New SEIU1199 Radio Ad Beginning Today

Boston - When Scott Brown ran for the U.S. Senate, he promised to be a leader, but, as the Boston Globe highlighted in depth in today's paper, Senator Brown has failed to show any leadership or decisiveness in the debt ceiling crisis. Instead of fulfilling his campaign promise to work for the best solution regardless of party label, he has remained silent, becoming just another face in the crowd.

Today, the working men and women of 1199SEIU in Massachusetts released a new radio ad asking what path Senator Brown will drive his truck down. One path is that of financial recklessness with deep cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare and the real threat of defaulting on our obligations. The other is a path where he stands up to the extremist wing of his party and supports a plan that reduces the deficit while protecting funding for those vital programs.

The ad will be heard across the Boston metropolitan area through at least the weekend. Listen to it here.

"Senator Scott Brown's unwillingness to clearly articulate his opinions on the debt ceiling debate is frustrating, to say the least," said SEIU1199 Executive Vice President Veronica Turner. "This is a pivotal moment in his tenure as a senator. When he first campaigned for office, Senator Brown ran on a platform of going against politics as usual. He committed himself to making decisions that were in the best interest of his constituents. Now he has a great opportunity to show the American people what type of senator he is. Will he stand with millionaires and jet owners or will he stand with the people who are truly in need of his help?"

"Will Senator Brown stand with Speaker Boehner and House Republicans who are pushing us to the brink of financial ruin to protect tax giveaways for corporations and millionaires, while gutting programs that provide vital services for the most vulnerable among us," asked SEIU President Mary Kay Henry. "Or will he stand for Massachusetts' middle class families and work toward a deal that takes a balanced approach to reducing our deficit? The stakes are too high to play a partisan game of chicken that could end with disastrous results for working families, seniors, veterans and children. This is both unacceptable and indefensible."

A transcript of the radio ad follows.

"Stand" - 60 seconds

Congress is deadlocked. And there are just days left before America can no longer pay all its bills. So where does Senator Scott Brown stand?

Last week Scott Brown stood with Congressional Republicans...voting for a proposal that could force cuts to Social Security, Medicare and other vital programs while protecting tax breaks for oil companies and CEOs who take corporate jets.

Now Scott Brown won't say where he stands...even though America is just days away from not having enough money to issue Social Security checks, pay our military and provide veterans benefits.

Does Scott Brown still support Congressional Republicans and their latest proposal that protects tax breaks for millionaires?

Or does Scott Brown support the Senate Democrats' plan that reduces the deficit while protecting funding for Social Security, Medicare and other vital programs?

Tell Senator Scott Brown it's time to stand for a plan that protects ordinary Americans, not tax breaks for millionaires.

Paid for and authorized by 1199 SEIU United Health Care Workers East.

Representing more than 350,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Florida, and Washington, D.C., 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America and Massachusetts. 1199SEIU represents more than 40,000 hospital, nursing home, and home care workers in Massachusetts. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all.

With 2.1 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. www.seiu.org

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