GOP group launches State of the Union ad blasting Pelosi on taxes

A group aligned with House GOP leadership rolled out an ad on Monday that attacks House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for her criticism of the new tax law.

The American Action Network (AAN) said it is spending $1 million on the ad campaign, which will run on national television and digital platforms this week, including before and after President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. 

The ad blasts Pelosi for calling the legislation “armageddon” and for calling bonuses companies have announced following the law’s passage “crumbs.”

“Tell Nancy Pelosi: She’s wrong,” the announcer says in the ad. “Middle-class tax cuts are working.”

The ad comes as Republicans work to sell the tax law and the strong economy ahead of the midterm elections. AAN has spent more than $29 million since August on efforts to promote the tax overhaul. Groups backed by conservative billionaire donors Charles and David Koch are pledging to spend $20 million this year on efforts to promote the new law as well.

“A much-needed bonus or a $2,000 tax cut may be crumbs to Pelosi and her elite San Francisco friends, but that’s real money that matters to middle-class families — allowing them to have some much-needed peace of mind,” AAN Executive Director Corry Bliss said in a statement.

Pelosi and other Democrats have been making a case against the new law, downplaying the bonus announcements and arguing that the greatest benefits of the law are going to wealthy individuals and corporations. Pelosi has said that the middle class is getting crumbs compared to the “bonanza” that shareholders are receiving.

Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill blasted the attacks on the Democratic leader.

“The casual dishonesty of taking Leader Pelosi’s words out of context is nothing compared to the dishonesty of Republicans’ sales pitch on their tax scam itself,” he said.

“Polling shows the American people recognized the GOP tax scam for exactly what it is: a staggering giveaway to corporations and the wealthiest, delivered on the backs of working families,” Hammill added.

“Now, underwater and exposed, Republicans and their special interest donors are trying to say a bill that gave 83 percent of its tax cuts to the wealthiest one percent was really about helping the middle class.”