Gov. Patterson Needs to Stop Playing Politics

Today I am once again calling on Gov. David Paterson to stop the political delays and call the special election in New York’s 29^th Congressional District. Everywhere we go, I hear frustration about the election delay. People see it for what it is: politics being played by the Democratic leadership.

Six hundred and sixty thousand western New Yorkers had no voice in the House on the health care votes and no voice on the government takeover of the student loan industry. We will not have a voice on coming issues such as the carbon tax, immigration reform and the on-going appropriations process that will decide the 2011 Federal budget.

 The special election is being delayed for purely political purposes. If cost is the issue, then why was money made available to have special elections in New York’s 20^th and 23^rd districts, but not the 29^th district?  In those other districts, the Democrats could add another vote for their take-over agenda in Washington, but the 29^th district might choose a representative who would oppose that agenda. Now that someone opposed to the take-overs might win, they tell us we should wait?

Special elections in the 20^th and 23^rd Congressional Districts were called just days after the seats went vacant.  It has been almost a month since Eric Massa resigned. Once again, the people of Western New York and the Southern Tier get a raw deal from the Democratic leadership. It’s this kind of game playing that makes people so upset.

I hope that Governor Paterson to keep his word, put politics aside and call the special election immediately.