Skip to main content

Hochul cites Corfu business in speech on floor against Boehner's debt ceiling plan

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul offered the Democrats’ final argument against Speaker John Boehner’s plan that only aims to postpone a U.S. default by six months, while drastically cutting discretionary spending.

“Never in our history has there been an intentional disaster, perpetrated by the very people who were elected to be the caretakers of this country,” said Congresswoman Hochul.  “That is exactly what will happen if we refuse to take action to prevent default and pay our nation’s bills now."

Congresswoman Hochul introduced her own amendment that would prioritize where spending cuts come from: cutting subsidies to Big Oil and corporate jets owners, before cutting education funding.

“Tell me why at a time when we all agree that the deficit must be reduced, we don’t ask Big Oil and companies with corporate jets to help out the country that helped them.

“Seaman’s Hardware Store in Genesee County pays more in federal taxes than many companies that are enjoying off the chart profits, while some of my constituents can barely afford to fill a gas tank so they can get to their minimum wage jobs at the dollar discount store.

[PART OF PREPARED REMARKS]

“There is one value we all share and that is fairness. Two things that are fundamentally unfair about this plan: It is unfair to put this country through this disgraceful, political gamesmanship again in another 6 months. 

“It is also unfair to cut money from education.  Education is the one chance for economic equality among our young people, and the one shot for them to reach their full potential.

“By making tax loopholes and tax breaks for Big Oil and corporate jets a priority over education, we are harming the economic engines across the country, and particularly in my district: our colleges and universities.  University at Buffalo, Geneseo, SUNY Brockport, Erie and Genesee Community Colleges – each is critical to our local economy and to the future of our students.”

Lorie Longhany

<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mQlcNHSbWOs?version=3&amp;hl=en_US"></param><p… name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mQlcNHSbWOs?version=3&amp;hl=en_US&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

Jul 29, 2011, 11:50pm Permalink
Don Lovelace

I see a typical politician.

Why doesn't she introduce legislation that reduces the tax burden on Seaman's Hardware, instead of lobbying to get more money from big oil and corporate jet owners?

If she were to introduce legislation that ended a few of "our" (yours not mine) wars, "they" wouldn't need as much of our(this means mine)money.

Jul 30, 2011, 2:44pm Permalink
Lorie Longhany

She is anything but typical.

Kathy is a hands on representative who listens to constituent concerns. She cited Seaman's Hardware in Pembroke because she met and listened to the Seaman family.

Her schedule of constituent "Congress on your corner" events, scheduled for next month, contrast strongly with Chris Lee's 'tele-town hall only' outreach approach. http://hochul.house.gov/press-release/congresswoman-hochul-hold-seven-c…

Jul 31, 2011, 10:04am Permalink
Dave Olsen

Ms. Hochul may or may not turn out to be a great representative for us. Time will tell. I promise to keep an open mind, Lorie.

I have to say I hate when a politician is described as "fighting" for this or that. I watched the video, all I saw was talking, no fighting.

Jul 31, 2011, 10:55am Permalink
kevin kretschmer

Politicians railing on about "Corporate Jets" is funny considering the largest fleet of those types of planes is owned by the Federal Government. In fact, Congress bought 8 more less than a year after the Auto Exec Hearing that made such headlines. Also, 85% of the companies that use Gulfstreams, Leers, etc. are small to mid-sized and most of the time it's not the CEO that's being transported across the country but rather sales people, engineers, and technical support staff.

Jul 31, 2011, 12:16pm Permalink

Authentically Local