Factual background for new ODP ad

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“It's sad.  Mike DeWine exploiting images of 911 to smear Sherrod Brown.”

DeWine Uses Twin Tower Images to “Jar Ohio Voters.” “Using vivid images of smoke pouring from one of the towers of the World Trade Center, Republican Sen. Mike DeWine unleashed a commercial yesterday that charges Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown with casting votes in Congress that could have weakened America's response to terrorism. The TV commercial, which also flashed images of the 19 hijackers who took part in the Sept. 11 attack, is an apparent effort by the DeWine campaign to jar Ohio voters into remembering the terrorist attack in New York and suburban Washington. .... While the commercial's language is strong, the gut-wrenching images of the Trade Center and the hijackers is likely to make a searing impact. Although DeWine clearly wanted to grab the attention of TV viewers, some analysts warned that it could be seen as an effort to exploit a national tragedy.” [Columbus Dispatch, 7/15/06]

“Brown voted for the death penalty for terrorists, …”

FACT:  Brown Supported the Death Penalty for Terrorists

Brown voted for the Carter, R-Texas, amendment that would change the federal criminal code to apply the death penalty or life imprisonment for a terrorist offense that results in a person's death.  [HR 10, Vote #514, 10/8/04, Passed 344-72 (R 218-3, D 126-68)]

Brown voted for an amendment that would make the unauthorized possession of shoulder-fired guided missiles, atomic weapons, dirty bombs and smallpox virus a federal crime punishable by mandatory penalties of up to $2 million in fines plus 30 years in prison, life imprisonment or death if the violation results in a person's death. [HR 10, Vote #513, 10/8/04, Passed 385-30 (R 220-0, D 164-30)]

“…tougher port security, tighter borders, …”

FACT:  Brown Supported Increased Funding for Homeland Security

Brown Voted for Motion to Require 100% Screening of US Bound Cargo. The vote was for a motion to the port security bill that would have guaranteed 100% scanning and sealing of America-bound cargo. Currently, we screen only 5% of the cargo that comes into this country even though some ports in the world screen 100% of their incoming cargo. The motion would have guaranteed within three years that the only containers that can enter the U.S. from larger ports are those that have been inspected for radiation and harmful materials. The motion also calls for tamper-proof seals after inspection. [Leadership Document, "Democrats Fight For 100% Scanning of Containers Bound For The US," 5/3/06; HR 4954 , Vote #126, 5/4/06, Failed 202-222 (R 6-222, D 195-0, I 1-0)]

Brown Voted For $7.4 Billion Port Security Bill. The vote was for a $7.4 billion port security bill that would require the Department of Homeland Security to take steps to install radiation detectors at U.S. ports, develop plans for the restoration of commerce during a disaster and authorize several existing port security programs. House Republicans pushed through a rule that barred Democrats from offering amendments to improve the bill. [Washington Post, 5/5/06; HR 4954 , Vote #127, 5/4/06, Passed 421-2 (R 226-1, D 194-1, I 1-0)]

Brown Voted For $825 Million for Port Security. The vote was for a Democratic amendment to add $825 million for port security. That amount includes $400 million to place radiation portal monitors at all US ports, and $125 million for Coast Guard inspections of all foreign ports. The amendment also included an additional $400 million for communications and preparedness for future emergencies, bringing the total amount of increased funding in the amendment to 1.2 billion. [HR 4939 , Vote #56, 3/16/06, Failed 208-210 (R 13-210, D 194-0, I 1-0)]

Brown Voted to Allow Congress to Block the UAE Ports Deal. The vote was against blocking a parliamentary maneuver that would have allowed members to offer a future amendment to the National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005. Democrats wanted to offer an amendment to require an in-depth 45-day national security investigation of the proposed acquisition of certain U.S. port terminal operations by DP (Dubai Ports) World -- a company owned by the government of United Arab Emirates. Following the 45-day investigation, Congress would have an up-or-down vote on approving the deal. [Leadership Document, "Democrats are Fighting For the Guarantee of a Congressional Vote on Approval of Dubai Port Deal," 3/2/06; Washington Post, 3/3/06; HR 4167, Vote #21, 3/8/06, Passed 223-198 (R 223-1, D 0-196, I 0-1)]

