Here's an interesting interview with Amo Houghton in today's Corning Leader. Amo talks about the polarization in Washington and his thoughts on government creating jobs.
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 10:44 — David Ditch (not verified)
The man has good instincts: "I don’t think I’d get elected today because there are a lot of very conservative people in this district"
He's right. There would have been a hellacious primary fight if he was still in office. Heck, that's probably the only scenario where Volk could have had an impact.
Sun, 10/10/2010 - 18:46 — ElmerJK (not verified)
There have always been a ton of conservatives in this district and Amo always got elected.
So did Stanley Lundine and Eric Massa
Mon, 10/11/2010 - 11:48 — ElmerJK (not verified)
Another year with no cost of living increase for social security recipients.
My 84 year old dad, a life long union member and faithful Democrat has blamed all of this on Obama and the Democrats.
I have tried to explain to him that it is just tied into the cost of living - but he won't listen. He made it clear that he will be voting for Reed this time around. His quote - "When Bush and the Republicans were in charge, I always got my increase".
This can't bode well for Zeller and all his fellow Democrats.
And, yes, logic has nothing to do with it.
Mon, 10/11/2010 - 11:58 — Rottenchester
Not going to criticize your old man, mine's 80 and does a few funny things too.
In general, this election boils down to one thing: when the economy is bad, people are mad, and they'll vote the bums out.
Mon, 10/11/2010 - 15:37 — ElmerJK (not verified)
Bottom line is that it is great to still have them around - even if they do a few funny things
Mon, 10/11/2010 - 14:21 — TDS (not verified)
He would most certainly not be elected today. After how he sold out the people of Salamanca and allowed the Senecas to take away their homes in the 90s, it's amazing he got three more terms after that. We have the Tea Party now, and say what you will, but they're willing to challenge people in their own party on the issues. He'd have come under a lot more scrutiny now than he did back then.
Tue, 10/12/2010 - 17:36 — ElmerJK (not verified)
TDS - please tell me more about this - I was actually living in Ohio from 1985-1995
Wed, 10/13/2010 - 18:09 — TDS (not verified)
Back in the late 1990s, the Senecas claimed that the land on which the city of Salamanca rests was leased from them and claimed that lease was about to expire. Amo Houghton vociferously backed a law that acknowledged the Senecas' claim, and in 1999, the time the Seneca nation claimed their leases were to expire, they went around to every homeowner in the city and ordered them to sign a lease for the property, which included a much higher lease price than the one they were claiming before, on top of the property taxes the municipalities, county and school district charge. Sixteen homeowners refused and were subsequently evicted, having their homes taken from them. Now, keep in mind that the treaties the Senecas signed in the 1800s-- the same treaties they claim give them tax breaks for cigarettes-- specifically state that the Senecas' land is to be "free to buy."
Comments
The man has good instincts: "I don’t think I’d get elected today because there are a lot of very conservative people in this district"
He's right. There would have been a hellacious primary fight if he was still in office. Heck, that's probably the only scenario where Volk could have had an impact.
There have always been a ton of conservatives in this district and Amo always got elected.
So did Stanley Lundine and Eric Massa
Another year with no cost of living increase for social security recipients.
My 84 year old dad, a life long union member and faithful Democrat has blamed all of this on Obama and the Democrats.
I have tried to explain to him that it is just tied into the cost of living - but he won't listen. He made it clear that he will be voting for Reed this time around. His quote - "When Bush and the Republicans were in charge, I always got my increase".
This can't bode well for Zeller and all his fellow Democrats.
And, yes, logic has nothing to do with it.
Not going to criticize your old man, mine's 80 and does a few funny things too.
In general, this election boils down to one thing: when the economy is bad, people are mad, and they'll vote the bums out.
Bottom line is that it is great to still have them around - even if they do a few funny things
He would most certainly not be elected today. After how he sold out the people of Salamanca and allowed the Senecas to take away their homes in the 90s, it's amazing he got three more terms after that. We have the Tea Party now, and say what you will, but they're willing to challenge people in their own party on the issues. He'd have come under a lot more scrutiny now than he did back then.
TDS - please tell me more about this - I was actually living in Ohio from 1985-1995
Back in the late 1990s, the Senecas claimed that the land on which the city of Salamanca rests was leased from them and claimed that lease was about to expire. Amo Houghton vociferously backed a law that acknowledged the Senecas' claim, and in 1999, the time the Seneca nation claimed their leases were to expire, they went around to every homeowner in the city and ordered them to sign a lease for the property, which included a much higher lease price than the one they were claiming before, on top of the property taxes the municipalities, county and school district charge. Sixteen homeowners refused and were subsequently evicted, having their homes taken from them. Now, keep in mind that the treaties the Senecas signed in the 1800s-- the same treaties they claim give them tax breaks for cigarettes-- specifically state that the Senecas' land is to be "free to buy."