock’s top industry contributors were lawyers, lobbyists and Wall Street.
Comstock voted with Paul Ryan 90% of the time, and voted with her party 95% of the time. She voted to
elect Speaker Ryan two times and accepted $27,000 from Ryan’s PAC.
Comstock voted with Trump nearly 97% of the time. She voted to fund Trump’s border wall, and voted
against releasing his tax returns, addressing conflicts of interest in the administration and voted
repeatedly against investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Comstock was an absentee Congresswoman. In September 2017, her constituents delivered a cake to
her office to mark 1,000 days of her not holding a town hall. Constituents made “missing” posters and
conducted search parties to express their dissatisfaction with the congresswoman.
Comstock voted for the Republican tax plan, which benefitted the wealthy and corporations, shipped jobs
overseas, and would cause 13 million Americans to lose their health insurance. She voted for the
Republican tax scam despite opposition from her district:
Comstock’s district relied heavily on State and Local Tax deductions, and she refused to take a
hard line stance against elimination of the deduction, unlike her GOP colleagues in SALT heavy
districts.
After the bill passed, Comstock’s constituents lined up to avoid penalties from the tax bill.
Comstock voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act and voted against Medicaid Expansion in Virginia.
Comstock voted ten times to defund or attack Planned Parenthood and supported overturning Roe v.
Wade. She voted for a Virginia “TRAP Law” that was considered one of the most restrictive in the
country for first-trimester abortions.
Comstock voted against improving traffic conditions in Northern Virginia. Comstock voted for the House
GOP tax bill that eliminated the employer-sponsored subsidy for commuting – transportation advocates
called it a “tax hike” for commuters. In 2013, Comstock voted against the state’s transportation funding
compromise, and the Sun Gazette called her vote a “disservice to her constituents.” Comstock voted
against funding for federal railroad safety, and voted to block consideration of a long-term
transportation bill.
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Comstock compared immigrants to Fed Ex packages, agreed with Trump’s decision to phase out DACA,
voted to end DACA, voted to restart deportations of undocumented families and Dreamers, opposed
DACA youth joining the military, and ran away from DACA advocates when they tried to talk to her.
Comstock voted to prohibit prevailing wage requirements, and voted to add a Right to Work statue to the
Virginia constitution twice.
In 2014 and 2016, the NRA awarded Comstock an “A” rating. The NRA spent more than $137k on getting Comstock elected, making her the tenth highest recipient of NRA funding in Congress.
Comstock voted to allow Internet service providers to sell customer’s personal information to
advertisers without their permission.
Comstock supported the Keystone XL Pipeline and supported offshore drilling.
In 2017, Comstock voted for the Choice Act that gut Dodd-Frank banking reforms. Over the course of
her career, Comstock accepted more than $700,000 from Wall Street.
Biography
Barbara Comstock is a Member of Congress representing Virginia’s 10th
Congressional District and has served in that position since 2015.
Graduated from Middlebury College in 1981; earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1986
1991-1995: Served as a senior aide to Congressman Frank Wolf, who she went on to replace in Congress after his retirement
1995-1999: Investigative Counsel for Committee on Government Reform, where she was known for her dogged investigations of the
Clinton Administration
2000: Led opposition research at the RNC Director of Office of Public Affairs at the Department Of Justice
during the Bush Administration
Worked as a lobbyist at Blank Rome, before establishing her own public relations and government affairs firm, Corallo Comstock
Elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2009, served until she was elected to Congress
Comstock Benefitted From The Perks Of Congress
Comstock Has Received More Than $1 Million In Taxpayer Funded Salary
2015 – 2017: Comstock Received More than $500,000 As A Congressional Salary
Today, Comstock receives a Congressional salary of $174,000. Over her three years in Congress, Comstock has
received a total of $522,000 in taxpayer-funded salary.
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Year Congressional Salary
2015 $174,000
2016 $174,000
2017 $174,000
TOTAL $522,000.00
[Congressional Research Service, 6/21/16]
2010-2014: Comstock Was Paid More Than $100,000 As A Delegate
Comstock Was Paid More Than $88,000 In Salary As A Delegate.
Employer Date Position Salary
Commonwealth of Virginia 2010 Delegate $17,640
Commonwealth of Virginia 2011 Delegate $17,640
Commonwealth of Virginia 2012 Delegate $17,640
Commonwealth of Virginia 2013 Delegate $17,640
Commonwealth of Virginia 2014 Delegate $17,640
TOTAL $88,200
[Virginia House of Delegates, accessed 3/16/14]
Comstock Was Paid More Than $37,000 In Per Diem As A Delegate.
Year Amount
2010 $8,235.00
2011 $7,695.00
2012 $11,050.00
2013 $7,990.00
2013 (through 1/12/14) $2,520.00
$37,490.00
[Virginia House of Delegates Clerk’s Office]
1995-1999: Comstock Was Paid More Than $454,000 As Investigative Council On The House Oversight
Committee
1995-1999: Comstock Was Paid More Than $454,000 As Investigative Council On The House Oversight
Committee:
Name Dates Title Salary
Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/10/95-6/30/95 Investigator $18,900.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 07/01/95-9/30/95 Investigator $21,000.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/01/95-12/31/95 Investigator $21,000.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 01/03/96-03/31/96 Investigator $21,266.67
Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/01/96-06/30/96 Investigator $21,750.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 07/01/96-09/30/96 Investigator $23,250.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/01/96-12/31/96 Investigator $23,250.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 01/03/97-03/31/97 Chief Investigative Counsel $22,000.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/01/97-06/30/97 Chief Investigative Counsel $24,666.67
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/97-1011.pdfhttp://virginiageneralassembly.gov/includes/contentTemplate.php?tid=50&ctype=t&cid=50
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Comstock, Barbara Jean 07/01/97-09/30/97 Chief Investigative Counsel $26,000.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/01/97-12/31/97 Chief Investigative Counsel $32,000.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 01/03/98-03/31/98 Chief Investigative Counsel $25,422.23
Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/01/98-06/30/98 Chief Investigative Counsel $28,500.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 07/01/98-09/30/98 Chief Investigative Counsel $28,500.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/10/98-12/31/98 Chief Investigative Counsel $33,000.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 01/03/99-03/31/99 Chief Investigative Counsel $27,866.67
Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/01/99-06/30/99 Chief Investigative Counsel $31,000.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 07/07/99-09/12/99 Chief Investigative Counsel $25,500.00
TOTAL $454,872.24
[US House of Representatives Disbursements]
1991-1995: Comstock Was Paid More Than $74,000 As A Legislative Assistant For Rep. Frank
1991-1995: Comstock Was Paid More Than $74,000 As A Legislative Assistant For Rep. Frank Wolf:
Name Dates Title Salary
Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/05/91-12/31/91 Senior Legislative Assistant $7,931.12
Comstock, Barbara Jean 01/01/92-03/31/92 Senior Legislative Assistant $8,750.01
Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/01/92-06/30/92 Senior Legislative Assistant $8,750.01
Comstock, Barbara Jean 07/01/92-09/30/92 Senior Legislative Assistant $8,750.01
Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/01/92-12/31/92 Senior Legislative Assistant $8,750.01
Comstock, Barbara Jean 01/01/93-03/31/93 Senior Legislative Assistant $9,500.01
Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/01/93-06/30/93 Senior Legislative Assistant $9,500.01
Comstock, Barbara Jean 07/01/93-09/30/93 Senior Legislative Assistant $9,500.01
Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/01/93-12/31/93 Senior Legislative Assistant $1,055.56
Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/01/93-12/31/93 Part-Time Employee $266.67
Comstock, Barbara Jean 01/01/94-03/31/94 Part-Time Employee $300.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/01/94-06/30/94 Part-Time Employee $300.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 07/01/94-09/30/94 Part-Time Employee $300.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/01/94-12/31/94 Part-Time Employee $300.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 01/01/95-03/31/95 Part-Time Employee $300.00
Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/01/95-04/09/95 Part-Time Employee $30.00
TOTAL $74,283.42
[US House of Representatives Disbursements]
Comstock Would Receive Approximately $21,000 Per Year In Taxpayer Funded Pension
According to the Office of Personnel Management, a “Member of Congress or Congressional Employee (or any
combination of the two) must have at least 5 years of service as a Member of Congress and/or Congressional
Employee” to qualify for their retirement annuity.
The annual pension is calculated as “1.7% of your high-3 average salary multiplied by your years of service as a
Member of Congress or Congressional Employee which do not exceed 20, PLUS 1% of your high-3 average salary
multiplied by your years of other service.” [Office of Personnel Management, accessed 7/18/17]
For Members who joined after 1991, the annual pension is calculated as:
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/fers-information/computation/
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[The Atlantic, 10/2/15; Congressional Research Service, 11/10/16]
Including her service as a Congressional aide and a Member of Congress, Comstock has more than 5 years of
service in the federal government. Her highest salary as a staffer was approximately $115,400 as Chief
Investigative Counsel for House Oversight Committee in 1998. Averaged with her $174,000 salary in her two years
as a member of Congress, Comstock’s “high-3” could be approximately $154,466.
