Claim #1: Missed Votes

WashingtonVotes Showed Benton Missed 299 Votes Since January 1, 2009. [WashingtonVotes.org, accessed 9/14/12]

Benton Has Missed Just Over 12% Of Votes Since January 1st, 2009. According to WashingtonVotes.org, out of 2,469 total roll call votes, Benton had missed 299, or 12.11% of all roll call votes since January 1st, 2009. [WashingtonVotes.org, accessed 9/14/12]

Since January 1st, 2009, 93.7% Of Senators Who Served Have Missed Fewer Votes Than Benton. According to WashingtonVotes.org, since January 1st, 2009, 93.7% of senators who have served have missed fewer votes than Benton has, in terms of the raw number of votes missed. Out of 64 senators who have served in that time period, Benton missed the 4th-most votes. 93.7% of Senators voted more often than Don Benton. [WashingtonVotes.org, accessed 9/14/12]

Benton Claimed That He Would Never Miss A “Deciding” Vote – But He Did Exactly That In 2009

Benton Said In A July 2012 Email That He “Never Missed A Vote Where My Vote Would Have Changed The Outcome.” In an July 2012 email, Benton said, “I have never missed a vote where my vote would have changed the outcome. When I miss votes it’s because I am needed to negotiate tax reductions, or when I speak to school children who come from Vancouver to visit the capitol.” [Email, Don Benton for Senate, 7/26/12]

Benton Missed A “Key Vote On Local-Option Taxes In Which Lt. Gov. Brad Owen Broke A 24-24 Tie And Approved The Bill, Which…Republicans Were Opposing.” According to the Olympian, “But [Benton] did miss one key vote on local-option taxes in which Lt. Gov. Brad Owen broke a 24-24 tie and approved the bill, which Benton’s fellow Republicans were opposing.” [Olympian, 5/2/09]

Benton In 1998: I’ve Never Missed A Roll Call Where My Vote Would Have Been Decisive. According to the Oregonian, “Benton acknowledged missing the votes but responded that Baird's charges were ‘clearly deceptive and extremely misleading.’ Benton said that he never missed a vote that would have been a deciding vote and that more than half the missed votes were on bills he had voted on in earlier versions.” [The Oregonian, 10/12/98]

WashingtonVotes.org Is A Respected Source Developed By Two Conservative Organizations

WashingtonVotes.org Was A Project Of The Policy Center. According to WashingtonVotes, “WashingtonVotes.org is a free public service of Washington Policy Center, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization that does not lobby or endorse candidates.” [WashingtonVotes, accessed 9/14/12]

 Washington Policy Center “Promotes Sound Public Policy Based On Free-Market Solutions.” According to the website of the Washington Policy Center, “Washington Policy Center (WPC) is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan think tank that promotes sound public policy based on free-market solutions.” [Website, Washington Policy Center, accessed 9/14/12]

WashingtonVotes.org Was Copyrighted By The Mackinac Center For Public Policy. [WashingtonVotes, accessed 9/14/12]

 Mackinac Center For Public Policy Sought To Broaden “The Debate On Issues That For Many Years Has Been Dominated By The Belief That Government Intervention Should Be The Standard Solution.” According to the website of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, “The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is broadening the debate on issues that has for many years been dominated by the belief that government intervention should be the standard solution.” [Website, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, accessed 9/14/12]

“In 2005, The Columbian Described WashingtonVotes.org As A “Must-Have.” According to the Columbian, “Another must-have Web site for the legislative session is www.washingtonvotes.org. There you can search for bills of interest and track lawmakers' voting records.” [The Columbian, 1/9/05]

Claim #2: Departure From State GOP Chairmanship

Benton Was Elected “Chairman Of The State Republican Party” By A 41-29 Margin. According to the Associated Press, “Sen. Don Benton has been elected chairman of the state Republican Party. Gathering at the DoubleTree Hotel here for its quarterly meeting, the state GOP committee elected the Vancouver, Wash., state senator to the post by a vote of 41-29 Saturday.” [Associated Press, 5/22/00]

