Bob Abboud is the Democratic Candidate in IL-16

Bob Abboud is the Democratic challenger in IL-16.

To him Republican incumbent Don Manzullo, cannot oppose landmark economic development measures by recently voting against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008. It is a package designed to promote green job creation; small business development; environmental enhancement for domestic coal reserves; renewable energy research and production; and tax breaks for working families.

Manzullo’s opposition to job creation and economic development legislation in the face of Rockford ’s eight percent unemployment rate is criminal, Abboud said As northern Illinois ’ representative in Congress, job creation and economic opportunity will be my first priority.

Abboud said the renewable energy industry is in its incubation stage and like the oil industry in its beginning, needs to utilize federal support and progressive tax policy to create an attractive market environment that encourages private investors and the development of new business. According to Renewable Energy World, the industry currently represents $20 billion in our economy and more than 100,000 jobs. House Resolution 6049 is also loaded with tax credits for small business development; research and design credits; incentives and tax breaks for corporations that donate text books and computers to schools; and an expansion of the child tax credit.

For Don Manzullo to vote against a bill that would have helped bring jobs to this community is beyond comprehension, Abboud said. His willingness to cheat small business owners, working families and children out of valuable tax incentives and credits that help create jobs, support small business, increase alternative energy research and production, and give families struggling to keep up with rising gas prices, economic stagnation and job loss a real break is simply a complete dereliction of duty. Manzullo continues to be a do-nothing Congressman who seems content with economic stagnation and job loss.

Abboud said that Manzullo’s recent vote contradicts his own campaign rhetoric. The legislation included provisions that will provide tax deductions to individuals who purchase hybrid cars and incentives for idling reduction and advanced insulation in heavy trucks. Both proposals Manzullo claimed as his own in an energy plan he released last month.

Perhaps the saddest part is that Manzullo voted against a handful of proposals that are part of his own so called 12 point energy ‘plan’, Abboud said. Ultimately, this vote is just another in a long line of bad decisions that have set us upon this disastrous path, just another contribution to his 16 year legacy of failure and empty promises.

HR 6049 would pay for all of its incentives by preventing individuals receiving income from overseas companies from avoiding taxes through deferred compensation. The bill also delayed the implementation of a tax program that encourages companies to move operations overseas to take advantage of a foreign tax credit.

By voting against this legislation [i.e, Roll Call 344], Don Manzullo is only protecting individuals and corporations seeking asylum from U.S. taxes by moving their operations offshore or being paid by an overseas company, Abboud said. If he wants to protect companies operating overseas at the expense of hardworking American families, then maybe Don Manzullo should run for elected office in another country.

Each of these Illinois Republicans voted against renewable energy and jobs which says they care more about destroying the environment:

• Peter Roskam (IL-06)
• Mark Kirk (IL-10)
  
• Jerry Weller (IL-11)
• Judy Biggert (IL-13)
• Tim Johnson (IL-15)
• Don Manzullo (IL-16)
  
• John Shimkus (IL-19)

Why do voters keep them in office against their best interests?