[$154,466 x .017 x 8 years of service)] = $21,007
Given Comstock’s approximately 8 years of service, she would receive $21,000 in annual taxpayer-funded
pension.
NOTE: To calculate Comstock’s years of service, only years when she worked the entire year as a staffer were
included. Her total years of service is likely higher.
Comstock Would Receive An Additional $1,500 Pension Per Year From Virginia
According To Her Personal Financial Disclosure, Comstock Has A Defined Benefit Plan Agreement With
The Virginia Retirement System. [Comstock Personal Financial Disclosure, filed 5/14/17]
According To The VRS Benefit Calculator, Given Comstock’s Average $17,640 Salary And 5 Years Of
Service In The Virginia House Of Delegates, Her Pension Would Be An Estimated $1,500 Per Year If She
Retired At 65. [Virginia Retirement System, accessed 8/22/17]
Comstock Received Over $18,000 In Privately Funded Travel
Comstock Received $18,535 In Privately Funded Travel. As of August 2017, Comstock had gone on one
privately funded trip – to Israel, funded by the American Israel Education Foundations – receiving a total of
$18,535 in travel. [Political Moneyline, accessed 8/22/17]
Special Interests
Top Industries
Industry Total
Leadership PACs $713,450
Retired $571,850
Lawyers/Law Firms $524,992
Securities & Investment $496,578
Lobbyists $462,653
Real Estate $380,688
Business Services $317,470
Republican/Conservative $245,728
Air Transport $204,214
Electronics Mfg & Equip $186,252
Insurance $181,450
Oil & Gas $161,525
https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2015/10/what-kind-of-pension-will-john-boehner-collect/408547/https://www.senate.gov/CRSpubs/ac0d1dd5-7316-4390-87e6-353589586a89.pdfhttp://clerk.house.gov/public_disc/financial-pdfs/2016/10014992.pdfhttps://www.varetire.org/membercalculator/http://www.politicalmoneyline.com/tr/tr_mg_cand.aspx?sCandID=H4VA10089&sCycle=2018
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Candidate Committees $157,500
Health Professionals $142,083
Accountants $130,511
General Contractors $120,350
Women's Issues $118,586
Misc Finance $113,350
Commercial Banks $106,414
Retail Sales $104,550
[Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]
Comstock’s Top Industry Contributors Included Lawyers, Lobbyists And Wall Street
Comstock’s Accepted More Than $1 Million From Lawyers And Lobbyists
Career: Comstock Accepted More Than $400,000 From Lobbyists. According to the Center for Responsive
Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $462,653 from lobbyists. [Center for Responsive
Politics, accessed 1/11/18]
Career: Comstock Accepted More Than $520,000 From Lawyers. According to the Center for Responsive
Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $524,992 from Lawyers and Law Firms. [Center for
Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]
Comstock Accepted More Than $700,000 From Wall Street
Career: Comstock Accepted Nearly $500,000 From The Securities And Investment Industry. According to the
Center for Responsive Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $496,578 from the securities and
investment industry. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]
Career: Comstock Accepted More Than $113,000 From The Finance Industry. According to the Center for
Responsive Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $113,350 from the finance industry. [Center
for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]
Career: Comstock Accepted More Than $106,000 From Commercial Banks. According to the Center for
Responsive Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $106,414 from commercial banks. [Center
for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]
Top Sectors
Sector Total Individuals PACs
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate $1,498,876 $1,036,876 $462,000
Ideological/Single-Issue $1,397,342 $305,642 $1,091,700
Lawyers & Lobbyists $987,645 $894,126 $93,519
Misc Business $963,801 $563,231 $400,570
Other $802,340 $792,840 $9,500
Transportation $444,308 $109,813 $334,495
Communications/Electronics $429,139 $216,256 $212,883
Construction $327,622 $157,622 $170,000
Health $270,784 $121,284 $149,500
Energy & Natural Resources $269,430 $86,230 $183,200
https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREER
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Agribusiness $247,711 $96,675 $151,036
Defense $197,377 $87,775 $109,602
Labor $90,762 $500 $90,262
[Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]
Comstock’s Top Sector Contributor Was Wall Street
Career: Comstock Accepted More Nearly $1.5 Million From the Finance, Insurance & Real Estate Sector.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $1,498,876 from
the finance, insurance and real estate sector. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]
Comstock Consistently Voted For Trump-Ryan Agenda
Comstock Voted With Donald Trump Nearly 97% Of The Time
FiveThirtyEight: Comstock Has Voted With Trump 96.7% Of The Time. According to FiveThirtyEight, as of
January 2018, Comstock had voted with President Trump 96.7% of the time. [FiveThirtyEight, updated 1/11/18]
Comstock Voted With Paul Ryan 90% Of The Time
Comstock Voted With Ryan 90 Percent Of The Time. According to ProPublica, in the 115th Congress, Comstock
had voted with Speaker Ryan more than 90% of the time. [ProPublica, accessed 1/11/18]
Vote Comparison
Congress Total Votes Votes Disagreeing Percent Agreement
115th 17 2 88%
114th 568 43 92%
Lifetime Average 585 45 90%
[ProPublica, accessed 8/22/17]
Funded By Republican Leadership, Receiving $27,000 From Paul Ryan
Over her career, Comstock has received $27,000 in donations from Paul Ryan and his associated entities:
Donations From Paul Ryan
Date Candidate/Committee Amount
2/14/2017 Prosperity Action $5,000
5/18/2015 Prosperity Action $5,000
3/21/2016 Prosperity Action $5,000
3/31/2014 Prosperity Action $5,000
9/12/2014 Prosperity Action $5,000
8/31/2016 Ryan For Congress, Inc $2,000
TOTAL $27,000.00
[Political Moneyline, accessed 8/22/17]
Comstock Voted To Elect Paul Ryan Speaker Of The House
https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/barbara-comstock/https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/R000570-paul-d-ryan/compare-votes/C001105-barbara-comstock/115https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/R000570-paul-d-ryan/compare-votes/C001105-barbara-comstock/115http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/1162065/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/1035464/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/1065152/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/920935/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/962972/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00330894/1126724/sb/21
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2017: Comstock Voted To Make Ryan Speaker Of The House. In January 2017, Comstock voted for Ryan to be
Speaker of the House. Ryan was elected by a vote of 239-189. [Election to the Speaker, Vote #2, 1/3/17; CQ,
1/3/17]
2015: Comstock Voted To Make Ryan Speaker Of The House. In October 2015, Comstock voted for Ryan to be
Speaker of the House. Paul Ryan received 236 votes, Nancy Pelosi received 184 votes, and Daniel Webster
received 9 votes. [Election to the Speaker, Vote #581, 10/29/15]
Comstock Has Voted With Her Party 95% Of The Time
Comstock Has Voted With The Republican Party 95% Of The Time. According to CQ, in 2016, Comstock has
voted with other members of the Republican Caucus 95% of the time. [CQ Vote Studies, accessed 8/22/17]
Party Unity
Year Support Oppose
2016 95% 5%
2015 90% 10%
[CQ Vote Study, accessed 8/22/17]
Comstock Voted With Donald Trump
Comstock Voted To Fund Trump’s Border Wall
Comstock Voted To Fund Trump’s Border Wall. In July 2017, Comstock voted for: “Passage of the bill that
would provide $788 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal 2018 to various departments, agencies and legislative
operations, including $658.1 billion in funding for Defense programs; $88.8 billion in net appropriations subject to
discretionary caps for fiscal 2018 that would provide funding for military construction activities and for VA
programs and activities; $37.6 billion in net appropriations subject to discretionary caps for fiscal 2018 that would
provide funding for the Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and related
agencies; and $3.6 billion in funding fiscal 2018 for operations of the House of Representatives, joint House-Senate
items and legislative branch entities such as the Library of Congress, the Capitol Police, and the Government
Accountability Office. The bill would provide $1.6 billion in funding to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for
procurement, construction and improvement of a barrier along the southern U.S. border.” The bill passed by a vote
of 235-192. [CQ Floor Votes, 7/27/17; H.R. 3219, Vote 435, 7/27/17]
Comstock Repeatedly Voted Against Releasing Trump’s Tax Returns
Comstock Voted To Kill A Motion To Require President Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns.
