Andrew Roraback (CT-05)

Good Headlines ......................................................................................... 2 Bad Editorials ............................................................................................ 2 Budget Issues ............................................................................................. 2 Business and Consumer Issues .................................................................. 2 Campaign Finance Issues........................................................................... 2 Crime & Public Safety Issues .................................................................... 2 Economic and Financial Issues .................................................................. 3 Education Issues ........................................................................................ 3 Energy Issues ............................................................................................. 3 Environmental Issues ................................................................................. 3 Ethics Issues .............................................................................................. 4 Foreign Policy Issues Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea ................... 4 Gay and Lesbian Issues.............................................................................. 4 Gun Issues ................................................................................................. 4 Health Care Issues ..................................................................................... 4 Immigration and Border Issues .................................................................. 4 Israel .......................................................................................................... 4 Labor and Working Family Issues ............................................................. 4 National Security Issues............................................................................. 4 Other Social Issues .................................................................................... 4 Stem Cells .................................................................................................. 5 Tax Issues .................................................................................................. 5 Tea Party .................................................................................................... 5 Transportation Issues ................................................................................. 5 Womens Issues ......................................................................................... 5 Miscellaneous ............................................................................................ 5 2012 Campaign .......................................................................................... 6

Good Headlines Bad Editorials Budget Issues

Sought Bill to Combat Pension Padding In January 2012, Roraback called for passage of a bill that would take pensions for future state employees out of union negotiations and halt employees practice of padding their pensions with heavy overtime. Roraback said his bill would remove pensions from collective bargaining for employees hired after July 1, 2011 and would also remove overtime and longevity payments from pension calculations for those employees, and would require them to be enrolled in 401(k) benefit plans. The people that are gaming the system are not bad people. They're rational people, not bad people. We have a bad system. And what we're aiming to do is to make it a good system, Roraback said. [Hartford
Courant, 1/24/12]

Business and Consumer Issues

Opposed Online Gambling In January 2012, Roraback expressed his opposition to the Department of Justices decision, released December 23, that is widely viewed as clarifying application of a 1961 ban on gaming across state lines to 21st century technology. I have very little appetite for preying on the weaknesses of the human condition as a way to generate revenue for public purposes, he said. I don't think it's healthy from a societal perspective.
[newstimes.com, 01/03/2012]

Campaign Finance Issues

Roraback: Special Interest Money Will Be a Necessity In November 2011, Roraback, who had only accepted one PAC donation during his legislative careers, said that special interest money will be a necessity in order to raise to $2 or $3 million to win the seat. He said, I cant compete with one arm tied behind my back. [ctnewsjunkie.com, 11/28/2011]

Crime & Public Safety Issues

Roraback: Opposed Cell Phone Use While Driving In January 2012, Roraback led an effort to prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones while driving in Connecticut. As big of a threat as hand-held cell phones are, the much scarier threat is texting, he said. I think any of us on the road today are always in danger. And, sadly, you have to assume that the car heading at you is being driven by someone who isnt paying attention. [Housatonic Times, 1/03/12]

Economic and Financial Issues

Roraback: Criticized Malloys First Five Economic Development Campaign In January 2012, Roraback spoke out against Gov. Dan Malloys economic development campaign, The First Five, which offered tax credits and forgivable loans to the first five companies pledging to create 200 jobs in Connecticut. If this is something that's going to benefit us as a state, we ought to have all-you-can-eat, Roraback said.
[Chicago Tribune, 1/05/12]

Opposed Longer Payment Terms to Homeowners Facing Foreclosure In November 2011, Roraback said that he disagreed with Rep Murphys position that the government should offer longer payment terms to homeowners facing foreclosure. Roraback said, The federal government already has a number of programs to help homeowners in jeopardy. I dont think we need more programs. I think the answer is creating an environment that is conducive to economic growth. [ctnewsjunkie.com, 11/28/2011]

Education Issues Energy Issues Environmental Issues

Roraback: Scored 63 Percent on Environmental Scorecard In November 2011, Roraback received a score of 63 percent from the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, a score based on 12 environmental bills in the 2011 Connecticut State Senate legislative session. Roraback voted 5 times for pro-environment bills, 3 times against pro-environment bills, and missed 4 other environmental votes. Roraback questioned the method of the scorecard and said, I pride myself as being a responsible steward of the environment and I have a long record of environmental
3

accomplishments. I think the methodology that is used in creating this scorecard is imperfect.
[registercitizen.com, 11/20/2011]

