Mondello Urges Paterson to Appoint Pete King to Senate

ALBANY, NY (12/11/2008)(readMedia)-- Declaring that tough economic times demand that New Yorkers are represented by a real fighter in the U.S. Senate, state Republican chairman Joseph N. Mondello today urged Governor David Paterson to appoint Representative Peter T. King to that body once Senator Hillary Clinton is confirmed as U.S Secretary of State.

"The Governor should put partisan politics aside and do what is in the best interests of the people of New York," Mondello declared. "We need a real fighter in the United States Senate, someone who, from the moment he steps onto the floor of that august body, never stops advancing the cause of the hard working men and women of the Empire State.

"Pete King's entire career has been about fighting for his constituents, standing up to the special interests, and never compromising his ideals and principles. With the financial turmoil on Wall Street driving state, city and many local governments to the brink of fiscal meltdown, New York needs a tough, no nonsense U.S. Senator who doesn't need any on the job training.

"Our state will need its A-team out on the floor of the U.S. Senate when the new Obama administration sends its economic recovery plan to Capitol Hill. With Pete King working the Republican side of the aisle and Chuck Schumer in the Democratic cloakroom, New Yorkers can be sure that our state's agenda will always be front and center.

"Instead of balancing the competing claims of Democratic special interest groups, or weighing which potential Senate appointment enhances his own re-election prospects, Governor Paterson should do something truly statesmanlike and reach across the aisle to name a U.S. Senator like Pete King, someone who has proven that he has the fundamental toughness to take on anyone or anything in Washington in order to get the job done for the people of New York," Mondello continued.

Noting New York's long history of being represented by some of the Senate's real "giants," Chairman Mondello said: "We live in perilous times that demand that New York send another Herbert Lehman, Jacob Javits, Patrick Moynihan or Al D'Amato to the U.S. Senate. With his experience as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and his record on critical domestic issues, Pete King clearly has the potential of being counted among the very best to have ever represented New York as a Senator."

In closing, Chairman Mondello took notice of the growing media frenzy surrounding Governor Paterson's consideration of Caroline Kennedy as a potential Senator, and declared: "A seat in the United States Senate is not something you inherit. It's something you earn. Pete King is the son of a police officer who grew up in a working class Queens neighborhood. He's worked for everything he's achieved in life and knows from first hand experience the many tough challenges facing average middle class New Yorkers today.

"Governor Paterson should put partisan politics aside and send Pete King to the United States Senate."

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