[Motion, Vote #392, 7/19/17; CQ Floor Votes, 7/19/17]
Comstock Voted To Kill A Motion To Require President Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns. [Motion, Vote #292, 6/7/17; CQ Floor Votes, 6/7/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Efforts To Force The Disclosure Of President Trump’s Tax Return. [H Res 375, Vote #290, 6/7/17; CQ, 6/7/17; DemocraticLeader.gov, 6/7/17]
Comstock Voted To Kill Efforts To Force The Disclosure Of President Trump’s Tax Return. [Motion, Vote #274, 5/17/17; CQ, 5/24/17]
Comstock Voted To Block A Bill To Require Presidential Candidates To Release Tax Returns. [H Res 324, Vote #263, 5/18/17; CQ, 5/18/17; DemocraticLeader.gov, 5/18/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Efforts To Force The Disclosure Of President Trump’s Tax Return. [Motion, Vote #261, 5/17/17; CQ, 5/17/17]
Comstock Voted To Kill A Motion To Require President Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns. [Motion, Vote #219, 4/5/17; CQ Floor Votes, 4/5/17]
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll002.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/2http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll581.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/doc/memberchild_votestudy-54190?5http://www.cq.com/doc/memberchild_votestudy-54190?5http://www.cq.com/doc/floorvote-263967000?6&search=mGl6zNPLhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll435.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll392.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll292.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll290.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/290?12http://democrats.rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/documents/115/PQ/115_H.R.%2010_PQ.pdfhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll274.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/274http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll263.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/263https://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll261.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/261http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll219.xml
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Comstock Voted To Kill A Motion To Require President Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns. [Motion, Vote #201, 3/28/17; CQ Floor Votes, 3/28/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of Requiring Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns. [H Res 230, Vote #199, 3/28/17; CQ, 3/28/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Vote Appealing A Ruling That Forcing Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns Is Not A House Privilege. [Motion, Vote #182, 3/22/17; CQ, 3/22/17]
Comstock Voted To Kill A Motion To Require President Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns. [Motion, Vote #161, 3/15/17; CQ Floor Votes, 3/15/17]
Comstock Voted To Kill A Motion To Require President Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns. [Motion, Vote #128, 3/7/17; CQ Floor Votes, 3/7/17]
Comstock Voted To Kill A Motion To Require President Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns. [Motion, Vote #101, 2/27/17; CQ Floor Votes, 2/27/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of The Presidential Tax Transparency Act. [H Res 55, Vote #62, 1/24/17; Office of the Democratic Leader, 115th Congress Previous Questions, 1/24/17]
Comstock Voted Against Addressing Conflicts Of Interest In Trump’s Administration
Comstock Voted Against Consideration Of An Amendment Prohibiting The President From Making Public Communications About Or Advocating For His Business Interests. [HR 1004, Vote #125,
3/2/17; CQ, 3/2/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Address The Financial Conflicts Of Interest Of The President. [H Res 40, Vote #32, 1/11/17; Office of the Democratic Leader, 115th Congress
Previous Questions, 1/11/17]
Comstock Repeatedly Voted Against Investigating Russian Interference In The 2016 Election
Comstock Voted To Block A Bipartisan Commission To Investigate Russian Interference In The 2016 Election. [HRes 600, Vote #600, 11/2/17; CQ, 11/2/17, Congressional Record, 11/2/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Establish The National Commission On Foreign Interference In The 2016 Election. [H Res 375, Vote #290, 6/7/17; Office of the Democratic
Leader, 115th Congress Previous Questions, 6/7/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Establish The National Commission On Foreign Interference In The 2016 Election. [H Res 374, Vote #288, 6/7/17; Office of the Democratic
Leader, 115th Congress Previous Questions, 6/7/17]
Comstock Voted To Kill A Procedural Move To Bring Up Bill To Create An Independent Commission To Investigate Russian Interference In The 2016 Election. [H Res 323, Vote #259,
5/17/17; USA Today, 5/17/17]
Comstock Voted To Block The Creation Of A Commission Investigating Foreign Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election. [HRes 233, Vote #203, 3/29/17; CQ, 3/29/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of Establishing An Investigation Into Foreign Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election. [HRes 229, Vote #197, 3/28/17; CQ, 3/28/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Establish The National Commission On Foreign Interference In The 2016 Election. [H Res 156, Vote #115, 3/1/17; Office of the Democratic
Leader, 115th Congress Previous Questions, 3/1/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Establish The National Commission On Foreign Interference In The 2016 Election. [H Res 123, Vote #93, 2/15/17; Office of the Democratic
Leader, 115th Congress Previous Questions, 2/15/17]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Establish The National Commission On Foreign Interference In The 2016 Election. [H Res 116, Vote #90, 2/14/17; Office of the Democratic
Leader, 115th Congress Previous Questions, 2/14/17]
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Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Establish The National Commission On Foreign Interference In The 2016 Election. [HR 33, Vote #26, 1/10/17; Office of the Democratic Leader,
115th Congress Previous Questions, 1/10/17]
Comstock Stood Behind Trump
Comstock Was An Absentee Congresswoman
Comstock Had Not Held A Town Hall In More Than 1000 Days, Constituents Made “Missing
Posters” And Held A Search Party In Response…
Covers Dump Comstock Handing Out Cake To Comstock To Mark 1000 Days Not Holding A Town Hall.
[WTTG, 9/29/17]
Constituents Made “Missing” Posters, Saying She Was Hard To Get In Touch With. “At first glance they look
like any other sign on a light pole. But look closer and you see Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock.
‘There are no public appearances scheduled and it’s really hard to get in touch with her,’ says Courtney Soria, a
Democrat who lives in Leesburg in Comstock’s 10th District- made the ‘Missing’ signs with a friend and posted
them last night in DC, two blocks from Comstock’s Capitol Hill office.” [WJLA, 5/18/17]
Planned Parenthood Held “A Search Party” For Comstock After She Refused To Hold Town Halls. “The
political arm of Planned Parenthood, which would be defunded under the GOP bill, has also mounted its own
events. On Friday, the organization’s Virginia chapter is holding ‘a search party’ for Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-
Va.), who has not held public town halls, calling on constituents to ‘embark on a valiant quest to find Ms.
Comstock.’” [Huffington Post, 6/1/17]
A Mobile Billboard Calling On Comstock To Hold A Town Hall And Support Planned Parenthood Drove
Around The 10th. “A mobile billboard asking Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R) to hold a town hall and
support Planned Parenthood is making its way around Comstock's 10th Congressional District. The truck bearing
six alternating images was paid for by the political action committee ‘Take Back the Tenth,’ which is associated
with the ‘Dump Comstock’ group.” [Loudoun Times, 6/26/17]
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…A Former GOP Congressman Even Advised Comstock To Hold Town Halls After Republican
Losses In 2017
Former GOP Congressman Advised Comstock To Hold Town Halls After The 2017 Governor Race. “Advice
for Comstock poured in from Northern Virginia GOP observers, who agreed Tuesday’s result is a warning shot to
members of Congress from wealthy suburban districts. Hold town halls, said Tom Davis, a former GOP
congressman from Northern Virginia. Comstock has avoided unscripted public forums with constituents who have
spewed venom at her colleagues, such as Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) ‘Face the music,’ Davis said. ‘You’ve got to let
people scream at you a little bit, let them get it off their chest.” [Washington Post, 11/8/17]
Washington Post: Headline: “After Virginia Blowout, Comstock’s Road To Reelection Grows Steeper.”
[Washington Post, 11/8/17]
Comstock Voted For The Republican Tax Scam Bill
Comstock Voted For Final Passage Of The Republican Tax Scam Bill
Comstock Voted For Final Passage Of The Republican Tax Scam Bill
Comstock Voted For Adopting The Conference Report Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. In December 2017,
Comstock voted for “adoption of the conference report on the bill that would revise the federal income tax system
by lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; lowering individual tax rates through 2025;
limiting state and local deductions to $10,000 through 2025; decreasing the limit on deductible mortgage debt
through 2025; and creating a new system of taxing U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it
would repeal personal exemptions and would roughly double the standard deduction through 2025. It would raise
the child tax credit to $2,000 through 2025, would repeal the alternative minimum tax for corporations and provide
for broader exemptions to the tax for individuals through 2025. It would double individual exemptions to the estate
tax and gift tax through 2025, and would establish a new top tax rate for "pass-through" business income through
2025.” The conference report was adopted 227-203. [HR 1, Vote #692, 12/19/17; CQ Floor Votes, 12/19/17]
Comstock Voted For Final Passage Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act By Concurring With A Senate
Amendment. In December 2017, Comstock voted for “Brady, R-Texas, motion to concur in the Senate amendment
to the tax overhaul that would revise the federal income tax system by: lowering the corporate tax rate from 35
percent to 21 percent; lowering individual tax rates through 2025; limiting state and local deductions to $10,000
through 2025; decreasing the limit on deductible mortgage debt through 2025; and creating a new system of taxing
U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it would repeal personal exemptions and would roughly
double the standard deduction through 2025. It would raise the child tax credit to $2,000 through 2025, would
repeal the alternative minimum tax for corporations and provide for broader exemptions to the tax for individuals
through 2025. It would double individual exemptions to the estate tax and gift tax through 2025, and would
establish a new top tax rate for "pass-through" business income through 2025. It would effectively eliminate the
penalty for not purchasing health insurance under the 2010 health care overhaul law in 2019. It would also open
portions of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling.” The motion was passed 224-201. [HR 1,
Vote #699, 12/20/17; CQ Floor Votes, 12/20/17]
House Was Forced To Vote For A Second Time On The Final Bill After Small Changes Were Made To
Comply With Senate Budget Rules. “The House, forced to vote a second time on the $1.5 trillion tax bill,
moved swiftly to pass the final version on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Trump to sign into law
the most sweeping tax overhaul in decades. House lawmakers approved the tax bill 224 to 201 on Wednesday,
after being forced to vote on the bill again after last-minute revisions were made to it in the Senate, which
passed the measure 51 to 48 early Wednesday morning. The final House vote was essentially a formality, as the
changes, which were made to comply with Senate budget rules, did not significantly alter the overall bill.”
