Barbara Comstock (VA-10): Swamp...

Barbara Comstock (VA-10): Swamp Creature

Significant Findings

Comstock received more than $1 million in a taxpayer-funded salary, and if she retired today, she would

receive a congressional pension worth more than $20,000. Comstock also accepted over $18,000 in

privately funded travel.

Comstock’s top industry contributors were lawyers, lobbyists and Wall Street.

Comstock voted with Paul Ryan 90% of the time, and voted with her party 95% of the time. She voted to

elect Speaker Ryan two times and accepted $27,000 from Ryan’s PAC.

Comstock voted with Trump nearly 97% of the time. She voted to fund Trump’s border wall, and voted

against releasing his tax returns, addressing conflicts of interest in the administration and voted

repeatedly against investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Comstock was an absentee Congresswoman. In September 2017, her constituents delivered a cake to

her office to mark 1,000 days of her not holding a town hall. Constituents made “missing” posters and

conducted search parties to express their dissatisfaction with the congresswoman.

Comstock voted for the Republican tax plan, which benefitted the wealthy and corporations, shipped jobs

overseas, and would cause 13 million Americans to lose their health insurance. She voted for the

Republican tax scam despite opposition from her district:

Comstock’s district relied heavily on State and Local Tax deductions, and she refused to take a

hard line stance against elimination of the deduction, unlike her GOP colleagues in SALT heavy

districts.

After the bill passed, Comstock’s constituents lined up to avoid penalties from the tax bill.

Comstock voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act and voted against Medicaid Expansion in Virginia.

Comstock voted ten times to defund or attack Planned Parenthood and supported overturning Roe v.

Wade. She voted for a Virginia “TRAP Law” that was considered one of the most restrictive in the

country for first-trimester abortions.

Comstock voted against improving traffic conditions in Northern Virginia. Comstock voted for the House

GOP tax bill that eliminated the employer-sponsored subsidy for commuting – transportation advocates

called it a “tax hike” for commuters. In 2013, Comstock voted against the state’s transportation funding

compromise, and the Sun Gazette called her vote a “disservice to her constituents.” Comstock voted

against funding for federal railroad safety, and voted to block consideration of a long-term

transportation bill.

Comstock compared immigrants to Fed Ex packages, agreed with Trump’s decision to phase out DACA,

voted to end DACA, voted to restart deportations of undocumented families and Dreamers, opposed

DACA youth joining the military, and ran away from DACA advocates when they tried to talk to her.

Comstock voted to prohibit prevailing wage requirements, and voted to add a Right to Work statue to the

Virginia constitution twice.

In 2014 and 2016, the NRA awarded Comstock an “A” rating. The NRA spent more than $137k on getting Comstock elected, making her the tenth highest recipient of NRA funding in Congress.

Comstock voted to allow Internet service providers to sell customer’s personal information to

advertisers without their permission.

Comstock supported the Keystone XL Pipeline and supported offshore drilling.

In 2017, Comstock voted for the Choice Act that gut Dodd-Frank banking reforms. Over the course of

her career, Comstock accepted more than $700,000 from Wall Street.

Biography

Barbara Comstock is a Member of Congress representing Virginia’s 10th

Congressional District and has served in that position since 2015.

Graduated from Middlebury College in 1981; earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1986

1991-1995: Served as a senior aide to Congressman Frank Wolf, who she went on to replace in Congress after his retirement

1995-1999: Investigative Counsel for Committee on Government Reform, where she was known for her dogged investigations of the

Clinton Administration

2000: Led opposition research at the RNC Director of Office of Public Affairs at the Department Of Justice

during the Bush Administration

Worked as a lobbyist at Blank Rome, before establishing her own public relations and government affairs firm, Corallo Comstock

Elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2009, served until she was elected to Congress

Comstock Benefitted From The Perks Of Congress

Comstock Has Received More Than $1 Million In Taxpayer Funded Salary

2015 – 2017: Comstock Received More than $500,000 As A Congressional Salary

Today, Comstock receives a Congressional salary of $174,000. Over her three years in Congress, Comstock has

received a total of $522,000 in taxpayer-funded salary.

Year Congressional Salary

2015 $174,000

2016 $174,000

2017 $174,000

TOTAL $522,000.00

[Congressional Research Service, 6/21/16]

2010-2014: Comstock Was Paid More Than $100,000 As A Delegate

Comstock Was Paid More Than $88,000 In Salary As A Delegate.

Employer Date Position Salary

Commonwealth of Virginia 2010 Delegate $17,640





TOTAL $88,200

[Virginia House of Delegates, accessed 3/16/14]

Comstock Was Paid More Than $37,000 In Per Diem As A Delegate.

Year Amount

2010 $8,235.00

2011 $7,695.00

2012 $11,050.00

2013 $7,990.00

2013 (through 1/12/14) $2,520.00

$37,490.00

[Virginia House of Delegates Clerk’s Office]

1995-1999: Comstock Was Paid More Than $454,000 As Investigative Council On The House Oversight

Committee

1995-1999: Comstock Was Paid More Than $454,000 As Investigative Council On The House Oversight

Committee:

Name Dates Title Salary

Comstock, Barbara Jean 04/10/95-6/30/95 Investigator $18,900.00







Comstock, Barbara Jean 01/03/97-03/31/97 Chief Investigative Counsel $22,000.00


https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/97-1011.pdfhttp://virginiageneralassembly.gov/includes/contentTemplate.php?tid=50&ctype=t&cid=50










TOTAL $454,872.24

[US House of Representatives Disbursements]

1991-1995: Comstock Was Paid More Than $74,000 As A Legislative Assistant For Rep. Frank

1991-1995: Comstock Was Paid More Than $74,000 As A Legislative Assistant For Rep. Frank Wolf:

Name Dates Title Salary

Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/05/91-12/31/91 Senior Legislative Assistant $7,931.12









Comstock, Barbara Jean 10/01/93-12/31/93 Part-Time Employee $266.67







TOTAL $74,283.42

[US House of Representatives Disbursements]

Comstock Would Receive Approximately $21,000 Per Year In Taxpayer Funded Pension

According to the Office of Personnel Management, a “Member of Congress or Congressional Employee (or any

combination of the two) must have at least 5 years of service as a Member of Congress and/or Congressional

Employee” to qualify for their retirement annuity.

The annual pension is calculated as “1.7% of your high-3 average salary multiplied by your years of service as a

Member of Congress or Congressional Employee which do not exceed 20, PLUS 1% of your high-3 average salary

multiplied by your years of other service.” [Office of Personnel Management, accessed 7/18/17]

For Members who joined after 1991, the annual pension is calculated as:

https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/fers-information/computation/

[The Atlantic, 10/2/15; Congressional Research Service, 11/10/16]

Including her service as a Congressional aide and a Member of Congress, Comstock has more than 5 years of

service in the federal government. Her highest salary as a staffer was approximately $115,400 as Chief

Investigative Counsel for House Oversight Committee in 1998. Averaged with her $174,000 salary in her two years

as a member of Congress, Comstock’s “high-3” could be approximately $154,466.

[$154,466 x .017 x 8 years of service)] = $21,007

Given Comstock’s approximately 8 years of service, she would receive $21,000 in annual taxpayer-funded

pension.

NOTE: To calculate Comstock’s years of service, only years when she worked the entire year as a staffer were

included. Her total years of service is likely higher.

Comstock Would Receive An Additional $1,500 Pension Per Year From Virginia

According To Her Personal Financial Disclosure, Comstock Has A Defined Benefit Plan Agreement With

The Virginia Retirement System. [Comstock Personal Financial Disclosure, filed 5/14/17]

According To The VRS Benefit Calculator, Given Comstock’s Average $17,640 Salary And 5 Years Of

Service In The Virginia House Of Delegates, Her Pension Would Be An Estimated $1,500 Per Year If She

Retired At 65. [Virginia Retirement System, accessed 8/22/17]

Comstock Received Over $18,000 In Privately Funded Travel

Comstock Received $18,535 In Privately Funded Travel. As of August 2017, Comstock had gone on one

privately funded trip – to Israel, funded by the American Israel Education Foundations – receiving a total of

$18,535 in travel. [Political Moneyline, accessed 8/22/17]

Special Interests

Top Industries

Industry Total

Leadership PACs $713,450

Retired $571,850

Lawyers/Law Firms $524,992

Securities & Investment $496,578

Lobbyists $462,653

Real Estate $380,688

Business Services $317,470

Republican/Conservative $245,728

Air Transport $204,214

Electronics Mfg & Equip $186,252

Insurance $181,450

Oil & Gas $161,525

https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2015/10/what-kind-of-pension-will-john-boehner-collect/408547/https://www.senate.gov/CRSpubs/ac0d1dd5-7316-4390-87e6-353589586a89.pdfhttp://clerk.house.gov/public_disc/financial-pdfs/2016/10014992.pdfhttps://www.varetire.org/membercalculator/http://www.politicalmoneyline.com/tr/tr_mg_cand.aspx?sCandID=H4VA10089&sCycle=2018

