In Decisive Win, Pryor Slams Cottons's Record of Putting Billionaire Backers Over Arkansas

Press Release

In today's AETN debate, Sen. Mark Pryor repeatedly hammered Rep. Tom Cotton over his reckless and irresponsible record of pursuing his own political ambitions at the expense of Arkansans.

The freshman congressman shifted uncomfortably under the spotlight as he struggled to dodge and duck any explanation for why he consistently votes in lockstep with the out-of-state billionaires bankrolling his campaign, the same billionaires who urged his vote against Arkansas seniors, students, farmers and families to pay for billionaires' tax breaks.

"[Out-of-state billionaires] are investing in Tom Cotton just like they would in a company," Pryor said. "Why? They want to get a payday on this investment, and they will. If he's elected they will get six years of paydays."

Cotton was clearly ill-prepared for the debate and, in a telling moment, was called out early by one of the panelists for dodging the questions and reciting canned talking points instead.

While Cotton failed to explain why he opposes the best interests of Arkansans and instead, puts his out-of-state campaign funders first, it was Pryor who clearly and steadily communicated the clear choice voters face in this election.

"Leadership in Washington involves walking across the aisle," Pryor said. Addressing his opponent directly, Pryor sealed the moment: "Congressman, you don't have the reputation, the ability or the desire to walk across the aisle to get things done."

On the two candidates approaches to job creation, Pryor emphasized his package of legislation called "America Made Strong," which focuses on manufacturing and incentivizing corporations to bring jobs back to the United States.

"We need to focus on the middle class; we need to focus on manufacturing jobs," Pryor said. "One of the differences in Congressman Cotton and I if you look at his votes, he wants to build the economy from the billionaires down. I want to build it from the middle class out."

Tomorrow night in Fayetteville, Pryor and Cotton will meet in a head-to-head debate, hosted by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and broadcast live statewide by Arkansas's ABC affiliates.

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