[New York Times, 12/20/17]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/after-virginia-blowout-comstocks-road-to-reelection-grows-steeper/2017/11/08/58a8d2fe-c448-11e7-84bc-5e285c7f4512_story.html?utm_term=.2eaab0a6d6bahttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/after-virginia-blowout-comstocks-road-to-reelection-grows-steeper/2017/11/08/58a8d2fe-c448-11e7-84bc-5e285c7f4512_story.html?utm_term=.2eaab0a6d6bahttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll692.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/692http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll699.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/699https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/us/politics/tax-bill-republicans.html
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Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Benefitted The Wealthy, Corporations, And Special Interests…
New York Times: Tax Bill “Creates As Many New Preferences For Special Interests As It Gets Rid Of”
After Republican Ambitions “Fell To The Powerful Forces Of Lobbying And The Status Quo.” “The
Republican tax bill does not pass the postcard test. It leaves nearly every large tax break in place. It creates as many
new preferences for special interests as it gets rid of. It will keep corporate accountants busy for years to come. And
no taxpayer will ever see the postcard-size tax return that President Trump laid a kiss on in November as
Republican leaders launched their tax overhaul effort. This was not the grand simplification of the code that
Republicans promised when they set out to eliminate tax breaks and cut the number of tax brackets as they lowered
rates. As their bill tore through Congress, their ambitions fell to the powerful forces of lobbying and the status
quo.” [New York Times, 12/16/17]
Washington Post: Final Tax Bill Included A “Significant Tax Break For The Very Wealthy” And “A
Massive Tax Cut For Corporations.” “A new tax cut for the rich: The final plan lowers the top tax rate for top
earners. Under current law, the highest rate is 39.6 percent for married couples earning over $470,700. The GOP
bill would drop that to 37 percent and raise the threshold at which that top rate kicks in, to $500,000 for individuals
and $600,000 for married couples. This amounts to a significant tax break for the very wealthy, a departure from
repeated claims by Trump and his top officials that the bill would not benefit the rich. […] A massive tax cut for
corporations “A massive tax cut for corporations: Starting on Jan. 1, 2018, big businesses' tax rate would fall from
35 percent to just 21 percent, the largest one-time rate cut in U.S. history for the nation's largest companies.”
[Washington Post, 12/15/17]
…While Millions Of Americans Would Pay More In Taxes
Politifact: GOP Tax Bill Would Raise Taxes For The Middle Class After Individual Tax Cut Provisions
Expired In 2025. “Gillibrand said the Republican ‘tax [plan] raises middle-class taxes.’ That's not true during the
first years of the new tax provisions. If not for the sunset for the tax changes for individuals, we likely would have
rated Gillibrand's statement False or perhaps Mostly False. Middle-income taxpayers will either benefit or see no
change in their tax liability through 2025. But her claim could hold up after the bill's individual provisions expire
that year. There's no guarantee a future Congress will extend those parts of the bill.” [Politifact, 12/22/17]
Tax Policy Center: In 2018, 5 Percent Of Taxpayers Would Pay More In Taxes Under The GOP Tax
Bill, But Would Increase To 53 Percent Of Taxpayers In 2027. “Some taxpayers would pay more in taxes
under the proposal in 2018 and 2025 than under current law: about 5 percent of taxpayers in 2018 and 9 percent
in 2025. In 2027, however, taxes would increase for 53 percent of taxpayers compared with current law.” [Tax
Policy Center, 12/18/17]
RESOURCE: The Final Trump-GOP Tax Plan: National and 50-State Estimates for 2019 & 2027 [ITEP,
12/16/17]
Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Increased The Federal Debt – Increasing Pressure To Cut Program Like Medicare
Official CBO Estimate Found Final Tax Bill Would Increase The Federal Deficit By $1.46 Trillion.
“Republicans decided it would be all right to go into debt up to $1.5 trillion to fund the tax cut. In the end, they
nearly hit that mark. The official estimate -- released Friday evening alongside the bill -- came in at $1.46 trillion.”
[Washington Post, 12/15/17]
Center For A Responsible Federal Budget Found True Cost of Tax Bill Would Be $2 Trillion Or More, After
Budget Gimmicks Were Accounted For. “Adding these gimmicks to the cost of the bill would increase the total
cost to $2.0 trillion to $2.2 trillion. Though the dynamic effect of making the bill permanent is unknown, we
estimate a permanent bill would produce roughly $450 billion of feedback,* leading to a dynamic cost of roughly
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$1.6 trillion to $1.7 trillion. With interest, these costs would rise to $2.4 trillion to $2.5 trillion, or $1.9 trillion to $2
trillion with dynamic effects included, over a decade.” [CRFB, 12/18/17]
After Passing A Tax Bill That Added Trillions To The Deficit, Speaker Ryan Said Medicare And Medicaid
Would Need To Be “Reformed” In Order To Decrease The Deficit. “With his dream of tax reform now
realized, Ryan is hoping to make progress on two other issues he’s targeted during his two-decade career in
Washington: entitlement and welfare reform. ‘We’re going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform,
which is how you tackle the debt and the deficit,’ Ryan, a former Budget Committee chairman, said in a recent
interview this month on the Ross Kaminsky radio talk show. Medicare and Medicaid are the ‘big drivers of debt,’
Ryan said, suggesting Republicans could once again use the budget reconciliation process to avoid a Democratic
filibuster. Medicare is the ‘biggest entitlement that’s got to have reform,’ Ryan added.” [The Hill, 12/27/17]
HEADLINE: After Tax Overhaul, GOP Sets Sights on Medicare, Social Security [US News, 12/7/17]
HEADLINE: Ryan says Republicans to target welfare, Medicare, Medicaid spending in 2018
[Washington Post, 12/6/17]
HEADLINE: Paul Ryan Pushes to Keep Overhaul of Safety-Net Programs on GOP Agenda [Wall Street
Journal, 2/4/18]
AP: “A Wide Range Of Economists And Nonpartisan Analysts Have Warned That The Bill Will Likely
Escalate Federal Debt, Intensify Pressure To Cut Spending On Social Programs And Further Widen
America's Troubling Income Inequality.” “The tax overhaul of 2017 amounts to a high-stakes gamble by
Republicans in Congress: That slashing taxes for corporations and wealthy individuals will accelerate growth and
assure greater prosperity for Americans for years to come. The risks are considerable. A wide range of economists
and nonpartisan analysts have warned that the bill will likely escalate federal debt, intensify pressure to cut
spending on social programs and further widen America's troubling income inequality.” [Associated Press,
12/17/17]
Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Would Increase Incentives To Move Jobs Overseas
Tax Experts Said The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Increased Incentives For Companies To Move Jobs Overseas.
“What happened to the workers in Clinton, tax experts say, will probably happen to more Americans if the
Republican tax overhaul becomes law. The legislation fails to eliminate long-standing incentives for companies to
move overseas and, in some cases, may even increase them, they say. ‘This bill is potentially more dangerous than
our current system,’ said Stephen Shay, a senior lecturer at Harvard Law School and former Treasury Department
international tax expert in the Obama administration. ‘It creates a real incentive to shift real activity offshore.’”
