Zeldin Demands Bishop Retract Hiring Halls Endorsement

SHIRLEY, NY (03/07/2008)(readMedia)-- The Republican candidate for New York’s First Congressional District today reaffirmed his support to the hardworking men and women of Long Island’s Middle Class who obey the nation’s laws. His opponent, Congressman Tim Bishop, has now endorsed the Southampton Hiring Hall, which Zeldin firmly opposes.

“Since our campaign began, we have asserted the importance of supporting law-abiding citizens,” said Lee Zeldin, an Army veteran who served as a military magistrate and federal prosecutor while on active duty. “As a lawyer, I also recognize that adhering to the rule of law is imperative to good order and discipline in the United States and this is why I will never support the formation of hiring halls especially with taxpayer dollars.”

“We cannot expect to rectify our nation’s illegal immigration problems when our leaders make short-sighted decisions to ignore the very laws they are sworn to protect,” said Zeldin. “I cannot believe that my opponent would insult our honest workers with his endorsement of hiring halls.

“My opponent must retract his endorsement of hiring halls. He owes at the very least an explanation to labor unions and other hard working, blue collar, middle class Long Islanders as to why he has chosen to jump ship in order to lead the fight on behalf of illegal aliens.”

Zeldin plans to spread his campaign message while kicking off a walking campaign Saturday and Sunday. Operation: Walk the Walk begins in Shirley on Saturday morning and continues in Southampton on Sunday afternoon.

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.

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