John Smith

Myth: Mario is accused by his opponent of being a one trick pony.

Fact: Mario continues to be a leader in the areas most important to our community including - transportation, Everglades and environmental restoration, keeping your taxes low, federal funding for education, online safety for families and children, hurricane preparedness and recovery, energy exploration and the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

Myth: Mario’s opponent has criticized him for voting against the financial bailout.

Fact: Mario voted against the financial package because it uses your hard-earned tax dollars to bailout greedy Wall Street executives without requiring them to put up a single cent. Mario will always put taxpayers on Main Street before executives on Wall Street.

Myth: Mario’s opponent says he is a rubber stamp for President Bush.

Fact: Mario voted against President Bush 64 times in this Congressional Session alone; including opposing the President’s irresponsible Wall Street bailout, overriding the President’s veto of critical Everglades funding, and overriding the President’s veto of a historic Farm bill that is providing critical funding to struggling South Florida growers.

Myth: According to his opponent, Mario voted against providing healthcare for children (SCHIP).

Fact: Mario voted to extend vital healthcare funding for our children covered under the SCHIP program; he did not support a bill that would have expanded taxpayer subsidized care to adults, while excluding coverage for legal immigrant children, and increasing taxes by 6,000%.

Myth: Mario’s opponent accuses him of voting five times to increase his salary.

Fact: The Cost of Living Adjustment Act of 1975 gives Members of Congress and military men and women, as federal employees, an automatic annual cost of living adjustment. Mario has never voted to increase his salary.

Myth: Mario is accused of taking thousands from big oil companies.

Fact: Mario has repeatedly opposed legislation supported by oil companies. Mario has a clear record supporting the development of renewable and alternative sources of energy, and supports responsible energy exploration.