NY Dem Hochul vows to protect Medicare
Kathy Hochul in Amherst. (May 24, 2011) Credit: AP
A day after convincing voters in one of New York's most conservative districts to send her to Congress on their behalf, Democrat Kathy Hochul is taking a victory lap, vowing to keep her promise to protect Medicare.
Republican plans to turn the government's health plan for seniors into a voucher-like program for future beneficiaries became the backdrop of the race between Hochul and Republican Jane Corwin in Tuesday's special election.
But voters Wednesday said there were other influencing factors, like their familiarity with Hochul's work as Erie County clerk and a feeling they could relate to her more than the Republican, a millionaire Assemblywoman.
Hochul replaces Republican Chris Lee, who resigned in February after a website posted a shirtless photo the married congressman had sent to a woman online.
'Democrats say this is a misuse of taxpayer funds' Nassau Republicans awarded over $1 million in taxpayer-funded legal contracts to the one-man law firm of Sheharyar Ali, a longtime GOP ally. Ali's father is an adviser to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday Nassau County politics reporter Bahar Ostadan have the story.
'Democrats say this is a misuse of taxpayer funds' Nassau Republicans awarded over $1 million in taxpayer-funded legal contracts to the one-man law firm of Sheharyar Ali, a longtime GOP ally. Ali's father is an adviser to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa and Newsday Nassau County politics reporter Bahar Ostadan have the story.
