Walz Attack Ad Misleads, Credibility in Question

Gutknecht worked to increase military pay by 41 percent since 2000

10.4.2006

Rochester, Minn. - DFL challenger for Congress Tim Walz is airing an advertisement attacking Congressman Gil Gutknecht for opposing an amendment offered by U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) to include a $1,500 bonus for National Guard members. The fact is that Gutknecht has voted to raise military pay by 41 percent since 2000, including a 4.1 percent raise in the FY04 Defense Appropriations Bill.

"Tim Walz will have you believe that Congressman Gutknecht has opposed pay increases for members of the military. This follows his path of inaccuracies and half truths," said Gutknecht for Congress Campaign spokesman Bryan Anderson. "Congressman Gutknecht has consistently supported military pay increases. These pay raises have added to 41 percent since 2000."

Just weeks before Rep. Stupak's amendment was offered, Republicans voted to increase troop pay. The FY04 Defense Appropriations bill included:

1. A 4.1 percent pay increase for all active duty personnel
2. An increase in the basic allowance for housing, lowering out-of-pocket costs
   for military personnel from 7.5 percent to 3.5 percent
3. $128 million for a permanent increase in family separation allowances and imminent danger pay

U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee who recently appeared at an event for Walz, also opposed the amendment mentioned in Walz's ad, arguing, "I do not think an amendment like this helps us. I think we really have a problem. I know we all want to help the troops, but we struggle all the time trying to make sure we balance out the money they make. I just do not think this is the right way to do it."

Gutknecht was first elected in 1994. He is a member of the House Agriculture, Government Reform and Science Committees. He serves as chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Dairy, Nutrition, and Forestry.