Facing Tough Re-Election, Vitter Fires First Shot of 2010... at SEIU
SEIU Highlights Vitter's Anti-Working Family Votes in New Ad; Vitter Tries to Cash In on Shameful Record

Washington, DC--Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), facing an uphill battle for reelection and wanting to keep his options open for 2012, has aimed his fire on the Service Employees International Union, who dared to draw attention to his shameful anti-working families record in a new ad that ran in Thursday's Times-Picayune.

In the full-page ad, SEIU highlighted that, Senator Vitter is letting Louisiana's families down." (Check out the ad at: http://craft-cdn.seiumedia.net/press/t-1.pdf) That same day, Vitter attempted to cash in on his own record of voting against SCHIP, the economic recovery package, and the budget by soliciting funds for his campaign and taking aim at SEIU.

Recent polling by Southern Media and Opinion Research found Vitter in a tough battle to keep his seat, with just 30 percent saying they will definitely vote to re-elect him.

Helene O'Brien, President of SEIU Local 21LA issued the following statement in response to Senator Vitter's fundraising email:

"In a recent fundraising email, Senator Vitter attacked the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for exposing his votes against working families. But it's nothing compared to the hardships he's caused to middle and low-income Louisianans with his votes as the Junior Senator of Louisiana. "SEIU believes Louisianans deserve to know how Senator Vitter lets down working families in our state:
"Our Senator voted NO to providing health care for four million children when he voted against SCHIP legislation.
"He voted NO to creating and keeping jobs in Louisiana when he voted against the economic recovery package.
"And as if that's not enough, he voted AGAINST long-term economic recovery for all Americans when he opposed a budget that would get our economy back on track.
"Senator Vitter consistently votes against the interests of working families in our state--while supporting CEOs and corporate banks who line his campaign chest.
"And for him to shamelessly cover up the votes he's cast by soliciting donations for his 2010 campaign, working families in Louisiana have only one thing to say:
"Senator Vitter: You can run for re-election, but you can't hide from your voting record.
"Senator Vitter was right about one thing though--the election is more than 500 days away. That's why working families throughout Louisiana are uniting now to hold politicians accountable. We need to make sure in November 2010, we elect leaders who will stand up for hardworking Louisianans."

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With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

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