Raja: Fitz ad "laden with lies"

The new negative TV ad from the Rich Fitzgerald for executive campaign is "laden with lies," according to Republican opponent D. Raja's team.

Their full statement is after the jump:

Fitzgerald TV Loaded With Lies.
Fitzgerald's personal attacks amount to business as usual 

PITTSBURGH, PA --

Today Rich Fitzgerald released a false TV ad that is laden with lies about Raja and his company. This is politics as usual we are accustomed to seeing from Rich Fitzgerald. He needs to lie about Raja to deflect from his atrocious record as County Council President.

Rich Fitzgerald has created the largest tax in the history of Allegheny County. Rich Fitzgerald has seen unemployment double during his time in office. Rich Fitzgerald has increased government spending by 48%.

"Rich Fitzgerald's record as a tax and spend career politician is not what Allegheny County wants to vote for. Faced with slipping poll numbers and a struggling campaign Fitzgerald has resorted to personal character assassination and he should be ashamed." – James Genovese, Raja Campaign Manager

The Facts:

VO: Allegheny County is doing better than most:

Fact: Allegheny County unemployment has doubled in the past 10 years (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Rich Fitzgerald instituted the largest tax in Allegheny County history. Just yesterday, Saks Fifth Avenue announced they were closing their Pittsburgh store. Over the past ten years the border communities of Cranberry, Cannonsburg, and Peters Township have flourished as business has fled Allegheny County.

VO: Raja made his fortune outsourcing jobs

Fact: 94% of Raja's payroll is in the United States. CEI specializes in making software for large companies and has had its corporate headquarters in Allegheny County since its founding.

VO: Raja's company has been fined by the Department of Labor for not paying people the minimum wage.

Fact: CEI has never been fined by the Department of Labor for not paying minimum wage or for any other reason.

VO: Raja is a job destroyer not a job creator

Fact: Raja has created over 300 jobs in the United States including over 100 jobs right here in Allegheny County.