Kathy Hochul for Congress

ERIE COUNTY – Oil companies British Petroleum (BP), Shell, ConocoPhillips, and Exxon Mobil all reported first quarter profits today, with Exxon Mobil reporting an astonishing 69% increase in profits.

“While Americans are paying more than $4.00 at the pump, oil companies are making exorbitant profits thanks to the help of their Republican friends in Congress,” said Kathy Hochul, candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District. “Speaker John Boehner says Congress ‘ought to take a look at’ tax breaks for oil companies, but we know that the House has already given them far too many.

“The 2012 House budget, that my Republican opponent supports, further fuels the profits oil companies made last quarter by cutting federal spending in energy research and development, while calling for the elimination of tax breaks for wind, solar and other alternative energy technologies. House Republicans would rather gut alternative energy technologies and decimate Medicare, than cut subsidies for big oil. How is that competitive?”

Jane Corwin has publicly stated her support for the Republican’s 2012 budget that would decimate Medicare, while giving tax breaks to corporations and America’s wealthiest individuals. The proposal also terminates alternative energy development, innovation and exploration.

More information about Kathy Hochul can be found at www.KathyHochul.com.

The following is a statement from Fabien Levy, Director of Communications for Kathy Hochul for Congress:

“While voters of the 26th District express their concern over Jane Corwin’s support of the Republican budget that decimates Medicare, the Assemblymember is hitting the DC fundraising circuit with the same Washington insiders who voted for the proposal.

“Jane Corwin’s plans are wrong for all Americans and will only add burdensome costs onto the backs of our seniors, while providing massive tax breaks to America’s corporate giants and wealthiest individuals.”

More information about Kathy Hochul can be found at www.KathyHochul.com.

The following is a statement from Fabien Levy, Director of Communications for Kathy Hochul for Congress:

“On April 15, after a week of prodding, Assemblymember Jane Corwin finally admitted she supports the Republican’s 2012 budget that would end Medicare as we know it and give massive tax breaks to America’s corporate giants – the same corporate giants that paid absolutely nothing in income taxes last year.

“While Jane Corwin says she supports solutions for the people of the 26th District, she really only supports solutions that line the pockets of corporations, oil companies, and the super rich.”

More information about Kathy Hochul can be found at www.KathyHochul.com.

The following is a statement from Kathy Hochul, candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District:

“Millions of hard-working Americans have lost their jobs due to unfair free trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA. In New York State alone, NAFTA has cost more than 50,000 workers their jobs.

“The United States government can no longer support trade deals that suppress wages, cut benefits, and weaken our workers’ rights to collectively bargain and form unions. Supporting deals like the U.S. – Panama, U.S. – Columbia, and U.S. – South Korea Free Trade Agreements will only cause the same harm that NAFTA has already done. We don’t need to look any further than Western New York to see that these policies do not work.”

Hochul first candidate of 2012 cycle to take on Republican plan to end Medicare

ERIE COUNTY – Kathy Hochul, candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District, today released a new television advertisement entitled “The Right Way.”

The 30 second spot stresses the choice voters have between Assemblymember Jane Corwin, who supports ending Medicare as we know it, and Kathy Hochul, who will fight to protect our seniors by rejecting any budget that fundamentally alters the program.

“Jane Corwin has said she supports the Republican’s 2012 budget that decimates Medicare, while giving tax breaks to multi-millionaires” said Fabien Levy, Communications Director for Kathy Hochul for Congress. “If she were in Congress today, Jane Corwin would have voted for a plan that numerous organizations and news outlets have said would increase costs to our seniors, cut their benefits, and force them to fight with insurance companies for coverage. Even Republican Senator Susan Collins has come out in her opposition of the Republican budget.

“While thousands of Western New Yorker’s struggle to get by, how could Assemblymember Corwin support a proposal that would add more than $6,400 onto the backs of seniors each year? It is shameful that Jane Corwin supports a proposal that could send our seniors back into poverty, while lining the pockets of the super rich.”

The ad is available for viewing at: http://www.kathyhochul.com/media/video.

A copy of the script is attached.

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Script:

VOICEOVER: Jane Corwin said she would vote for the 2012 Republican budget that would essentially end Medicare.

Seniors would have to pay $6,400 more for the same coverage.

But the plan Jane Corwin supports would cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans.

The budget would overwhelmingly benefit the rich.

Kathy Hochul says cut the deficit but do it the right way.

Protect Medicare.

And no more tax breaks for multi-millionaires.

KATHY HOCHUL: I’m Kathy Hochul and I approve this message.

ERIE COUNTY – Kathy Hochul, candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District, was today endorsed by EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics.

