Thursday, October 28, 2010

Gibson energy policy: Saying one thing, doing another

PRESS RELEASE:

Today, Democrats blasted Chris Gibson for saying one thing, and doing another on energy policy. Opposing cap-and-trade is a cornerstone of Gibson’s campaign, yet Gibson has hired a lobbyist to run his campaign who made thousands pushing to get cap-and-trade through the congress.

Gibson insists he’s “stridently opposed to cap-and-trade,” predicting that it would “raise the price of everything, which would make us less competitive in the world market and basically drive all food production from the state and the country.” (Post-Star, 9/9/10, click; Times-Union, 6/26/10, click)

Yet, after his last Tea Party-affiliated campaign manager left, Gibson handed the reins over to lobbyist William Teator, the President and CEO of Capital Advocates LLC (Times Union, 9/28/10, click). According to lobbying disclosure forms, Energy East Corporation paid Teator $20,000 to lobby for the Waxman-Markey Clean Energy Legislation, the leading cap-and-trade proposal before Congress. (Lobbying Disclosure Form, click)

If Chris Gibson’s Campaign is known for anything, it’s the candidate’s willingness to say or do anything to get elected. Initially, Gibson was pro-choice, and then he hooked up with an anti-choice zealot, refused requests to clarify his abortion position, and secured the backing of an extreme anti-abortion PAC. It was a similar story with the Small Business Jobs Bill. Gibson first opposed it, and then, after getting heat for it, said that, come to think of it, he supports the jobs bill. Now, comes the latest: after months of talking about how a cap-and-trade bill would kill U.S. competitiveness, we learn that Gibson hired a pro-cap-and-trade lobbyist as his campaign manager,” said Jay Jacobs, chairman of the NYS Democratic Committee.

Washington is already full of politicians like Chris Gibson who say one thing, but do another. The last thing we need is one more,” concluded Jacobs.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

"Small Business Endorses Chris Gibson for Congress"

Press Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. Oct. 25, 2010Today the National Federation of Independent Business, America’s leading small business association, announced its full support and endorsement of Chris Gibson for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 20th District.

Chris Gibson is clearly the candidate in this race who will best represent the interests of America’s small businesses,” said Lisa Goeas, NFIB vice president of political operations, noting that he supports many of the association’s priorities including lowering the cost of healthcare, cutting wasteful government spending and opposing pro-labor “card check” legislation that would eliminate secret-ballot elections to ease union organization of small firms.

Gibson’s tax reform stances are closely aligned with the small business community which has long called for lower levels of taxation to help reduce financial burdens and allow the growth of their enterprises, she said. “He is a strong believer that tax and regulatory burdens on small business prohibit them from growing and hiring, and we know he will make that a top priority in Washington.”

Chris Gibson supports repealing the new healthcare law, opposes tax increases on small business owners, and believes the federal government—like small businesses and families—should live within its means,” said Mike Elmendorf, NFIB New York state director. “America’s small business owners can count on him to support policies that will help them do what they do best: create jobs and restore the economy.”

In New York, there are more than 440,000 small employers. Nationally, small businesses create more than half the nation’s gross domestic product and have created more than 60 percent of net-new jobs in the U.S. over the past 15 years.

Small business owners and their employees vote in large numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to go to the polls. NFIB will encourage its members in New York to help turn out the small business vote on Gibson’s behalf of Election Day.

Today’s endorsement comes from NFIB’s Save America’s Free Enterprise (SAFE) Trust, the association’s political action committee, and is based on candidates’ positions on key small business issues including healthcare, taxes and labor and regulatory issues.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Live Blog: Gillibrand and DioGuardi debate in Troy

Incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, will debate Republican challenger Joseph DioGuardi tonight at Sage College's Bush Memorial in Troy.

Check back here at 7 p.m. for a live blog of the debate by reporter Dave Canfield.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Editorial board w Paul Tonko

Edited HD video:


Full recorded live stream:



Editorial board with Scott Murphy

Our editorial board will sit down with Congressman Scott Murphy, D-NY, who currently represents the 20th congressional district and is seeking re-election to that seat in November in a race against Republican challenger Chris Gibson.

Watch the live blog here and, as always, you can follow along with a live video stream at http://ustre.am/nVKE.

Update:
Full recorded live stream:


Edited HD video:



Friday, October 15, 2010

Emily's List Endorses Yepsen

PRESS RELEASE:

Saratoga Springs, NY – EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest political action committee and financial resoure for women running for elective office, has thrown its support behind Joanne Yepsen in her campaign for the 43rd Senate District.

Joanne Yepsen is a highly respected member of the community with a proven record of integrity that focuses on the issues and needs of her constituents,” said Jonathan Parker, Political Director of EMILY’s List. “As a small business owner with 25 years of experience in fiscal management and strategic planning, I have no doubt that she will be a strong advocate for the people of New York. EMILY’s List is proud to endorse Joanne Yepsen as the next State Senator for the 43rd District.”

Joanne Yepsen currently serves as Saratoga Springs County Supervisor where she has focused on listening and delivering results for her constituents. She is committed to a bipartisan and transparent legislative process and has no interest in the partisan politics that have stood in the way of open, honest, and efficient government.

“It is truly an honor to have earned the support of EMILY’s List,” said Yepsen. “I am excited to join the State Senate, so I can be a strong voice for all of the women, children, and families of the 43rd district.”