Benton’s Tenure As State Republican Party Chair Ended Over Fiscal Mismanagement And Internal Discord

While Chair Of The State Republican Party, Benton “Refused To Resign After News Broke He Intended To Move The State Party Headquarters” & “Had Already Purchased A Building Without Proper Approval.” According to Roll Call, “The previous chairman, Don Benton, refused to resign after news broke that he intended to move the state party headquarters from the area to Olympia and that he had already purchased a building without proper approval.” [Roll Call, 9/8/04]

In 2001, The Washington State Republican Party Replaced Benton With Chris Vance. According to the Seattle Times, “The state Republican Party chose Metropolitan King County Councilman Chris Vance…as its new chairman, ending Don Benton’s short and troubled tenure.” [Seattle Times, 1/28/01]

State GOP Executive Board Unanimously Ordered The State Party Make Available Its Premises, Financial Documents And Computers For Review By Its Top Board Members. The Columbian reported, “The 18-person executive committee…adopted several motions approved by 16-0 votes… It ordered that [GOP Vice Chairwoman Arlene] Hillmer and two top board members ---- each a Republican national committee member ---- be given full access to all party premises, financial documents and computers for review.” [The Columbian, 12/8/00]

Benton Was Accused Of Making A “Secret Deal” To Purchase A Headquarters For The State GOP And Going Forward Even After Being Informed He Lacked The Authority To Do So. The Columbian reported, [M]embers were told that Benton had not received word from party attorney John White whether he had authority to close a $ 365,000 deal on a new Olympia headquarters without executive board approval, [GOP executive board member Ken] Seal said. It is believed Benton was told by White that he did not have that power one day after the Nov. 30 deal, and one day before he chaired last Saturday's board meeting, at which Benton abruptly broke the news, Seal said. ‘This was a secret deal. He doesn't understand that he is subject to the committee. He is not king domo of the party,’ Seal said.” [The Columbian, 12/8/00]

Benton Agreed To Request From Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson To Return $700,000 In National Party Money Given To The Washington GOP. The Associated Press reported, “Benton said Thursday he agreed to a request by Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson to return funds that were sent to the state party late in the campaign season. The News Tribune of Tacoma reported Friday that money alone was $700,000.” [AP, 12/8/00]

State GOP Demanded Benton’s Resignation And Took Away His Spending Authority

Washington State Republican Party Executive Committee “Demanded [Benton’s] Resignation As State GOP Chair.” According to an editorial in the Columbian, “What part of ‘You’re out!’ does Don Benton not understand? Or is the Republican state senator from Vancouver forgetting what happened in 2000? That’s the year his party’s state executive committee demanded his resignation as state GOP chair. Party leaders were upset because Benton left unspent at least $1 million in campaign donations, and that was the election in which Democrat Maria Cantwell narrowly defeated U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash. Benton also had his check-signing authority stripped by the GOP after he tried to purchase a headquarters building, allegedly without authorization.” [Columbian, 1/14/06]

Benton’s Tenure As GOP Chair Was “Brief And Contentious” And Resulted In The Party’s Executive Board Asking For His Resignation. The Yakima Herald-Republic reported, “His election brings to anthe [sic] brief and contentious tenure of Benton, of Vancouver, who was asked to resign last month by the state GOP's executive board after it learned that Benton had signed a contract to buy a building in Olympia and move the party headquarters from Tukwila.” [Yakima Herald Republic, 1/28/01]

 State GOP Executive Board: “The Board Asked Don Benton To Do What Is Right And Consider The Party’s Interests And To Resign Immediately.” According to the Associated Press, in a statement, the Washington GOP Executive Board said, ‘To keep faith with our donors and supporters, the board asked Don Benton to do what is right and consider the party's interests and to resign immediately,’ the board said in a statement…” [AP, 12/8/00]

Despite The Problems Of His Previous Tenure, Benton Tried To Reclaim The Chairmanship Of The State Republican Party

Benton Ran For “The Chair Of the State Republican Party” Again In 2006. According to Seattle Weekly, “Meanwhile, state Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, is seeking the post that caused him so much trouble six years ago: the chair of the state Republican Party.” [Seattle Weekly, 1/18/06]

Claim 3: $1 Million In Direct Costs

An Outside Group, Not Tim Probst, Attacked Benton For Taking $1 Million In Pay

Materials Alleging That Benton Took Over $1 Million In Salaries, Per Diems And Office Expenditures Was Produced By “Working Families For The 17th District.” According to the Columbian, “The Working Families for the 17th District ad states: “Taxpayers have paid Don Benton (R) a King’s ransom -- more than $1,000,000 in salaries, cell phone charges, per diems and office reimbursements while he’s been in office.” [The Columbian, 8/19/12]

Mailer Accusing Benton Of Taking $1 Million In Taxpayer-Funded Salary And Expenditures “Was Not Sent Out By Probst’s Campaign.” According to the Columbian, “An example of this can be seen with the mailer I wrote about this week. The mailer was not sent out by Probst’s campaign…The ad was the second one sent out by the Democratic group named Working Families for the 17th District. The first ad they sent out also included the $1 million statistic.” [The Columbian, 8/7/12]

Don Benton Did Take Over $1 Million In Salaries, Per Diems And Office Expenditures As A State Senator

Combined Analysis of Benton’s Missed Votes and Direct Costs Since 2002 Year Session Per SCAN Postage Production Travel Total Salary Total Cost Diem Phone Expense Tracking Expense Expenses Including Charges System Cost System System Salary

2012 $6,660 $9.35 $12.09 Not Listed Not Listed $6,681.44 $42,106 $48,787.44 2011 $19,599 $22.74 $2,435.19 $5,146.74 $542.13 $27,646.80 $42,106 $69,752.00 2010 $10,217.65 $1,216.95 $8,275.09 $12,634.69 $836.10 $33,180.48 $42,106 $75,286.48 2009 $15,389.93 $1,963.00 $18,020.54 $8,511.08 $749.25 $44,633.80 $42,106 $86,739.80 2008 $15,060.00 $1,821.33 $11,267.60 $5,863.59 $2,009.70 $36,022.22 $42,106 $78,128.22 2007 $16,534.28 $1,840.59 $14,241.37 $17,581.36 $1,461.85 $51,659.45 $41,280 $92,939.45 2006 $13,205.68 $1,995.51 $6,712.54 $3,294.99 $3,479.95 $28,668.67 $36,311 $64,979.67 2005 $16,359.08 $1,925.26 $18,036.99 $15,582.74 $3,281.38 $55,185.45 $35,254 $90,439.45 2004 $12,202.91 $1,544.34 $13,099.86 $9,488.48 $1,840.11 $38,175.70 $34,227 $72,402.70 2003 $16,199.08 $1,436.15 $17,466.53 $18,008.99 $2,717.32 $55,828.07 $33,556 $89,384.07 2002 $12,474.00 $1,260.01 $13,799.14 $7,443.08 $765.63 $35,741.86 $33,556 $69,297.86 2001 $18,788.00 $1,449.03 $19,137.31 $13,652.31 $1,400.26 $54,426.91 $ 32,064 $86,490.91 2000 $15,356.00 $555.52 $13,722.93 $8,493.29 $1,531.14 $39,658.88 $ 32,064 $71,722.88 1999 $14,256.00 $2,076.05 $11,706.51 $15,246.07 $4,262.74 $47,550.37 $ 32,064 $79,614.37 Grand Total $555,059.30 $520,906 $1,075,965.30 [Secretary of the Senate; Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Election Officials, accessed 5/8/12]

In August 2012, The Columbian Ran The Numbers And Determined That Benton Did Take Over $1 Million During His Tenure

“In Salary Alone, Benton, Who Was Elected To The Senate In 1996, Has Made More Than $586,000.” [The Columbian, 8/7/12]

“Since 1999, Benton Has Spent More Than $555,000 On” Office Expenses, Including “Cell Phone Expenses, Printing And Postage Associated With Constituent Outreach, And Cost Of Living Expenses…” The Columbian reported, “In addition to salary, lawmakers also may charge the state to cover the cost of cell phone expenses, printing and postage associated with constituent outreach, and cost of living expenses (per diem) while they are on official business. Since 1999, Benton has spent more than $555,000 on those types of expenses, according to expense summary reports kept by Senate administration.” [The Columbian, 8/19/12]

Don Benton Has Little Standing To Accuse Anybody Else Of Lying Or False Attacks

2010: Benton Ad Against Senator Called “Quite False”, “Misleading” And “Bogus” By Independent Fact Check Organization

FactCheck.Org On May 11, 2010: “Don Benton…Is Airing A False And Misleading Ad…” According to Annenberg Public Policy Center’s FactCheck.org, Don Benton, a Republican from Washington state who is running for U.S. Senate against Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, is airing a false and misleading ad that says: ‘Patty Murray voted to use taxpayer money to give Viagra to sex offenders.’” [FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 5/11/10]

HEADLINE: “Benton’s Bogus Viagra Ad” [FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 5/11/10]

FactCheck.Org: Benton Ad Against Senator Patty Murray Was “Quite False.” According to Annenberg Public Policy Center’s FactCheck.org, “Murray and 56 other Democrats voted “yes” to ‘table’ Coburn’s amendment – meaning to kill it. The state exchanges, though, won’t be created until Jan. 1, 2014, so Americans – including those convicted of sex offenses – won’t receive any federal subsidies to buy health plans until then. That makes the ad quite false when it says ‘your taxpayer dollars are already’ subsidizing Viagra for sex offenders.” [FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 5/11/10]

2010: Attack By Benton On Senator Patty Murray Was “Misleading”

FactCheck.Org: Benton’s Attack On Senator Patty Murray Alleging She Voted Use Taxpayer Dollars To Provide Viagra To Sex Offenders Was “Misleading”: “She Supported No Such Proposal.” We also find the claim that Murray “voted to use taxpayer money to give Viagra to sex offenders” to be misleading. She supported no such proposal. [FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 5/11/10]

Benton’s Ad Took Advantage Of Partisan Republican Ploys To Falsely Attack Senator Patty Murray

FactCheck.org: GOP Amendment On Viagra-For-Sex-Offenders Was Described By Montana Democratic Senator Max Baucus As “A Cross Political Student Aimed At Making 30-Second Commercials.” According to Annenberg Public Policy Center’s FactCheck.org, “At the time, Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana said of Coburn’s amendment: ‘It is a crass political stunt aimed at making 30-second commercials, not public policy.’” [FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 5/11/10]

FactCheck.org: GOP Amendment “Was One Of Numerous Amendments Offered By Republicans In A Failed Attempt To…Delay” The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act. According to Annenberg Public Policy Center’s FactCheck.org, “But as we have written before, that was one of numerous amendments offered by Republicans in a failed attempt to force the Democrats to amend the health bill and, thereby, delay its passage by sending the bill back to the House.” [FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 5/11/10]

FactCheck.org: “Some Of The Stalling Amendments,” Including The Viagra-For-Sex-Offenders Amendment, “Were Written So As To Be Hard For Democrats To Vote Against Without Embarrassment.” According to Annenberg Public Policy Center’s FactCheck.org, “Some of the stalling amendments, including this one, were written so as to be hard for Democrats to vote against without embarrassment.” [FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 10/8/10]

FactCheck.org: Benton’s Ad Was One Of Many Run By Republican Senate Candidates Across The Country Against Incumbent Democrats Like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). According to Annenberg Public Policy Center’s FactCheck.org, “And Reid isn’t the first politician to have the vote used against him. In May, Don Benton, a Republican Senate hopeful from Washington state, made a similar claim about his opponent, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray. We wrote that ‘Murray voted against a Viagra ban, and not explicitly to provide Viagra, as this ad claims.’ The same is true of Harry Reid.” [FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 10/8/10]

 FactCheck.org: Nevada Version Of Ad That Benton Ran Against Senator Patty Murray Was “Shocking – and Misleading…” [FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 10/8/10]