Ethics Issues Foreign Policy Issues Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea Gay and Lesbian Issues Gun Issues Health Care Issues Immigration and Border Issues
Vowed to Fight Bill Giving Illegal Immigrants Right to Vote in Local Elections In December 2011, Mayor DeStefano of New Haven asked the legislature to allow illegal immigrants to vote in local elections, and Roraback promised to right the measure. DeStefano argued that illegal immigrants paid local taxes and their kids attended school in the cities, so they should be able to vote. Roraback said, No right is more cherished and more valued than the right to vote, and for us even contemplating extending that right to people who have come to this country unlawfully, is un-American, unpatriotic and unacceptable. [newyork.obslocal.com, 12/14/2011]

Israel Labor and Working Family Issues National Security Issues Other Social Issues

Stem Cells Tax Issues

Said Small Businesses Could Not Wait for Federal Action on Cyber Monday Tax Confusion In November 2011, Roraback said that small businesses had been hurt by competing with online retailers that did not collect the state sales tax on Cyber Monday and said that they could not wait for federal action. Despite a new statue that forced online retailers to collect and remit sales taxes, many online retailers, such as Amazon.com, did not follow up on the statue. As a result, small businesses were hurt when they had to compete with online retailers that did not collect the tax. Roraback said, How can we expect our Main Street businesses, our brick-and-mortar businesses, to survive in this climate when they have one hand tied behind their back? [Connecticut Mirror, 11/28/2011] Supported Revenue Increases, Opposed Tax Increases In November 2011, Roraback said that he opposed raising federal taxes but said he would support other revenue increases. Roraback said, If the Democrats in Washington made substantive budget reductions, I would support increasing revenue if it could be accomplished through closing tax loopholes. [ctnewsjunkie.com, 11/28/2011]

Tea Party Transportation Issues Womens Issues Miscellaneous

Roraback: Fortunate to Witness Romney Win in N.H. In January 2012, Roraback wrote a letter to the News Times, relating his account of Mitt Romneys win in the New Hampshire primaries.

How fortunate I felt to have been present in New Hampshire that evening to bear witness to Governor Mitt Romney's historic win as the results rolled in, Roraback wrote. While the environment at Romney headquarters that evening was at times noisy and chaotic, in the end it was the feeling of enthusiasm and unbounded optimism which was most pervasive I believe Gov. Romney will emerge as our party's nominee and will be elected our next president. He is the most likely of the Republican candidates to defeat President Barack Obama and provide the leadership our fractured and dysfunctional government so desperately needs. [News Times, 1/17/12] Criticized State of Connecticut Purchase of Beverleys on Bantam Lake In November 2011, Roraback criticized the state of Connecticut after the state made a $1.9 million purchase from a private entity for Beverlys on Bantam Lake, a former marina and restaurant. Roraback called the transaction a back-door deal with no public input and wrote a letter to Governor Malloy asking the transaction to be stopped. Roraback said that the Governor was unresponsive and said that the deal should have been more formal. He said, People have a good reason to be skeptical, given the states track record. In these economic times, any expenditure of $2 million is open to public scrutiny. [Register Citizen, 11/30/2011] Praised President and Vice President of Manolo Blahnik for Giving Back to Community In November 2011, Roraback praised the Manolo Blahnik president and vice president who work as dairy farmers at Arethusa Farm Thursday through Sunday in Litchfield, Connecticut. Roraback said, George and Tony have lead by example every step of the way. They have given back to this community much more that they have taken from the community, and that is not lost on the people of this area. [CBS News, 11/15/2011] No Victory Laps Until Everybody Had Power Restored In November 2011, Roraback criticized CL&P Power for continued power outages after the late October storm. Roraback said, I dont think anyone should be taking a victory lap over restoring power until each and every one of their customers has their service back. My family isnt feeling any warmer because there are 97 people in my town who already have their power. The criticism came after a press release celebrating restoration of power to most customers, even though 628 were still without power. [Middletown Press,
11/06/2011]

2012 Campaign
Received Caligiuri Endorsement In February 2012, State Sen. Andrew Roraback was scheduled to appear with former lawmaker Sam Caligiuri for what many expected to be an endorsement of Roraback. [newstimes.com, 2/07/12]

Raised $237,687 in Q4 In January 2012, the FEC reported that GOP Congressional candidate Andrew Roraback raised $237,687 in the fourth quarter of 2011. Roraback received contributions from 394 individuals, 90 percent of whom are from Connecticut. [Roraback Press Release, 1/30/12] Supporters Unfazed by Late Entry to Race In November 2011, Roraback said that he had enthusiastic support from Republican leaders in the 5th district despite entering the race later than his GOP primary opponents. Roraback said, Throughout my career, Ive won nine elections in districts that are anything but safe for Republicans. [ctnewsjunkie.com, 11/28/2011]