Maffei Writes Letter to President Obama - Calls for Infrastructure Investment, More Jobs

Responsible infrastructure investment will lead to job creation and long-term economic growth

December 21, 2012 - U.S. Representative-elect Dan Maffei wrote a letter to President Barack Obama Wednesday calling for enhanced investment in infrastructure to be included in a final fiscal cliff package.  Citing growing the middle class, creating jobs, and fixing the economy as his top priorities, Maffei called for infrastructure investment funded in a responsible way to put people back to work and spur long-term economic growth.

“I am writing to encourage you to include enhanced investment in infrastructure in a final fiscal cliff package.” Maffei said in a letter to President Obama. “The best way to address our national debt is to put people back to work and strengthen our economy.  These investments should be funded in a responsible way and could put hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work and give a necessary boost to our nation’s economy at a critical time.”

Evidence shows that infrastructure investment spurs job creation among private businesses.  

“Central New York’s manufacturing sector depends on high-skilled workers, and on the ability to bring technicians and managers to and from plants throughout the country.” said Maffei. “The district is also a regional center for legal, accounting, engineering, architecture, and green technologies.  Many of these small businesses, firms, and manufacturers have growing national profiles or aspirations and are ripe to expand and hire new workers but are inhibited by deteriorating, insufficient transportation infrastructure.”

Background:

Evidence shows that infrastructure investment spurs job creation among private businesses and fosters both short-term and long-term economic growth. [Council of Economic Advisors - November 2011], [Center for American Progress - September 2011].

In 2007, a $1 billion investment in highway construction supported 30,000 jobs, according to the Federal Highway Administration. [Federal Highway Administration - April 2012]

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U.S. Representative-Elect Dan Maffei Appointed to House Armed Services Committee

December 20, 2012 - U.S. Representative-elect Dan Maffei made the following statement today,

“I am honored to be appointed to the House Armed Services Committee. The security and protection of the nation are among our most important responsibilities.  I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on the committee to support our service men and women, their families, and our veterans.  I am also committed to making sure that we make the most responsible, effective use of the funds we dedicate to defending our nation.”

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Election a vote for strong middle class

Published: Sunday, December 09, 2012 

The Post-Standard

To the Editor: 

I want to thank all those who supported my candidacy and voted for me on Nov. 6. 

I also want to thank every one of the hundreds of thousands of Central New Yorkers who came out to vote on Election Day. Thank you for voting - no matter how you cast your vote. Your participation was so important for the future of Central New York. 

Thank you to everyone who volunteered in the days leading up to Nov. 6, and to all those from all parties who participated in the process. During this election, hundreds of volunteers knocked on thousands of doors throughout the 24th Congressional District. You made phone calls, put out signs and talked with people in your community. The conversations you had with your neighbors, your friends and your family made the difference in this election. 

Throughout the campaign, I talked with countless voters across the district at events in the community, in their living rooms and at their doorsteps. What they told me is that Central New Yorkers want a fair shot at the American dream. 

We need to balance the budget, but we need to do it the right way, not on the backs of our middle class and seniors. Middle-class families and small business owners told me they don't want their taxes raised so that millionaires and billionaires can enjoy new tax breaks. 

Hard-working men and women don't want their jobs shipped overseas because of unfair trade. Our local businesses want to expand and hire new workers. But they need the infrastructure and reliable transportation options to move their products to new people and new markets. 

After a lifetime of work, seniors said they want Medicare and Social Security protected. Women and their families want access to affordable health care. 

Parents want their children to get the best education we can give them, one that prepares them to compete in the world economy. And they want to be able to afford to sent their kids to college. 

I ran for Congress because I believe that Central New York is the best place in the world to live and raise a family. It's a place where middle-class families can work, raise their kids to be successful and retire. I know because my family did it. I ran because I want to make sure Central New York stays this way. Throughout the campaign, Central New Yorkers told me that they want to make sure it stays that way, too. 

On Nov. 6, the people of this district voted to keep Central New York a place with a strong middle class. I am honored and humbled to be elected to represent them.

Dan Maffei

Click here to read Dan's letter published in the Post-Standard.

Dan Maffei Thanks Central New Yorkers for Electing Him to Congress

Central New Yorkers elect Dan Maffei as the best candidate to grow the middle class

November 7, 2012 - U.S. Representative -elect Dan Maffei made the following statement today,

“I am honored that the people of Central New York have elected me to represent them in Congress.  We have won an important victory for Central New York’s middle class.  I am looking forward to working to fix our economy, create jobs, and rebuild our middle class.  I would like to thank the voters, and all of our supporters who invested their time and energy in our campaign.  This victory belongs to them.”