Brown Voted to Add $250 Million for Port Security Grants. The vote was against killing a Democratic amendment that would add $2.5 billion for homeland security, including $250 million for port security grants, $800 million for first responder grants, and $150 million for research to develop capabilities against chemical weapons. [HR 1559 , Vote #104, 4/3/03, Passed 217-195 (R 217-0, D 0-194, I 0-1)]

Brown Voted to Increase Funding for Nuclear Detection in Ports by $36 Million. The vote was for an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill offered by Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) that would increase funding for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office by $36 million. The DNDO, according to the Department of Homeland Security, provides, "a single accountable organization with dedicated responsibilities to develop the global nuclear detection architecture, and acquire, and support the deployment of the domestic detection system to detect and report attempts to import or transport a nuclear device or fissile or radiological material intended for illicit use." The amendment was defeated 205-216. [DHS Press Release, 4/20/05; HR 5441 , Vote #214, 5/25/06, Failed 205-216 (R 25-199, D 179-17, I 1-0)]

Brown Voted Against Removing Dubai Ports Ban from Supplemental Spending Bill. The vote was against an amendment to remove the provision blocking the Dubai ports deal from the supplemental spending bill for hurricane relief and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. A no vote permitted congress to block the deal. [CQ Today, 3/15/06; HR 4939 , Vote #43, 3/15/06, Failed 38-377 (R 30-194, D 8-182, I 0-1]

Brown Voted Against Massive Cuts To Homeland Security & Border Enforcement Efforts. The vote was to strip a 1% across-the-board cut to all "discretionary" programs that had been attached to the FY 2006 defense spending bill. The cuts - totaling $8.5 billion - did not effect veterans' benefits or combat related accounts. However, the provision did include a $48 million cut to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. Of this amount, nearly $19 million would be cut from security operations between the ports of entry on our borders - i.e., the Border Patrol. In order to absorb this cut, CBP would be unable to hire, train, equip, and deploy approximately 100 new Border Patrol agents. Preparedness, Mitigation, Recovery and Response programs within FEMA will be reduced by $2 million dollars.  Cutting these programs would reduce funding for programs like catastrophic planning, including planning for mass evacuations. [Senate Committee on Appropriations Minority Staff, 12/19/05; HR 2863, Vote #668, 12/19/05, Failed 183-231 (R 1-218, D 181-13, I 1-0]

Brown Supported Comprehensive Approach To Homeland Security. The vote was for a Homeland Security Authorization proposal that would commit $41 billion to securing the nation from terrorist threats - $6.9 billion more than the President's budget. The proposal contained $28.4 billion for border and transportation security, immigration processing, and other security functions -- $4 billion more than the President's budget. It required chemical facilities to conduct vulnerability assessments, and to make security enhancements based on the assessment and mandated that 100% of cargo carried on passenger planes be physically inspected for explosives or other dangerous materials within three years. Furthermore, the proposal addressed the holes in securing the nation's ports by requiring DHS to develop container security standards, integrate container security pilot projects, and examine ways to integrate container inspection equipment and data. Currently DHS, has three very similar container security pilot projects that are not coordinated in any fashion, resulting in wasted money and redundant efforts. Finally, the plan required DHS to conduct a study of the risk factors associated with the port of Miami and ports in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. The alternative plan failed, 196-230. [Committee on Homeland Security Minority Office; HR 1817, Vote #187, 5/18/05, Failed 196-230 (R 1-227, D 194-3, I 1-0)]

Brown Voted to Increase Homeland Security Funding by $1 Billion.  The vote would have slightly reduced the recent tax cuts for people earning more than $1 million a year in order to increase homeland security funding by $1 billion. A report by the Council on Foreign Relations found ‘the United States remains dangerously ill prepared to handle a catastrophic attack on American soil and that America will fall approximately $98.4 billion short of meeting critical emergency responder needs over the next five years if current funding levels are maintained.’ An effort to block the funding increase passed, 222-200. [AP, 6/25/03; Council on Foreign Relations, "Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared," 6/29/03; HR 255, Vote #305, 6/24/03, Passed 222-200 (R 221-0, D 1-199, I 0-1)]

