Buffalo News endorses Hochul (D) in NY-26 special election, criticizes GOP, Tea Party tunnel-vision.

Hochul for Congress
Updated: May 14, 2011, 4:04 PM



The race to win the congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Chris Lee, R-Clarence, features three main candidates, one of whom — businessman Jack Davis — remains primarily focused on a single issue, free trade. The other two — Erie County Clerk Kathleen Hochul and Assemblywoman Jane Corwin — are each well-suited to the job at hand, but we have a narrow but clear preference for Hochul.

Both women are capable and well informed. Both cite the federal budget deficit as a commanding issue, and both understand the need to fix the financial problems facing Medicare, the health care program for seniors.

But Hochul has a more rounded grasp on the role of government in the 21st century. She understands health care for seniors to be an appropriate federal issue, while Corwin does not. More conservative than even many Republicans in Western New York, Corwin holds a pinched view of Washington's role in public life, restricting it to issues such as defense, transportation and food safety.

In meeting with The Buffalo News editorial board, she didn't specifically say that issues such as health, education and the environment were inappropriate for government, but the implication was clear. She supports the Republican proposal for Medicare, which would turn it into a voucher system. To be sure, Medicare needs to be fixed to preserve it for future beneficiaries, but not this way.

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http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/article423373.ece

WOW!

:kick:

Not surprised--Hochul was the strongest candidate to emerge on any side when Lee went down. I can't wait to vote for her.