"The kind of challenger who could pull off an upset."

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“The kind of challenger
  who could pull off an upset.”

~Roll Call on Eric Massa

Eric Massa is running for Congress in the 29th District of New York State. Part of the upstate region of New York, it includes the Southern Tier along the Pennsylvania border, the Fingerlakes, suburban Rochester and the city of Elmira.

The 29th has been an entrenched Republican district, but that is changing. The region has been suffering job losses and economic difficulties for years, with negative job growth in its metropolitan areas since 2004.

The Republicans, including incumbent representative Randy Kuhl, have offered little more than promises to their constituents and support for the Bush agenda.

“Randy Kuhl’s support for the Central American Free Trade Agreement, bankruptcy reform and the privatization of Social Security will erode what little security the people of this District have left.”

"My opponent, 98 percent of the time, votes as he is instructed to vote by Tom DeLay and Karl Rove. That is not in the best interest of the 29th District.”

-Eric Massa

This lack of leadership or responsiveness led to the victory of Frank Coccho for Mayor of Corning, the first Democrat to hold the office in 40 years, although he was out-spent by his opponent two to one. Eric Massa joined in his grassroots-fueled campaign and supported other local races.

“Frank’s victory is emblematic of the discontent that has been brewing in communities across the 29th District among hard working families that are tired of being left out in the cold by a Congress and Administration that don’t understand or care that their standard of living continues to decline, even as company profits soar.”

-Eric Massa

Despite an unsuccessful bid in her race against Randy Kuhl in 2004, Samara Barend garnered 36 percent of the votes in her run for Congress and Kuhl took office with only 51 percent of the vote. This congressional seat, with support, is ripe for the taking. And without primary competition, Eric Massa can be the Democrat who turns the tide in 2006.

“Throughout our nation and in every town in the 29th District, I see a continuing and relentless assault on the middle class. Every piece of legislation I see emanating from Washington today makes it harder for those of us who earned $35,000 a year to earn $45,000 a year. At the same time, these new laws guarantee an individual enjoying millions of dollars of wealth will double their portfolio's value.”

"Open-door free trade has destroyed the manufacturing base of this nation. You don't have to be a PhD. in economics to know that. Just walk a mile in any direction from this office and you'll see the shuttered family farms and the broken factories."

-Eric Massa

With a platform that stresses economic development and fairness, policies to curtail the outsourcing of jobs to other countries through NAFTA and opposition to CAFTA, increasing the minimum wage and protecting social security, Eric Massa offers the alternative to the republican economic agenda which rewards the fortunate while neglecting the very people who put them in office. It is an alternative many voters in the 29th District are ready to embrace.

“…Our Veterans are losing the benefits they were promised for risking their lives for this nation even while some of our bravest are being marginalized and demonized for disagreeing with an Administration that won’t admit it was wrong.”

-Eric Massa

As a retired Navy Commander with 24 years of service, Eric is deeply concerned about the welfare of veterans and active duty soldiers and is committed to supporting them and their families, especially under an administration that takes their service for granted while neglecting their most desperate needs.

His four point plan to address their unique concerns includes increasing military salaries by re-allocating existing federal funds, granting National Guard and Reserve troops reimbursement for travel expenses, assistance for troops returning home from combat and allowing those who served in the Guard and Reserve to buy into the Tricare military health care system.

“Many families are one medical crisis away from bankruptcy. With 40 million people uninsured, we are in a state of emergency in this nation. I believe that guaranteeing all Americans access to health care should be a national security priority.”

"I met people who had to make decisions between chemotherapy drugs and food. I looked around and said at the dawn of the 21st century, medical care in the United States of America should not be about the survival of the financially fittest."

-Eric Massa

As a cancer survivor of six years who witnessed the lack of adequate health care available to working families first-hand, it is an issue that Eric has made a priority in his platform.

One of the first bills he would introduce as a member of congress would be the COBRA Health Care Extension Act, which would extend this health benefit provision from 18 months to 5 years, giving vulnerable families access to coverage at group rates for a more reasonable length of time.

Although the crisis of healthcare cannot be addressed by this legislation alone, it is a first step toward insuring those families who would otherwise join the 40 million uninsured in this country due to the loss of a job.

“This is about community not cronyism. The voters have soundly rejected the politics of Rove, Delay and the Bush Administration. The working families here do not have any coattails to cling to. They want jobs, health care and a secure future for their children.”

"I am the underdog in this race, there's no doubt about that. Randy Kuhl has been able, over the last 20 years, to stop in and drop off checks to every institution in this district, at least in this county. I'm building a campaign that focuses on issues and his voting record."

-Eric Massa

Facing an incumbent with a war chest can be daunting, but with our help and support, a candidate with integrity and passion like Eric Massa can be the kind of challenger who could pull off an upset.

WesPAC supporters across the country and the world have helped build this campaign with each coming week. Over the past nine months, we have had incredible amounts of support as our campaign has progressed.

As we look back on what we have accomplished with your help this past year, we are very much looking forward to the New Year, and all that 2006 has to offer.

Thank you for your continued support, and we hope you will continue to send us your ideas, and your help.

Massa for Congress