Brown Voted For $94.5 Billion Emergency Supplemental Spending Bill. The vote was for a $94.5 billion emergency supplemental spending bill for hurricane relief and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The bill provides including $65.8 billion for defense-related expenditures, primarily for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; $19.8 billion for Katrina-related aid; $500 million for agriculture aid for Gulf Coast states; $4 billion for foreign assistance; $2.3 billion for avian flu preparedness; and $1.9 billion for border security. Components of the bill include $480 million for safer, up-armored Humvees, $2 billion to develop IED countermeasures, $3.7 billion for levee improvements, and $5.2 billion for Community Development Block Grants to Gulf Coast states. [Leadership Document, "Fact Sheet: Conference Report on HR 4939, FY 2006 Iraq/Katrina Supplemental," 6/12/06; HR 4939, Vote #257, 6/13/06, Passed 351-67 (R 204-19, D 146-48, I 1-0)]

Brown Voted for $33.1 Billion Homeland Security Spending Bill. The vote was for the FY 07 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which provides $33.1 billion for the Department of Homeland Security. This is a $1.5 billion, or 5%, reduction from last year's bill. The measure provides $19.6 billion, 9% more than current funding, for border security and immigration programs and $4.2 billion, a 12% boost, for port and cargo security. [CQ House Action Report, Homeland Security Appropriations for FY 2007, 6/7/06; HR 5441, Vote #226, 6/6/06 , Passed 389-9 (R 213-3, D 175-6, I 1-0)]

Brown Voted To Fulfill The 9/11 Commission Recommendations On Border Security & Immigration. The vote was for an alternative proposal to improve border security and immigration enforcement by fulfilling the 9/11 Commission's border security recommendations. On December 5, 2005 the 9/11 Commission issued its final report card that highlighted the many failures of the Republican Congress and Administration in implementing the commission's recommendations. As Chairman Thomas Kean and Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton said in a joint statement on December 5, "There is so much more to be done...Many obvious steps that the American people assume have been completed have not been...Some of these failures are shocking...We are frustrated by the lack of urgency about fixing these problems." The alternative proposal would have hired more border agents, ended the "catch and release" practice by authorizing 100,000 additional detention beds and incorporated state-of-the art surveillance technology, including cameras, sensors, radar, satellites, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in order to ensure 100% border coverage. [Reps. Conyers, Thompson and Reyes Dear Colleague, "Fulfilling the 9/11 Commission's Recommendations," 12/16/05; HR 4437, Vote #660, 12/16/05, Failed 198-221 (R 0-219, D 197-2, I 1-0)]

“…and led the fight against bioterrorism.”

FACT: Sherrod Brown Has Been Leader on Fighting Bioterrorism

In December 2001, Brown was a leading sponsor of the $2.96 billion bioterrorism bill. The bill included $1 billion to stockpile vaccines for emergencies and $100 million for food safety inspections. [Columbus Dispatch, “Ohio Lawmakers Busy as Congress Winds Down,” 12/16/01]

Brown voted to provide funding for medical emergency preparedness centers to combat effects of bioterrorism [HR 2861, Vote #451, 7/25/03, Passed 347-77 (R 148-76, D 198-1, I 1-0)]

Brown Voted Against Cutting Health Programs By $976 Million. The vote was against final passage of the Labor, HHS & Education appropriations conference report that cut $1.5 billion from key domestic priorities. The measure cut efforts to address rural health needs like clinics, expanded dental and mental health services and telemedicine by 73 percent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were cut by $249 million, while the bill cut by 11 percent funds granted to state and local health departments to improve preparedness against bioterrorist attacks and naturally occurring epidemics. [House Appropriations Committee Democratic Staff, "Summary of the Conference Agreement - HR 3010," 11/16/05; HR 3010 , Vote #598, 11/17/05;  Failed 209-224; R 209-22; D 0-201; I 0-1]

Brown Voted to Allow States to Better Prepare for a Bio-Terror Attack on Nation's Food Supply. The vote was to amend the National Uniformity for Food Act, a bill which sets national standards for food safety warning labels. The amendment would change the bill to permit state governments to retain the authority to make their own changes to federally mandated food safety standards to address terrorism concerns. [Rep. Waxman Dear Colleague Letter, 3/8/06; HR 4167, Vote #28, 3/8/06, Failed 164-255 (R 16-207, D 147-48, I 1-0)]

