The Fighting 29th

All about New York's 29th Congressional District

Eric Massa had a well-attended and lengthy press conference this morning. Highlights below:

Massa said the bailout bill, as currently written, is "simply unacceptable". He said that the Bush Administration is planning a "my way or the highway" approach on the bill.

This bill is the culmination of 8 years of incompetence by the Bush administration and their rubber stamps in Congress. For the month to 6 weeks, people like my opponent stood in the well of the House and railed on a moratorium on drilling offshore while Rome burned. To top off their common hypocrisy, that very moratorium expired yesterday, as they knew it would. These kinds of games are unacceptable while American's livelihoods and homes are at risk.

Massa turned to debates. Massa objected to the contention that he would bus in supporters, noting that the only bus that showed up at last year's WETM debate was paid for by Kuhl's campaign.

Kuhl has been silent in the face of one of the greatest financial crises in the history of America. He's shown no leadership whatsoever in the face of the pending collapse of the stock market [...] Now he refuses to debate. [...] Incumbent elected officials should not be granted the privilege of dictating democracy. To say that I had a "circus environment" because I was bold enough to walk up to him after a press conference outside the room where it was held and ask him for a debate is unacceptable.

Massa compared Kuhl's silence to that of George W. Bush. Noting that Bush won't stand up in front of the American people because he's responsible for the financial crisis, Massa said that Kuhl won't stand up because he'll have to explain his votes.

Yesterday, at a time of incredible risk for the American People, Randy Kuhl voted against HR 5244, The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights. This would have prevented credit card companies from going long on fees and interest. Eighty Republicans crossed the aisle to support [the bill]. I say he voted against it because of the huge amount of funding he's received from financial institutions.

Massa listed off some of the $230,000 in support given to Kuhl, including donations form Goldman, Citi, Merrill and Credit Suisse. "This list reads like a Who's-Who on the failures of Wall Street."