15 Ways Your Vote Matters. No. 1: The Debt

Friends,

 
Too often we hear our friends and neighbors essentially throwing up their hands and saying, "Why should I vote? What does it matter?" The challenges we face in America today provide an important reminder that each and every one of your votes does indeed matter as we confront the great challenges facing our nation. Today I would like to talk to you about the first of these items: the deficit and the national debt.

As of September 2010 the national debt is nearly $13.4T and rapidly heading toward $14T. That adds up to more than 43 thousand dollars for every man, woman and child in America. When Maurice Hinchey first went to Washington in 1993 that figure was less than $4T. Current projections forecast deficits of previously unimaginable levels stretching out for at least the next decade.

We are leaving our children and grandchildren with a crushing burden and the situation will only get worse unless we change course now. I have a bold plan to cut waste and abuse in Washington while reducing spending and taxes which I will work to implement as soon as I am sworn in to office. But I can only do it with your support.

Please consider pitching in to help us during the crucial closing days of this election. And if you can volunteer some of your time, particularly during the crucial final eleven days of the campaign, together we can put the nation's fiscal house back in order.

George

Read More | Email Page | Print Page

Phillips Congratulates Utah Land Access Groups

George Phillips wishes to offer his support and congratulations to the citizens of Utah for the success of their Take Back Utah Land Access Rally held on Aug. 28th. This represents an excellent opportunity for voters to make their voices heard and say no to massive government land grabs, such as those supported by Maurice Hinchey. Once in Congress, George will dial back these land grabs, leaving land ownership and development where it belongs - in the hands of private citizens.

Read More | Email Page | Print Page

Media Coverage from Binghamton Rally

The Southern Tier Tea Party hosted a very well attended rally in Binghamton, New York on Saturday, Aug. 21 and George Phillips was invited to address the crowd. A number of other candidates spoke as well, and the rally received significant press attention. Following is a roundup of links to various media coverage, photos and video.

Video and transcript of remarks by journalist Michael Vass.

And here is Mr. Vass' personal observations about the rally.

A roundup of coverage links from NPR.

YNN News video and coverage.

Coverage in the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin.

Fox 40 News report.

A great collection of photos from one attendee.  (Follow @Consigliere5 on Twitter.)

 

Read More | Email Page | Print Page

Some Photos from Spiedie Fest

For those of you who missed this year's Spiedie Fest, we had a fantastic setup at the GOP tent with plenty of volunteers, many candidates stopping by and more visitors than we could count. (Special thanks to Rebecca O'Brien for coordinating such a large affair.) We just wanted to share a few of the photographs which were taken during the event. (Click the "Read More" link for the full set.)

 

Read More | Email Page | Print Page

We'll Be in Binghamton on Sat. Aug. 21

Don't forget the candidate Q&A in Binghamton this Saturday morning.
 
Friends,

Just wanted to send you a reminder of this event. Members of the Southern Tier Tea Party have extended an invitation to both myself and Maurice Hinchey to meet them outside of the U.S. Federal Building in Binghamton, NY (15 Henry St.) at 10 a.m. this Saturday morning, August 21. They will be asking questions on subjects including:

A mounting national debt and crippling deficits
Lack of security at our borders
Candidate records on taxes

Please come by and feel free to bring questions of your own. I'll be there. Will Maurice Hinchey?

Even if you can't make it to this event, can you volunteer some time to help us achieve victory in November? Tell your friends!

Volunteer Image

Remember, this critical election will be won by the most energized group of people who are ready for change and willing to work to make it happen this fall.

Can you help now?

Can you help in the critical, final eleven days of the campaign?

With your efforts our army of volunteers will grow and together we'll take back our government on November 2!

Make a donation now and unseat Maurice Hinchey!

Read More | Email Page | Print Page

Phillips Press Conference in Kingston Today

George Phillips held a press conference in Kingston today. It took place in front of the court house at 285 Wall St.  The subject was the proposed plan by Maurice Hinchey to convert major sections of the Hudson Valley into a federal park. Following are highlights of the prepared remarks from this event.