Brown Voted To Protect The Nation From Bio-Terror Attack. The bill is $5.6 billion anti-terrorism initiative called Project Bioshield to stockpile remedies against deadly germs that could be used in a biological attack. The bill creates a 10-year funding reserve for large public supplies of drugs and vaccines to battle potential bioterror weapons including anthrax, smallpox, plague and the Ebola virus. Project BioShield doesn't mean the government will make these products. Instead, it offers pharmaceutical companies a guaranteed buyer - an incentive the industry has long sought before spending millions in research to produce terrorism countermeasures. The legislation also would accelerate the approval process for the new products and allow more widespread distribution of experimental medications during a terrorist attack. If the private sector leaves a gap, the government would be allowed to operate emergency programs to research and produce vaccines. The measure passed 414-2. [San Francisco Chronicle, 7/15/04; Associated Press, 7/15/04; S 15, Vote #376, 7/14/04, Passed 414-2 (R 222-2, D 191-0, I 1-0)]

Lauded Bioterrorism Bill That Stockpiled Vaccines. In December 2002, Brown called the passage of a bioterrorism bill a victory for health concerns as it stockpiled vaccines to help states deal with a biological terror attack. Brown also authored provisions that dealt with food safety and resistance to antibiotics. [Associated Press, “Ohio Congressional Delegation Sees Much Work Ahead in 2003,” 11/25/03]

“DeWine? He failed us on the intelligence committee before 911…”

FACT: Senate Intelligence Committee Didn’t Act on Warnings

Republican Said Intelligence Committee Should Have Acted Differently. In 2002, Sen. Richard Shelby, a GOP member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said his panel received a general warning before 9/11 regarding suspicious activity by Arabs at U.S. flight schools. Shelby said, “There was a lot of information, I believe and others believe, if it had been acted on properly we may have had a different situation on Sept. 11.” [Associated Press, 5/16/02]

DeWine Admitted Culpability. In September 2002, United Press International reported that, “The focus of congressional hearings into the pre-Sept. 11 intelligence failures shifted to the lawmakers themselves Thursday… ‘When you look at the situation, you find that there is enough blame to go around for Congress and the president. None of us really got it. We just didn't provide the resources,’ said Sen. Mike DeWine.” [United Press International, 9/26/02]

CIA Warned Senate Intelligence Committee Bin Laden Was Threat. In early 2001, CIA Director George Tenet warned the Senate Intelligence Committee that bin Laden and al-Qaeda remained "the most immediate and serious threat" to security. [Deseret News, 12/30/01]

After Warning, Committee Held Only Hearing. “There are other examples of Congress's lack of interest in the details of intelligence: Although many have criticized the president for appearing inattentive to reports on al Qaeda before Sept. 11, the Senate intelligence committee, which is given classified daily reports on terrorism and other intelligence, held only one closed-door hearing devoted to al Qaeda and bin Laden in the months before the attacks, according to congressional and administration officials. Some staff members recalled holding a second meeting; others did not.” [Washington Post,4/27/04]

Aldrich Said Senate Committee Had Knowledge. In a 2002 interview, former FBI agent Gary Aldrich said, “let's talk about the Senate Intelligence Committee. All through the period of time that Bill Clinton was in office and we were having these national security problems, the Senate Intelligence Committee knew about that. The House Intelligence Committee knew about that. The oversight committees knew about that.” [“Hannity & Colmes,” 5/21/02]

DeWine’s Committee Received Same Warnings as White House. In 2002, the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board wrote, “blame for the massive 9/11 security lapse is plentiful. For example, the House and Senate Intelligence committees received some of the same terrorism warnings as the White House.” [Houston Chronicle, Editorial, 5/19/02]

Former Joint Chiefs Aide Said Senate Intelligence Committee as Responsible as Intelligence Agencies. Discussing the Senate Intelligence Committee and the 9/11 attacks in 2003, former Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff aide Jay Farrar said, "They should be held as accountable as the intelligence agencies." [The Ledger, 5/25/03]

Expert Said Committee “Didn’t Press Hard Enough.” In 2003, Loch Johnson, “a senior staff member to top lawmakers on two investigative intelligence panels in the 1970's and 1990's, said no one on the intelligence committees should escape unscathed. ‘They didn't press hard enough,’ said Johnson, a University of Georgia foreign policy and intelligence specialist teaching at Oxford University in England. ‘There's all the authority they need. They've got the power.’” [The Ledger, 5/25/03]

“…and on weapons of mass destruction.”

