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the Campaign Trail

Voters in Queens and Brooklyn will go to the polls on Tuesday, June 26, to choose nominees for Congressional seats up for grabs in the November election.

In the weeks leading up to the contests, the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times will feature in this column press releases and statements sent by the campaigns of the candidates on the ballot.

The statements in this column do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times or its staff. Mud-slinging statements which include personal attacks on candidates are omitted.

Lancman Supports The ‘Buffett Rule’

Assemblyman Rory Lancman accepted on Monday, Apr. 16, the endorsement of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 1, which representing 70,000 workers in New York, for the new Sixth Congressional District seat.

He stood with workers and leaders from the union to demand adoption of the “Buffett Rule” requiring America’s richest citizens to pay their fair share of taxes, and closing corporate tax loopholes.

“When it comes to leading on the issues that working New Yorkers care about, Rory Lancman is the clear choice in this important election,” said Chis Shelton, vice president of CWA District 1. “Rory Lancman will fight for working people, and unlike too many of our elected representatives, he won’t knuckle under to powerful interests. He’s proven himself with his actions time and time again, fighting for fair wages, fair taxes, a decent retirement and a safe workplace. Rory has the energy, the expertise and the record to be a champion for working people, and we’re proud to support him for Congress.”

“I’m running for Congress because we need a tax code that helps working families in Queens, not one that rewards millionaires in Manhattan,” Lancman said. “I’m extremely proud to have CWA by my side in this campaign; we’ve stood together before on picket lines, at rallies, and in the Assembly, and with their support in this race, I’m looking forward to standing with them in Congress and fighting for a tax code that honors work, not just wealth.”

Lancman spoke about the need to ensure the wealthy are paying their fair share of taxes, and used the “Buffett Rule” as a model. The “Buffett Rule,” named for billionaire investor Warren Buffet, would establish a real tax rate of at least 30 percent for millionaires, ensuring that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes.

Lancman called for a millionaire’s tax in New York State long before the legislature took up a proposal in December of last year that cut taxes for working New Yorkers by asking millionaires and billionaires to pay a marginally higher rate. He also proposed that capital gains income be taxed on a progressive scale similar to the income tax scale, ensuring that billionaire hedge fund managers pay at a higher rate than middle-class New Yorkers.

The legislator also discussed his plan to level the playing field for small businesses by eliminating corporate loopholes. Currently, large companies that take advantage of loopholes in the tax code pay an average tax rate of only 13 percent, while most small businesses are taxed at the full 35 percent.

Lancman supports President Obama’s plan to lower the overall corporate tax rate to 28 percent, but eliminate loopholes for large corporations, a move that would bring in more revenue and level the economic playing field for small businesses, allowing them to compete with the larger companies.

Mason Tenders Like Crowley

The Mason Tenders District Council (MTDC) of Greater New York and Long Island endorsed New York City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for New York’s Sixth Congressional District.

MTDC has nearly 15,000 members in various jobs including construction workers, hazardous materials handlers, waste and recycling handlers, building laborers, and Catholic High School teachers.

“Elizabeth Crowley has fought for workers’ rights throughout her entire career,” said Mason Tenders Political Director Mike McGuire. “She understands that people deserve safe workplaces, fair wages, and a secure retirement. Elizabeth Crowley is the best candidate to represent workers and strengthen our neighborhoods.”

“Investing in our infrastructure is one of the best ways to create good jobs with prevailing wages. In my Council District, workers have helped build new schools, improve roads, and install new sewer lines,” said Crowley. “Our communities are better because of the work they’ve done, and I’m proud that the Mason Tenders have endorsed me for Congress.”

Halloran’s Camp Gathers Petitions

City Council Member Dan Halloran’s campaign team submitted on Monday night, Apr. 16, his petitions to be on the Republican Party’s ballot line for Congress in the newly created Sixth District.

Halloran submitted well over two and a half times the statutory minimum required to appear on the Ballot for the Nov. 6 general election to the Board of Elections in Manhattan. Given that Republican signatures are collected door-to-door, Halloran’s GOP volunteers collected a comparable number of signature to that collected by many of the Democratic candidates.

“I thank the people who signed my petitions and the grassroots team of concerned local citizens who helped in this effort,” Halloran said. “They are fed up with the president’s failed policies and increased taxes and fees on the middle class. They want a new direction and real leadership. My campaign will bring American pride back to our nation’s capital, straight from the heart of New York City.”

Halloran represents Northeast Queens in the New York City Council. He has also been nominated as the candidate of the Conservative Party.

“That so many volunteers from all across the new Sixth Congressional District went door to door on such short notice to place Dan on the ballot is just a small reflection of what a fine job he has done as a City Council member,” said Phil Ragusa, chairman of the Queens County Republican Party. “Bob Turner was able to get his message out and stun the nation with a win last year, and we believe that Dan can do the same. He won as an underdog in 2009, and we believe with hard work and community support he can do so again this year.”

As noted, only voters who are registered with a party may vote in that party’s primary election on June 26 (Democratic voters may only vote in the Democratic primary; Republican voters may only vote in the Republican primary, etc.). There will also be a Republican presidential primary on Apr. 24 open to registered Republican Party members.

For more information on voting or to obtain a voting registration application, contact the New York City Board of Elections at 1-212-VOTENYC or visit www.vote.nyc.ny.us.

Press representatives of candidates may send their information to this paper by fax to 1-718-456-0120 or e-mail to info@times newsweekly.com. All releases are subject to editing.