EMILY’s List President, Stephanie Schriock, credited the endorsement to Hochul’s ability to stand up to Albany politicians, her fiscal conservatism, and her efforts to help small businesses grow.

“Kathy Hochul is an uncompromising leader and a fiscal watchdog who’s spent her career fighting for the families of Erie County – putting aside politics as usual to fight for the jobs that families need,” said Schriock. “Kathy’s brand of smart innovation has repeatedly cut costs, eliminated red tape, and streamlined services for taxpayers and small businesses.”

“I am honored to have the support of EMILY’s List and its members,” said Hochul. “EMILY’s List is dedicated to electing female leaders who will fight for the betterment of women and I know their tireless work between now and Election Day will help lead us to victory on May 24th.”

More information about Kathy Hochul can be found at www.KathyHochul.com.

ERIE COUNTY – Kathy Hochul, candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District, was endorsed today by the New York State AFL-CIO.

Dennis Hughes, President of the New York State AFL-CIO, attributed Hochul’s endorsement to her willingness to reach out to the hard working men and women of the 26th District and her understanding of the issues facing the State Labor Federation’s members.

“The New York State AFL-CIO is pleased to announce its endorsement of Kathy Hochul,” said Hughes. “Kathy has reached out to local unions in her district, and has shown a keen awareness and understanding of the issues, needs and concerns of working men and women.”

“The endorsement of the New York State AFL-CIO today demonstrates the large coalition of supporters we are gathering in this race,” said Hochul. “The New York State AFL-CIO and I believe that it’s time to help our families get back to work. We share the goal of creating good jobs throughout the 26th District in a wide range of occupations. I am deeply grateful for today’s endorsement and look forward to working with the New York State AFL-CIO in the weeks and years ahead, as we champion Western New York’s working families.”

The New York State AFL-CIO represents 2.5 million union members, 70,000 of which live in the 26th Congressional District.

More information about Kathy Hochul can be found at www.KathyHochul.com.

ERIE COUNTY – Kathy Hochul, candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District, will report raising more than $350,000 in the first quarter of 2011.

In the report – that will be filed with the Federal Elections Commission today – Hochul will show having more than $300,000 in the bank. There were nearly 450 individual donors who contributed to the campaign, more than 90% of whom are residents of New York State.

“Our supporters are excited and committed to helping us win on May 24th,” said Fabien Levy, Communications Director for Kathy Hochul for Congress. “More than 50% of the donations were at $250 or below, which shows we have strong grassroots support in this race. Western New Yorkers are sending a strong message that they want a fighter to represent them in Congress.”

More information about Kathy Hochul can be found at www.KathyHochul.com.

The following is a statement from Fabien Levy, Director of Communications for Kathy Hochul for Congress:

“In just a few hours the House will vote on the Republican budget proposal that would end Medicare as we know it. For days, Kathy Hochul, candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District, has called on her opponents to join her in rejecting any budget that would add burdensome costs onto the backs of America’s seniors. Today, there is only one candidate whose silence signals her intentions to break the promises made to our elderly population.

“Assemblymember Corwin, before the vote is cast, tell the voters of the 26th District how you would vote today – would you reject the current budget proposal before the House or would you vote to decimate Medicare?”

More information about Kathy Hochul can be found at www.KathyHochul.com.

Hochul still only candidate to support a compromise that averted shutdown

ERIE COUNTY – Today, the House of Representatives passed the 2011 budget compromise that was struck last Friday night, just one hour before a government shutdown.

While Kathy Hochul called for this compromise early on and challenged both her opponents – Republican, Jane Corwin, and Tea Party-endorsed candidate, Jack Davis – to join her in supporting the agreement, neither candidate ever stated their position.

“Last Friday, literally in the 11th hour before a government shutdown, House and Senate leaders came together and worked out a budget compromise that averted a massive government shutdown,” said Hochul. “From early on, I called for this compromise and challenged both Jane Corwin and Jack Davis to follow my lead. Today – six days later – neither candidate has yet to say a word.

“The people of the 26th District do not currently have a Congressmember representing their best interests in Congress. If I was serving as a Representative for Western New York, I would have been working to avoid a government shutdown last week. However, if my opponents were in Washington, we have no idea what they would have done.

“It is only fair to ask would they have supported a budget compromise that kept essential services going or would they have supported a massive shutdown that would have delayed essential services to our veterans, our troops, our business owners, our students, our seniors, and to the American taxpayers?

“The lack of interest and care by Jane Corwin and Jack Davis has been disheartening and I hope they finally join my lead and support this budget compromise that will cut waste and get our economy moving forward.”

More information about Kathy Hochul can be found at www.KathyHochul.com.