[Washington Post, 12/15/17]
Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Would Lead To More Expensive Health Insurance; 13 Million More Uninsured
Final Tax Bill Eliminated Central Affordable Care Act Provision, Leading To 13 Million Fewer Americans
With Insurance. “The individual mandate is part of the Affordable Care Act, and removing it was a top priority for
Trump and congressional Republicans. The Congressional Budget Office projects the change will increase
insurance premiums and lead to 13 million fewer Americans with insurance in a decade, while also cutting
government spending by more than $300 billion over that period.” [Washington Post, 12/15/17]
GOP Tax Bill Would Cause Health Insurance Premiums To Rise, And Could Lead Insurers To Drop Out Of
Regional Markets. “The final GOP plan will repeal the Affordable Care Act’s individual insurance mandate,
which would allow young and healthy people to leave the insurance pool, forcing insurers to compensate by raising
prices due to the higher costs of insuring only less-healthy people. Not only would premiums likely rise, but many
insurers could drop out of regional markets.” [Newsweek, 12/18/17]
HEADLINE: Republican Tax Plan Will Make Health Insurance More Expensive [Newsweek, 12/18/17]
http://www.crfb.org/blogs/final-tax-bill-could-end-costing-22-trillionhttp://thehill.com/homenews/house/366513-victorious-on-taxes-gop-wonders-whats-nexthttps://www.usnews.com/news/economy/articles/2017-12-07/after-tax-overhaul-gop-sets-sights-on-medicare-social-securityhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/01/gop-eyes-post-tax-cut-changes-to-welfare-medicare-and-social-security/?utm_term=.177e435dbab7https://www.wsj.com/articles/paul-ryan-pushes-to-keep-overhaul-of-safety-net-programs-on-gop-agenda-1517749201http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/gop-betting-fix-us-economy-defy-warnings-51841939https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trump-promised-america-first-would-keep-jobs-here-but-the-tax-plan-might-not/2017/12/15/7b8ed60e-df93-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html?utm_term=.94e5f35d8afchttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/15/the-final-gop-tax-bill-is-complete-heres-what-is-in-it/?utm_term=.126e5bed431dhttp://www.newsweek.com/obamacare-tax-plan-republicans-750871http://www.newsweek.com/obamacare-tax-plan-republicans-750871
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Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Failed To Live Up To Republican Promises
HEADLINE: “New Tax Code Will Still Be Complicated Despite GOP Promise To Simplify.” [CNN Money,
12/18/17]
CNN Money: Final Tax Bill “Adds Plenty Of Complications, Particularly For Small Businesses.” “But the
plan Republicans and Trump came up with almost certainly won't put tax preparers out of business. The final tax
bill, released on Friday, does indeed deliver some simplification, but not as much as promised. And it adds plenty
of complications, particularly for small businesses.” [CNN Money, 12/18/17]
Time: Republicans Failed To Follow Through On The “Central Promises” Of Their Tax Bill – To Allow
People To File On A Postcard And To Benefit Working And Middle Class Americans. “As they pushed their
sweeping tax bill through Congress, Republicans made two central promises. First, that the bill would simplify the
U.S. tax code, allowing citizens to file their taxes ‘on the back of a postcard.’ And second, that the overhaul would
primarily benefit working Americans and the middle class. The first claim proved false. And economic experts are
skeptical about the second, arguing that the bill aids businesses at the expense of middle-class taxpayers.” [Time,
12/19/17]
Comstock Voted For House Passage Of The Republican Tax Scam Bill That Benefited Wealthy
Americans And Corporations While Raising Taxes On Millions And Increasing The Deficit
Comstock Voted For Passage Of The House Version Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act
Comstock Voted For Passage Of The House Version Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. In November 2017,
Comstock voted for “passage of the bill that would revise the federal income tax system by: lowering individual
and corporate tax rates; consolidating the current seven tax income rates into four rates; eliminating the deduction
for state and local income taxes; limiting certain deductions for property taxes and home mortgages; and creating a
new system of taxing U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it would eliminate personal
exemptions and would nearly double the standard deduction. It would raise the child tax credit through 2022, repeal
the alternative minimum tax, repeal the estate tax in 2025 and reduce the gift tax rate in 2025. It would establish a
new top tax rate for pass-through business income and would modify tax credits related to energy production.” The
bill passed 227-205. [HR 1, Vote #637, 11/16/17; CQ Floor Votes, 11/16/17]
Comstock Voted For Considering The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. In November 2017, Comstock voted for:
“Adoption of the rule (H Res 619) that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill (HR 1) that would
revise the federal income tax system by: lowering individual and corporate tax rates; consolidating the current
seven tax income rates into four rates; eliminating the deduction for state and local income taxes; limiting certain
deductions for property taxes and home mortgages; and creating a new system of taxing U.S. corporations with
foreign subsidiaries.” The rule was adopted 235-191. [HRes 619, Vote #633, 11/15/17; CQ, 11/15/17]
House Bill Raised Taxes On Students And Teachers
Washington Post: “The GOP Plan Would No Longer Allow People Repaying Their Student Loans To
Reduce Their Tax Burden By Up To $2,500.” “The GOP plan would no longer allow people repaying their
student loans to reduce their tax burden by up to $2,500. People whose employers cover a portion of their college
costs would also see the money become taxable income. The plan would also do away with a tuition tax break for
university employees and their families. As it stands, tuition discounts provided to that group are excluded from
income, under what are known as qualified tuition reductions. Republicans estimate that doing away with all of
those deductions and tax breaks will increase government revenue by $47.5 billion over the next decade.”
[Washington Post, 11/2/17]
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Under Republican Tax Bill, A Large Percentage Of Undergraduate And Graduate Students Would See
Increases In Their Tax Bills, Some Dramatically. “To help pay for the $1.5 trillion tax cut, lawmakers eliminated
many individual tax breaks, arguing the overall plan would compensate for any lost benefits. The result: while
many families and businesses would see tax cuts, a large percentage of undergraduates and graduate students would
see their tax bills increase, some dramatically.” [New York Times, 11/15/17]
More Than 60 Percent Of Students Impacted By New Tax On Tuition Were In STEM Fields. “According
to the education council, more than 60 percent of the students who would be affected are in science,
technology, engineering or mathematics — research fields that have drawn the praise of Republicans, including
President Trump, in recent months. The Association of American Universities, which represents 60 research
universities, including Carnegie Mellon, said the tax plan threatened the viability of their doctoral programs.
The universities award nearly one-half of all American doctoral degrees and 55 percent of those in the sciences
and engineering.” [New York Times, 11/15/17]
Republican Tax Bill Cut Deduction For Teachers Who Spend Their Own Money On School Supplies, As
They Are Regularly Expected To Do. “For now, teachers can get a small tax break — deducting up to $250 from
their taxes — for what they spend on supplies. But under the GOP tax reform bill, that deduction would go away
for teachers and other categories of workers, including certain state and local officials and performing artists. […]
Unlike other professionals, teachers are regularly expected to furnish their own supplies. They are often filling in
gaps where students are unable to afford supplies — and where districts are unable to furnish them. Teachers in the
United States are not paid as well as other similarly educated professionals, studies have found.” [Washington Post,
11/2/17]
HEADLINE: Teachers spend nearly $500 a year on supplies. Under the GOP tax bill, they will no longer
get a tax deduction. [Washington Post, 11/2/17]
The House GOP Tax Bill Was Bad For Comstock’s District
Comstock’s Constituent Taxes Would Rise Because The District Relied Heavily On State And Local Tax
Deduction…
Comstock’s District Was Named A District That Relied Heavily On State And Local Tax Deduction -
Making Her Vulnerable In 2018. “It’s those suburban House districts that Democrats are hoping to capture to
propel them back to the House majority next year. Schumer name-checked Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), whose
district went heavily Democratic in Tuesday’s gubernatorial election, and noted that nearly half of her district’s
residents get a popular state and local tax deduction that is marked to be slashed or eliminated in pending GOP tax
proposals.” [Politico, 11/8/17]
Politico: Headline: “GOP Election Drubbing Scrambles Tax Reform Outlook.” [Politico, 11/8/17]
VIDEO: MSNBC: Chris Hayes: Comstock’s District Taxes Would Rise Under The GOP Tax Plan. “HAYES:
OK. I understand -- I understand your case on the corporate side. I won`t -- we won`t argue about it. I get it. But
you still got a problem. And the problem is still the way the math works right now is that there are people in Darryl
Issa`s district, and MacArthur`s district, and Leonard Lance`s district, and Lee Zeldin`s district, and Peter King`s
district and on and on, Barbara Comstock, whose taxes will rise, who will see their tax burden go up because you`re
going to go after the mortgage interest deduction, you`re going to go after the state and local taxes deduction. They
have kids and they`re going to see their taxes go up and you`ve got to tell them why the Republicans raised their
taxes.” [MSNBC, All in with Chris Hayes, 11/8/17] (VIDEO)
Washington Post: Comstock’s District Shared “A Dubious Honor: A Higher Percentage Of Residents Who
Claim The State And Local Income Tax Deduction Than Anywhere Else In The Nation.” “Raskin's district is
one of three in the capital region - along with districts in Virginia represented by Reps. Gerald E. Connolly (D) and
Barbara Comstock (R) - that share a dubious honor: a higher percentage of residents who claim the state and local
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income tax deduction than anywhere else in the nation, according to Government Officers Finance Association
data.” [Washington Post, 11/4/17]
Headline: “Welcome To The D.C. Suburbs, Where The GOP Tax Plan Could Really Hurt.” [Washington Post, 11/4/17]
…And Comstock Refused To Take A Hard Line Against The GOP Tax Bill Like Her GOP Colleagues In
SALT Heavy Districts
Washington Post: Comstock’s District Compared To “Wealthy Districts In New York And New Jersey, Yet
Unlike Her GOP Colleagues In Those Blue States, She Has Not Taken A Hard Line Against The Bill.” “The
economic profile of Comstock's Northern Virginia district resembles that of wealthy districts in New York and New
Jersey. Yet unlike her GOP colleagues in those blue states, she has not taken a hard line against the bill.”
