Seals supporters supported by facts

In his letter (Fence Post, July 26), William Murphy accused Dan Seals and his supporters of making up their own facts to smear Mark Kirk.

This is untrue. We have formed our opinions by observing Mark Kirk and his voting record, a record with which we often disagree. Here are a few examples:

In July 2005, Kirk voted for HR 6, the Bush energy bill that provided billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives to Big Oil and gas companies, opened up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling and weakened pollution regulations.

In July 2008, Kirk voted against HR 6578 that would release nearly 10 percent of the oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and replace it with heavier, cheaper oil.

In June 2208, Kirk voted against HR 6251 and in July 2008 voted against HR 6515, both of which would require oil companies to start drilling on the land that they already had.

According to the Daily Herald in 2005, Kirk pushed for legislation to relieve the high gas prices but voted twice against bills that would have punished price gougers.

According to the Center for Responsible Politics, the FEC reports that Kirk accepted over $45,000 in contributions from oil and gas companies.

Based on all of the above data, none of which we made up, is it any wonder Seals and his supporters think Kirk is in the pocket of Big Oil?

Shelley Richardson

Wheeling