In his new radio ad, Bob Corker blasts Congress for taking pay raises while boosting spending and running up the national debt. While it is true that the GOP Congress has done all these things, Bob Corker did so as well when he was the mayor of Chattanooga. (If you want to listen to the ad, open the attached file.)“Bob Corker’s picture should be in the dictionary next to the word ‘hypocrite,’” DSCC spokesman Phil Singer said. “As Mayor of Chattanooga, Corker has done everything he is complaining about in his new radio ad: He’s taken pay raises, boosted spending and exploded the city’s debt. When it comes to Bob Corker, watch what he does, not what he says.”
CORKER COMPLAINS ABOUT PAY RAISES BUT HE TOOK PAY RAISES
In his new radio ad, Bob Corker lists the ways politicians “let us down,” including “Congress voted again to raise their pay.” But as Mayor of Chattanooga, Corker accepted a pay raise while simultaneously eliminating Chattanooga’s annual step pay program that gives automatic raises to city employees. In 2001, Mayor Corker’s pay rose from $118,796 to $122,360. He also accepted pay raises in 2002 and 2003, when he was the only mayor of the state’s four largest cities to receive one. Soon after finding out about his own salary increase, Corker proposed his first budget, which eliminated annual, automatic step pay increase for city employees, including police officers. [Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/17/01, 8/22/01, 10/23/01, 10/28/01; 7/03/03]
CORKER COMPLAINS ABOUT RISING DEBT BUT HE GREW CHATTANOOGA’S DEBT
In his new radio ad, Bob Corker complains, “The federal debt hit an all time high this quarter.” But as Mayor of Chattanooga, Corker allowed the city’s debt to jump 35% in four years. But during Corker's tenure as Mayor, the Chattanooga’s long term debt jumped from $317.7 million to $428.8 million, an increase of 35%. [City Chattanooga's Comprehensive Annual Budget Reports, 2001-2005]
CORKER COMPLAINS ABOUT SPENDING BUT BOOSTED CHATTANOOGA’S SPENDING
In his new radio ad, Corker complains that “spending [is] out of control” and asks, “When was the last time an elected official controlled spending.” The answer isn’t Bob Corker. As mayor of Chattanooga, Corker increased spending by almost 20%, by more than $23 million. [Chattanooga's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports, 2001-2005]
