NY-22 Minute: Rep. Brindisi and Claudia Tenney spar over HEROES Act By Luke Perry
This year’s NY-22 race is unlike any other as candidates cannot physically campaign, elevating the importance of messaging and media outreach. Rep. Anthony Brindisi’s record, increasingly defined by his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be a major consideration.
Brindisi voted for all four federal COVID assistance laws and has emphasized his ability to secure federal resources on behalf of the district. For instance, Brindisi highlighted how the recent relief package, the CARES Act, provided:
-$42 million of aid to colleges and universities in NY-22;
-$36 million of aid to hospitals and medical facilities in NY-22;
-$11 million in funding to Broome County transit and $7 million to the Central New York Transportation Authority that serves Oneida County, per the U.S. Department of Transportation;
-over $1 million in grants from the U.S. Department Housing and Urban and Development for housing authorities in NY-22;
-a $177,845 grant for Resource Center for Independent Living in Utica from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Image from USA Today
Historically high, bipartisan federal spending has elevated Congressional incumbents’ ability to “bring home the bacon,” including Brindisi. Challengers, such as Claudia Tenney, the likely GOP nominee, have struggled to generate attention while unable to meet with constituents and host campaign events.
The heading on Tenney’s campaign website says: “Join the Great American Comeback.” Tenney is pictured with President Trump during his 2018 campaign rally in Utica on her behalf. The economy has subsequently collapsed, prompting a recession and a 15 percent unemployment rate.
Over 1.5 million Americans have experienced confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in over 93,000 deaths, currently the third leading cause of death nationwide and locally. There have been over 192,000 confirmed cases in New York State, responsible for over 20,000 deaths, an amount comparable to the population of New Hartford.
Tenney’s 2020 campaign approach thus far has replicated her close alignment with President Trump from 2018 and 2016. Tenney previously described the Trump administration as “the most successful presidency in modern history.”
Tenney’s Twitter account is headed by a pinned Tweet from Donald Trump endorsing her. Trump describes Tenney as “a fantastic candidate” who “was a Great member of Congress.”
Photo from Gage Skidmore/Flickr
In recent days, Tenney heavily criticized Brindisi’s vote for the HEROES Act, the latest COVID relief bill, passed by the House, and under consideration in the Senate.
The HEROES Act includes $1 trillion for state and local governments, another round of stimulus payments to citizens ($1,200 per individual) and billions of dollars in hazard pay for essential workers, additional COVID testing, housing support, federal student loan forgiveness, and more.
The bill passed by a mostly partisan vote. In New York, Peter King (R, NY-2) crossed party lines to support the bill.
“I can be as much a red state person as anyone. But now we’re talking about survival. And this is no place for politics. There’s a lot in the bill that I disagree with, but Mitch McConnell refuses to bring up aid to state and local governments. New York will absolutely collapse if that aid money is not there.”
Tenney has described the bill as a “socialist wishlist” for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, claiming it “includes stimulus checks for illegal immigrants, releasing hardened criminals onto our streets,” and “federalizing local elections and opening the door to voter fraud.”
Tenney claimed that Brindisi “knows it’s a bad bill. He knows it looks bad for the district,” but voted in favor because of Democratic pressure and to “cash in” with donors. Tenney said there are “many negative things “ in the legislation, which “doesn’t help small businesses.”
From Rep. Brindisi’s Office
Brindisi said the bill provides $100 billion in aid to New York State, including $100 million for Oneida County alone. While “far from perfect,” Brindisi told Talk of the Town (WUTQ in Utica), the bill will help “millions of front-line workers and state and local governments.” The latter is a “critical piece” in New York, Brindisi explained, because the state has been the epicenter of the pandemic.
Brindisi hopes the bill will advance the conversation on what relief steps Congress should take next and that compromise with the Senate will further improve the legislation. For instance, Brindisi is “not interested in changing voting laws” and does not believe that should be included.
Brindisi said that undocumented immigrants would receive stimulus payments in this legislation because anyone paying taxes with a tax identification number is eligible. He did not say whether he supports this particular portion of the bill.
“First and foremost, I’m a New Yorker,” Brindisi said, “I have to do what I think is best for New York.” The state “is getting a significant amount of money to help rebuild the economy and fight this pandemic.”
Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College
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