NY-21: Tonko and Buhrmaster Debate

by: Soundpolitic

Thu Oct 16, 2008 at 23:13:24 PM EDT

On Columbus Day, Democrat Paul Tonko and Republican Jim Buhrmaster met at the Dean Alexander Moot Court Room at Albany Law School for one of their only debates open to the public.  The seats in the lecture hall were about half full, and the Albany Law Schools College Democrats and College Republicans both sponsored the debate.

Local radio personality Al Roney of 810WGY moderated the debate for an hour's worth of questions he posed to the candidates after Tonko and Buhrmaster were allowed to make opening statements.  Following this, representatives from the College Democrats and College Republicans asked the candidates questions posed from the audience, which is where the fireworks have always come in the debates to replace retiring Representative Mike McNulty (D-Green Island) since this campaign was in Primary mode.

Now that the 21st and the entire nation is in full General Election mode, jump below the fold to see what each candidates' answer to each question was...in detail that is nowhere to be found in the local media.

NY-21: Tonko Takes Position On Economic Bailout

by: Soundpolitic

Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 10:54:38 AM EDT

One of the last things retiring Representative Mike McNulty did as Congressman was to vote "yea" on both $700 billion bailout packages meant to address the econominc crisis.  McNulty voted for the first measure that failed in the House last week and remained firm in his support for the revised bill first passed in the Senate, then the House, and now set to be signed into law by President Bush.

Voters in the 21st Congressional District deserve to know how their future Congressman feels about this, and today Democractic candidate Paul Tonko let them know exactly how he feels.  The following press release has a headline that reads Tonko Supports Bill, But With Reservations:

"I support the action taken by the House of Representatives yesterday to pass the Economic Stability Act. Although I strongly disagree with several aspects of this legislation, these actions are necessary to ensure the continued flow of credit that allows families to buy homes and send their children to college. I believe the threat to the well-being of working families caused by not acting far outweighs the reservations I have about this legislation.  

"This bill does not go far enough to help people who are in danger of losing their homes. More foreclosures will mean more instability for the housing and financial markets. I believe that bankruptcy judges must be allowed to change the terms of distressed mortgages to prevent more foreclosures. This bill also includes questionable add-ons, including more tax breaks for oil companies, which certainly are not struggling.  

"Another part of this bill that I find very troubling is what I believe are serious conflicts of interest in the administration of this plan. The bailout will be orchestrated by five Bush administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson who is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs, one of the firms that will benefit significantly from this plan. The Congressional oversight committee must watch very closely to ensure that no conflicts of interest affect the disbursements of taxpayer dollars.

"The bill does include protections for taxpayers, including provisions that will allow taxpayers recover their investment when the financial industry returns to profitability. The bill is also an improvement from the Bush Administration's original plan

"There is more work to be done. Despite this rescue plan, we will still face serious economic challenges in the months ahead. Leaders in Washington need to address the factors that led to the failure of the markets and take steps to provide responsible and effective regulation that will make sure this crisis never happens again.

"There are more immediate issues that Washington failed to address, like the record home heating prices facing families this winter. These record prices, combined with record gasoline and food prices, will leave many Capital Region families struggling. Congress must act to increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Plan (LIHEAP). In Congress, I pledge to work in a bipartisan manner to increase LIHEAP funding so people on low and fixed incomes don't have to make the choice between feeding their families and heating their homes."

Soundpolitic's Analysis Below The Fold...

NY-21: Paul Tonko on AIG: Politics of De-Regulation Have Failed

by: Soundpolitic

Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 23:39:54 PM EDT

Democratic candidate for Congress Paul Tonko reiterated his strong words from yesterday on the financial crisis in general, going specific today on the $85 billion bailout of fallen financial giant AIG.  In a nutshell, Tonko says what should be crystal clear by now:  the de-regulations that were supposed to "save" American money trumpeted by conservatives and Republicans have ended up costing us a lot more:

"The bailout of American Insurance Group last night and the resulting market turmoil is further proof that there is a place for regulations that protect consumers and workers from corporate greed and mismanagement.

"Because the American economy as a whole bears so much of the risk of Wall Street firms, it is absolutely necessary that we put responsible regulations in place to prevent these companies from exposing themselves, and us, to unnecessary risk.

"It has now become painfully obvious that the politics of deregulation have, again, failed to serve the best interests of both business and the American people. As a direct result of this crisis, it is becoming more difficult and more expensive for consumers and businesses to get home loans. In order to protect our economic future, we must enact responsible regulations of the financial industry that will prevent the widespread financial malfeasance that lead us to these problems in the first place."

