Today's Massa press conference covered economic development, Randy Kuhl's vote on foreign aid, and immigration.
Eric Massa led off with more discussion of his plan to create "living wage jobs" in the 29th district. Massa said that he will be outlining specific initiatives as the campaign goes on. Today, he focused on the difference between him and Rep. Kuhl on this issue.
Massa charged that Kuhl believes in creating jobs through "addictive government handouts". Massa thinks "pork barrel politics" does not work, for two reasons: First, the country is seriously in debt, which means that handouts are decreasing and will continue to do so. Second, Kuhl is now in the minority and will be less able to arrange those handouts in the future. Massa promised that his plan will outline specific initiatives that will help create a partnership between industry, government and education.
I asked Massa how he responds to those who say that a US Representative can't do as much as state and local government to create those partnerships. He agreed that most of the work had to be done by state and local government, but the federal government must create an "umbrella" under which those others can operate. "Right now, that doesn't exist."
Massa used the example of the Roseland Bowl $2.5 million loan guarantee to counter Kuhl's recent allegation that Democrats are creating a "slush fund" for pet projects. Massa noted that he was against all of that no matter who's doing it, but "it's absolutely disingenuous for Kuhl to talk about the evils of pork-barrel politics" while at the same time touting the funding he received for Roseland Bowl:
This is an Oscar-winning award for what's wrong with government in Washington. Our Representative in Washington, DC announces with great pride that he's gotten $2.5 million for a bowling alley that sits within sight of the Canandaigua VA hospital that's being closed.
I asked Massa whether he sees the Roseland Bowl as a dilemma: he might not agree with the federal program, but it offers a constituent an opportunity to get some federal money that will perhaps help economic development. Massa said he didn't see it as a dilemma at all. The loan program used by the Roseland Bowl as meant to help rural America. "A bowling alley in Canandaigua does not fit that." He doesn't believe that a representative has an obligation to manipulate laws to achieve some goal.
Massa also pointed out that Kuhl had taken down the link to the press release. Massa took that as evidence that it failed the "Washington Post" test, which he says has guided him since he was a young officer:
If you would be embarrassed reading this on the front page of the Washington Post, would you do it? Clearly Randy Kuhl does not want this discussed in the light of day.
Massa also commented on two bills in Congress. The first was the immigration bill. It is Massa's understanding that the Congressional Republican Caucus voted on the current version of the bill and it was overwhelmingly defeated. Massa would like Kuhl to announce how he voted in caucus.
Massa said he opposes the current immigration bill. He thinks a comprehensive bill won't pass, and that we need to first strengthen our borders. He's for a guest worker program, but does not support "blanket amnesty".
The other bill Massa mentioned was the Foreign Aid Bill, which Kuhl opposed. Massa said that, since Kuhl doesn't explain his votes, we're left to speculate on why he opposed that bill. Massa thought it was perhaps because Kuhl opposed the distribution of condoms as part of AIDS programs due to pressure of a small but vocal constituency. Massa said that "Kuhl has veered hard right, and his voting record supports that."