Yepsen is running against a lifetime politican who has failed to represent the constituents of his district. “Roy McDonald has been serving his downstate Republican leaders instead of doing what is best for the people in his own district,” Yepsen says. “New Yorkers deserve better representation, and with the support of EMILY’s List, I will be able to offer a better choice.”

EMILY’s List mobilizes women voters to help elect Democrats up and down the ticket and across the country. With more than 100,000 members, it is the largest political action committee in the nation. EMILY, an acronym that stands for “Early Money Is Like Yeast,” was chosen as part of the organization’s name in the recognition that, just as yeast was essential to making dough rise, early money was the key ingredient to a successful campaign. Since it’s founding in 1985, EMILY’s List has raised over $81 million to elect 80 pro-choice Democratic women members of Congress, 15 senators, 9 governors, and hundreds of women to state and local office.


Thursday, October 14, 2010

Editorial board with Joanne Yepsen

Our editorial board will sit down with Joanne Yepsen, Democratic challenger for the state senate seat currently held by Roy McDonald.

Follow along with a live chat below, as well as a live video stream at http://ustre.am/nVKE.

Update: Recorded live video:



HD Video:




Wednesday, October 13, 2010

LIVE BLOG - Editorial board meeting with Ted Danz

This afternoon our editorial board will sit down with congressional candidate Ted Danz at 3 p.m.

Follow along with our live blog of the meeting below and watch our live video stream at http://ustre.am/nVKE.

Update: Recorded video stream:


Murphy criticizes Gibson on health care in NY race

By Beth Fouhy
The Associated Press

ALBANY — At least one House Democrat is embracing his vote in favor of health care reform and chiding his Republican opponent for seeking to repeal it.

Freshman New York Rep. Scott Murphy is up with a new campaign ad promoting the benefits of the controversial health care law. Murphy says his GOP rival, Chris Gibson, wants to return to the days when insurance companies could deny coverage based on pre-existing health conditions and set lifetime limits on coverage.

Gibson wants to repeal the law and has run television ads pledging to do so. Polls show Murphy and Gibson in a tight contest.

Many House Democrats across the country who supported the health care bill have had to defend themselves against a barrage of negative advertising and continued voter skepticism.

Republicans and outside groups like the 60-Plus Association have run ads criticizing Murphy’s vote.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

LIVE BLOG: Editorial board with Chris Gibson

We're sitting down this afternoon with congressional candidate Chris Gibson, who hopes to represent the 20th Congressional District, a position currently held by Scott Murphy.

Follow along with as we attempt to live-blog the meeting below and a live video stream at http://ustre.am/nVKE

Update:Here is the recorded live stream:

Friday, October 8, 2010

Gibson Campaign Announces the Farmers for Gibson Coalition at Hanehan Family Dairy Farm

PRESS RELEASE:

Stillwater, NY – Republican/Conservative Congressional candidate Chris Gibson announced the formation of a Farmers for Gibson Coalition at the Hanehan Dairy Farm today. Hanehan Dairy Farm is a 3rd generation dairy farm established in 1946. The Hanehan family has been farming for longer than that on neighboring properties in the Town of Saratoga for five generations.

Joining Gibson to announce the Farmers for Gibson Coalition was Assemblyman Tony Jordan, Agricultural Advisor to the campaign’s coalition, Mike Bittel, and dairy producer and host, Charlie Hanehan. The Farmers for Gibson Coalition will help promote the candidate’s farm-friendly policies and act as an advisory group to Chris Gibson on agricultural issues.

“Protecting family farms and ensuring that we continue our strong agricultural tradition in the region is one of my campaign’s priorities. We have a proud tradition of farming; it is part of the engine of our local economy and an important food source. These farms also have environmental benefits, but today this way of life is under threat as are many small and family businesses. Policies such as Cap and Trade, which my opponent, Scott Murphy, voted for, disproportionately affect farmers because farming is an energy intensive industry. The inheritance tax threatens the ability for some families to pass down their farms to the next generation and when Congress adjourned without voting to stop the impeding tax hikes due in January, it left all business without the ability to plan ahead. This is why we must vote for new leaders in Congress,” said Gibson.

Assemblyman Jordan said, “I have been with Chris many, many times in the last six months, and he always impresses me with his knowledge and understanding of the issues and challenges facing those living in the district. He is the right person to represent the people of this district. Chris understands the importance that farming plays in our regional economy."

“We are proud to support a candidate like Chris Gibson,” noted Mike Bittel, an Agricultural Advisor to the Farmers for Gibson Coalition. “We knew Chris was a smart and compassionate man because he had a PhD in government and fought for our country, but when he met with the agricultural community he demonstrated a knowledge, interest and genuine appreciation for the family farm that went beyond most officials. He is deeply committed to advocating policies that benefit our industry and the region in general. It will be a pleasure to work with Chris to promote farm-friendly policies.”

Charlie Hanehan said, “My family has been farming here for five generations and we hope to continue for generations to come. But farming is facing new challenges and over the past decade many family farms found it impossible to continue and have retired their farms to developers. It is very important that we have a representative who understands farming and will stand with us in Washington, not only on farm specific issues, but the broader issues challenging our country and its future too. Meeting Chris Gibson has given me the confidence that we will have a representative who will actually walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk.”