Letter to the Editor to Newsday about Energy Policy
I am compelled to respond to your July 29th article, “Rep. Bishop promotes bill to aid with heating bills.”
He is well aware that his flip flopping on this issue has no chance of passing soon. That said, I can understand why he has flip flops on his mind, because he’ll be wearing them for more than a month. Yesterday, he was the deciding vote to give Congress something they have been looking forward to all year long: a five week vacation.
With Congress’ approval rating at nine percent and falling, this summer respite is a slap in the face of every hard-working American. The lack of effort shown by our elected officials in Washington means they’ve already enjoyed a vacation from the realities we all face each day back on Long Island.
Since announcing my candidacy, I have supported measures to address our immediate needs and those that will bring our nation to future energy solutions. To offset fuel prices, we need responsible oil exploration in Alaska and select offshore sites, less red tape to boost the creation of more refineries, and a commitment to clean energy alternatives like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
If my opponent truly agrees on the urgency of these issues, then why hasn’t he delivered real energy reform? Why has he blocked floor votes on the American Energy Act? Why is he leaving D.C. for five weeks?
We need more accountability of our elected officials, regardless of party affiliation, in Newsday.
Mr. Bishop-Visit our Troops
Throughout this campaign, it has been highlighted that our Congressman is the textbook definition of a follower at a time when we’re in dire need of leaders. Upon further review, I’ve found that my opponent actually does lead in two dubious areas.
For starters, my opponent leads at following. By blindly following his party’s mandate with stunning commitment-only one other Congressional Representative votes along party lines more than my opponent.
Sadly, my opponent also leads Congress in avoided trips to meet with our frontline troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more than five years-his entire tenure in office, my opponent has consistently refused to lead by example and visit deployed servicemembers while most of his colleagues continuously travel to the combat zone.
He casts votes and makes statements against the situation without ever making an effort to gain firsthand experience of this war. While so many of his Congressional colleagues have made the trip repeatedly, our Congressman appears content staying within the cozy confines of Southampton.
During my years with the Army and especially during my time in Iraq in the summer of 2006, I have gained valuable insight into the needs of a deployed warfighter. I saw the challenges we face on a daily basis and understand the necessity to defeat radical Islamic terrorism. I will speak with important insight on what is the defining geopolitical challenge of our time.
Any self-respecting Congressional Representative owes it to their constituents and their troops to put their boots on the ground and gain this valuable experience.
So again, I call upon my opponent, Mr. Bishop-visit our troops.
It's Official, Endorsed Candidate Earns Unanimous Party Support
Tonight, at the annual Suffolk County Republican Party Convention in Holtsville, I was honored to receive the official nomination from our fellow Republicans to take back the First Congressional District for the GOP. Since announcing our candidacy in October, we’ve worked hard for this moment, and we’re only reenergized for Election Day.
So to all of our supporters, thank you. Take pride in tonight’s milestone. To those reading this post wanting to know more about us and our campaign, welcome! We’ve got plenty of room on the team and as the standard bearer for the GOP on Eastern Long Island, we’ll be looking to galvanize the party for victory in November.
Long Island’s future begins now!
Making Things Better for our Community
One of the biggest reasons I have asked to serve is to make things better for our community.
Oil prices have skyrocketed towards $120 a barrel. Since Democrats took over Congress the price of gas has increased over 50%. No wonder more than four in five Americans feel that we’re headed in the wrong direction as a nation.
I want to continue and take further the idea suggested by Senator John McCain to have a moratorium on the federal gas tax. I call on our state and county governments to do the same. If all three levels of government took this appropriate and necessary action the price of gas in Suffolk County would be decreased by over $.60 per gallon.
This will provide a small break for the people in Suffolk County. I am asking and will fight for a 3 month moratorium on all gas taxes. I further call on the companies that supply the fuel to reduce the cost to stations as well.
We must also reduce our reliance on foreign oil. This is why I support not only wind and solar power but another initiative that will help ease the burden of rising fuel prices—one that will enable the United States to utilize the largest potential untapped resource we have and offset our rising dependence on foreign oil. By allowing oil and gas exploration on a fraction of territory comprising the North Slope of Alaska, we could add more than 1 million barrels of oil a day to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline system, reduce the national debt, and boost the economy.
