John Brunner. (Photo/Brunner campaign)
— On the campaign trail, Republican U.S. Senate hopeful John Brunner has been critical of expanding tax credits for special interests.
“I’m always concerned about carving out special tax advantages for special industries,” he said during a debate last month.
Before Brunner entered the political world, over the last two decades while he was serving as CEO of Vi-Jon, Brunner’s company took advantage of nearly $1.94 million in Missouri tax credits and grants.
Democrats accuse Brunner of hypocrisy.
The issue is the focus of a new web campaign by the Democratic super PAC American Bridge. PoliticMo has learned the group is launching a website and online video campaign criticizing Brunner on the issue, hoping to contrast Brunner’s comments skeptical of government intervention in the economy with his company’s benefit from it.
“John Brunner says the government should not support private industry, but his business has received more than $1.9 million in government funds,” the website says.
Vi-Jon qualified and took advantage of various land development tax credits and job development grants. The grants, which add up to about $500,000, were direct funds from the state government to the company, while the tax breaks were simply Vi-Jon not paying the government. They add up to about $1.5 million in taxes not paid.
Todd Abrajano, spokesman for Brunner, said the campaign is happy to contrast Brunner’s time in business with Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill’s time in Washington.
“If Claire McCaskill and her Democrat hit-squads will attack John Brunner for creating new jobs and expanding factories in economically depressed areas of Missouri, it shows just how scared she is of his candidacy,” said Todd Abrajano, spokesman for the Brunner campaign. “John Brunner will put his record of creating over 1,000 new, good-paying jobs up against the record of fiscal failure that has occurred under the leadership of Claire McCaskill and Barack Obama.”
Since Brunner announced his campaign, Democrats have attempted to damage Brunner on what is likely his biggest selling point to voters: His experience as a businessman in St. Louis. Whether it be highlighting Brunner’s use of tax credits, recent layoffs, or making an issue of his wealth, Democrats are hoping to turn the strength into a potential weakness for the first time candidate.
American Bridge’s attack comes after Missouri Democrats have pushed a similar line of attack against Brunner over the last few days. Last week, they criticized him over the issue of oil tax breaks. Brunner said he was against a proposal supported by McCaskill that would end tax break for oil companies, even after saying he was “concerned” about expanding special interest tax breaks.
The Brunner campaign said the tax credits are not “special,” that they are available to other companies, and pointed out the tax break has a minimal impact on the deficit.