8/8/2019 FACT SHEET Edwards Runs False Ad 2010 0906

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FACT SHEET: Edwards Runs False Ad (9/4/10)

Bill Flores said, “Twenty-year incumbent Chet Edwards has hit a new level of desperation in his latest attack 

advertising. His charge that I helped run a company which laid off over 3,000 employees is defamatory and false.Given his track record of running dirty campaigns to hold onto power, this latest round of Edwards' gutter politics is

disappointing. Texans are looking for leaders to address our country’s current problems, but all they get from Edward

are false and deceitful attack ads. Our choice in November is clear—we can restore America’s Promise, Prosperity, an

Security for our Children and Grandchildren or we can choose Edwards’ Washington Insider attack politics.”

Congressman Chet Edwards (D-TX) has launched a false, negative ad, “Bill Flores Jobs,” that claims:

  An “oil company” that Bill Flores “helped run, laid off over 3,000 workers”

BACKGROUND1) The company referenced in the false ad is Baker Hughes, which acquired Western Atlas in August 1998

2) Prior to the merger with Baker Hughes, Bill was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wester

Atlas. Following the merger in August 1998, Flores was not retained or hired by Baker Hughes and was relieved of himanagement responsibilities at Western Atlas at the time of the merger.

3) From August to December 1998, Bill Flores remained an employee of Western Atlas and was paid by Western

Atlas, but his responsibility was limited to one special project which did not involve the layoff of any Western Atlas or

Baker Hughes personnel.

HERE IS WHAT IS FALSE1) Bill did not “help run” Baker Hughes – he was relieved of his management authorities once it merged with

Western Atlas on August 10, 1998.

2) Bill played no part in laying off workers – he was never employed by Baker Hughes as part of the merger

agreement. In addition, Western Atlas did not make any major personnel layoffs prior to the merger because it was

prohibited from making any major changes to its businesses before the merger closed in August 1998.

3) Neither of Baker Hughes or Western Atlas was an “oil company,” as referenced in the false ad; rather, they wereboth oilfield services companies which provide services to oil and gas companies.

AD TRANSCRIPT

NARRATOR: BILL FLORES SAYS-HIS ENERGY COMPANIES CREATED OVER 500 JOBS.

WHAT HE DOESN’T SAY-IS THAT AN OIL COMPANY HE HELPED RUN, LAID OFF 

<<CITATION: “SEC Filings Filed July 1999 covering 1998, Bill Flores Resume, 2004”>>

OVER 3000 WORKERS, AND THEN PAID OFF ITS TOP EXECUTIVES WITH MILLIONS.

<<CITATION: “SEC Filings Filed July 1999 covering 1998”>>

OVER 3000 WORKERS THROWN OUT OF WORK.

<<CITATION: “SEC Filings Filed July 1999 covering 1998”>>

 EXECUTIVES GET PAYMENTS OF MILLIONS?

<<CITATION: “SEC Filings Filed July 1999 covering 1998”>>

 DID BILL FLORES REALLY THINK NO ONE WOULD FIND OUT?

CHET EDWARDS: I’M CHET EDWARDS, AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

Paid for by Bill Flores for Congress