SD-51:League of C onservation Voters makes their choice

It is clear who enviornmentalists believe will be best suited to serve SD-51: Don Barber


From the Release:

Don Barber Receives Ringing Endorsement from League of Conservation Voters

'He'll work for us because he's one of us,' Campaign Manager says

Citing Don Barber's "impressive profile on environmental issues," the League of Conservation Voters enthusiastically endorsed his state Senate (SD-51) candidacy today. The League of Conservation Voters, the environmental movement's political voice, noted Barber's many achievements in protecting our valuable resources and developing clean alternative energy.

"I'm honored to accept the League's endorsement," Barber said. "Preserving our abundant environment for future generations is our most important task. I learned about the importance of protecting our precious environment as a child on our family farm. Advancing this value is the great work of the New York League of Conservation Voters."

"On the environment, as on every other crucial issue, Don Barber will work for us because he's one of us," said Tarah Rowse, Barber's campaign manager. "As a farmer and Town Supervisor, Don Barber stayed close to the land, conserving resources, keeping our water pure, and working on ways to build a new alternative energy economy. Meanwhile, Sen. Seward has been out of touch in Albany the last 22 years."

Under Don Barber's leadership, the League said, "Caroline was the first town in Tompkins County to conduct an aquifer study. He has made stormwater and erosion control a high priority, and oversaw construction of a state-of-the-art stream bank stabilization project. One of Don Barber's most significant environmental achievements was the establishment of Energy Independent Caroline, an organization that initiates renewable energy projects and educates residents about energy issues. In 2005, the town became the second in New York State to purchase all of its electricity from wind power."

Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, characterized Barber as "an intelligent and forward-thinking champion of the environment, both as the owner of an organic farm and the Town Supervisor of Caroline. Don Barber epitomizes the kind of environmental leadership we need in Albany, and that is why the New York League of Conservation Voters enthusiastically endorses him as the next State Senator from the 51st District."

Reader E-mail

Going through my inbox, I stumbled upon an email from one of my readers asking me why I wrote so much about issues without running for office.

From the Letter:

Dear Jeffrey,

I have been a reader of your site for a couple of months, and in that time I've began to respect your opinions. I however, do not like how you continue to just rant and rave about Republicans in office, and don't try to unseat one yourself. Why is it that YOU don't run for office, are you afraid to be in a position of power, instead of just sitting back and criticizing those who are in power?!?!

Well, that is certainly a good question, Why is it that I don't run for an office?  I most definitely am not afraid of being in a position of power, or making decisions, why is it that I'm not running for office?

oh wait...


I'm 16 years old.

Barber speaks out against budget deal

State Senate Candidate Don Barber has spoken out against the recent budget deal in Albany. This is a message that should rest well with the mostly working-class voters of the 51st district. It makes no sense how the rich are constantly getting their taxes cut, and the burden is falling on the families that need their hard earned money the most.
From the Release:

Budget Deal Will Hurt Local Economy, Barber Says

Ties Seward to 'Borrow and Spend' Policy

Saying he "couldn't be more disappointed" with this week's budget deal in Albany, state Senate candidate Don Barber (D-Caroline) questioned why lawmakers borrowed so heavily in recent years during a strong economy. Barber pointed out that Albany continued to go into debt at precisely the wrong time, and now working families are being forced to bear the financial burden of this reckless fiscal approach.

The human cost will be paid by "the most vulnerable among us," he added. "The state is cutting aid to hospitals and aid to nursing homes. That says volumes about how we perceive ourselves as a society."

A long-time farmer, Barber said, "In the fall you harvest for the winter and put by your seed for the next spring. That's conservative in the best sense of the word. My opponent, Jim Seward, has been in Albany for over two decades. For twenty-two years he's participated in a fiscal policy of excessive spending and then left our children to foot the bill. He has to take some responsibility for these borrow and spend practices. Once again the costs are landing on kitchen tables all over upstate New York."

Barber is concerned that the budget deal will lead to a downward economic spiral. During a recession, he explained, the best policy is to put money in the hands of middle class families that will spend it locally. "Any budget cuts that take money out of the local economy are the wrong way to go," he said. Instead, Barber advocates easing the tax burden on small businesses and the middle class by moving towards a fairer system.