Candidate Committees $157,500

Health Professionals $142,083

Accountants $130,511

General Contractors $120,350

Women's Issues $118,586

Misc Finance $113,350

Commercial Banks $106,414

Retail Sales $104,550

[Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]

Comstock’s Top Industry Contributors Included Lawyers, Lobbyists And Wall Street

Comstock’s Accepted More Than $1 Million From Lawyers And Lobbyists

Career: Comstock Accepted More Than $400,000 From Lobbyists. According to the Center for Responsive

Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $462,653 from lobbyists. [Center for Responsive

Politics, accessed 1/11/18]

Career: Comstock Accepted More Than $520,000 From Lawyers. According to the Center for Responsive

Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $524,992 from Lawyers and Law Firms. [Center for

Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]

Comstock Accepted More Than $700,000 From Wall Street

Career: Comstock Accepted Nearly $500,000 From The Securities And Investment Industry. According to the

Center for Responsive Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $496,578 from the securities and

investment industry. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]

Career: Comstock Accepted More Than $113,000 From The Finance Industry. According to the Center for

Responsive Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $113,350 from the finance industry. [Center

for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]

Career: Comstock Accepted More Than $106,000 From Commercial Banks. According to the Center for

Responsive Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $106,414 from commercial banks. [Center

for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]

Top Sectors

Sector Total Individuals PACs

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate $1,498,876 $1,036,876 $462,000

Ideological/Single-Issue $1,397,342 $305,642 $1,091,700

Lawyers & Lobbyists $987,645 $894,126 $93,519

Misc Business $963,801 $563,231 $400,570

Other $802,340 $792,840 $9,500

Transportation $444,308 $109,813 $334,495

Communications/Electronics $429,139 $216,256 $212,883

Construction $327,622 $157,622 $170,000

Health $270,784 $121,284 $149,500

Energy & Natural Resources $269,430 $86,230 $183,200

https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREER

Agribusiness $247,711 $96,675 $151,036

Defense $197,377 $87,775 $109,602

Labor $90,762 $500 $90,262

[Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]

Comstock’s Top Sector Contributor Was Wall Street

Career: Comstock Accepted More Nearly $1.5 Million From the Finance, Insurance & Real Estate Sector.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, over the course of her career, Comstock accepted $1,498,876 from

the finance, insurance and real estate sector. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 1/11/18]

Comstock Consistently Voted For Trump-Ryan Agenda

Comstock Voted With Donald Trump Nearly 97% Of The Time

FiveThirtyEight: Comstock Has Voted With Trump 96.7% Of The Time. According to FiveThirtyEight, as of

January 2018, Comstock had voted with President Trump 96.7% of the time. [FiveThirtyEight, updated 1/11/18]

Comstock Voted With Paul Ryan 90% Of The Time

Comstock Voted With Ryan 90 Percent Of The Time. According to ProPublica, in the 115th Congress, Comstock

had voted with Speaker Ryan more than 90% of the time. [ProPublica, accessed 1/11/18]

Vote Comparison

Congress Total Votes Votes Disagreeing Percent Agreement

115th 17 2 88%

114th 568 43 92%

Lifetime Average 585 45 90%

[ProPublica, accessed 8/22/17]

Funded By Republican Leadership, Receiving $27,000 From Paul Ryan

Over her career, Comstock has received $27,000 in donations from Paul Ryan and his associated entities:

Donations From Paul Ryan

Date Candidate/Committee Amount

2/14/2017 Prosperity Action $5,000





8/31/2016 Ryan For Congress, Inc $2,000

TOTAL $27,000.00

[Political Moneyline, accessed 8/22/17]

Comstock Voted To Elect Paul Ryan Speaker Of The House

https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00036023&cycle=CAREERhttps://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/barbara-comstock/https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/R000570-paul-d-ryan/compare-votes/C001105-barbara-comstock/115https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/R000570-paul-d-ryan/compare-votes/C001105-barbara-comstock/115http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/1162065/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/1035464/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/1065152/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/920935/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00377689/962972/sb/23http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00330894/1126724/sb/21

2017: Comstock Voted To Make Ryan Speaker Of The House. In January 2017, Comstock voted for Ryan to be

Speaker of the House. Ryan was elected by a vote of 239-189. [Election to the Speaker, Vote #2, 1/3/17; CQ,

1/3/17]

2015: Comstock Voted To Make Ryan Speaker Of The House. In October 2015, Comstock voted for Ryan to be

Speaker of the House. Paul Ryan received 236 votes, Nancy Pelosi received 184 votes, and Daniel Webster

received 9 votes. [Election to the Speaker, Vote #581, 10/29/15]

Comstock Has Voted With Her Party 95% Of The Time

Comstock Has Voted With The Republican Party 95% Of The Time. According to CQ, in 2016, Comstock has

voted with other members of the Republican Caucus 95% of the time. [CQ Vote Studies, accessed 8/22/17]

Party Unity

Year Support Oppose

2016 95% 5%

2015 90% 10%

[CQ Vote Study, accessed 8/22/17]

Comstock Voted With Donald Trump

Comstock Voted To Fund Trump’s Border Wall

Comstock Voted To Fund Trump’s Border Wall. In July 2017, Comstock voted for: “Passage of the bill that

would provide $788 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal 2018 to various departments, agencies and legislative

operations, including $658.1 billion in funding for Defense programs; $88.8 billion in net appropriations subject to

discretionary caps for fiscal 2018 that would provide funding for military construction activities and for VA

programs and activities; $37.6 billion in net appropriations subject to discretionary caps for fiscal 2018 that would

provide funding for the Energy Department, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and related

agencies; and $3.6 billion in funding fiscal 2018 for operations of the House of Representatives, joint House-Senate

items and legislative branch entities such as the Library of Congress, the Capitol Police, and the Government

Accountability Office. The bill would provide $1.6 billion in funding to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for

procurement, construction and improvement of a barrier along the southern U.S. border.” The bill passed by a vote

of 235-192. [CQ Floor Votes, 7/27/17; H.R. 3219, Vote 435, 7/27/17]

Comstock Repeatedly Voted Against Releasing Trump’s Tax Returns

Comstock Voted To Kill A Motion To Require President Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns.

[Motion, Vote #392, 7/19/17; CQ Floor Votes, 7/19/17]

Comstock Voted To Kill A Motion To Require President Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns. [Motion, Vote #292, 6/7/17; CQ Floor Votes, 6/7/17]

Comstock Voted To Block Efforts To Force The Disclosure Of President Trump’s Tax Return. [H Res 375, Vote #290, 6/7/17; CQ, 6/7/17; DemocraticLeader.gov, 6/7/17]

Comstock Voted To Kill Efforts To Force The Disclosure Of President Trump’s Tax Return. [Motion, Vote #274, 5/17/17; CQ, 5/24/17]

Comstock Voted To Block A Bill To Require Presidential Candidates To Release Tax Returns. [H Res 324, Vote #263, 5/18/17; CQ, 5/18/17; DemocraticLeader.gov, 5/18/17]

Comstock Voted To Block Efforts To Force The Disclosure Of President Trump’s Tax Return. [Motion, Vote #261, 5/17/17; CQ, 5/17/17]


http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll002.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/2http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll581.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/doc/memberchild_votestudy-54190?5http://www.cq.com/doc/memberchild_votestudy-54190?5http://www.cq.com/doc/floorvote-263967000?6&search=mGl6zNPLhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll435.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll392.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll292.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll290.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/290?12http://democrats.rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/documents/115/PQ/115_H.R.%2010_PQ.pdfhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll274.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/274http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll263.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/263https://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll261.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/261http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll219.xml


Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of Requiring Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns. [H Res 230, Vote #199, 3/28/17; CQ, 3/28/17]

Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Vote Appealing A Ruling That Forcing Trump To Disclose His Tax Returns Is Not A House Privilege. [Motion, Vote #182, 3/22/17; CQ, 3/22/17]




Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of The Presidential Tax Transparency Act. [H Res 55, Vote #62, 1/24/17; Office of the Democratic Leader, 115th Congress Previous Questions, 1/24/17]

Comstock Voted Against Addressing Conflicts Of Interest In Trump’s Administration

Comstock Voted Against Consideration Of An Amendment Prohibiting The President From Making Public Communications About Or Advocating For His Business Interests. [HR 1004, Vote #125,

3/2/17; CQ, 3/2/17]

Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Address The Financial Conflicts Of Interest Of The President. [H Res 40, Vote #32, 1/11/17; Office of the Democratic Leader, 115th Congress

Previous Questions, 1/11/17]

Comstock Repeatedly Voted Against Investigating Russian Interference In The 2016 Election

Comstock Voted To Block A Bipartisan Commission To Investigate Russian Interference In The 2016 Election. [HRes 600, Vote #600, 11/2/17; CQ, 11/2/17, Congressional Record, 11/2/17]

Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Establish The National Commission On Foreign Interference In The 2016 Election. [H Res 375, Vote #290, 6/7/17; Office of the Democratic

Leader, 115th Congress Previous Questions, 6/7/17]



Comstock Voted To Kill A Procedural Move To Bring Up Bill To Create An Independent Commission To Investigate Russian Interference In The 2016 Election. [H Res 323, Vote #259,

5/17/17; USA Today, 5/17/17]

Comstock Voted To Block The Creation Of A Commission Investigating Foreign Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election. [HRes 233, Vote #203, 3/29/17; CQ, 3/29/17]

Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of Establishing An Investigation Into Foreign Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election. [HRes 229, Vote #197, 3/28/17; CQ, 3/28/17]







http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll201.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/201?1http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll199.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/199?19http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll182.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/182?4http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll161.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll128.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll101.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll062.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll062.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll125.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/125?46http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll032.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll600.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/vote/2017/h/600?17https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2017/11/02/house-section/article/H8395-4?http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll290.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll288.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll259.xmlhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/05/17/gop-blocks-house-vote-independent-russia-trump-probe/101796632/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll203.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/203?23http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll197.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/197?17http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll115.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll093.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll090.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/

Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Bill To Establish The National Commission On Foreign Interference In The 2016 Election. [HR 33, Vote #26, 1/10/17; Office of the Democratic Leader,

115th Congress Previous Questions, 1/10/17]

Comstock Stood Behind Trump

Comstock Was An Absentee Congresswoman

Comstock Had Not Held A Town Hall In More Than 1000 Days, Constituents Made “Missing

Posters” And Held A Search Party In Response…

Covers Dump Comstock Handing Out Cake To Comstock To Mark 1000 Days Not Holding A Town Hall.

[WTTG, 9/29/17]

Constituents Made “Missing” Posters, Saying She Was Hard To Get In Touch With. “At first glance they look

like any other sign on a light pole. But look closer and you see Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock.

‘There are no public appearances scheduled and it’s really hard to get in touch with her,’ says Courtney Soria, a

Democrat who lives in Leesburg in Comstock’s 10th District- made the ‘Missing’ signs with a friend and posted

them last night in DC, two blocks from Comstock’s Capitol Hill office.” [WJLA, 5/18/17]

Planned Parenthood Held “A Search Party” For Comstock After She Refused To Hold Town Halls. “The

political arm of Planned Parenthood, which would be defunded under the GOP bill, has also mounted its own

events. On Friday, the organization’s Virginia chapter is holding ‘a search party’ for Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-

Va.), who has not held public town halls, calling on constituents to ‘embark on a valiant quest to find Ms.

Comstock.’” [Huffington Post, 6/1/17]

A Mobile Billboard Calling On Comstock To Hold A Town Hall And Support Planned Parenthood Drove

Around The 10th. “A mobile billboard asking Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R) to hold a town hall and

support Planned Parenthood is making its way around Comstock's 10th Congressional District. The truck bearing

six alternating images was paid for by the political action committee ‘Take Back the Tenth,’ which is associated

with the ‘Dump Comstock’ group.” [Loudoun Times, 6/26/17]

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll026.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/115th-congress-previous-questions/http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=ea869f49-96c7-4cc2-9d94-4fe7e3cff80ehttp://wjla.com/news/local/constituents-ask-where-rep-barbara-comstock-ishttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gop-lawmakers-avoiding-town-halls_us_593011f4e4b0540ffc84cf9chttp://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/mobile_billboard_featuring_barbara_comstock_rolls_into_town432

…A Former GOP Congressman Even Advised Comstock To Hold Town Halls After Republican

Losses In 2017

Former GOP Congressman Advised Comstock To Hold Town Halls After The 2017 Governor Race. “Advice

for Comstock poured in from Northern Virginia GOP observers, who agreed Tuesday’s result is a warning shot to

members of Congress from wealthy suburban districts. Hold town halls, said Tom Davis, a former GOP

congressman from Northern Virginia. Comstock has avoided unscripted public forums with constituents who have

spewed venom at her colleagues, such as Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) ‘Face the music,’ Davis said. ‘You’ve got to let

people scream at you a little bit, let them get it off their chest.” [Washington Post, 11/8/17]

Washington Post: Headline: “After Virginia Blowout, Comstock’s Road To Reelection Grows Steeper.”

[Washington Post, 11/8/17]

Comstock Voted For The Republican Tax Scam Bill

Comstock Voted For Final Passage Of The Republican Tax Scam Bill

Comstock Voted For Final Passage Of The Republican Tax Scam Bill

Comstock Voted For Adopting The Conference Report Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. In December 2017,

Comstock voted for “adoption of the conference report on the bill that would revise the federal income tax system

by lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; lowering individual tax rates through 2025;

limiting state and local deductions to $10,000 through 2025; decreasing the limit on deductible mortgage debt

through 2025; and creating a new system of taxing U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it

would repeal personal exemptions and would roughly double the standard deduction through 2025. It would raise

the child tax credit to $2,000 through 2025, would repeal the alternative minimum tax for corporations and provide

for broader exemptions to the tax for individuals through 2025. It would double individual exemptions to the estate

tax and gift tax through 2025, and would establish a new top tax rate for "pass-through" business income through

2025.” The conference report was adopted 227-203. [HR 1, Vote #692, 12/19/17; CQ Floor Votes, 12/19/17]

Comstock Voted For Final Passage Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act By Concurring With A Senate

Amendment. In December 2017, Comstock voted for “Brady, R-Texas, motion to concur in the Senate amendment

to the tax overhaul that would revise the federal income tax system by: lowering the corporate tax rate from 35

percent to 21 percent; lowering individual tax rates through 2025; limiting state and local deductions to $10,000

through 2025; decreasing the limit on deductible mortgage debt through 2025; and creating a new system of taxing

U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it would repeal personal exemptions and would roughly

double the standard deduction through 2025. It would raise the child tax credit to $2,000 through 2025, would

repeal the alternative minimum tax for corporations and provide for broader exemptions to the tax for individuals

through 2025. It would double individual exemptions to the estate tax and gift tax through 2025, and would

establish a new top tax rate for "pass-through" business income through 2025. It would effectively eliminate the

penalty for not purchasing health insurance under the 2010 health care overhaul law in 2019. It would also open

portions of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling.” The motion was passed 224-201. [HR 1,

Vote #699, 12/20/17; CQ Floor Votes, 12/20/17]

House Was Forced To Vote For A Second Time On The Final Bill After Small Changes Were Made To

Comply With Senate Budget Rules. “The House, forced to vote a second time on the $1.5 trillion tax bill,

moved swiftly to pass the final version on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Trump to sign into law

the most sweeping tax overhaul in decades. House lawmakers approved the tax bill 224 to 201 on Wednesday,

after being forced to vote on the bill again after last-minute revisions were made to it in the Senate, which

passed the measure 51 to 48 early Wednesday morning. The final House vote was essentially a formality, as the

changes, which were made to comply with Senate budget rules, did not significantly alter the overall bill.”

[New York Times, 12/20/17]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/after-virginia-blowout-comstocks-road-to-reelection-grows-steeper/2017/11/08/58a8d2fe-c448-11e7-84bc-5e285c7f4512_story.html?utm_term=.2eaab0a6d6bahttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/after-virginia-blowout-comstocks-road-to-reelection-grows-steeper/2017/11/08/58a8d2fe-c448-11e7-84bc-5e285c7f4512_story.html?utm_term=.2eaab0a6d6bahttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll692.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/692http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll699.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/699https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/us/politics/tax-bill-republicans.html

Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Benefitted The Wealthy, Corporations, And Special Interests…

New York Times: Tax Bill “Creates As Many New Preferences For Special Interests As It Gets Rid Of”

After Republican Ambitions “Fell To The Powerful Forces Of Lobbying And The Status Quo.” “The

Republican tax bill does not pass the postcard test. It leaves nearly every large tax break in place. It creates as many

new preferences for special interests as it gets rid of. It will keep corporate accountants busy for years to come. And

no taxpayer will ever see the postcard-size tax return that President Trump laid a kiss on in November as

Republican leaders launched their tax overhaul effort. This was not the grand simplification of the code that

Republicans promised when they set out to eliminate tax breaks and cut the number of tax brackets as they lowered

rates. As their bill tore through Congress, their ambitions fell to the powerful forces of lobbying and the status

quo.” [New York Times, 12/16/17]

Washington Post: Final Tax Bill Included A “Significant Tax Break For The Very Wealthy” And “A

Massive Tax Cut For Corporations.” “A new tax cut for the rich: The final plan lowers the top tax rate for top

earners. Under current law, the highest rate is 39.6 percent for married couples earning over $470,700. The GOP

bill would drop that to 37 percent and raise the threshold at which that top rate kicks in, to $500,000 for individuals

and $600,000 for married couples. This amounts to a significant tax break for the very wealthy, a departure from

repeated claims by Trump and his top officials that the bill would not benefit the rich. […] A massive tax cut for

corporations “A massive tax cut for corporations: Starting on Jan. 1, 2018, big businesses' tax rate would fall from

35 percent to just 21 percent, the largest one-time rate cut in U.S. history for the nation's largest companies.”


