Zeldin Criticizes Opponent's Timely, New Found Position Regarding Highway Patrols

Lee Zeldin, Republican and Conservative Party candidate for New York's First Congressional District, today blasted his opponent's timely, new found interest in Suffolk County Highway Patrols. Yesterday, Rep. Tim Bishop, summoned media for a pander conference (other times referred to as a "press conference") to discuss highway patrols, promising federal funding.

Zeldin questioned the timing of Bishop's press conference. "For six years, Bishop has been silent on this issue and two weeks before election day he comes out of left field with another round of false promises. This is the same person who pledged when he was first running in 2002 to oppose all tax increases for working class families, and we all know how that didn't work out.

My opponent is promising federal funds to subsidize highway patrols, now? It is more than coincidental that we are so close to an election where his out of touch voting record for the last 6 years is at issue. It is sad and unfortunate that a 58 year old, three term Congressman allowed himself to be manipulated like this by the Suffolk PBA. I grew up with multiple parents in law enforcement and I have a deep appreciation of our law enforcement, but as a Congressman my decisions will be mine and not someone else's.

From a fiscal perspective, my opponent has once again promised to write another check he can't cash. It is time to put away this man's check book and send a fiscal conservative to Washington to voice taxpayers' anger that 'enough is enough.' Spending is out of control in Washington and my opponent continues to make promises he knows he can't keep."

Tim Bishop left Southampton College in fiscal ruins. He supports tax and spend policies that continue to drive our nation into more and more debt. He has abused our nation's earmark system. He refuses to call on Rep. Charlie Rangel to step down as Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee until an ethics investigation clears his name. He wants to bring back the inheritance tax. This man obviously has no business implying that he has a better understanding of Suffolk County's budget than Steve Levy. Our County Executive doesn't need the input of one of America's worst fiscal managers."

Rep. Tim Bishop voted last March for a Congressional Budget Resolution estimated to cost taxpayers an average increase of $4,144 per family of the First Congressional District. Additionally, over 2200 jobs are estimated to be lost here. Zeldin has voiced his opposition to this tax increase.

In recent weeks, Bishop also voted for the $700 billion taxpayer funded Wall Street bailout, which Zeldin opposed. "Main Street shouldn't have to bail out Wall Street," Zeldin said. "Wall Street should have to bail out Wall Street."

Zeldin added, "If an individual or organization is looking for a "compelling reason" to oust this incumbent, they should consider the fact the currently Democrat controlled Congress, and the prior Republican controlled Congress have not exercised any fiscal responsibility for years. Tim Bishop must accept responsibility for his voting record and his role in this mess. He supports policies to tax and spend more and we can't afford more taxes and more spending during our nation's current economic crisis."

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Zeldin 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. The Shirley resident served as an aide to State Senator Ken LaValle. 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

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