Candidate Mark Begich’s “Priorities” vs. Senator Begich’s actions

Senator Mark Begich likes to claim to be “Independent as Alaska,” someone who puts the needs of his state ahead of partisan loyalty. Someone whose job it is to fight for what is best for Alaska, even if puts him at odds with his own party. However, the Begich Washington, D.C. sees is hardly the independent candidate Begich is trying to project back home. Let’s take a look at some of the ways candidate Begich and Begich differ.

Candidate Begich

Candidate Begich touts priorities like fiscal responsibly, jobs and the economy.

Senator Begich

As a senator, Begich has done little to achieve any of these goals. Then again, how much independence can one expect from a senator who votes with Harry Reid and the Democratic Party 94% of the time?

Candidate Begich

Candidate Begich claims to be “working across party lines to cut wasteful federal spending—large and small.”

Senator Begich

Senator Begich vote after vote continues to spend, pushing the nation into trillions of dollars of debt. Whether it was casting the 60th vote for ObamaCare, preventing the moratorium on earmarks, or bailing out the nearly depleted Highway Trust Fund, Senator Begich has done little more than pay lip service to reining in the out of control spending he seems to care so much about. Candidate Begich may be “concerned” with our 17 trillion dollar debt, but Senator Begich hasn’t figured out we have a real problem.

Candidate Begich

As a candidate, Begich touts: “I am a senator that always puts Alaska’s families and communities first. This means always putting Alaska before any party or special interest group.”

Senator Begich

76% of Begich’s campaign money comes from outside Alaska and 36% comes for Political Action Committees. It seems Begich has made a lot friends outside the state. I wonder if candidate Begich has ever explained to Begich what these out of state and special interests donors expect from his office?

Catchy slogans and slick campaign bullet points are no match for cold hard facts. The candidate Mark Begich is presenting to the voters in Alaska is the not the kind of senator he has been for the last six years.