[Washington Post, 11/4/17]
NBC: “Republicans In New York, New Jersey And California Are Still Angry About The Proposed Changes
To The State And Local Tax Deduction.” “Republicans in New York, New Jersey and California are still angry
about the proposed changes to the state and local tax deduction (SALT), which is capped at $10,000 in the House
plan and can now only be applied to property taxes. Senate Republicans go further by eliminating the state and
local deduction entirely. ‘I’m a 'no' to the bill in its current form,’ Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., said on MSNBC last
week. ‘I want to fight for my home district and my home state.” [NBC, 11/12/17]
Comstock Voted For The House GOP Tax Bill Despite Local Concern
Loudon Now: Headline: “Comstock Votes Yes On Tax Bill Despite Local Concern.” [Loudon Now, 11/17/17]
Winchester Star: Headline: “Historic Tax Credit Elimination Would Hit City.” [Winchester Star, 11/16/17]
Washington Post: Headline: “House Tax Package Would Increase Construction Costs For Projects At
Region’s Airports.” [Washington Post, 11/16/17]
December 2017: Comstock’s Constituents Lined Up To Avoid Penalties From The Tax Bill
Washington Post: IRS says many who prepaid property taxes may still face cap on deductions
USA Today: Some homeowners see prepaying property taxes as way to save this year and next
WTOP: Fairfax Co. taxpayers line up to prepay property taxes ahead of new $10K cap
WAMU: Can Pre-Paying Property Taxes Make The GOP Tax Bill Less Painful? Maybe, But It’s
Complicated
WTTG: As GOP tax plan passes in Congress, taxpayers rushing to prepay property taxes for 2018
WUSA (VIDEO): Homeowners line up to prepay property taxes
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/welcome-to-the-dc-suburbs-where-the-gop-tax-plan-could-hurt/2017/11/04/ede09e2e-c0ab-11e7-959c-fe2b598d8c00_story.html?utm_term=.be36b32a2333https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/welcome-to-the-dc-suburbs-where-the-gop-tax-plan-could-hurt/2017/11/04/ede09e2e-c0ab-11e7-959c-fe2b598d8c00_story.html?utm_term=.be36b32a2333https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/welcome-to-the-dc-suburbs-where-the-gop-tax-plan-could-hurt/2017/11/04/ede09e2e-c0ab-11e7-959c-fe2b598d8c00_story.html?utm_term=.be36b32a2333https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/they-ve-got-issues-here-s-who-mad-about-gop-n819116http://loudounnow.com/2017/11/17/comstock-votes-yes-on-tax-bill-despite-local-concern/http://www.winchesterstar.com/news/historic-tax-credit-elimination-would-hit-city/article_32d5b263-cb16-5edd-87db-3df8c0709d34.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/house-tax-package-would-increase-regions-airport-construction-costs/2017/11/16/963f2fd2-cb28-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html?utm_term=.1909aeced4achttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/tax-bill-spawns-new-holiday-ritual-waiting-in-line-to-pay-taxes/2017/12/27/1e7ea59a-eb12-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html?utm_term=.81b68a711febhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2017/12/27/property-tax-prepayments/984556001/https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2017/12/fairfax-co-taxpayers-line-prepay-property-taxes-ahead-new-10k-cap/slide/1/https://wamu.org/story/17/12/21/pre-paying-property-taxes-way-make-gop-tax-bill-less-painful-maybe-complicated/http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/as-gop-tax-plan-passes-in-congress-taxpayers-rushing-to-prepay-property-taxes-for-2018https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5aztPMO-i8&feature=youtu.be
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News Channel 8 (VIDEO): Hundreds of people lined up in Fairfax to pay their property taxes early to avoid
cap
WJLA (VIDEO): Hundreds of people lined up in Fairfax to pay their property taxes early to avoid cap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAf81d1w8Fg&feature=youtu.behttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmLyGw8W0Nk&feature=youtu.be
-
WRC-NBC (VIDEO): People lined up to prepay taxes but then left after IRS ruled they could not deduct
property taxes
Comstock Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act And Voted Against Medicaid
Expansion In Virginia
Comstock Voted 6 Times To Advance Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act
Comstock Voted For Repealing Affordable Care Act. [HR 596, Vote #58, 2/03/15; CQ Floor Votes, 2/3/15]
Comstock Voted For Republican Conference Report On Budget That Began Process To Repeal Affordable Care Act. [S Con Res 11, Vote #183, 4/30/15; Bloomberg, 4/29/15]
Comstock Voted For Repealing Major Pillars Of Affordable Care Act, Including Individual Mandate. [HR 3762, Vote #568, 10/23/15; Los Angeles Times, 10/23/15]
Comstock Voted For Repealing The Affordable Care Act. [HR 3762, Vote #6, 1/6/16; CNN, 1/6/16]
Comstock Voted For Overturning Obama’s Veto Of Bill That Would Repeal The Affordable Care Act. [HR 3762, Vote #53, 2/2/16; Washington Post, 2/2/16]
Comstock Voted For Beginning Process Of Repealing Affordable Care Act. [S Con Res 3, Vote #58, 1/13/17; CNN, 1/3/17]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDb0PlTHq78&feature=youtu.behttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll058.xmlhttp://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/231638-house-votes-to-repeal-obamacarehttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll183.xmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-29/republicans-unveil-house-senate-budget-dealhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll568.xmlhttp://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-obamacare-repeal-house-20151023-story.htmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll006.xmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/politics/house-obamacare-repeal-planned-parenthood/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll053.xmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/02/after-tuesday-veto-vote-on-obamacare-repeal-gop-moves-on-to-another-budget-fight/?utm_term=.ab42eed6b7d2http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll058.xmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2017/01/13/politics/house-obamacare-repeal-vote/
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Comstock Voted Against Medicaid Expansion In Virginia
Comstock Voted Against Budget Amendment That Would Accept Medicaid Expansion In Virginia. In April
2013, Comstock voted against an amendment made by the governor to the state’s budget bill, House Bill 1500, that
would accept Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted 75 to 24. [HB
1500, Governor’s Recommendation 24, 2013 Session, 4/03/13]
Comstock Opposed Allowing Women To Make Their Own Health Care Decisions
Comstock Voted 10 Times To Defund Or Attack Planned Parenthood
Comstock Voted For Reversing Obama Rule Preventing States From Withholding Grants From Planned Parenthood. [HJRes 43, Vote #99, 2/16/17; USA Today, 2/16/17]
Comstock Voted For Doubling The Budget For The Select Committee Targeting Planned Parenthood. [H Res 933, Vote #595, 12/1/16; The Hill, 12/1/16]
Comstock Voted For Overriding The President’s Veto Of A Bill To Repeal The Affordable Care Act And Block Funding Of Planned Parenthood For A Year. [HR 3762, Vote #53, 2/2/16, 2/2/16; CQ Floor
Votes, 2/2/16]
Comstock Voted For Repealing The Affordable Care Act And Defunding Planned Parenthood For One Year. [HR 3762, Vote #6, 1/6/16; The Hill, 1/6/16]
Comstock Voted For Reconciliation Bill To Repeal Key Sections Of The Affordable Care Act And Defund Planned Parenthood. [HR 3762, Vote #568, 10/23/15; Washington Post, 10/23/15]
Comstock Voted For Establishing Select Committee Targeting Planned Parenthood. [H Res 461, Vote #538, 10/7/15; CQ Floor Votes, 10/7/15]
Comstock Voted For Attaching Measure To Defund Planned Parenthood To Spending Measure Necessary To Avert Government Shutdown. [H Con Res 79, Vote #527, 9/30/15; New York Times,
10/1/15]
Comstock Voted For Consideration Of Bill Making It Easier For States To Defund Planned Parenthood. [H Res 444, Vote #521, 9/29/15; CQ Floor Votes, 9/29/15]
Comstock Voted For Defunding Planned Parenthood. [H.R. 3134, Vote #505, 9/18/15; CQ, 9/23/15]
Comstock Voted Against Preventing Attempt To Defund Planned Parenthood. [H.R. 3134, Vote #504, 9/18/15; Democratic Leader – Motions To Recommit, 9/18/15]
Comstock Stated That One Of The Reasons She Voted To Keep Government Open Was To Keep Focus On
Investigating Planned Parenthood. “Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) issued the following statement
on the passage of the Continuing Resolution that funds the federal government through December 11th… ‘I am
opposed to federal funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, and life of the mother, and I supported
legislation last week that defunded Planned Parenthood while the congressional investigations are ongoing.
Shutting down the federal government would have taken away the focus on these important hearings.’” [Rep.
Comstock Press Release, 9/30/15]
Comstock: “Yes, I Think Roe V Wade Should Be Overturned”
Comstock: “Yes, I Think Roe V Wade Should Be Overturned.” “MATTHEWS: ... do you think that court -- the
court should get rid of the health exception in Roe v. Wade? COMSTOCK: The court -- listen, the -- I think -- yes,
I think Roe vs. Wade should be overturned and the states should decide it. But let’s -- Barack Obama thinks that we
should overturn all of the state laws we have right now that allow -- that -- he`s for federal funding of abortion,
taxpayer funding of abortion.” [Hardball with Chris Matthews, MSNBC, 10/16/08]
FactCheck.Org: If Roe v Wade Were Overturned, Virginia Would Likely Outlaw Abortion Immediately.
“The Center for Reproductive Rights also predicts that some states that don’t have bans now will institute them
if the Supreme Court gives them the authority. In all, the center estimates that 21 states are likely to outlaw
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+vot+HV1325+HB1500http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll099.xmlhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/16/house-votes-undo-obama-rule-protecting-planned-parenthood-grants/98007736/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll595.xmlhttp://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/308392-house-votes-to-double-budget-for-planned-parenthood-investigativehttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll053.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/vote/2016/H/53?28http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll006.xmlhttp://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/264980-house-passes-obamacare-repeal-sending-measure-to-obamas-deskhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll568.xmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/23/house-passes-budget-reconciliation-bill-that-could-be-headed-for-trouble-in-the-senate/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll538.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll538.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/vote/2015/H/538?5http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll527.xmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/us/politics/government-shutdown-congress.html?_r=0http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll521.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/vote/2015/H/521?5http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll505.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/doc/billdigest-4734158?11http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll504.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/114th-congress-motions-recommit/https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/comstock-votes-keep-government-openhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLe-SjylXv8http://www.reproductiverights.org/pdf/Roe_PublicationPF4a.pdf
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abortion immediately. This assessment is based not only on current law, but on the political makeup of the state
legislatures. According to the center, those states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.” [FactCheck.org, 4/06/08]
Comstock Voted to Mandate Transvaginal Ultrasounds Before Abortion
Comstock Voted to Mandate Transvaginal Ultrasounds Before Abortion. In 2012, Comstock voted for a bill
“that requires women to have a ‘transvaginal ultrasound’ before undergoing abortions.” [HB 462, 2/14/12;
Associated Press, 2/14/12]
Comstock Voted For Virginia “TRAP” Law
Comstock Voted For Virginia “TRAP” Law, Considered “One Of The Most Restrictive In The Country For
First-Trimester Abortion.” In February 2011, Comstock voted in favor of Senate Bill 924, which agreed “that
clinics where most of the state’s early-term abortions are performed should be regulated as hospitals instead of as
doctors’ offices. Abortion rights advocates, who have fended off similar attempts in Virginia for two decades, say
the new rules could be so restrictive that they could force as many as 17 of the state's 21 abortion clinics out of
business. […] Abortion rights advocates said the regulations could make the state one of the most restrictive in the
country for first-trimester abortions. They also said they think that the regulations will place an unconstitutional
burden on a woman's ability to get an abortion in Virginia and that they might sue.” The bill passed 76 to 32. [SB
924, 2011 Session, 2/21/11; Washington Post, 2/25/11]
Comstock Voted Against Improving Traffic Conditions In Northern Virginia
Comstock Voted For A Tax Bill That Eliminated The Employer-Sponsored Subsidy For
Commuting, Transportation Advocates Called It An “Effective Tax Hike” For Commuters
Comstock Voted For The Final Passage Of The Republican Tax Scam Bill
Comstock Voted For Final Passage Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act By Concurring With A Senate
Amendment. The motion was passed 224-201. [HR 1, Vote #699, 12/20/17; CQ Floor Votes, 12/20/17]
Final Version Of The Tax Bill Scrapped The Employer-Sponsored Subsidy For Commuting
VOX: Final Version Of The Tax Bill Scrapped The Employer-Sponsored Subsidy For Commuting. “The
final version of the tax bill scraps a feature currently in the tax code meant to encourage employers to directly
subsidize their workers’ daily commutes, whether by car, subway, bus, or bike. Right now, companies can provide
parking or transit passes worth up to $255 a month to employees to help them pay for commuting expenses and
deduct that from their corporate taxes. (The amount was supposed to increase to $260 in 2018.)” [Vox, 12/19/17]
Headline: Associated Press: GOP Tax Bill Nixes Incentive For Company Commuter Benefits. [Associated
Press, 12/15/17]
Transit Agencies Worried The Decision Would Cut Into Ridership And Would “Result In An Effective Tax
Hike For Hundreds Of Businesses And Thousands Of Employees.”
VOX: “Transit Agencies Are Still Worried The Decision Will Cut Into Ridership Because Employers Will
Stop Offering The Benefit.” “Employees who pay for their own transportation costs can still use pre-tax income,
but transit agencies are still worried the decision will cut into ridership because employers will stop offering the
benefit.” [Vox, 12/19/17]
http://www.factcheck.org/2008/04/effect-of-overturning-roe-v-wade/http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?121+vot+HV0765+HB0462http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-14/virginia-abortion-legislation/53097654/1http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+vot+HV1150+SB0924http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022407874.html?sid=ST2011031106535http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll699.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/699https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/19/16783634/gop-tax-plan-provisionshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/commuters-lose-company-incentive-for-transit-parking-benefits-in-tax-bill/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/19/16783634/gop-tax-plan-provisions
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Transit Representatives Said The Elimination Of The Benefit Would “Result In An Effective Tax Hike For
Hundreds Of Businesses And Thousands Of Employees.” “Earlier this month, representatives for Metrolink, the
passenger rail system serving Southern California, wrote to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin
Brady (R-Tex.), asking that lawmakers kill the provision. ‘Removing the exclusion would result in an effective tax
hike for hundreds of businesses and thousands of employees,’ said the letter, signed by Andrew F. Kotyuk,
chairman of the Metrolink board of directors. ‘This works in opposition to our goals of creating jobs and bringing
back manufacturing to the states.” [Washington Post, 11/25/17]
Transit Advocates Said The Repeal Was A “Negative” For Commuters And Would “Ultimately Hurt The
Ridership”
American Public Transportation Association: “By Taking Away The Employer Deduction, They’ve Kind Of
Undermined The Incentive For Employers.” “But the proposal concerns transit advocates and agencies across
the country, who argue that eliminating the incentives to business owners will affect a wide cross section of people
who drive, take transit or bike to work. ‘These are important benefits to working people, and we’d like to preserve
them as much as possible,’ said Rob Healy, vice president of government affairs at the American Public
Transportation Association. ‘By taking away the employer deduction, they’ve kind of undermined the incentive for
employers.” [Washington Post, 11/25/17]
American Public Transportation Association: “It's Clearly A Negative For Commuters Who Are Spending A
Lot Of Money On Public Transportation” And “Could Ultimately Hurt The Ridership.” “The elimination of
the subsidy has transit agencies worried that fewer commuters will opt for transit. ‘It's clearly a negative for
commuters who are spending a lot of money on public transportation,’ said Rob Healy, vice president for
governmental affairs at the American Public Transportation Association. The employer subsidies are generally
more lucrative for commuters than the ability to use pre-tax income for transportation costs, he said. ‘The concern
is that if employers can't write it off, they won't offer it. And if they don't offer it, it's a loss to the employees,’
Healy said. ‘It could ultimately hurt the ridership.” [Associated Press, 12/15/17]
League Of American Bicyclists Members Urged Congress To Drop The Repeal Because It Discouraged
People From Cycling To Work. “Similar overtures have been made to Congress by the American Public
Transportation Association as well as the League of American Bicyclists, a bike advocacy organization. Their
concern is aimed at a provision included in the Senate’s bill that would repeal a federal bike commuter benefit,
which reimburses up to $20 per month in bike-related supplies or services — helmets, lights, spare parts, repairs
costs or bike storage fees — for workers who regularly bike to work. McLeod said that more than 1,400 bike
commuters associated with his organization have written to the Senate Finance Committee urging that lawmakers
drop the repeal. It’s hard to tell whether legislators intended for the repeal to send a discouraging message to the
cycling community, McLeod said, but that’s how it has been interpreted by many cyclists.” [Washington Post,
11/25/17]
Comstock Voted Against State Transportation Funding Compromise
2013: Comstock Voted Against State Transportation Funding Compromise. In February 2013, Comstock
voted against a state transportation funding plan that was worked out in conference between the House and the state
Senate. According to the Washington Post, “the new plan would do so by replacing the 17.5 cents-per-gallon tax on
gasoline — which had not been changed since 1987 — with a new 3.5 percent wholesale tax on motor fuels that
will keep pace with economic growth and inflation. Supporters say the average motorist could pay as much $15
more a month. The deal’s major components also include boosting the sales tax on nonfood merchandise from 5
percent to 5.3 percent and devoting a fatter slice of existing revenue to transportation instead of schools, public
safety and other services. And it creates a regional funding mechanism that boosts the sales tax to 6 percent in
Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads and requires those funds to be spent only on transportation projects in those
areas.” The compromise plan was adopted 60 to 40. Comstock also voted against final adoption of the bill with the
governor’s recommendations, which passed 64 to 35. [HB 2313, 2013 Session, 2/22/13; 4/03/13; Washington Post,
2/23/13]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/commuter-benefits-could-be-squeezed-by-gops-tax-reform-bills/2017/11/25/302141b8-cf01-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html?utm_term=.4ff2443510fehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/commuter-benefits-could-be-squeezed-by-gops-tax-reform-bills/2017/11/25/302141b8-cf01-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html?utm_term=.4ff2443510fehttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/commuters-lose-company-incentive-for-transit-parking-benefits-in-tax-bill/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/commuter-benefits-could-be-squeezed-by-gops-tax-reform-bills/2017/11/25/302141b8-cf01-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html?utm_term=.4ff2443510fehttp://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+vot+HV1245+HB2313http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+vot+HV1381+HB2313https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/va-lawmakers-approve-landmark-transportation-plan/2013/02/23/712969d8-7de4-11e2-82e8-61a46c2cde3d_story.html?utm_term=.1e694ce14ebf
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Transportation Bill Helped Fund Silver Line. The transportation bill “is projected to raise more than $3.5
billion for roads and rails over five years and nearly $900 million annually after 2018. Northern Virginia would
get hundreds of millions from the state, including $300 million committed to complete Metro’s Silver Line
extension to Dulles International Airport.” [Connection Newspapers, 2/27/13]
Washington Post Editorial: Comstock and Others “Thumbing Their Noses At The First Politically Feasible
Solution To Rush-Hour Misery.” “VIRGINIA’S LEGISLATURE has enacted the most important transportation
funding bill in 27 years, a measure bringing billions to fix Northern Virginia’s crumbling roads and horrible traffic.
