Today's Massa press conference discussed Massa's new jobs plan [pdf].
Massa began by discussing a Kuhl quote in yesterday's D&C story about the race:
Randy Kuhl defied anyone to show him jobs lost because of free trade. I just concluded a press conference in front of an abandoned factory where Rochesterians used to work, which was driven out of business due to free trade
Massa had two other examples, both of which were accentuated by individuals at the press conference. One was the closing of an auto parts plant in Canandaigua, and the other was a plant in Elmira.
Free trade has destroyed living wage jobs in this country. I've stood throughout my candidacy for fair trade, for leveling the playing field for American industry by addressing the shortage of health care, and for the necessity of creating living-wage jobs. Unfortunately, Randy Kuhl defies anyone to show jobs that have been lost. He's so out of touch with what's happening in America that it makes John McCain's lack of knowledge of how many houses he has look insignificant in comparison.A reporter from The Capital newspaper asked Massa to talk a bit about green collar jobs.
We're very lucky in the 29th District to have significant institutions like the University of Rochester and RIT, and Cornell only a few miles away [...] The U of R is a global leader in biotech, one of the new industrial frontiers of the 21st Century. [...] I believe we can cure cancer in our lifetime. My opponent believes in cutting funding for R&D.
Massa also mentioned the GM Hydrogen R&D facility in the district. He thinks that needs to be expanded to "something akin to the Manhattan Project. We must move away in a decade from requiring fossil fuels for our transportation."
I asked Massa for his take on the convention, and whether he thought the PUMA (Party Unity My Ass) phenomenon was a media one or a real one.
Massa said that he chose to stay in the district rather than going to Denver, but he's been following the convention closely. He said he "commended Senator Clinton on leadership, on the manner in which she presented herself, not only on unity, but also on 'no way, no how, no McCain'."
He said he thought the PUMA story was a media phenomenon, "I have not met anyone who was backing Senator Clinton, including myself, who is not absolutely thrilled about moving forward and bringing this country under the new leadership of Barack Obama."
Finger Lakes News Radio asked Massa about the cost of his jobs program.
Right now our government has decided to invest in incredibly expensive failures. We have sent 3 trillion dollars to Baghdad. If those funds had been available for true 21st Century job creation in America, we would not be having the problems we are having now. It's all about priorities.
Massa said that a new federal health policy is a way to save money, not spend it. He also mentioned that he wanted to end giveaways to the Iraqi government.
I've been accused of being someone who would raise taxes. That's almost laughable considering how much spending has increased under my opponent. [...] This administration and Randy Kuhl have already raised your taxes to astronomical levels [by increasing the deficit]. Now we have the bill to pay, unfortunately.