DCCC hits vulnerable Republicans over recess

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is running ads in the districts of four vulnerable House Republicans.

The 30-second radio ads, announced on Tuesday, will be aired throughout the rest of the congressional recess this week.

The ads target GOP Reps. Bob Dold (Ill.), Will Hurd (Texas), John Kline (Minn.) and Dan Benishek (Mich.).

{mosads}At issue in the ads against Dold and Kline are their votes for the House GOP budget resolution last month that would eliminate the federal deficit within nine years by cutting $5.5 trillion over the next decade.

Meanwhile, the DCCC hit Benishek for breaking a previous pledge to serve no more than three terms in Congress. Benishek announced last month that he would run for a fourth term.

“I’m happy to serve the people of northern Michigan if they’ll have me,” Benishek told IPR News, a local radio station. “And I’ve decided that I”m going to try to stay a little longer.”

That came in contrast to his September 2010 pledge that “three terms and you’re retired seems about right to me.”

The ad against Hurd, a freshman, accuses him of departing the House Small Business Committee – even though his office says he was never officially a member in the first place.

“When Congressman Will Hurd went to Congress in January, his appointment to the Small Business Committee gave him a chance to help small businesses in South Texas. But not even three months into his first term, Congressman Will Hurd abruptly quit the Small Business Committee. Call him at (210) 921-3130 and ask him why he gave up on helping our small businesses,” the ad’s narrator says.

According to Hurd’s office, Hurd was only listed as a member of the panel due to an administrative error but still had to submit a formal letter requesting his removal.

“While I appreciate the honor of being appointed, in order to best serve the constituent[s] of Texas’ 23rd congressional district, I believe I must focus on my existing committee assignments,” Hurd stated in the letter.

“With my background in the intelligence community, cybersecurity, and representing the district with the largest length of U.S.-Mexico Border, my ability to focus on my Information Technology Subcommittee Chairmanship and Border and Maritime Subcommittee Vice-Chairmanship is where I believe I can be of most value to my constituents and colleagues in the House,” Hurd wrote.

The Texas Republican’s letter made public on the House floor on March 16 didn’t refer to any clerical mistake because, an aide said, “we didn’t feel the need to mention the error because we knew they were already aware of it.” 

Hurd, a former undercover CIA agent, serves on the House Oversight and Homeland Security Committees. A news release from December announcing Hurd’s committee assignments only listed those two panels.

Hurd’s office said that they became aware of the mistake in January when the Small Business Committee issued a press release of its new members that included his name. Hurd and his staff “immediately” began inquiring how to correct the listing and submitted the letter in February.

“This was a small administrative matter that has now been corrected,” Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), a member of the House GOP Steering Committee that decides committee assignments, said in a statement.

– Updated at 3:12 p.m.