WASHINGTON -- Progressive group CREDO Action launched a new attack Wednesday targeting the senators who voted against legislation to expand background checks, highlighting donations the lawmakers received from gun lobbies, including the National Rifle Association.
The group posted the names of 12 senators on its website that are linked to a "receipt" for the amount of money he or she received from a gun lobby. The receipts, designed by anti-gun violence coalition Mayors Against Illegal Guns, have each senator's face on them and a "PAID IN FULL" stamp. Visitors to CREDO Action's website can fill out a form that will send a fax to each senator's office with the receipt and the following message:
It's outrageous that you allowed the NRA to buy your vote against expanded background checks for gun buyers. This common sense change to our gun laws is supported by over 90 percent of Americans and the vast majority of your constituents.
You should be ashamed. I will not forget, and I will hold you accountable for this cowardly vote.
CREDO's is targeting Democratic Sen. Max Baucus (Mont.) and 11 Republicans: Sens. Roy Blunt (Mo.), Richard Burr (N.C.), Saxy Chambliss (Ga.), Dan Coats (Ind.), Ted Cruz (Texas), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Dean Heller (Nev.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Rob Portman (Ohio). As of Wednesday afternoon, 8,713 faxes had been sent, according to details provided to The Huffington Post. CREDO Action spokeswoman Sarah Lane said the group expects the number "to go up significantly."
Last month, CREDO also launched a petition going after the four Democratic senators who voted against expanded background checks for firearms purchases, known as the Manchin-Toomey amendment.
The amendment failed by a vote of 54 to 46, falling short of the 60-vote threshold needed to break a filibuster. Groups that back measures to reduce gun violence have since aggressively targeted the senators who voted against the measure, seeking to step up pressure on lawmakers whose poll numbers have plummeted as a result.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has signaled Democrats might have more support for the measure if it were brought up again. Senators are reportedly engaged in talks to add provisions to the legislation that would address some of the concerns of those who opposed it, but it remains unclear when a new bill might be introduced.
CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to reflect that CREDO accounted for donations from the NRA among other gun lobbies.
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