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Image provided by: Suffolk Cooperative Library System
O ctober2 8 ,2010i BEACON SHOPPER * l i e -w—^ y y — v / t i u u c i a O) a u i u , D L A v ^UIX S i l U r r i l K hLhC 1 ION 2010: Incumbent Congressman Steve Israel faces opposition from Republican John Gomez In New York’s 2nd Congressional District, incumbent Steve Israel is being challenged by John Gomez. Israel is running on the Democrat, Independence and Working Families party lines and is seeking a sixth term. Gomez is running on the Republican and Conservative party lines. “Long Islanders are facing the toughest economic chal lenges they have in years,” said Israel when speaking about why he is seeking re-election. “That’s why I’m leading the fight to reform the tax code to reflect the high cost of liv ing. It’s why I stepped up and prevented Canon from moving jobs to New Jersey. While the rest of us are strug gling, I think it’s outrageous that big companies are get ting all the breaks. That’s Why I led this fight to force BP to cover the cost of the cleanup in the Gulf so taxpayers don’t pay a dime.” And, added Israel, it’s Why he voted for health care reform—to stop insurance company rip-offs and force them to cover routine procedures like mammograms. I am also very proud of our accomplishments for vet erans. I helped to pass the largest increase in veterans’ health care in 75 years and I secured more than four mil lion dollars in back pay for veterans that I represent dating back to World War II” Speaking about why he entered the race for Congress, Gomez said, “I found myself with no aspirations to hold office. I found myself in quicksand. Things are getting harder.- Its harder to run a business and raise a family. Candidates have been unable to stop the growth of gov ernment. Its gotten worse. Obama’s legislation screams of European socialism, bigger government and taking away people’s right to choose on issues such as their own health care.” Both candidates tried to stake the claim of being in touch with the constituents, while labeling each other as extremists. Gomez claims that Israel ran as a moder ate but his voting record shows that he is really a liberal democrat who votes with Nancy Pelosi 98.7 percent of the time. Israel says that he has gone against Nancy Pelosi and his party and gives as an example his efforts to raise the threshold for being considered wealthy, and thus a tax level, to above the $250,000 per year. “It should be indexed to the cost of living,” said Israel. “$250,000 on Long Island is not the same as $250,000 in Boise.” While Gomez linked his opponent to Pelosi, Israel links Gomez to politicans Sarah Palin and Carl Paladino and Conservative talk show host Sean Hannity and says that Gomez speaks things that are heard on right wing radio talk shows. With the economy still struggling, jobs and taxes are at the forefront of the issues. Both candidates believe that have the better ideas to help Long Islanders make it through the economic crisis. Gomez believes that lower taxes are the answer. He says that extending the Bush tax cuts is mandatory and also is for lowering the capital gains tax rate from 15 to 10 percent. Gomez says that cutting the capital gains tax would create jobs, which is the foundation of a growing economy. In addition, he also wants to see property taxes lowered and says he would put pressure on local officials to do so. “I have every intention of zeroing in on school boards, said Gomez. “I know as a property and busi ness owner that property taxes are a major determina tion o f where you live and what kind o f house you have. I will put pressure on local, state and town officials to do something about our taxes. They are strangling ev eryone in our district.” To accomplish this, Gomez said he is in favor of the consolidation of districts at the administrative level. He also wants to question why property owners are strangled with the entire budget. He feels it is unfair for property owners with no children in school to have to pay for items such as field trips and extracurricular activities. He also stated that he was strongly opposed to the stimulus Nil. Israel said he is also in favor of lowering the capital gains tax rate. He further stated that he is in favor o f tax relief Israel strongly disagrees. He said, “John Gomez would repeal the health care bill That is pretty courageous to tell a woman who has breast cancer and is now covered that were going to take the coverage away. Can we make it better? Yes. But to pledge to repeal the entire law reflects extremism that is way out of touch with most Babylon families.” The candidates also differ on cap and trade legislation. Each candidate takes their party’s usual position on govern ment regulation. Gomez, the Republi can, is against it believing that it gives the government the power to regulate industry and to force homeowners to make a house greener before selling their homes. Isreal says that it would provide tax incentives to weatherproof homes, retrofit windows and lower LIPA bills. As for Gomez’s claim that this would lead to more reg ulation, Israel responds that a lack of oversight allowed Wall Street to melt down and that big corporations must have accountability. John is a native Long Islander (born and raised). In 1980 he graduated from St. Pius X Preparatory High School in Uniondale. He received his B.A. at the Uni versity o f Houston in 1984, and earned his law degree from Fordham University in 1992. Today, John is the president of a telecommunications consulting com pany located in his hometown o f Bayport. Steve Israel was first elected in 2000. He grew up on the south shore of Long Island and was a small businessman on Long Island. He attended Nassau Community College and has a B.A. from George Washington University. John Gomez owns a consulting firm in the telecommunica tions field. He earned a law degree from Fordham and is a member of the National Rifle Association. Republican John Gomez, left and incumbent Democrat Steve Israel. for those making less than one million dollars per year but is strongly against tax breaks for big corporations and chief executive officers. He stands by his record on delivering jobs. Isreal cites his efforts in the building of Canon’s headquarters in Melville as an example of his commitment towards bringing jobs to Long Island. He also defends the stimulus package saying that it helped to put the nation on the road to recovery. One other area where the two candidates differ greatly is the health care reform bill. Israel stands by it, and al though he says it can be even better, he believes it pro vides coverage that Long Island families need Gomez is strongly opposed to it and says he wants it repealed Said Gomez, “I’ve spoken to over two dozen practic ing physicians and every one said the bill has nothing to do with reforming health care. It will destroy the great est health care system in the world and it will destroy the profession. “ /v Gomez stated that the bill is unfriendly to seniors by cut ting Medicare Advantage and creating health care ration ing and doesn’t address insurance across state lines. In stead Gomez is for creating health care savings accounts. Similar to a 401K retirement account, his proposal would allow individuals to set money aside for health care. Incumbent Congressman Pete King faces opposition from Democrat Howard Kudler In New York’s 3rd Congressional Dis trict, incumbent Peter king is being chal lenged by Howard Kudler. King, who was first elected to Congress in 1992, is running on the Republican, Conseryative, Indepen dence and Tax Revolt party lines. Kudler, a social studies teacher in a New York City high school and a resident of Merrick, is running on the Democratic line. The Dis trict encompasses most of the eastern half on Nassau County but extends further along the south shore to include parts of Suffolk County and western Nassau. Mas- sapequa and Massapequa Park are com pletely in the District. Amityville, Farm- ingdale, Copiague, Lindenhurst, Babylon and North Babylon are all partially within ^ the District. Democratic challenger Howard Kudler, left and Republican “I believe that I say and try to do in bent ConSressman Pete King, right. Congress what most people in our district think,” said King on why he should be re-elected. He specifically stated that his two main priorities if re elected are to continue working on homeland security to protect New York and Long Island and to revive and rebuild the economy. I m trying to stop the American dream from be coming the American memory,” said Kudler about his campaign for Congress. “The county is being led in the wrong direction. In the last couple years, Long Island tncum- has suffered because of things Peter King hasn’t done.” Bringing more federal funding and creating more jobs on Long Island are two priorities of Kudler. Kudler contends that King has not brought enough federal money to Long Island. He says that one reason taxes are so high on Long Island is because the region does not get a fair share o f federal money and Kudler puts the blame for this on King. “The purpose o f a m em b er o f C ongress is to (Continued on page 12C)
