Statement from Congressional Candidate Lee Zeldin

SHIRLEY, NY (02/20/2008)(readMedia)-- After receiving the unanimous support from my party one week ago we are more focused then ever on making Long Island a better place for our senior citizens to enjoy retirement. While I’m quite pleased that our campaign’s momentum continues to steadily grow, we must always recognize that we are better positioned today because we stand on the shoulders of giants, our senior citizens.

Like many Long Islanders in my generation, I have a wonderful collection of grandparents to thank for overcoming hardship, paving the way for our generation and directly impacting the character that drives us to public service. Now it is our time to pay them back.

Long Island’s parks and sandy beaches, unique spirit, and close proximity to New York City should make it an ideal place to spend one’s golden years. After investing 30, 40 or 50 productive years of hard work making Long Island a better place to live, senior citizens deserve the right to enjoy a better retirement. Unfortunately, a host of issues continue to make attaining and maintaining the Suffolk County Dream financially prohibitive for these deserving individuals.

Just some of my common sense principles for seniors include the three-part plan for offsetting prescription drug costs and providing alternatives to excessive medical expenses. Additionally, Long Islanders of all ages can be certain that when elected, I will oppose the taxing and spending ways of Congress, so that we can start reducing our unreasonably high cost of living. Furthermore, I believe that social security taxes should only be used to pay for social security.

While it’s important to recognize that Long Island’s future begins now—we must remember the trailblazers before us that paved our way to success.

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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 served as a paratrooper, prosecutor and magistrate with the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. He was a Military Intelligence officer before becoming an Army JAG Captain and serving in Iraq. He is currently an attorney at Raiser & Kenniff on Long Island.