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Candidates' Positions and Views |
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for:
New York Rep. In Congress District 5, New York |
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November 4, 2008 New York General Election |
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Candidates' Positions and Views on Other Issues where Information is Available: |
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Any responses to Reasons & Objectives issue questions presented on the bottom of this page are those of Gary L. Ackerman and Elizabeth Berney seeking New York Rep. In Congress District 5. The links immediately below will provide pages of candidate responses to other issues, with the first link to a report of all the issues and questions available to Gary L. Ackerman and Elizabeth Berney. Since many candidates choose not to respond to many questions, links are only provided where we have response information. Also, you may need to scroll down to compare responses if many candidates are seeking this office. |
| Reasons & Objectives Issues |
* Gary L. Ackerman - D
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Elizabeth Berney - R
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| The First Thing to Accomplish When Elected |
Ackerman: No Response |
Berney: My first priority will be emergency actions to achieve energy independence as rapidly as possible. Energy independence is absolutely critical for national security, economic security (our pocketbooks!) and will also help our environment.
Source: Elizabeth Berney Date: 10/20/2008 |
| Why You Are Running for Office |
Ackerman: No Response |
Berney: I am a non-politician who happens to have strong relevant legal experience regarding many critical issues we face today, including taxation, investigating fraud, safety issues, international litigation, and the automobile industry - a key to energy independence. Thus I'm well-equipped to serve in Congress even though I never even thought of running for office until recently. I decided to run to change things for the better on many issues, including the following: (1) Common sense tax relief and cutting wasteful spending: I plan to work to eliminate the alternative minimum tax, which discriminates against New Yorkers and others in other high-tax states, and pursue tax policies which make saving for college and medical care more affordable. By contrast, the National Taxpayers' Union gave our current Congressman (Ackerman) the worst possible rating ("F" = Big Spender). (2) National Security: I plan to work with Congress' best security experts, including Congressman Peter King, ranking minority member of Homeland Security, on policies that will protect us. By contrast, Ackerman voted AGAINST Congressman King's "See Something, Say Something" bill which protects from lawsuits citizens who in good faith report suspicious terrorist acitivity. (3) Energy Independence: I plan to work on rapidly achieving energy independence as my first priority, including flex fuel cars (which can use methanol, ethanol or gasoline), wind, solar, clean coal technologies, and increased domestic production. By contrast, Ackerman has persistently voted the wrong way on energy independence bills. For instance, he voted against the 2005 Energy Policy Act which exempts natural gas exploration from the outer continental shelf exploration moratorium. (4) Honoring ALL citizens' holidays. By contrast, Ackerman voted AGAINST honoring Christmas twice (after he voted to honor Ramadan). CONTINUED IN NEXT BOX
Source: Elizabeth Berney Date: 10/20/2008 |
| Areas You Would Most Concentrate On |
Ackerman: No Response |
Berney: (5) Ending funding to those who promote terrorism against America and Israel. (By contrast, Ackerman is the prime promoter in Congress of sending hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Aurhority - and even said that we should make Abbas into the "Muslim Santa Claus" - despite Abbas' government's announcement that is is transfering 40% of the funds received from international donors to Hamas, and continued promotion of killing Americans and Jews in schools, textbooks and official television. (6) Ethics in government. By contrast, Ackerman was one of the biggest check kiters in the House Banking Scandal. (7) Constituent services. On the campaign trail, we hear many complaints about the current Congressman's unresponsiveness.
Source: Elizabeth Berney Date: 10/20/2008 |
| What You Want To Achieve if Elected |
Ackerman: No Response |
Berney: Energy independence; Common sense tax relief; National security; Honoring all citizens holidays; Ending funding to entities and leaders who promote terrorism; Ethics in government; Constituent services
Source: Elizabeth Berney Date: 10/20/2008 |