…While Millions Of Americans Would Pay More In Taxes

Politifact: GOP Tax Bill Would Raise Taxes For The Middle Class After Individual Tax Cut Provisions

Expired In 2025. “Gillibrand said the Republican ‘tax [plan] raises middle-class taxes.’ That's not true during the

first years of the new tax provisions. If not for the sunset for the tax changes for individuals, we likely would have

rated Gillibrand's statement False or perhaps Mostly False. Middle-income taxpayers will either benefit or see no

change in their tax liability through 2025. But her claim could hold up after the bill's individual provisions expire

that year. There's no guarantee a future Congress will extend those parts of the bill.” [Politifact, 12/22/17]

Tax Policy Center: In 2018, 5 Percent Of Taxpayers Would Pay More In Taxes Under The GOP Tax

Bill, But Would Increase To 53 Percent Of Taxpayers In 2027. “Some taxpayers would pay more in taxes

under the proposal in 2018 and 2025 than under current law: about 5 percent of taxpayers in 2018 and 9 percent

in 2025. In 2027, however, taxes would increase for 53 percent of taxpayers compared with current law.” [Tax

Policy Center, 12/18/17]

RESOURCE: The Final Trump-GOP Tax Plan: National and 50-State Estimates for 2019 & 2027 [ITEP,

12/16/17]

Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Increased The Federal Debt – Increasing Pressure To Cut Program Like Medicare

Official CBO Estimate Found Final Tax Bill Would Increase The Federal Deficit By $1.46 Trillion.

“Republicans decided it would be all right to go into debt up to $1.5 trillion to fund the tax cut. In the end, they

nearly hit that mark. The official estimate -- released Friday evening alongside the bill -- came in at $1.46 trillion.”


Center For A Responsible Federal Budget Found True Cost of Tax Bill Would Be $2 Trillion Or More, After

Budget Gimmicks Were Accounted For. “Adding these gimmicks to the cost of the bill would increase the total

cost to $2.0 trillion to $2.2 trillion. Though the dynamic effect of making the bill permanent is unknown, we

estimate a permanent bill would produce roughly $450 billion of feedback,* leading to a dynamic cost of roughly

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/republican-tax-plan-simple-tax-returns.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepagehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/15/the-final-gop-tax-bill-is-complete-heres-what-is-in-it/?utm_term=.126e5bed431dhttp://www.politifact.com/new-york/statements/2017/dec/22/kirsten-gillibrand/will-republican-tax-law-raise-middle-class-taxes/http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/distributional-analysis-conference-agreement-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act/fullhttps://itep.org/finalgop-trumpbill/#statehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/15/the-final-gop-tax-bill-is-complete-heres-what-is-in-it/?utm_term=.126e5bed431d

$1.6 trillion to $1.7 trillion. With interest, these costs would rise to $2.4 trillion to $2.5 trillion, or $1.9 trillion to $2

trillion with dynamic effects included, over a decade.” [CRFB, 12/18/17]

After Passing A Tax Bill That Added Trillions To The Deficit, Speaker Ryan Said Medicare And Medicaid

Would Need To Be “Reformed” In Order To Decrease The Deficit. “With his dream of tax reform now

realized, Ryan is hoping to make progress on two other issues he’s targeted during his two-decade career in

Washington: entitlement and welfare reform. ‘We’re going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform,

which is how you tackle the debt and the deficit,’ Ryan, a former Budget Committee chairman, said in a recent

interview this month on the Ross Kaminsky radio talk show. Medicare and Medicaid are the ‘big drivers of debt,’

Ryan said, suggesting Republicans could once again use the budget reconciliation process to avoid a Democratic

filibuster. Medicare is the ‘biggest entitlement that’s got to have reform,’ Ryan added.” [The Hill, 12/27/17]

HEADLINE: After Tax Overhaul, GOP Sets Sights on Medicare, Social Security [US News, 12/7/17]

HEADLINE: Ryan says Republicans to target welfare, Medicare, Medicaid spending in 2018


HEADLINE: Paul Ryan Pushes to Keep Overhaul of Safety-Net Programs on GOP Agenda [Wall Street

Journal, 2/4/18]

AP: “A Wide Range Of Economists And Nonpartisan Analysts Have Warned That The Bill Will Likely

Escalate Federal Debt, Intensify Pressure To Cut Spending On Social Programs And Further Widen

America's Troubling Income Inequality.” “The tax overhaul of 2017 amounts to a high-stakes gamble by

Republicans in Congress: That slashing taxes for corporations and wealthy individuals will accelerate growth and

assure greater prosperity for Americans for years to come. The risks are considerable. A wide range of economists

and nonpartisan analysts have warned that the bill will likely escalate federal debt, intensify pressure to cut

spending on social programs and further widen America's troubling income inequality.” [Associated Press,

12/17/17]

Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Would Increase Incentives To Move Jobs Overseas

Tax Experts Said The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Increased Incentives For Companies To Move Jobs Overseas.

“What happened to the workers in Clinton, tax experts say, will probably happen to more Americans if the

Republican tax overhaul becomes law. The legislation fails to eliminate long-standing incentives for companies to

move overseas and, in some cases, may even increase them, they say. ‘This bill is potentially more dangerous than

our current system,’ said Stephen Shay, a senior lecturer at Harvard Law School and former Treasury Department

international tax expert in the Obama administration. ‘It creates a real incentive to shift real activity offshore.’”


Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Would Lead To More Expensive Health Insurance; 13 Million More Uninsured

Final Tax Bill Eliminated Central Affordable Care Act Provision, Leading To 13 Million Fewer Americans

With Insurance. “The individual mandate is part of the Affordable Care Act, and removing it was a top priority for

Trump and congressional Republicans. The Congressional Budget Office projects the change will increase

insurance premiums and lead to 13 million fewer Americans with insurance in a decade, while also cutting

government spending by more than $300 billion over that period.” [Washington Post, 12/15/17]

GOP Tax Bill Would Cause Health Insurance Premiums To Rise, And Could Lead Insurers To Drop Out Of

Regional Markets. “The final GOP plan will repeal the Affordable Care Act’s individual insurance mandate,

which would allow young and healthy people to leave the insurance pool, forcing insurers to compensate by raising

prices due to the higher costs of insuring only less-healthy people. Not only would premiums likely rise, but many

insurers could drop out of regional markets.” [Newsweek, 12/18/17]

HEADLINE: Republican Tax Plan Will Make Health Insurance More Expensive [Newsweek, 12/18/17]

http://www.crfb.org/blogs/final-tax-bill-could-end-costing-22-trillionhttp://thehill.com/homenews/house/366513-victorious-on-taxes-gop-wonders-whats-nexthttps://www.usnews.com/news/economy/articles/2017-12-07/after-tax-overhaul-gop-sets-sights-on-medicare-social-securityhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/01/gop-eyes-post-tax-cut-changes-to-welfare-medicare-and-social-security/?utm_term=.177e435dbab7https://www.wsj.com/articles/paul-ryan-pushes-to-keep-overhaul-of-safety-net-programs-on-gop-agenda-1517749201http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/gop-betting-fix-us-economy-defy-warnings-51841939https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trump-promised-america-first-would-keep-jobs-here-but-the-tax-plan-might-not/2017/12/15/7b8ed60e-df93-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html?utm_term=.94e5f35d8afchttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/15/the-final-gop-tax-bill-is-complete-heres-what-is-in-it/?utm_term=.126e5bed431dhttp://www.newsweek.com/obamacare-tax-plan-republicans-750871http://www.newsweek.com/obamacare-tax-plan-republicans-750871

Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Failed To Live Up To Republican Promises

HEADLINE: “New Tax Code Will Still Be Complicated Despite GOP Promise To Simplify.” [CNN Money,

12/18/17]

