Congressman Kuhl Commends Dems for Attempting Bipartisanship, Massa Attacks

For months now, Congressman Kuhl has been critical of the Dem leadership in the House for not trying to work with Republicans on a host of issues. So when the Dems approached House Republican Leader John Boehner to discuss an economic stimulus package, Congressman Kuhl commended it as a positive step forward. Eric Massa, of course, took this as an opportunity to be critical of Congressman Kuhl, because our good congressman actually had the audacity to be critical of the Dem leadership in the past. For shame!

Frankly, I don't see what's wrong with Congressman Kuhl calling out the Dems when they're not working with the Republicans on Capitol Hill, and then commends them when they appear to be reaching out. To me, that seems like healthy bipartisanship. Eric Massa, on the other hand, finds it to be an opportunity to complain. So much for Mr. "I Speak Donkey and Elephant" Good Ol' Bipartisan Eric Massa...

Congressman Kuhl Helps Form Bipartisan "Congressional Appalachian Caucus"

From Business First of Buffalo:

Rep. John "Randy" Kuhl Jr., whose congressional district includes Olean and all of Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, has joined with a bipartisan group of House lawmakers to form the Congressional Appalachian Caucus.

Kuhl, R-Hammondsport, said the group will focus on building federal support for work of the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The ARC is a federal-state partnership that aims to create opportunities for economic growth in 410 counties in the 13 states included in the Appalachian Region.

The Brazil Trip

Following up on my post from yesterday, the Hornell Evening Tribune has a story on the controversy. Frankly, this story has no legs. Massa, in his usual hyperbole, said, "In the middle of winter, Randy Kuhl is on a summer vacation in Brazil." Um, Eric, if you think we're in the middle of winter now, just wait til that period of time between December and March! I mean, really, how long have you lived here???

This is the most interesting piece of the article, which hasn't been discussed much in the blogosphere:

Congressional delegations, according to Kuhl, allow members of Congress the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and better understand U.S. relations abroad. The trips, he said, are encouraged by the State Department and help create relationships and partnerships with other countries.

"It also provides a frame of reference so the Congressional leaders can come back to Washington and propose new legislation to improve the United States," Kuhl said. (Emphasis added)

So while Massa is still flipping out over losing last year and attacking Congressman Kuhl every chance he gets, our Congressman is on a bipartisan fact-finding mission, which is encouraged by the State Department, in order to foster diplomatic realtions with another country and gather more information on how to make America more energy independent in the future. 'Nuff said!

Sugar is the New Oil

I don't know about you, but Jimmy Smit's new drama, Cane, is definitely becoming one of my favorite shows of all time. And the idea that sugar-based ethonal can help our country succeed in becoming more energy independent is gaining traction on Capitol Hill. That is why Congressman Kuhl is joining 10 of his congressional colleagues on a bipartisan fact finding mission to Brazil, which is being lead by U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), to see how sugarcane has helped its country's energy needs.

Of course, Rottenchester and ladkiddo over at rochesterturning are poking fun at this trip, and Eric Massa had a field day with it at his press conference today, but frankly, this country is yearning for more avenues towards energy independence and this bipartisan trip is a perfect way for Congressman Kuhl to see first hand how Brazil is achieving it through cane.

Also, to answer ladkiddo's question on whether "this [trip was] mentioned in any of his town hall meetings," the answer is yes!

Finally, reading Massa blagging on about home heating assistance money, a.k.a. HEAP, reminds me of when my mother worked for my native county's Social Services Division downstate, her main job handling HEAP applications for over 10 years; she retired earlier this year. The amount of fraud she witnessed was unreal. True, she did have clients who had real hardships and needed this assistance, but they were few and far between the ones trying to manipulate the system by not reporting their true income (as an aside, at one time they were called "recipients," but that wasn't too PC, so that changed to "customers" and then finally "clients" to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside). As my mother would say, "HEAP is a joke!"

Kuhl Working with Schumer on Ambulance-Aid Bill

From the Syracuse Post-Standard:

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer visited Syracuse Tuesday to tell ambulance crews he is optimistic the Senate will pass a bill that will provide nearly $700,000 in additional Medicare reimbursements for Onondaga County ambulance companies.

Medicare pays ambulance companies on average 6 percent less than the actual costs when Medicare-eligible patients are transported, Schumer, D-NY, said.

He introduced a bill in May that calls for the Medicare reimbursement rate to be increased by 5 percent in 2008 and 2009, Schumer said at a news conference at Rural/Metro Ambulance. He said he expects the bill to be part of a Medicare package the Senate votes on in December.

An identical bill pending in the House of Representatives is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. James Walsh, R-Onondaga; Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, and Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport.