Statement by Congressional Candidate Lee Zeldin

MASTIC, NY (07/08/2008)(readMedia)-- In response to yet another celebration of out of control Congressional spending in an era of $4.50 per gallon gas by an opponent unwilling to discuss the issues or accept a debate challenge, the Republican candidate for New York's First Congressional District, Army veteran Lee Zeldin, issued the following statement:

Each year, every Congressman brings home on average more than 25 pork projects costing taxpayers nearly $40 million. In principle, this is good for the district. However, when you peel back the onion, every cardboard check presentation celebrating the earmark du jour is nothing more than a thinly veiled assault on responsible government.

The worst part of the current earmark process in Congress is that our district receives much less than the national average.

Simply put, earmarks cater to donors, pander to voters, and are intended to buy votes.

As I've said all along: I support an earmark moratorium--no more earmarks until Congress finds a more responsible way to spend our money. I'm sick and tired of building Alaskan bridges to nowhere, funding catfish research at Auburn, and celebrating the drug culture of the 60's with non-educational hippie museums.

-30-

Zeldin served as an aide to State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. The Shirley resident studied at the University at Albany, graduated from Albany Law School, and earned his commission through Army ROTC. He was a paratrooper, prosecutor and magistrate with the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. In the summer of 2006, he was a JAG attorney deployed to Iraq. He is currently an attorney at Raiser & Kenniff on Long Island.

For more information on Lee's campaign please visit us at www.zeldin08.com

Paid for by Lee Zeldin for Congress