CNN Money: Final Tax Bill “Adds Plenty Of Complications, Particularly For Small Businesses.” “But the

plan Republicans and Trump came up with almost certainly won't put tax preparers out of business. The final tax

bill, released on Friday, does indeed deliver some simplification, but not as much as promised. And it adds plenty

of complications, particularly for small businesses.” [CNN Money, 12/18/17]

Time: Republicans Failed To Follow Through On The “Central Promises” Of Their Tax Bill – To Allow

People To File On A Postcard And To Benefit Working And Middle Class Americans. “As they pushed their

sweeping tax bill through Congress, Republicans made two central promises. First, that the bill would simplify the

U.S. tax code, allowing citizens to file their taxes ‘on the back of a postcard.’ And second, that the overhaul would

primarily benefit working Americans and the middle class. The first claim proved false. And economic experts are

skeptical about the second, arguing that the bill aids businesses at the expense of middle-class taxpayers.” [Time,

12/19/17]

Comstock Voted For House Passage Of The Republican Tax Scam Bill That Benefited Wealthy

Americans And Corporations While Raising Taxes On Millions And Increasing The Deficit

Comstock Voted For Passage Of The House Version Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act

Comstock Voted For Passage Of The House Version Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. In November 2017,

Comstock voted for “passage of the bill that would revise the federal income tax system by: lowering individual

and corporate tax rates; consolidating the current seven tax income rates into four rates; eliminating the deduction

for state and local income taxes; limiting certain deductions for property taxes and home mortgages; and creating a

new system of taxing U.S. corporations with foreign subsidiaries. Specifically, it would eliminate personal

exemptions and would nearly double the standard deduction. It would raise the child tax credit through 2022, repeal

the alternative minimum tax, repeal the estate tax in 2025 and reduce the gift tax rate in 2025. It would establish a

new top tax rate for pass-through business income and would modify tax credits related to energy production.” The

bill passed 227-205. [HR 1, Vote #637, 11/16/17; CQ Floor Votes, 11/16/17]

Comstock Voted For Considering The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. In November 2017, Comstock voted for:

“Adoption of the rule (H Res 619) that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill (HR 1) that would

revise the federal income tax system by: lowering individual and corporate tax rates; consolidating the current

seven tax income rates into four rates; eliminating the deduction for state and local income taxes; limiting certain

deductions for property taxes and home mortgages; and creating a new system of taxing U.S. corporations with

foreign subsidiaries.” The rule was adopted 235-191. [HRes 619, Vote #633, 11/15/17; CQ, 11/15/17]

House Bill Raised Taxes On Students And Teachers

Washington Post: “The GOP Plan Would No Longer Allow People Repaying Their Student Loans To

Reduce Their Tax Burden By Up To $2,500.” “The GOP plan would no longer allow people repaying their

student loans to reduce their tax burden by up to $2,500. People whose employers cover a portion of their college

costs would also see the money become taxable income. The plan would also do away with a tuition tax break for

university employees and their families. As it stands, tuition discounts provided to that group are excluded from

income, under what are known as qualified tuition reductions. Republicans estimate that doing away with all of

those deductions and tax breaks will increase government revenue by $47.5 billion over the next decade.”


http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/17/pf/taxes/gop-tax-plan-simplify/index.htmlhttp://money.cnn.com/2017/12/17/pf/taxes/gop-tax-plan-simplify/index.htmlhttp://time.com/5068961/republicans-tax-bill-trump/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll637.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/637?1http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll633.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/vote/2017/h/633?1https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/11/02/republican-tax-plan-seeks-to-shake-up-higher-education-tax-credits-deductions-and-benefits/?utm_term=.a92d9b889ccf

Under Republican Tax Bill, A Large Percentage Of Undergraduate And Graduate Students Would See

Increases In Their Tax Bills, Some Dramatically. “To help pay for the $1.5 trillion tax cut, lawmakers eliminated

many individual tax breaks, arguing the overall plan would compensate for any lost benefits. The result: while

many families and businesses would see tax cuts, a large percentage of undergraduates and graduate students would

see their tax bills increase, some dramatically.” [New York Times, 11/15/17]

More Than 60 Percent Of Students Impacted By New Tax On Tuition Were In STEM Fields. “According

to the education council, more than 60 percent of the students who would be affected are in science,

technology, engineering or mathematics — research fields that have drawn the praise of Republicans, including

President Trump, in recent months. The Association of American Universities, which represents 60 research

universities, including Carnegie Mellon, said the tax plan threatened the viability of their doctoral programs.

The universities award nearly one-half of all American doctoral degrees and 55 percent of those in the sciences

and engineering.” [New York Times, 11/15/17]

Republican Tax Bill Cut Deduction For Teachers Who Spend Their Own Money On School Supplies, As

They Are Regularly Expected To Do. “For now, teachers can get a small tax break — deducting up to $250 from

their taxes — for what they spend on supplies. But under the GOP tax reform bill, that deduction would go away

for teachers and other categories of workers, including certain state and local officials and performing artists. […]

Unlike other professionals, teachers are regularly expected to furnish their own supplies. They are often filling in

gaps where students are unable to afford supplies — and where districts are unable to furnish them. Teachers in the

United States are not paid as well as other similarly educated professionals, studies have found.” [Washington Post,

11/2/17]

HEADLINE: Teachers spend nearly $500 a year on supplies. Under the GOP tax bill, they will no longer

get a tax deduction. [Washington Post, 11/2/17]

The House GOP Tax Bill Was Bad For Comstock’s District

Comstock’s Constituent Taxes Would Rise Because The District Relied Heavily On State And Local Tax

Deduction…

Comstock’s District Was Named A District That Relied Heavily On State And Local Tax Deduction -

Making Her Vulnerable In 2018. “It’s those suburban House districts that Democrats are hoping to capture to

propel them back to the House majority next year. Schumer name-checked Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), whose

district went heavily Democratic in Tuesday’s gubernatorial election, and noted that nearly half of her district’s

residents get a popular state and local tax deduction that is marked to be slashed or eliminated in pending GOP tax

proposals.” [Politico, 11/8/17]

Politico: Headline: “GOP Election Drubbing Scrambles Tax Reform Outlook.” [Politico, 11/8/17]

VIDEO: MSNBC: Chris Hayes: Comstock’s District Taxes Would Rise Under The GOP Tax Plan. “HAYES:

OK. I understand -- I understand your case on the corporate side. I won`t -- we won`t argue about it. I get it. But

you still got a problem. And the problem is still the way the math works right now is that there are people in Darryl

Issa`s district, and MacArthur`s district, and Leonard Lance`s district, and Lee Zeldin`s district, and Peter King`s

district and on and on, Barbara Comstock, whose taxes will rise, who will see their tax burden go up because you`re

going to go after the mortgage interest deduction, you`re going to go after the state and local taxes deduction. They

have kids and they`re going to see their taxes go up and you`ve got to tell them why the Republicans raised their

taxes.” [MSNBC, All in with Chris Hayes, 11/8/17] (VIDEO)

Washington Post: Comstock’s District Shared “A Dubious Honor: A Higher Percentage Of Residents Who

Claim The State And Local Income Tax Deduction Than Anywhere Else In The Nation.” “Raskin's district is

one of three in the capital region - along with districts in Virginia represented by Reps. Gerald E. Connolly (D) and

Barbara Comstock (R) - that share a dubious honor: a higher percentage of residents who claim the state and local

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/15/us/politics/house-tax-bill-higher-education-increases-tuition.html?_r=0https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/15/us/politics/house-tax-bill-higher-education-increases-tuition.html?_r=0https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/11/02/teachers-spend-nearly-1000-a-year-on-supplies-under-the-gop-tax-bill-they-will-no-longer-get-a-tax-deduction/?utm_term=.0933485a7a5ahttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/11/02/teachers-spend-nearly-1000-a-year-on-supplies-under-the-gop-tax-bill-they-will-no-longer-get-a-tax-deduction/?utm_term=.0933485a7a5ahttps://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/08/virginia-election-republican-tax-plan-244720https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/08/virginia-election-republican-tax-plan-244720https://youtu.be/ygP8xI0VuOA

income tax deduction than anywhere else in the nation, according to Government Officers Finance Association

data.” [Washington Post, 11/4/17]

Headline: “Welcome To The D.C. Suburbs, Where The GOP Tax Plan Could Really Hurt.” [Washington Post, 11/4/17]

…And Comstock Refused To Take A Hard Line Against The GOP Tax Bill Like Her GOP Colleagues In

SALT Heavy Districts

Washington Post: Comstock’s District Compared To “Wealthy Districts In New York And New Jersey, Yet

Unlike Her GOP Colleagues In Those Blue States, She Has Not Taken A Hard Line Against The Bill.” “The

economic profile of Comstock's Northern Virginia district resembles that of wealthy districts in New York and New

Jersey. Yet unlike her GOP colleagues in those blue states, she has not taken a hard line against the bill.”