Emphasis added

Yesterday, Tonko faced off in his first forum with his Republican opponent Jim Buhrmaster, who spouted the same old Republican line about that those with the ability to reason realize got us into this mess in the first place:

During questions from chamber members from Bethlehem, Guilderland, Colonie and Schenectady, Buhrmaster peppered his comments with digs at Tonko for what Buhrmaster called "RST" -- plans he says Tonko supports that call for too much regulation, too much spending and too many taxes.

If I had a nickel for everytime a Republican tried to tell me that "too much regulation" was a bad thing, I would have been able to bail out AIG myself.  But Paul Tonko had a better response to the Burgermeister's hooting and hollering:

"You can't always sit there and create drama," said Tonko, who defeated four Democrats in the Sept. 9 primary. "What you really need are results."

So instead of the Republican's "money for nothing, checks for free" plan, Paul Tonko states clearly "That ain't workin'". That's the way you do it.  We need someone in Congress who actually understands the failed politics of de-regulation, not someone who purports the same policies that resulted in these dire straits.

On the Web: Paul Tonko on ActBlue.

NY-21: Candidates Debate on Health Care

by: Soundpolitic

Thu Aug 14, 2008 at 17:29:40 PM EDT

One Democrat, Darius Shahinfar, and the other Republican, Jim Buhrmaster, were both absent from the forum.  Shahinfar because his wife was giving birth to his second child at the time, and Buhrmaster to cast votes in his capacity as Schenectady County Legislator.  The five candidates that remained were then given several questions that devled deep into one of the biggest issues of the primary.

To summarize most briefly, Democratic candidates Phil Steck, Paul Tonko, and Tracey Brooks are in support of a universal health care system, specifically supporting H.R. 676 for a national single payer system; Shahinfar also supports this measure based on previous comments.  Republican candidate Steven Vasquez joined self-described conservative Democrat Joseph Sullivan in opposition to universal health care.  While the meat of the debate featured a lot of policy and a little politics, the somewhat chaotic and very passionate nature of the questions posed by the audience at the end of the debate made it worth sitting through.

Below the fold, a full report of the questions and answers in yet another debate in this hotly contested primary.

NY-21: State of the Race - 7/27 to 8/1

by: Soundpolitic

Fri Aug 01, 2008 at 02:24:34 AM EDT

As we say goodbye to July and hello to August, the two primaries for the Democratic and Republican nominations to be the NY-21's next Representative keeps rolling.  While there are no holidays in August, you can rest assured that none of the candidates are taking one, and are likely getting a lot of exercise and perhaps even bruises on their knuckles from knocking on doors.

This week may not have been as awash in news as last week's State of the Race, but in a race with five Democrats and two Republicans, there's bound to be enough news even for the seventh day of rest.  Get your fill below the fold...

NY-21: Republicans Fight Over Signtaures

by: Soundpolitic

Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 15:34:09 PM EDT

What a sight of relief I heaved when I actually read the story and discovered it's the Republicans squabbling over the recently filed nominating petitions and not us Democrats.

So who's behind this quarrel from the other side of the aisle...and is it really just confined to the Red corner?  Check below the fold for a quick update...

NY-21: Democratic, GOP Primary Candidates Debate

by: Soundpolitic

Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 21:43:20 PM EDT

Yesterday night, the Albany Jewish Community Center and NORC hosted a forum featuring all seven candidates vying for both major party lines in an open Congressional race to fill the vacancy that will be left when Rep. Mike McNulty (D-Green Island) retires.  It was the first debate held after the filing of nominating petitions, so all seven candidates will be appearing on the ballot for the September 9th primary.

"I am not the League of Women Voters!" the hostess pointed out at the beginning of the forum, before asking the first question of all the candidates: would they all sign a civility pledge as drawn up by the League?  The response was unanimous in the affirmative, and the candidates kept to that pledge for the entirety of the debate.

Below the fold, you get the candidates opening and closing statements and their answers to six questions submitted from the audience.

NY-21: Jim Buhrmaster Running For The Chance To Lose In November

by: phillip anderson

Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:23:35 AM EST

GOP's Buhrmaster eyes run for Congress

Republican insiders say Schenectady County Legislator Jim Buhrmaster will be the GOP candidate running for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike McNulty.

Word has it Buhrmaster has the support of GOP chairmen from various counties in the 21st Congressional District to represent the party in the November election.

Earlier, Republican Chris Callahan was thinking about running. The other day, Callahan, retired Saratoga County comptroller, told some party leaders he won't seek the nomination.

Buhrmaster easily won election last November to a second four-year term on the County Legislature. The Buhrmaster Energy Group owner represents the towns of Niskayuna and Glenville.

Unlike crowded scramble among Democrats for the nomination, there is no traffic jam for the GOP ballot line because the district has an overwhelming Democratic enrollment.

I guess the GOP has to run somebody, and Callahan has already (wisely) taken a pass. I think it's somewhat admirable of Buhrmaster to take one for the GOP team as there's just no way a republican wins this seat.