The arm of the Mark Zuckerberg-backed immigration reform group that focuses on conservatives is going on air in Milwaukee with a pro-reform spot defending Rep. Paul Ryan, POLITICO has learned. Americans for a Conservative Direction bought roughly $350,000 worth of TV time targeted toward Ryans district, a source tracking the air wars said. Thats almost double what the anti-immigration Federation for American Immigration Reform is spending on 30-second spots accusing Ryan of backing amnesty.
The spot from the FWD.us affiliate begins with a picture of Ryan and says, Amnesty? Not a chance, and goes on to say the House budget chairman is looking at a conservative solution to the issue of immigration. It then focuses on more muscular pieces of the reform effort such as increased border security, E-verify and items like back taxes charged to illegal immigrants already in the country. The buy runs from Friday through Sept. 3 on cable and broadcast networks.
Ryan has been working to push for a version of comprehensive reform in the House.