Liberal

Potter: Katko’s campaign makes big promises, lacks realistic solutions

Last week, former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden campaigned for Rep. Dan Maffei (D-NY) at rallies hosted at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. House Speaker John Boehner and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy have made appearances on behalf of John Katko, Maffei’s challenger who is a former federal prosecutor from Camillus. This contested congressional seat has turned the nation to look at our district.

On Friday, Clinton encouraged rally attendees to get out to vote and praised Maffei for his commitment to his job and to the middle class. Clinton’s endorsement of the campaign undoubtedly is influential, but the flaws in Katko’s platform should make Maffei the obvious choice for Democrats and moderates.

Maffei’s campaign is realistic and addresses the needs of the district. Katko’s head is up in the clouds and fails to propose realistic solutions to the issues at hand. On the surface, Katko has appeal and seems to address some of the key issues. But he lacks a concrete plan to fulfill his campaign promises.

The 24th congressional district, rated by RealClearPolitics.com to lean left, is currently a heated electoral battleground as the Nov. 4 election day approaches. Incumbent Maffei currently has an 8 point lead over Katko.

Katko’s campaign is strategic, but is partially out of touch with the goals of Republican leadership in Washington. He claims that he will work against partisan bickering, reform the Affordable Care Act, reduce taxes on business and industry, support agricultural growth, create equal pay for women through creating jobs and increasing flexibility, support agricultural success, support free market energy and encourage the development of renewables and reduce reactionary gun control by repealing the SAFE Act.



Portions of Katko’s extensive and overly ambitious platform deviates from Republican Party lines, and does not address how he will actually live up to these promises through concrete legislative changes. Katko’s campaign is filled with empty promises.

For example, Katko’s plan for equal pay shows his attempts to touch on bipartisan issues in order to gain voters but he is refusing to endorse legislation that will actually improve existing conditions.

It is easy to support equal pay in theory, but Katko’s theoretical plans have no backbone and seem to have no intent to actually make change. His plan is minimal, and includes increasing flexibility needs and alludes to supporting maternity leave. Katko’s attempt to toe the party line, on this issue and others, fails to provide real solutions that help real Americans.

The Paycheck Fairness Act that Katko opposes holds employers accountable for justifying pay differences and increases reporting and consequences for violations. This legislation has a chance to actually address the pay gap. Katko claims to support equal pay but proposes flimsy, inadequate solutions and doesn’t support tangible legislation.

Maffei’s campaign is not perfect but supports legislation that has a chance to make a real difference for central New York. He supports many pieces of keynote Democratic legislation including universal pre-K, increased access to healthcare through the Affordable Care Act, increasing accessibility to technical and trade schools, the Paycheck Fairness Act, middle class tax relief through shifting tax burden away from the middle class and tax incentives for small business.  Maffei’s campaign consists of realistic proposals that try to address issues faced by New Yorkers and strengthen the middle class.

The striking difference between the two contenders is Maffei’s realism and Katko’s fleeting campaign promises. Katko attempts to show bipartisanship, but for the most part does not endorse legislation that actually addresses the issues. While it may be an effective campaign strategy, his promises are unlikely to be fulfilled and voters should be aware of that.

Rachel Potter is a senior political science and sociology major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at repotter@syr.edu.





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