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U.S. Chamber of Commerce Throws Support Behind Todd Young For Senate

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President Rob Engstrom says Todd Young, left, voted with the Chamber 91-percent of the time.
Brandon Smith/IPBS
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President Rob Engstrom says Todd Young, left, voted with the Chamber 91-percent of the time.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is throwing its support – and its money – behind Todd Young (R-9th) in Indiana’s U.S. Senate race.

The U.S. Chamber’s endorsement comes with a seven-figure ad buy throughout the state.

Chamber Vice President Rob Engstrom says the decision to endorse Young was simple: the Republican voted with the Chamber 91-percent of the time. Engstrom compares that to Evan Bayh’s (D-IN) 55-percent Chamber voting record.

“The battle to restore the American free enterprise system will be won in Indiana,” Engstrom says. “The time has come to send a clear message to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Evan Bayh.”

And Young criticizes Bayh for votes cast in the Senate, including ones supporting banking regulations and the stimulus package.

“ Perhaps most powerfully, he ignored the wishes of Hoosiers and cast a deciding vote for Obamacare,” Young says.

Bayh hit back at Young, criticizing him for accepting campaign contributions from Carrier after the manufacturer announced it was leaving Indiana, costing 1,400 Hoosier jobs. Young points out that Bayh also took money from Carrier.

The contributions to Bayh came in the 2004 and 1998 election cycles.

Brandon Smith has covered the Statehouse for Indiana Public Broadcasting for more than a decade, spanning three governors and a dozen legislative sessions. He's also the host of Indiana Week in Review, a weekly political and policy discussion program seen and heard across the state.
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