Requiring the top 1% of New York's earners - millionaires who make $20,000 per week and more - to assume their fair share of the tax burden would raise billions and ease the budget crisis, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz. Barber agrees. "Between 1976 and 2007 millionaires and billionaires saw their state taxes cut in half while the rest of us have been forced to pay more of the tax burden through the property tax and fees. We have to restore some fairness to the system so our working people can put their earnings into the local economy."

Barber is particularly concerned about proposed cuts to Medicaid for pharmacies, hospitals and nursing homes. "These cuts will hit seniors in particular. Overall, you're going to see more people ending up in emergency rooms and shelters. That costs far more than caring for people in proper facilities at the right time. Going down this road, working families are going to pay more. And the human costs are just too high."

Lower the Drinking age?

From the OD:

Colgate and Hamilton college presidents are among more than 100 college leaders nationwide signing on to a movement to debate the national legal drinking age.

Leaders from 115 colleges and universities have signed the Amethyst Initiative —launched in July — that says the 21-year-old drinking age is not working and has created a culture of dangerous binge drinking on campuses.

“Signing the Amethyst Initiative letter is about joining other colleges in a call for a national discussion on the issue of alcohol use and abuse on our campuses,” Colgate President Rebecca Chopp said in a statement released Tuesday.

“This is not an endorsement of lowering the drinking age to 18,” she said, “but rather a
statement that this discussion needs to be open and inclusive if it is to be productive.”

The Amethyst Initiative is backed by the Choose Responsibility group founded by retired Middlebury College President John McCardell, who has advocated dropping the legal drinking age to 18.

McCardell has said in published papers that dropping the age would curb binge drinking by giving “drinking licenses” to 18- to 20-year-olds who have been educated about the downsides of alcohol.

Jody Day, 19, a freshman at SUNYIT said the age should be lowered for the safety of students.

“People who are not old enough to drink get their friends to buy them or get them alcohol,” Day said. “Making it legal would take away some of the fun for those drinking underage.”

Hamilton College President Joan Hinde Stewart is on vacation and could not be reached for comment. Executive Director of Communications Mike Debraggio said Hinde’s signing was a call to look at the drinking age.

“What we have now just isn’t working,” Debraggio said. “All colleges, everywhere, are really struggling with concerns of alcohol on campus.”

Presidents of major institutions such as the Johns Hopkins University and Ohio State University have also signed the initiative.

But not all college presidents are fans of the campaign, which also has a powerful opponent in Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The advocacy group calls the initiative misguided and goes so far as to tell parents to reconsider sending their teens to colleges where the presidents have signed the initiative.

The group says the signatories “shirk responsibility to protect students from dangers of underage drinking.”

Colgate’s Chopp did not see it that way.

“The health and safety of our students is our highest priority, and we owe it to them and their families to encourage open and ongoing dialogue around this important issue,” she said.

Choose Responsibility spokeswoman Grace Kronenberg said the group has contacted more than 2,000 four-year colleges and universities across the nation. They have not formally contacted junior colleges but plan to in the coming weeks.

I thought that this was an interesting move by two local university presidents.  It seems like with all that's going on, this is an issue that rarely gets brought up. So, what do you guys think: Is the age fine the way it is? Or, should it be brought down to 18?

Interview with Mike Gravel

Hey all,

Just to let you know, last night I did an interview over at ThinkYouth.org with former Senator Mike Gravel and Journalist Joe Lauria.

Link Here

Shameless Self Promotion Part 3

Me in the OD

Barber: Invest Gas Royalties Upstate!

Don Barber's camp has released a statement calling for the investment of gas royalties to not only the NYS government, but also to the local governments.

Check it out:

Barber Says 'Invest State Gas Royalties Upstate'

Proposes Dedicated Fund for Community Development

After addressing an Otsego County Board meeting where he reaffirmed his commitment to a responsible gas drilling policy, Don Barber (D-Caroline) explained how he would invest gas drilling royalties to build a sustainable upstate economy. Speaking outside the Otsego County office in Cooperstown yesterday, Barber laid out a plan that would support long-term economic development in the 51st district.

