The AP is reporting that Republican Senate candidate Rob Simmons’ “plan for prosperity” borrows liberally and without attribution from a business advocacy group.
“Some sections of Simmons’ plan are nearly the same as so-called “talking points” on small businesses liability reform posted on the Web site of the National Federation of Independent Business,” the AP story states.
“The plan was removed from Simmons’ campaign Web site Wednesday, moments after The Associated Press asked about the similarities,” the story continues. “The campaign manager for Simmons, a former U.S. congressman, blamed the error on a young staffer who borrowed the words without attribution.”
Asked about the matter this afternoon, Simmons campaign manager Jim Barnett issued the following statement: “In developing the ideas in his plan, Rob Simmons relied on his experience as Connecticut’s Business Advocate and his consultations with hundreds of members of the small business community. He conveyed his priorities to staff who were responsible for drafting the language in the plan. Regrettably, in a very small section of the plan, one of our young staffers who helped draft the language made the mistake of borrowing words from another source. Rob Simmons takes this issue seriously, the staffer has been admonished, and the part of the plan in question will be immediately re-worded.”
Then Barnett tried to change the subject. “Linda McMahon is in no position to talk about credibility on jobs given spent last year receiving millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded subsidies designed to create jobs, then turning around and slashing jobs after taking the money, and then receiving millions more from the Wall Street bailout bill she supports. At least this kid’s mistake didn’t cost taxpayers over $800 billion.”