"We've been reviewing comments from residents and business owners regarding Congressman Hinchey's proposal to turn large portions of the Hudson Valley into federal parklands, and one thing has become clear. Maurice Hinchey has a nearly three decade long track record of pushing for massive state and federal government landgrabs which may please his supporters in the environmental lobby, but leave a legacy of problems for landowners and businesses. This proposal could turn into a Trojan Horse, introducing restrictions where none are anticipated.

"When Mr. Hinchey was the chairman of the State Assembly's Environment Committee in the early 1980s he attempted to create a "Greenway" in the Hudson Valley. Today he says he doesn't want to hinder any sort of economic development, but that's been the result of previous expansions of this nature.

"This continues a pattern of behavior where Maurice Hinchey has involved himself in the affairs of residents in the Adirondack Park, the Red Rock Wilderness of Utah and other places, pushing for massive government land grabs. Residents should be made fully aware of the many restrictions and layers of bureaucracy which will face both commercial and residential property owners if this plan is approved."

Read More | Email Page | Print Page

Immigration Op-Ed Published

This past week my latest opinion piece on immigration reform was published in newspapers from both Binghamton and Ithaca. You can view the entire column on line here. The following is a brief section from the article.

Arizona and our other border states have been asking for help for years now, but Washington has failed to address this very real threat in any meaningful way. What Gov. Brewer and the Arizona Legislature have done is not some sort of revolt against federal authority, but a final act of frustration, if not desperation. The utter failure to act by the federal government has left them with few options. When ranchers along the border were being routinely plagued by vandalism, assault and, in some cases, murder, with little or no help in sight from the appropriate authorities, something had to be done.

It is unfortunate that opponents of these measures have chosen to frame the debate in racially charged rhetoric, depicting supporters of Arizona's actions as being somehow opposed to immigration in any form. Our country continues to be enriched by the addition of motivated, hard-working immigrants who choose to follow a legal path to citizenship, pledging their allegiance to their new nation.

You can read the entire article either by clicking on the newspaper web site link above or the Read More link below.

Read More | Email Page | Print Page

Interview with Michael Vass

Last week George Phillips sat down for an extensive interview with Michael Vass to be published in the Examiner. It has now been published, inlcuding a four part video of the meeting. You can read Michael's summary here and the first portion of the four part video will be found here.

Read More | Email Page | Print Page

Tell Your Friends!

We can reform Washington, but we need your help with boots on the ground
 
Friends,

Our message of change has been getting out to voters around the district, but as we move forward in this election we need help from everyone who has HAD ENOUGH and wants honest, principled representation in Washington. This is something that any of you can do and it won't cost you a dime.

What I'm asking today is if you would be willing to send this message to at least five of your friends. (More are always welcome!) Direct them to our web site, tell them about our platform, get them signed up for our mailing list and ask if they would be willing to donate a bit of their time to make a difference. We need help getting our message out and getting out the vote in the final days of this race.

Volunteer now!

Can you help now?

Can you help in the critical, final eleven days of the campaign?

With your help our army of volunteers will grow and together we'll take back our government on November 2!

Make a donation now and unseat Maurice Hinchey!

Read More | Email Page | Print Page

Phillips Hits Hinchey on Wall Street Reform

Phillips Hits Hinchey on Wall Street Reform

George Phillips responded this week to continued claims made by Maurice Hinchey that he's fighting to reform Wall Street and the banking industry.

"My opponent is once again touting his supposedly tough stance on Wall Street and supporting a bill which puts an end to the TARP bailouts. Yet he continues to fail to address the fact that in January of 2009 he voted in favor of releasing roughly $350B in TARP funds to bail out the same people he is now criticizing.

"This type of inconsistency is far too typical of career politicians who will vote with their party leadership when they believe the voters are not paying attention, and then switch gears to pick up some votes when election time rolls around. When I am elected to Congress the voters will never need to wonder where I stand on the issues, and principles will take precedence over partisanship."

Read More | Email Page | Print Page