The ad targets a number of GOP lawmakers who are in competitive districts, including Rep. Darrell Issa. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Progressive tax reform campaign launches ads in Republican districts

The left-leaning group “Not One Penny” launched a TV ad campaign in eight Republican congressional districts Friday, portraying the GOP tax reform push as a giveaway to the rich driven by campaign donors.

The ad, which plays off a Bernie Sanders-style populist tone, cites “the richest 1 percent of Americans” and rhetorically asks, “Why are Republicans pushing a tax bill that would give billions more to the richest?”


The narrator adds, “Let Congress know, not one penny more, not one penny in tax cuts to millionaires, billionaires and wealthy corporations.”

The targeted lawmakers are Iowa Reps. Rod Blum and David Young, Martha McSally of Arizona, Kevin Yoder of Kansas, Bruce Poliquin of Maine, Will Hurd of Texas, Rick Crawford of Arkansas and Darrell Issa of California. Except for Crawford, all of them are in competitive districts.

In a release, Not One Penny said the ad buy was “seven figure,” without specifying the total. It also will run on cable channels in Washington, D.C.

Congress is expected to take up a tax reform plan in the fall. So far, the conversation has been dominated by conservative voices, including groups that have run ads backing the GOP approach to reform. Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration are advocating a combination of corporate and individual tax cuts and broader changes to the tax code.

Morning Money Political intelligence on Washington and Wall Street — weekday mornings, in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

“The American people are sick and tired of the wealthy and well-connected not paying their fair share,” said Nicole Gill, executive director of Tax March, one of the progressive groups behind the Not One Penny campaign, in the same release. “[We] will hold lawmakers accountable for trying to give even more tax breaks to billionaires and corporate insiders, while working American families foot the bill.”