NBC: “Republicans In New York, New Jersey And California Are Still Angry About The Proposed Changes

To The State And Local Tax Deduction.” “Republicans in New York, New Jersey and California are still angry

about the proposed changes to the state and local tax deduction (SALT), which is capped at $10,000 in the House

plan and can now only be applied to property taxes. Senate Republicans go further by eliminating the state and

local deduction entirely. ‘I’m a 'no' to the bill in its current form,’ Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., said on MSNBC last

week. ‘I want to fight for my home district and my home state.” [NBC, 11/12/17]

Comstock Voted For The House GOP Tax Bill Despite Local Concern

Loudon Now: Headline: “Comstock Votes Yes On Tax Bill Despite Local Concern.” [Loudon Now, 11/17/17]

Winchester Star: Headline: “Historic Tax Credit Elimination Would Hit City.” [Winchester Star, 11/16/17]

Washington Post: Headline: “House Tax Package Would Increase Construction Costs For Projects At

Region’s Airports.” [Washington Post, 11/16/17]

December 2017: Comstock’s Constituents Lined Up To Avoid Penalties From The Tax Bill

Washington Post: IRS says many who prepaid property taxes may still face cap on deductions

USA Today: Some homeowners see prepaying property taxes as way to save this year and next

WTOP: Fairfax Co. taxpayers line up to prepay property taxes ahead of new $10K cap

WAMU: Can Pre-Paying Property Taxes Make The GOP Tax Bill Less Painful? Maybe, But It’s

Complicated

WTTG: As GOP tax plan passes in Congress, taxpayers rushing to prepay property taxes for 2018

WUSA (VIDEO): Homeowners line up to prepay property taxes

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/welcome-to-the-dc-suburbs-where-the-gop-tax-plan-could-hurt/2017/11/04/ede09e2e-c0ab-11e7-959c-fe2b598d8c00_story.html?utm_term=.be36b32a2333https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/welcome-to-the-dc-suburbs-where-the-gop-tax-plan-could-hurt/2017/11/04/ede09e2e-c0ab-11e7-959c-fe2b598d8c00_story.html?utm_term=.be36b32a2333https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/welcome-to-the-dc-suburbs-where-the-gop-tax-plan-could-hurt/2017/11/04/ede09e2e-c0ab-11e7-959c-fe2b598d8c00_story.html?utm_term=.be36b32a2333https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/they-ve-got-issues-here-s-who-mad-about-gop-n819116http://loudounnow.com/2017/11/17/comstock-votes-yes-on-tax-bill-despite-local-concern/http://www.winchesterstar.com/news/historic-tax-credit-elimination-would-hit-city/article_32d5b263-cb16-5edd-87db-3df8c0709d34.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/house-tax-package-would-increase-regions-airport-construction-costs/2017/11/16/963f2fd2-cb28-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html?utm_term=.1909aeced4achttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/tax-bill-spawns-new-holiday-ritual-waiting-in-line-to-pay-taxes/2017/12/27/1e7ea59a-eb12-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html?utm_term=.81b68a711febhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2017/12/27/property-tax-prepayments/984556001/https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2017/12/fairfax-co-taxpayers-line-prepay-property-taxes-ahead-new-10k-cap/slide/1/https://wamu.org/story/17/12/21/pre-paying-property-taxes-way-make-gop-tax-bill-less-painful-maybe-complicated/http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/as-gop-tax-plan-passes-in-congress-taxpayers-rushing-to-prepay-property-taxes-for-2018https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5aztPMO-i8&feature=youtu.be

News Channel 8 (VIDEO): Hundreds of people lined up in Fairfax to pay their property taxes early to avoid

cap

WJLA (VIDEO): Hundreds of people lined up in Fairfax to pay their property taxes early to avoid cap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAf81d1w8Fg&feature=youtu.behttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmLyGw8W0Nk&feature=youtu.be

WRC-NBC (VIDEO): People lined up to prepay taxes but then left after IRS ruled they could not deduct

property taxes

Comstock Voted To Repeal The Affordable Care Act And Voted Against Medicaid

Expansion In Virginia

Comstock Voted 6 Times To Advance Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act

Comstock Voted For Repealing Affordable Care Act. [HR 596, Vote #58, 2/03/15; CQ Floor Votes, 2/3/15]

Comstock Voted For Republican Conference Report On Budget That Began Process To Repeal Affordable Care Act. [S Con Res 11, Vote #183, 4/30/15; Bloomberg, 4/29/15]

Comstock Voted For Repealing Major Pillars Of Affordable Care Act, Including Individual Mandate. [HR 3762, Vote #568, 10/23/15; Los Angeles Times, 10/23/15]

Comstock Voted For Repealing The Affordable Care Act. [HR 3762, Vote #6, 1/6/16; CNN, 1/6/16]

Comstock Voted For Overturning Obama’s Veto Of Bill That Would Repeal The Affordable Care Act. [HR 3762, Vote #53, 2/2/16; Washington Post, 2/2/16]

Comstock Voted For Beginning Process Of Repealing Affordable Care Act. [S Con Res 3, Vote #58, 1/13/17; CNN, 1/3/17]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDb0PlTHq78&feature=youtu.behttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll058.xmlhttp://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/231638-house-votes-to-repeal-obamacarehttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll183.xmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-29/republicans-unveil-house-senate-budget-dealhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll568.xmlhttp://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-obamacare-repeal-house-20151023-story.htmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll006.xmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/politics/house-obamacare-repeal-planned-parenthood/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll053.xmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/02/after-tuesday-veto-vote-on-obamacare-repeal-gop-moves-on-to-another-budget-fight/?utm_term=.ab42eed6b7d2http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll058.xmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2017/01/13/politics/house-obamacare-repeal-vote/

Comstock Voted Against Medicaid Expansion In Virginia

Comstock Voted Against Budget Amendment That Would Accept Medicaid Expansion In Virginia. In April

2013, Comstock voted against an amendment made by the governor to the state’s budget bill, House Bill 1500, that

would accept Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted 75 to 24. [HB

1500, Governor’s Recommendation 24, 2013 Session, 4/03/13]

Comstock Opposed Allowing Women To Make Their Own Health Care Decisions

Comstock Voted 10 Times To Defund Or Attack Planned Parenthood

Comstock Voted For Reversing Obama Rule Preventing States From Withholding Grants From Planned Parenthood. [HJRes 43, Vote #99, 2/16/17; USA Today, 2/16/17]

Comstock Voted For Doubling The Budget For The Select Committee Targeting Planned Parenthood. [H Res 933, Vote #595, 12/1/16; The Hill, 12/1/16]

Comstock Voted For Overriding The President’s Veto Of A Bill To Repeal The Affordable Care Act And Block Funding Of Planned Parenthood For A Year. [HR 3762, Vote #53, 2/2/16, 2/2/16; CQ Floor

Votes, 2/2/16]

Comstock Voted For Repealing The Affordable Care Act And Defunding Planned Parenthood For One Year. [HR 3762, Vote #6, 1/6/16; The Hill, 1/6/16]

Comstock Voted For Reconciliation Bill To Repeal Key Sections Of The Affordable Care Act And Defund Planned Parenthood. [HR 3762, Vote #568, 10/23/15; Washington Post, 10/23/15]

Comstock Voted For Establishing Select Committee Targeting Planned Parenthood. [H Res 461, Vote #538, 10/7/15; CQ Floor Votes, 10/7/15]

Comstock Voted For Attaching Measure To Defund Planned Parenthood To Spending Measure Necessary To Avert Government Shutdown. [H Con Res 79, Vote #527, 9/30/15; New York Times,

10/1/15]

Comstock Voted For Consideration Of Bill Making It Easier For States To Defund Planned Parenthood. [H Res 444, Vote #521, 9/29/15; CQ Floor Votes, 9/29/15]

Comstock Voted For Defunding Planned Parenthood. [H.R. 3134, Vote #505, 9/18/15; CQ, 9/23/15]

Comstock Voted Against Preventing Attempt To Defund Planned Parenthood. [H.R. 3134, Vote #504, 9/18/15; Democratic Leader – Motions To Recommit, 9/18/15]

Comstock Stated That One Of The Reasons She Voted To Keep Government Open Was To Keep Focus On

Investigating Planned Parenthood. “Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) issued the following statement

on the passage of the Continuing Resolution that funds the federal government through December 11th… ‘I am

opposed to federal funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, and life of the mother, and I supported

legislation last week that defunded Planned Parenthood while the congressional investigations are ongoing.