"We all hope for successful gas discovery and extraction. Currently, the bulk of the royalties go to the gas companies and a portion to the landowners who deserve this benefit, and also to the state of New York. But local governments, which will be heavily impacted by the gas drilling process, must get a long-term benefit from this resource."

Upstate counties deserve a share of the royalties, Barber contends. "I propose that the state's royalties be put in a dedicated fund for counties where the natural gas is produced. A significant percentage of all gas royalties going into this fund would be used for community development projects such as schools, healthcare facilities and modernizing local infrastructure that would support family farms and small businesses. That way we boost the economy and benefit our communities over a long period of time."

"My opponent has not stood up for us. The gas and oil industries are the only industries in New York State exempt from local laws. By allowing gas companies to extract this resource from our counties without local governments getting anything in return, he has certainly not stood up for us. I will work to bring a portion of this revenue back home."

Barber pointed to the example of Wyoming's Permanent Mineral Trust Fund, which mandates that a percentage of all taxes collected from coal, oil and gas companies go into a permanent fund for the welfare of future generations. Today, that fund has accumulated $3 billion and earns $100 million in interest every year.

"A progressive Republican governor named Stan Hathaway came up with this idea after taking a look at what coal mining had done to the people in West Virginia. The coal companies kept the profits, the state capital kept the royalties, and the local economies deteriorated. Marcellus Shale gas is a finite resource. Let's get long-term benefit out of it for ourselves and future generations," Barber said.

Since he began his campaign, Barber has been emphasizing how he would build a sustainable local economy. A strong supporter of developing a value-added farming economy, he advocates buying local farm produce. As a successful small businessman, he has also been calling for a Main Street revival as part of his "buy local plan."

"Small businesses have been decimated and our regional economy is deteriorating as mega corporations, through massive marketing efforts, smother local business," Barber said. "Under this model our purchasing dollars circulate only once, and then go to China and other economies abroad. In a sustainable economy, the money circulates several times around our own communities. In natural gas, upstate has a valuable resource. We need to use it and its royalties wisely."

NY-24: Where's Hanna on the Issues?

Ever since Richard Hanna announced for congress, I've made passing references to this race, most notably my "Here we go again" post, which got me some attention from the people over at Utica Sux.  When the Independence party announced that they would be endorsing Hanna, I figured that this race would be closer than I initially expected.  However, Richard Hanna's website is still surprisingly missing an "Issues" page, and to me, that's baffling. 


In this new digital era, where more and more people get thier news and information from the internet, I can't understand why he would neglect to post his position on the issues on his site.  After searching on his site for any positions, all that I found was that same general blurb that he had on there months ago:

Richard knows the choices we make in the next few years on education, health care, immigration, social security, the environment, foreign competition and national security are more important today than ever before.

 

He recognizes that we need a long-term comprehensive energy policy that focuses on new exploration, innovation and conservation.

 

We have become a nation that spends more than it earns, imports more than it exports, and borrows more than it can pay back.

 

It’s time to take our government from the special interests. Richards wants commonsense solutions that create opportunity and growth for everyone in central New York.

 

All this thing does is address that there ARE problems, and not what his positions are to solve them.  Now, I, Still as an Arcuri supporter, respect that fact that there is a challenger to this seat.  I think that it's a shame when people run unopposed, and I am glad that Hanna chose to run.  However, for this to be a real choice, don't we need to know where he stands on all the issues he'll be facing in Washington?

New Site Features/Site Cleanup

Just to let all of my readers know, as you may have seen, I've added a couple of the new Blogger features to the site:

• You can now rate every post on a scale from 1-5 stars
• The commenting tool is embedded right on the page for each one of the posts, so no more need to be redirected to a new page to make a comment.
• (This one isn't too new, but it's still cool) I added the new Blogger Blogroll, that not only links to my favorite reads, but also includes a segment of their most recent post
• I've been added to BlogCatalog and BlogNetNews, two great blog networks.

I've also been reducing a lot of the clutter I had on the sidebar, so it'll be easier for you guys to navigate around the site.

Site growth has been outstanding since I got back from Georgia. In fact, yesterday (07/31) is the biggest day I have on record for site visits.

So, to all my readers: Make sure to Rate/Comment Posts that you like or find interesting, and continue to get the word out about the site!