Amazingly, 12 of 40 Northern Virginia lawmakers — nine Republicans and three Democrats — voted against it,
thumbing their noses at the first politically feasible solution to rush-hour misery.” [Editorial, Washington Post,
3/03/13]
Washington Post Editorial: “In Thrall To Anti-Tax Orthodoxy, Many Republicans Barely Bothered To
Explain Their No Votes,” Including Comstock. “In thrall to anti-tax orthodoxy, many Republicans barely
bothered to explain their no votes. Most clung to the fantasy that Virginia could cannibalize money for roads
from other services, like education. But as Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, a Republican, conceded, the state’s
budget is already lean, and Democrats would not go along with robbing schools to pay for roads. Take Ms.
Comstock, whose constituents in McLean, Vienna and eastern Loudoun grapple with some of the region’s
worst traffic. On her blog, she touts her recent initiatives relating to testing for Lyme disease but devotes not
one word to the transportation bill, which will generate more than $1 billion annually for roads and rails.”
[Washington Post, Editorial, 3/03/13]
Sun Gazette Editorial: Comstock’s Transportation Vote a “Disservice to Her Constituents.” In 2014, the Sun
Gazette wrote: “We have had our quibbles with Comstock’s tenure in the House of Delegates. Among them: her
vote against the 2013 transportation plan was a disservice to her constituents, designed to inoculate herself within
the party against accusations of not being anti-tax enough.” [Sun Gazette, Editorial, 4/22/14]
Washington Post Editorial: Comstock’s Vote Against Transportation Bill Was A “Purely Ideological” One
Based Of Norquist Pledge To “Oppose New Revenue For Any Priority.” “But while Mr. Wolf’s fingerprints are
on virtually every major transportation project in the region, Ms. Comstock opposed the most important state
legislation in more than a quarter century to pay for im-provements to roads, bridges, tunnels and mass transit… In
fact, it was not a tough call for Ms. Comstock; it was a purely ideological one. As one of a minority of Re-publicans
in Richmond who signed Grover Norquist’s pledge to oppose any new taxes, she had long made clear that she
would oppose any new revenue for any priority - even one that had the backing of the state’s top Republicans, as
the transportation bill last year did. Among the lawmakers in Richmond and Washington who have criticized the
no-tax pledge as an impediment to getting things done is Mr. Wolf, who blamed Mr. Norquist for helping to
paralyze Congress.” [Washington Post, Editorial, 9/27/14]
Comstock Voted Against Authorizing $750 Million For Positive Train Control
Comstock Voted Against Amendment To Authorize $750 Million In Positive Train Control To Prevent
Future Amtrak Collisions. In May 2015, Comstock voted against an amendment to authorize $750 million in
positive train control. “House Democrats wanted increased funding for an automated train control system that could
have prevented last week's deadly Amtrak crash included in a surface transportation bill being voted on Tuesday. . .
. A spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Democrats were offering a motion to
recommit on the road and transit measure that the House is voting on Tuesday that would boost the federal
government's funding for the automated train control system to $750 million.” [The Hill, 5/19/15; HR 2353, Vote
#248, 5/19/15]
Comstock Voted Against $3 Million In Additional Funding For Federal Railroad Safety
Comstock Voted Against Additional $3 Million In Additional Funding For Federal Railroad Safety. In June
2015, Comstock voted against an amendment that would “reduce by $3 million funding for the Federal Aviation
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2013/feb/27/local-leaders-praise-transportation-funding-bill/http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/legislators-who-seem-to-like-being-stuck-in-traffic/2013/03/02/4e90ecd6-81f2-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/legislators-who-seem-to-like-being-stuck-in-traffic/2013/03/02/4e90ecd6-81f2-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.htmlhttp://www.insidenova.com/opinion/editorials/sun-gazette-editorial-comstock-is-clear-choice-for-th-district/article_0334319e-ca17-11e3-9cd8-0019bb2963f4.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/unlike-the-man-she-hopes-to-replace-barbara-comstock-fell-in-line-with-anti-tax-ideology/2014/09/27/4bf32274-459f-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.htmlhttp://thehill.com/policy/transportation/242556-house-dems-seek-to-boost-funding-for-automated-trainshttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll248.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll248.xml
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Administration's operations account, with the reduction targeted at funding for staff offices, and provide an
additional $3 million for the Federal Railroad Administration's safety and operations account.” The amendment
failed 184 to 230. [HR 2577, Vote #308, 6/04/15; CQ Floor Votes, 6/04/15]
Comstock Voted Against Increasing Safety Funding By Nearly $17 Million For Existing Rail Lines
Comstock Voted Against Increasing Safety Funding By Nearly $17 Million For Existing Rail Lines. In June
2015, Comstock voted against an amendment increasing funding for the Federal Railroad Administration’s safety
and operations account by $16,930,000 in order to improve safety on existing rail lines and reduce funding for FRA
capital investment grants by $83 million. “The U.S. House on Thursday rejected an effort by Rep. Scott Garrett to
use some money earmarked for new transit projects to improve safety on existing lines instead. By a vote of 266-
160, the House defeated Garrett's attempt to amend the transportation spending bill and transfer $17 million to the
Federal Railroad Administration's safety account from the funds earmarked for new construction.” The amendment
failed, 160 to 266. [HR 2577, Amendment #18, Vote #302, 6/04/15; NJ.com 6/05/15]
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Long Term Transportation Bill
Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Long Term Transportation Bill. In July 2015, Comstock voted
for to block consideration of a vote to “re-authorize a long-term Transportation Bill that provides 6 years of funding
so states and localities can address critical infrastructure needs.” The previous question carried, 239-167. A vote
against the previous question was to force the vote on a long term transportation bill. [H Res 369, Vote #450,
7/22/15; Democratic Leader – Previous Questions, 7/22/15]
Bill Would Also Target Corporations Moving Abroad To Avoid Paying Taxes, Instead Reinvest Money
In Transportation Improvements. The bill also intended to “stop corporations that seek to move abroad to
avoid paying their taxes and use that money for transportation improvements here in America.” A vote against
the previous question was to force the vote on a bill to stop corporations moving abroad to avoid paying taxes.
[H Res 369, Vote #450, 7/22/15; Democratic Leader – Previous Questions, 7/22/15]
Comstock Is Bad For Immigrants And Dreamers