FACT:  DeWine Backed Up Administration on WMDs in Iraq

Pre-War: DeWine Claimed He Saw Classified Information That Proved Iraq Had WMD.  The Toledo Blade reported in July 2002 that, “[DeWine] repeated his insistence that Saddam Hussein has chemical and biological weapons and is trying to get nuclear weapons. He refused to be specific, saying, ‘A lot of this stuff is classified.’”  [Toledo Blade, 7/10/02] 

Post-War: DeWine Criticized WMD Intelligence.  The Associated Press reported in July 2004 that, “Mike DeWine said Friday he's not sure whether Congress would have voted to approve war in Iraq had lawmakers known intelligence indicating Iraq had weapons of mass destruction was based on second hand and unreliable information… ‘We relied on indirect evidence, what turned out to be unreliable evidence,’ said DeWine, a member of the committee.  DeWine said lawmakers who were told that Saddam Hussein had biological weapons should have asked more questions about what that conclusion was based on, and intelligence analysts should have been more forthright about what they knew and didn't know.  ‘Instead, they extrapolated, they made assumptions that were reasonable, but they didn't really have direct hard evidence,’ DeWine said.”  [AP, 7/9/04]

DeWine Now Unsure About Iraq Vote Due to Flawed Intelligence.  In January 2004, the Columbus Dispatch reported that, “Had he known U.S. intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction was flawed, Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio says he isn't sure he would have voted to authorize war against Saddam Hussein's regime.  The U.S. case for invading Iraq was based, at least partially, on failed intelligence, said DeWine, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.  DeWine acknowledged yesterday that intelligence contentions that such stockpiles existed -- touted by the White House as evidence Iraq was a grave threat to U.S. security -- were a ‘significant factor’ in his decision to vote in favor of the war resolution in the fall of 2002.  But DeWine said he couldn't say whether he would have voted the same way given what he knows now. It's still true that Saddam had used weapons of mass destruction in the past and apparently had the ‘inclination’ to develop them, he said.”  [Columbus Dispatch, 1/30/04]

DeWine Voted Against Authorizing Funding for a Commission to Investigate Prewar Iraqi Intelligence.  On July 16, 2003, DeWine cast one of the deciding votes to kill an amendment that would authorize $5 million for the creation of a 12-member commission to investigate the role of policymakers in the development and use of intelligence leading up to military operations in Iraq.  The commission would have the power to hold hearings, accept evidence, and subpoena witnesses.  The commission would have to present its findings and recommendations to Congress and the president nine months after its first meeting.  [HR 2658, 7/16/03 , #284, Motion agreed to 51-45 (R 51-0, D 0-44, I 0-1)]

DeWine Admitted He Had Doubts But Loyalty for Bush Won Out. “When the moment arrived for Mike DeWine to vote yea or nay on whether President Bush should have the authority to wage war against Iraq, the Ohio Republican delivered a curious speech. Eloquent as his words were, they did not disguise the severe turn. The senator began with a thoughtful discussion of his many doubts. He ended with a strikingly incompatible expression of support for the president.  Loyalty played a role, a president gaining the trust of an ally, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, in a trying moment.”  [Akron Beacon Journal, Editorial, 2/1/04]

“He supported trade deals with China even after thousands of lost jobs…”

Ohio Lost 21,000 Jobs Because Of China Trade.  From 1989 to 1997, Ohio lost more than 21,000 jobs as a result of trade with China. [Economic Policy Institute, EPI Working Paper #270, January 2005]

DeWine Voted To Allow The President To Grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) To China. In 2000, DeWine voted to allow the President to grant China permanent normal trade relations status with the United States. [HR 4444, 9/19/00, #251, Passed 83-15 (R 46-8, D 37-7]

DeWine Voted Against Replacing PNTR For China With Continued Annual Certification of Trade Status. In 2000, DeWine voted against an amendment which would have stripped language requiring permanent certification of normal trade relations with China, and instead reinstate annual presidential certification and annual congressional approval of normal trade relations for China. The amendment also provided for the accession of China to the World Trade Organization. [HR 4444, 9/7/00, #236, Rejected 13-81 (R 7-45, D 6-36); New York Times, 9/8/00]

“ … and the transfer of sensitive military technology.

That's not protecting Ohio.”

The Ohio