The facts add up: according to Office of Management and Budget this initiative would enhance federal revenues by hundreds of billions of dollars from tax and royalty revenue and bids on the project.
Most importantly, the indigenous people of the North Slope and three quarters of Alaskans approve of this initiative. We must insure the process is environmentally responsible and uses appropriate technology for the oil and gas exploration. We must ensure the peaceful coexistence of animal life and oil exploration.
Overseas, I call on the Iraqi government to start allocating their $70 billion oil surplus towards easing our dependency while we continue to help them to democracy. Meanwhile, in Washington, our Congress must stop adding to the costs of the war, pork barrel projects like peanut storage houses in Georgia and shrimp research. Our government is on the wrong track, and residents of Eastern Long Island are suffering as a result.
Rarely has there been such a clear cut interim solution to a challenging issue. While the green collar sector is clearly our nation’s future, North Slope oil exploration today is the bridge to tomorrow’s initiatives. And as I’ve said time and again, the future of our communities depends on strong leadership to help affect this necessary change. Fortunately…
Long Island’s Future Begins Now
Return To Fiscal Conservatism
The economy continues to stand as the most universal pressing issue facing Long Islanders.
Today, my generation can no longer afford to raise a family and buy a house in their hometowns. Our parents and grandparents continue to find that a retirement filled with Long Island beaches and close proximity to the city is not financially feasible.
When you consider that the Great American Suburbs were invented here only a few decades ago, it is heart-wrenching to think that this wonderful era in American history is now dying a slow, painful death. And through the past six years, things have only gotten worse.
In terms of financial discipline, the Congressman representing New York’s First District must vote with his constituency in mind. Because our needs here are so unique, we literally cannot afford someone who fails to recognize the cash-strapped mass exodus driving New Yorkers away in record numbers.
But with your help, I promise that change is on the way.
Promise 1: Your vote for me means a vote to extend the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, which will continue to directly benefit all individuals, as well as small business owners.
Promise 2: If we’re not going to raise taxes, then we need to single out areas of inefficient governance, and pork represents the most target rich-environment for a responsible legislator.
Far too often, the vast majority of Congress’ 535 members hide behind a complex system that makes it incredibly difficult to track those who are providing pet programs to their top donors. Earmarks are used to cater to donors, pander to voters, and buy votes on other Congressional proposals.
We need more accountability and openness in our government. Simply, Congress must return to the system of authorization, appropriation and oversight. As Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona said, earmarks are nothing more than a “transparent gimmick to ensure [Congress members’] own reelection.”
Because of this, you can be assured that I will be a Congressional champion of a systemic earmark moratorium until the system is refined and more open to public scrutiny.
Currently, Congress has conveniently shielded itself from easy access to a list of information tying earmarks to Members of Congress and their donors.
Thanks to some terrific reporting by the Seattle Times, there now exists a first-of-its-kind database which tracks the 2,700 earmarks-amounting to more than $12 billion in the 2007 Defense Appropriations Bill.
The information found on this database is shocking. In 2007, only 13 of 535 Members of Congress did not legislate earmarks. The Military-Industrial Complex described in President Eisenhower’s farewell address is unfortunately alive and well nearly a half-century after we were first warned of this potential pitfall.
And as an aside, while I think politics should never venture into the gutter current challenges compel me to do so now. Instead of financing these programs for things like bridges to nowhere and fruit fly research, perhaps we should address real needs affecting everyone in our district.
Right now, there is no more pressing and universal need directly impacting the people of Suffolk than a modern, countywide sewer system. This is the type of program tailor-made for Congress, yet has gone unaddressed for decades.
As Congressman, I will bring Long Island’s hard working, blue collar mentality to my daily operations, and remember the issues truly important to our district. Because like you, I’m tired of the old and inefficient ways of doing things and I’m ready to lead us in the right direction.
Long Island’s future begins now.
