The campaign of U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) responded to an ad being run by opponent Dr. Victoria Wulsin (D-Indian Hill) that hits Schmidt on Ohio's gas tax by calling Wulsin a "hypocrite."

Wulsin's ad hits Schmidt for her vote in support of Ohio's 2003 transportation bill, which raised the state gas tax by six cents over three years from 22 cents to 28 cents.

Schmidt spokesperson Bruce Pfaff responded to the Wulsin ad buy, calling it "political malpractice" and "embarrassingly shameful."

"Vic Wulsin is an astonishing hypocrite," Pfaff said. "She attacks Jean Schmidt for voting for Ohio's budget almost seven years ago while hoping people forget Vic proposed a significant tax increase less than two years ago."

The reference is to a television interview Wulsin did in 2006 on WLWT during which she said, ""One more thing about gas prices...I believe we need some sort of progressive tax on gas prices.  The way they work now, again the working class, the middle class, pays more than their fair share than the very wealthy.And I believe that we as a country, believe in equality for all, and that means that we who benefit from our society need to contribute."

Pfaff went on to say that two years ago Wulsin proposed "a ludicrous gas tax idea that would have seriously hurt middle-class families." Pfaff called Wulsin a "protégé of Speaker Nancy Pelosi who has thwarted every attempt to make America energy independent."

Pfaff called Schmidt a "true leader fighting for the people of the 2nd district" and said that Schmidt "stood solidly with the people of the 2nd District in opposition to Democrat plans to increase the federal gas tax."

"She is calling for new drilling to increase our supply of energy," Pfaff said. "She has supported greater conservation as well as increasing America's use of alternative and renewable energy resources."

Pfaff also said it was poor form for Wulsin to "launch a dubious political attack" on Schmidt while Hurricane Gustav hits the gulf coast.

Wulsin communications director responded by saying that the only candidate in the race who has "actually raised taxes on middle-class families in Ohio" is Schmidt.

"She raised the gas tax," he said. "She raised the sales tax. She even sponsored a bill that resulted in a tax increase while she was in Columbus."

Franck was referring to a bill sponsored by Schmidt in the Statehouse raising the excise tax county commissioners can levy from 3 percent to 4.5 percent, as well as Schmidt's support for the 2003 transportation budget.