Election Day: Go Vote

Find your polling place

Visit these websites to find your polling place:

Onondaga County: http://vic.ntsdata.com/onondagaboe/pollingplacelookup.aspx

Cayuga County: http://www.cayugacounty.us/election/poll.htm

Oswego: http://www.co.oswego.ny.us/boe/index.html

Wayne: http://www.co.wayne.ny.us/departments/elections/Electionvoterinfo.htm#wherevote

Election Day Information:http://dccc.org/content/vote

Election Day: Go Vote

Find your polling place

Visit these websites to find your polling place:

Onondaga County: http://vic.ntsdata.com/onondagaboe/pollingplacelookup.aspx

Cayuga County: http://www.cayugacounty.us/election/poll.htm

Oswego: http://www.co.oswego.ny.us/boe/index.html

Wayne: http://www.co.wayne.ny.us/departments/elections/Electionvoterinfo.htm#wherevote

Election Day Information:http://dccc.org/content/vote

ENDORSEMENT: Maffei's agenda the best for Cayuga County

The Auburn Citizen Editorial Board

November 4, 2012

..we believe that out of the three candidates in this race, Maffei has the best background, political know-how and agenda to represent Cayuga County in Congress. Rather than latch onto issues far from either side of center, he supports tax breaks for middle-income earners and raising taxes for only those making more than $1 million a year. That revenue, he says, would go toward the national debt as one part of moving toward a balanced budget. Maffei says that his top priorities are to fight for funding for transportation infrastructure and education research - creating jobs in upstate New York and making sure the workforce is properly prepared to move forward. He understands the need for compromise on health care and says he will work to change parts of the Affordable Health Care Act in an effort to lessen some of its unintended consequences while maintaining the many provisions that are good for Americans.

In the end, we believe Maffei is far more likely to become more effective at constituent service than Buerkle is likely to change many of her extreme-right policy positions. Weighing the pros and cons of both, The Citizen endorses Dan Maffei for the 24th Congressional District.

Click here to read the rest.

ENDORSEMENT: Dan Maffei for the 24th Congressional District

The Post-Standard Editorial Board

November 4, 2012

Central New York voters like moderates in Congress -- like Democrat Jim Hanley and Republicans Jim Walsh and Sherry Boehlert. Which of the three candidates running in the 24th District, covering Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne counties and part of Oswego County, comes closest to the political center: one-term incumbent Ann Marie Buerkle, R-Onondaga Hill; Democrat Dan Maffei, who lost the seat to Buerkle two years ago; or the Green Party's Ursula Rozum?

[...]

Like Walsh, Maffei brought home federal grants, which helped with the downtown transit hub, renovating the Syracuse veterans hospital and dredging Onondaga Lake.

Maffei lost narrowly to Buerkle in 2010, as tea party activism was on the rise. Since then, the tea party express has spun its wheels. Buerkle and her House colleagues tried in vain to repeal Obamacare -- more than 30 times. They misrepresented $716 billion in proposed structural savings in Medicare as cuts to seniors' health care. Their resistance to raising the debt ceiling risked the nation's credit rating. The Ryan budget never got out of the House. Neither did the anti-abortion HR3, or a restrictive version of the Violence Against Women Act that fellow House Republican Rep. Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, called "terrible."

Maffei talks about a "district Buerkle" who promotes jobs and economic development at home, and a Washington ideologue who presses cultural issues and the tea party agenda.

[...]

Click here to read the rest.

Dan Maffei Receives Endorsement of President Barack Obama

Citing his commitment to strengthening Central New York’s middle class, President Obama endorses Dan Maffei.

November 1, 2012 - Democratic Congressional candidate Dan Maffei received the endorsement of President Barack Obama today.  The President pointed to Maffei’s commitment to strengthening the middle class, creating jobs, and getting the economy moving again as making him the best choice to represent Central New York in the 24th Congressional District.  

President Barack Obama said, "America's middle class needs Dan Maffei in Congress to stand up and fight for them. Dan will create jobs here at home by building from the middle out, not the top down. He will protect Medicare for our seniors and education for our next generation.  Middle class families can count on Dan and he needs your support on election day."

“I am honored to have the support of President Obama.  He has fought tirelessly for our middle class, and I look forward to working with him to strengthen our middle class, create jobs, and get the economy moving again.” said Dan Maffei.  “President Obama understands that when we grow Central New York’s middle class, our economy thrives, and I am proud to receive his endorsement.”

New Positive Campaign Ad Features President Bill Clinton’s Endorsement of Dan Maffei

Maffei Campaign Releases Latest Positive Television Advertisement

October 26, 2012 -Democratic Congressional Candidate Dan Maffei’s campaign released its most recent advertisement today backed by a significant broadcast and cable television buy.