Shutting down the federal government would have taken away the focus on these important hearings.’” [Rep.

Comstock Press Release, 9/30/15]

Comstock: “Yes, I Think Roe V Wade Should Be Overturned”

Comstock: “Yes, I Think Roe V Wade Should Be Overturned.” “MATTHEWS: ... do you think that court -- the

court should get rid of the health exception in Roe v. Wade? COMSTOCK: The court -- listen, the -- I think -- yes,

I think Roe vs. Wade should be overturned and the states should decide it. But let’s -- Barack Obama thinks that we

should overturn all of the state laws we have right now that allow -- that -- he`s for federal funding of abortion,

taxpayer funding of abortion.” [Hardball with Chris Matthews, MSNBC, 10/16/08]

FactCheck.Org: If Roe v Wade Were Overturned, Virginia Would Likely Outlaw Abortion Immediately.

“The Center for Reproductive Rights also predicts that some states that don’t have bans now will institute them

if the Supreme Court gives them the authority. In all, the center estimates that 21 states are likely to outlaw

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+vot+HV1325+HB1500http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll099.xmlhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/16/house-votes-undo-obama-rule-protecting-planned-parenthood-grants/98007736/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll595.xmlhttp://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/308392-house-votes-to-double-budget-for-planned-parenthood-investigativehttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll053.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/vote/2016/H/53?28http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll006.xmlhttp://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/264980-house-passes-obamacare-repeal-sending-measure-to-obamas-deskhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll568.xmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/23/house-passes-budget-reconciliation-bill-that-could-be-headed-for-trouble-in-the-senate/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll538.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll538.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/vote/2015/H/538?5http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll527.xmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/us/politics/government-shutdown-congress.html?_r=0http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll521.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/vote/2015/H/521?5http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll505.xmlhttp://www.cq.com/doc/billdigest-4734158?11http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll504.xmlhttp://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/114th-congress-motions-recommit/https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/comstock-votes-keep-government-openhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLe-SjylXv8http://www.reproductiverights.org/pdf/Roe_PublicationPF4a.pdf

abortion immediately. This assessment is based not only on current law, but on the political makeup of the state

legislatures. According to the center, those states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky,

Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode

Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.” [FactCheck.org, 4/06/08]

Comstock Voted to Mandate Transvaginal Ultrasounds Before Abortion

Comstock Voted to Mandate Transvaginal Ultrasounds Before Abortion. In 2012, Comstock voted for a bill

“that requires women to have a ‘transvaginal ultrasound’ before undergoing abortions.” [HB 462, 2/14/12;

Associated Press, 2/14/12]

Comstock Voted For Virginia “TRAP” Law

Comstock Voted For Virginia “TRAP” Law, Considered “One Of The Most Restrictive In The Country For

First-Trimester Abortion.” In February 2011, Comstock voted in favor of Senate Bill 924, which agreed “that

clinics where most of the state’s early-term abortions are performed should be regulated as hospitals instead of as

doctors’ offices. Abortion rights advocates, who have fended off similar attempts in Virginia for two decades, say

the new rules could be so restrictive that they could force as many as 17 of the state's 21 abortion clinics out of

business. […] Abortion rights advocates said the regulations could make the state one of the most restrictive in the

country for first-trimester abortions. They also said they think that the regulations will place an unconstitutional

burden on a woman's ability to get an abortion in Virginia and that they might sue.” The bill passed 76 to 32. [SB

924, 2011 Session, 2/21/11; Washington Post, 2/25/11]

Comstock Voted Against Improving Traffic Conditions In Northern Virginia

Comstock Voted For A Tax Bill That Eliminated The Employer-Sponsored Subsidy For

Commuting, Transportation Advocates Called It An “Effective Tax Hike” For Commuters

Comstock Voted For The Final Passage Of The Republican Tax Scam Bill

Comstock Voted For Final Passage Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act By Concurring With A Senate

Amendment. The motion was passed 224-201. [HR 1, Vote #699, 12/20/17; CQ Floor Votes, 12/20/17]

Final Version Of The Tax Bill Scrapped The Employer-Sponsored Subsidy For Commuting

VOX: Final Version Of The Tax Bill Scrapped The Employer-Sponsored Subsidy For Commuting. “The

final version of the tax bill scraps a feature currently in the tax code meant to encourage employers to directly

subsidize their workers’ daily commutes, whether by car, subway, bus, or bike. Right now, companies can provide

parking or transit passes worth up to $255 a month to employees to help them pay for commuting expenses and

deduct that from their corporate taxes. (The amount was supposed to increase to $260 in 2018.)” [Vox, 12/19/17]

Headline: Associated Press: GOP Tax Bill Nixes Incentive For Company Commuter Benefits. [Associated

Press, 12/15/17]

Transit Agencies Worried The Decision Would Cut Into Ridership And Would “Result In An Effective Tax

Hike For Hundreds Of Businesses And Thousands Of Employees.”

VOX: “Transit Agencies Are Still Worried The Decision Will Cut Into Ridership Because Employers Will

Stop Offering The Benefit.” “Employees who pay for their own transportation costs can still use pre-tax income,

but transit agencies are still worried the decision will cut into ridership because employers will stop offering the

benefit.” [Vox, 12/19/17]

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/04/effect-of-overturning-roe-v-wade/http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?121+vot+HV0765+HB0462http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-14/virginia-abortion-legislation/53097654/1http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+vot+HV1150+SB0924http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022407874.html?sid=ST2011031106535http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll699.xmlhttp://cq.com/vote/2017/h/699https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/19/16783634/gop-tax-plan-provisionshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/commuters-lose-company-incentive-for-transit-parking-benefits-in-tax-bill/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/19/16783634/gop-tax-plan-provisions

Transit Representatives Said The Elimination Of The Benefit Would “Result In An Effective Tax Hike For

Hundreds Of Businesses And Thousands Of Employees.” “Earlier this month, representatives for Metrolink, the

passenger rail system serving Southern California, wrote to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin

Brady (R-Tex.), asking that lawmakers kill the provision. ‘Removing the exclusion would result in an effective tax

hike for hundreds of businesses and thousands of employees,’ said the letter, signed by Andrew F. Kotyuk,

chairman of the Metrolink board of directors. ‘This works in opposition to our goals of creating jobs and bringing

back manufacturing to the states.” [Washington Post, 11/25/17]

Transit Advocates Said The Repeal Was A “Negative” For Commuters And Would “Ultimately Hurt The

Ridership”

American Public Transportation Association: “By Taking Away The Employer Deduction, They’ve Kind Of

Undermined The Incentive For Employers.” “But the proposal concerns transit advocates and agencies across

the country, who argue that eliminating the incentives to business owners will affect a wide cross section of people

who drive, take transit or bike to work. ‘These are important benefits to working people, and we’d like to preserve

them as much as possible,’ said Rob Healy, vice president of government affairs at the American Public

Transportation Association. ‘By taking away the employer deduction, they’ve kind of undermined the incentive for

employers.” [Washington Post, 11/25/17]

American Public Transportation Association: “It's Clearly A Negative For Commuters Who Are Spending A

Lot Of Money On Public Transportation” And “Could Ultimately Hurt The Ridership.” “The elimination of

the subsidy has transit agencies worried that fewer commuters will opt for transit. ‘It's clearly a negative for

commuters who are spending a lot of money on public transportation,’ said Rob Healy, vice president for

governmental affairs at the American Public Transportation Association. The employer subsidies are generally

more lucrative for commuters than the ability to use pre-tax income for transportation costs, he said. ‘The concern

is that if employers can't write it off, they won't offer it. And if they don't offer it, it's a loss to the employees,’

Healy said. ‘It could ultimately hurt the ridership.” [Associated Press, 12/15/17]

League Of American Bicyclists Members Urged Congress To Drop The Repeal Because It Discouraged

People From Cycling To Work. “Similar overtures have been made to Congress by the American Public

Transportation Association as well as the League of American Bicyclists, a bike advocacy organization. Their

concern is aimed at a provision included in the Senate’s bill that would repeal a federal bike commuter benefit,

which reimburses up to $20 per month in bike-related supplies or services — helmets, lights, spare parts, repairs

costs or bike storage fees — for workers who regularly bike to work. McLeod said that more than 1,400 bike

commuters associated with his organization have written to the Senate Finance Committee urging that lawmakers

drop the repeal. It’s hard to tell whether legislators intended for the repeal to send a discouraging message to the

cycling community, McLeod said, but that’s how it has been interpreted by many cyclists.” [Washington Post,

11/25/17]

Comstock Voted Against State Transportation Funding Compromise

2013: Comstock Voted Against State Transportation Funding Compromise. In February 2013, Comstock

voted against a state transportation funding plan that was worked out in conference between the House and the state

