LATIMER SETS RECORD STRAIGHT

(September 26, 2008) Assemblyman George Latimer (D-I-WF), fresh off his first debate with challenger Rob Biagi (R-C), has "set the record straight" on a number of Biagi misstatements issued so far during the campaign. "There are less than 40 days left to the campaign, and people should take a hard look at both of us - what we've done, what we've said - and make a fair judgment," Latimer stated. "But that fair judgment can't be made when my opponent is offering a hefty slice of baloney in place of real substance."

1) Biagi claims on Latimer's votes on the NY State budget::

Latimer cited the actual 2008 state budget votes, held on March 31 and April 8, 2008. In the Senate, all 61 members voted YES on the Education and Health Budgets, which together represent far more than half of all state spending. That means EVERY REPUBLICAN Senator as well as Democratic Senator for this budget; further, its passage in the Assembly included 33 of 42 REPUBLICAN Assembly members - including Republican Assembly Leader James Tedisco. The budget was clearly done as a bi-partisan compromise; Latimer further stated that, in the news stories at the time of passage, all members indicated that they expected to further cut the budget as economic conditions changed.

COMMENT: Blaming "Shelly Silver" and the Assembly Democrats for the budget wilfully ignores that Republicans in large numbers crafted and voted for the budget.

2) Biagi's claims on Latimer's voting record:

Latimer issued a detailed review of his record, including votes in favor of Republican positions highlighting budget votes in 2007 and 2008, amendments and procedural votes, committee votes - including his vote FOR "The Ronald Reagan Highway", his opposition to specific Democratic bills, as numerous examples of his independence.

COMMENT: Selective and incomplete review of a voting record is like judging a ballplayer based on a few games. Biagi wilfully fails to review the overall record, since it did not support his premise.

3) Biagi's claims on Latimer's position on school funding:

Latimer has expressed a detailed position on school funding, sequencing 1) mandate relief and 2) tax-cut/circuit-breaker, before any imposition 3) of a school tax cap. Latimer cited the many concerns expressed not by union members, but rather by parents of school children and by school officials, as a reason to carefully consider options before leaping into a 'blunt instrument'. "We cannot use a 'blunt instrument' on our children," Latimer stated.

COMMENT: "It is said that the truth is the first casuality of war and it is also true for political campaigns," Latimer indicated. "It is too easy to misrepresent positions for political benefit, so we need this type of Truth Check during the heat of the campaign."

4) Biagi's claim that he "competed" for the f Tom Golisano:

Biagi was endorsed by Buffalo billionaire Tom Golisano's PAC - but Latimer NEVER SOUGHT that endorsement. Latimer responded: "I respect Mr. Golisano and his resources, but I am focused on gaining support, and raising money, from the people of the Sound Shore. Rob Biagi will do very well for himself with an infusion of money from Mr. Golisano's vast funds. The endorsement I care about is the one of the voters who live in these communities."

COMMENT: There is a "competition" when BOTH candidates seek an endorsement. In cases where both men have done so - the Working Families Party, AFL-CIO, the environmental groups - Latimer has won the endorsement in every such "competition."

Latimer is seeking a third term representing Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Rye,
Rye Brook, Port Chester, and part of New Rochelle.