The Fighting 29th

All about New York's 29th Congressional District

Tom Reed's campaign has issued a press release (reprinted in full after the break) where he accuses Eric Massa of "mudslinging".

Here's a choice quote:

“Anyone who has actually taken the risks to begin and operate businesses in New York knows how difficult it is to create jobs in our state,” Reed continued. “Job creators find some of the highest taxes and most severe regulatory burdens."

“When Massa criticizes folks for taking advantage of public incentives, it clearly demonstrates that he doesn’t understand these challenges.”

I don't know what Massa said at his press conference today, but the notion that someone getting a $1.18 million grant from New York State is a victim of high taxes and regulatory burdens is a laugh-out-loud statement.

A person getting those grants is a perpetrator. Small businessmen like me, who aren't looking for a state handout to make a profit, are the victims, since we're paying higher taxes to support recipients of this kind of crony welfare.

It's not too tough to put together a group of investors to "risk" $820K to get $1.18 million in free money. Those investors know full well that there's an excellent chance that they'll make a profit when the newly renovated Bath Masonic Temple is sold, since your money and mine is serving as a $1.18 million cushion to protect their investment.

Here's the press release:

The Steuben Courier reports that Tom Reed was the recent recipient of a "Restore New York" grant facilitated by State Senator George Winner. Reed, who owns the Masonic Temple in Bath, will match that grant with $820,000 of private funding.

I won't be able to attend Reed's press conference tomorrow, but t The obvious question is how long Reed has owned the building, and how much he paid for it. If the answers are "not long" and "not much", then he has a huge problem. As it stands, unless there's some innocent explanation (e.g., Reed chairs a non-profit development group and isn't really the "owner"), this looks like a case of Southern Tier crony "capitalism".

Also, I would imagine that Reed's previous statements about fiscal responsibility and the need to limit stimulus funding will get closer scrutiny in light of this grant.

Rick Miller at the Olean Times-Herald has a long story about Eric Massa's visit to St Bonaventure. Massa addressed a group of pre-med students in the company of Dr. Andrew Coates of Physicians For a National Health Care Plan. The topic was single-payer healthcare.

The Messenger-Post reports a Massa announcement of $2 million for Rochester's airport.

Today's Corning Leader story lays out what Massa would like to see in a healthcare bill. The Star-Gazette coverage includes Tom Reed's response.

On yesterday's Fox and Friends, Massa appeared with Wyoming Senator John Barasso to discuss healthcare reform. Video after the break.

City Newspaper's Jeremy Moule has a wide-ranging and lengthy interview with Eric Massa on City's site. It covers the wars, dairy prices, healthcare reform and the economy. Massa "feels like a sergeant on the battlefield without a general" because of the lack of Presidential leadership on healthcare, and he's pretty pessimistic about the chances of a comprehensive healthcare reform bill passing.

The Corning Leader has Massa and Reed reaction to last night's speech. Both are "encouraged".

President Obama delivered big tonight, and his speech will have a big effect on the 29th district race.

In Massa's corner, the effect of the speech depends on the details of the public option that ultimately comes from the bill. While Obama clearly stated that a public option is a necessary part of any bill, he hedged a bit by naming co-ops as one possible implementation. Since the details of the public option was the main reason Massa opposed the current House bill, we'll see if the changes (if any) to that legislation that come from Obama's speech will be enough to push Massa into the supporter category.

Even more interesting is the effect of the speech on Republicans like Tom Reed. Obama endorsed tort reform, raised the possibility of co-ops, came out strongly for laws against the barring of pre-existing conditions, and pledged that he will only sign a bill that will be deficit neutral. This addresses all but one of Reed's laundry list. The remaining issue is Reed's support for small business tax incentives finance employee insurance. Obama says that 95% of small businesses will be exempt from the requirement that they provide insurance. There's not a lot of difference between those two stands.

Obama has put a great deal of pressure on members of his party, and members of the opposition, to be reasonable. It's going to be a fascinating few weeks, hopefully far different from the last month of sideshows and shouting.

The big event of the week is tonight's address by President Obama. Eric Massa has postponed his press conference until tomorrow, and he'll also be appearing on Fox and Friends at 6:45 AM.

Tom Reed did not postpone his press conference, and the Star-Gazette reports that he's hoping for tort reform. Hope is all that he can do, because his party's reluctance to engage on healthcare reform has cost them a seat at the table where they could push their agenda.

Here's a little more on the disaster declaration for flooding in the southeastern New York. And Tom Reed thinks we shouldn't spend any more stimulus money. Other than that, it's looking like a sunny weekend.

The Corning Leader, Star-Gazette, City Newspaper and D&C have reports about House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson's visit to the 29th. Topics discussed include:

• Immigration reform, which is critical to fruit growers. Massa thinks reform will be back on the Congressional calendar after health care, and he expects a piecemeal (non-comprehensive) plan to pass.
• Biofuels, including ethanol made from grasses and trees. Peterson noted that there's an assistance program for farmers who deliver eligible plant material to refineries.
• Dairy Prices. 75 dairy farmers showed up to complain about inadequate price supports, and efforts are underway to get more stimulus money to farmers.