Senate. According to the Washington Post, “the new plan would do so by replacing the 17.5 cents-per-gallon tax on

gasoline — which had not been changed since 1987 — with a new 3.5 percent wholesale tax on motor fuels that

will keep pace with economic growth and inflation. Supporters say the average motorist could pay as much $15

more a month. The deal’s major components also include boosting the sales tax on nonfood merchandise from 5

percent to 5.3 percent and devoting a fatter slice of existing revenue to transportation instead of schools, public

safety and other services. And it creates a regional funding mechanism that boosts the sales tax to 6 percent in

Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads and requires those funds to be spent only on transportation projects in those

areas.” The compromise plan was adopted 60 to 40. Comstock also voted against final adoption of the bill with the

governor’s recommendations, which passed 64 to 35. [HB 2313, 2013 Session, 2/22/13; 4/03/13; Washington Post,

2/23/13]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/commuter-benefits-could-be-squeezed-by-gops-tax-reform-bills/2017/11/25/302141b8-cf01-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html?utm_term=.4ff2443510fehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/commuter-benefits-could-be-squeezed-by-gops-tax-reform-bills/2017/11/25/302141b8-cf01-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html?utm_term=.4ff2443510fehttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/commuters-lose-company-incentive-for-transit-parking-benefits-in-tax-bill/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/commuter-benefits-could-be-squeezed-by-gops-tax-reform-bills/2017/11/25/302141b8-cf01-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html?utm_term=.4ff2443510fehttp://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+vot+HV1245+HB2313http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+vot+HV1381+HB2313https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/va-lawmakers-approve-landmark-transportation-plan/2013/02/23/712969d8-7de4-11e2-82e8-61a46c2cde3d_story.html?utm_term=.1e694ce14ebf

Transportation Bill Helped Fund Silver Line. The transportation bill “is projected to raise more than $3.5

billion for roads and rails over five years and nearly $900 million annually after 2018. Northern Virginia would

get hundreds of millions from the state, including $300 million committed to complete Metro’s Silver Line

extension to Dulles International Airport.” [Connection Newspapers, 2/27/13]

Washington Post Editorial: Comstock and Others “Thumbing Their Noses At The First Politically Feasible

Solution To Rush-Hour Misery.” “VIRGINIA’S LEGISLATURE has enacted the most important transportation

funding bill in 27 years, a measure bringing billions to fix Northern Virginia’s crumbling roads and horrible traffic.

Amazingly, 12 of 40 Northern Virginia lawmakers — nine Republicans and three Democrats — voted against it,

thumbing their noses at the first politically feasible solution to rush-hour misery.” [Editorial, Washington Post,

3/03/13]

Washington Post Editorial: “In Thrall To Anti-Tax Orthodoxy, Many Republicans Barely Bothered To

Explain Their No Votes,” Including Comstock. “In thrall to anti-tax orthodoxy, many Republicans barely

bothered to explain their no votes. Most clung to the fantasy that Virginia could cannibalize money for roads

from other services, like education. But as Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, a Republican, conceded, the state’s

budget is already lean, and Democrats would not go along with robbing schools to pay for roads. Take Ms.

Comstock, whose constituents in McLean, Vienna and eastern Loudoun grapple with some of the region’s

worst traffic. On her blog, she touts her recent initiatives relating to testing for Lyme disease but devotes not

one word to the transportation bill, which will generate more than $1 billion annually for roads and rails.”

[Washington Post, Editorial, 3/03/13]

Sun Gazette Editorial: Comstock’s Transportation Vote a “Disservice to Her Constituents.” In 2014, the Sun

Gazette wrote: “We have had our quibbles with Comstock’s tenure in the House of Delegates. Among them: her

vote against the 2013 transportation plan was a disservice to her constituents, designed to inoculate herself within

the party against accusations of not being anti-tax enough.” [Sun Gazette, Editorial, 4/22/14]

Washington Post Editorial: Comstock’s Vote Against Transportation Bill Was A “Purely Ideological” One

Based Of Norquist Pledge To “Oppose New Revenue For Any Priority.” “But while Mr. Wolf’s fingerprints are

on virtually every major transportation project in the region, Ms. Comstock opposed the most important state

legislation in more than a quarter century to pay for im-provements to roads, bridges, tunnels and mass transit… In

fact, it was not a tough call for Ms. Comstock; it was a purely ideological one. As one of a minority of Re-publicans

in Richmond who signed Grover Norquist’s pledge to oppose any new taxes, she had long made clear that she

would oppose any new revenue for any priority - even one that had the backing of the state’s top Republicans, as

the transportation bill last year did. Among the lawmakers in Richmond and Washington who have criticized the

no-tax pledge as an impediment to getting things done is Mr. Wolf, who blamed Mr. Norquist for helping to

paralyze Congress.” [Washington Post, Editorial, 9/27/14]

Comstock Voted Against Authorizing $750 Million For Positive Train Control

Comstock Voted Against Amendment To Authorize $750 Million In Positive Train Control To Prevent

Future Amtrak Collisions. In May 2015, Comstock voted against an amendment to authorize $750 million in

positive train control. “House Democrats wanted increased funding for an automated train control system that could

have prevented last week's deadly Amtrak crash included in a surface transportation bill being voted on Tuesday. . .

. A spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Democrats were offering a motion to

recommit on the road and transit measure that the House is voting on Tuesday that would boost the federal

government's funding for the automated train control system to $750 million.” [The Hill, 5/19/15; HR 2353, Vote

#248, 5/19/15]

Comstock Voted Against $3 Million In Additional Funding For Federal Railroad Safety

Comstock Voted Against Additional $3 Million In Additional Funding For Federal Railroad Safety. In June

2015, Comstock voted against an amendment that would “reduce by $3 million funding for the Federal Aviation

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2013/feb/27/local-leaders-praise-transportation-funding-bill/http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/legislators-who-seem-to-like-being-stuck-in-traffic/2013/03/02/4e90ecd6-81f2-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/legislators-who-seem-to-like-being-stuck-in-traffic/2013/03/02/4e90ecd6-81f2-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.htmlhttp://www.insidenova.com/opinion/editorials/sun-gazette-editorial-comstock-is-clear-choice-for-th-district/article_0334319e-ca17-11e3-9cd8-0019bb2963f4.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/unlike-the-man-she-hopes-to-replace-barbara-comstock-fell-in-line-with-anti-tax-ideology/2014/09/27/4bf32274-459f-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.htmlhttp://thehill.com/policy/transportation/242556-house-dems-seek-to-boost-funding-for-automated-trainshttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll248.xmlhttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll248.xml

Administration's operations account, with the reduction targeted at funding for staff offices, and provide an

additional $3 million for the Federal Railroad Administration's safety and operations account.” The amendment

failed 184 to 230. [HR 2577, Vote #308, 6/04/15; CQ Floor Votes, 6/04/15]

Comstock Voted Against Increasing Safety Funding By Nearly $17 Million For Existing Rail Lines

Comstock Voted Against Increasing Safety Funding By Nearly $17 Million For Existing Rail Lines. In June

2015, Comstock voted against an amendment increasing funding for the Federal Railroad Administration’s safety

and operations account by $16,930,000 in order to improve safety on existing rail lines and reduce funding for FRA

capital investment grants by $83 million. “The U.S. House on Thursday rejected an effort by Rep. Scott Garrett to

use some money earmarked for new transit projects to improve safety on existing lines instead. By a vote of 266-

160, the House defeated Garrett's attempt to amend the transportation spending bill and transfer $17 million to the

Federal Railroad Administration's safety account from the funds earmarked for new construction.” The amendment

failed, 160 to 266. [HR 2577, Amendment #18, Vote #302, 6/04/15; NJ.com 6/05/15]

Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Long Term Transportation Bill

Comstock Voted To Block Consideration Of A Long Term Transportation Bill. In July 2015, Comstock voted

for to block consideration of a vote to “re-authorize a long-term Transportation Bill that provides 6 years of funding

so states and localities can address critical infrastructure needs.” The previous question carried, 239-167. A vote

against the previous question was to force the vote on a long term transportation bill. [H Res 369, Vote #450,

7/22/15; Democratic Leader – Previous Questions, 7/22/15]

Bill Would Also Target Corporations Moving Abroad To Avoid Paying Taxes, Instead Reinvest Money

In Transportation Improvements. The bill also intended to “stop corporations that seek to move abroad to

avoid paying their taxes and use that money for transportation improvements here in America.” A vote against

the previous question was to force the vote on a bill to stop corporations moving abroad to avoid paying taxes.

[H Res 369, Vote #450, 7/22/15; Democratic Leader – Previous Questions, 7/22/15]

Comstock Is Bad For Immigrants And Dreamers

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