Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton has released a pair of new ads — one touting his own economic agenda and another slamming Democrat James Talarico's record on taxes.
Paxton's campaign announced the ads Tuesday, Sept. 15, as the "first substantial broadcast buy" of the General Election. The ads, which will run on broadcast, streaming and digital platforms, are set to hit the Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Laredo, and Corpus Christi markets.
The first ad, entitled "Tala-broke," seeks to get the message across that "there is nothing 'rico' (rich, in Spanish) about Talarico's record of supporting higher taxes on working families, including opposing no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security," according to a news
release from Paxton's campaign.
Texas does not have an income tax and does not regulate Social Security.
However, the only tax increases Talarico has advocated for are for the nation's wealthiest corporations and individuals.
Here is what he says about taxes on his campaign website: "The richest 1% of Americans now own more wealth than the entire middle class. Dozens of the largest corporations pay zero dollars in federal income taxes. They lobby for policies that cut their own taxes while raising taxes on all of us."
As far as his opposition to ending taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security, those were federal initiatives.
In the second ad, entitled "Ken's Plan," touts Paxton's economic agenda, which includes a $25,000 tax deduction for out-of-pocket medical expenses, a $50,000 home down payment tax deduction, a $5,000 tax deduction for healthy living, and an increase in the Child Tax Credit.
Increasing the Child Tax Credit also is part of Talarico's plan to help Texas families.
“Talarico has consistently fought to take more and more of hardworking Texans’ tax dollars to fund his socialist agenda," Paxton said in the news release. "He has spent his career embracing the most radical policies imaginable and voting for every tax increase he could find. His current rebrand is nothing more than a facade to fool Texans and get elected."
Paxton's team did not include links to where the ads could be found online in the campaign news release.
Talarico has so far not responded to Paxton's allegations.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Paxton's ads promises new tax breaks, Talarico wants corporations to pay more
