Arcuri to Play in Congressional Football Game

We learn something new about Rep. Michael Arcuri every day. Congressional Quarterly reports that Arcuri will play football as part of the lawmakers’ team against the Capitol Police. According to the article, Arcuri played football while attending the State University of New York at Albany.

Arcuri Avoids Commenting on Licenses for Illegals

The New York Observer isn’t giving up in its quest to get Rep. Michael Arcuri on the record about Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to give drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants. Fellow freshman Democratic Rep. John Hall is worried about the idea and Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand has already come out in opposition. Arcuri, on the other hand, “hasn’t returned several messages about the issue.”

Arcuri-Pylman Feud Back in the News

As news broke that Utica Police Officer Brandon Jones was suspended from the department this week, the Observer-Dispatch rehashed the feud between then-District Attorney Michael Arcuri and Police Chief Allen Pylman last year.

This incident comes amidst the Utica Common Council’s unresolved investigation of the way Pylman handled then-police Sgt. James Franco’s timecard falsification.

Some city Democrats have accused Pylman of covering up Franco’s illegal activity.

When then-DA Mike Arcuri prosecuted Franco, it caused chilly relations between the DA’s office and Pylman.

Arcuri told the O-D editorial board in December that when he began investigating the timecard incident, Pylman stopped working with his office.

This embarrassing episode between Arcuri and Pylman seemed like sour grapes at the time it happened, but when Arcuri took the low road in December, it proved he was nothing more than a petty politician trying to score points.

It’s not surprising, therefore, to read that relations between Pylman and the DA’s office improved once Arcuri moved to Washington.

Arcuri Fails to Secure $2 Million HUD Grant

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development turned down the city of Utica’s request for a $2 million federal grant toward lead control, leaving residents disappointed and Rep. Michael Arcuri dumbfounded, the Observer-Dispatch reported today.

Arcuri, D-Utica, expressed his disappointment and said during the application process he sent a letter of support to U.S. Housing and Urban Development.

“It’s important to remember that these grants are awarded by HUD on a competitive basis and that, while the city of Utica was unsuccessful in securing one of these grants this year, they are free to reapply next year,” he said.

Utica attorney Mo Athari specializes in lead poising cases and said it’s a travesty the grant was not approved since lead exposure is such a problem here.

The article quotes Oneida County executive candidate Leon Koziol, who briefly challenged Arcuri for Congress in 2006 before waging a losing bid for state Senate. “It’s an extreme disappointment,” Koziol told the O-D, “one that I would not allow.”

Arcuri’s Mistakes as District Attorney Resurface

Someone is finally shining the spotlight on Rep. Michael Arcuri’s atrocious record as Oneida County district attorney. David Longeretta, the Republican vying for Arcuri’s old job, took jabs at Democrat Scott McNamara, a loyal Arcuri lieutenant, during a debate in Utica earlier this week.

Republican candidate Longeretta took aim at Arcuri’s record on issues including embezzlement at a nonprofit agency and the botched Desiree Case investigation five years ago.

He attempted to tie Democrat District Attorney and McNamara to that record. McNamara was once Arcuri’s first assistant and took over the office when Arcuri was elected to Congress.

“I’m only going to mention two names, and one is Joseph Smith,” Longeretta said. “The other isn’t even a name, it’s the Family Nurturing Center.”

Smith was once teen prostitute Case’s boyfriend. Arcuri convicted him of second-degree murder, only to admit later he made a mistake.

Two other men ultimately were convicted of Case’s February 2000 death in West Utica.

In the case of the Family Nurturing Center, Arcuri’s office decided last year not to prosecute former employee Mary Grabinski, who stole $250,000 from the nonprofit agency.

This is exactly the type of information that Republican Ray Meier should have emphasized last year when he ran for the 24th District seat. Arcuri was an incompetent district attorney, yet he was able to avoid criticism about his shoddy performance. It’s nice to see it finally surfacing — albeit to damage McNamara.

Arcuri Claims Credit for a Bill That Wasn’t His

It doesn’t take long to figure out Rep. Michael Arcuri is a publicity hound, but it’s rather unusual for anyone to call him on it. Mark Weiner of the Syracuse Post-Standard does just that in his Washington Notebook. Looking back at the recent passage of pork-barrel legislation that would bring $40 million per year to economically depressed areas of New York, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, Weiner notes that Arcuri and fellow New York Rep. John McHugh both wanted credit for the bill.

Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, was the first to stake his claim to the legislation, issuing a news release Thursday with the headline, “Arcuri Economic Development Bill Passes House.”

Arcuri noted that as a member of the House Rules Committee he managed the debate on the resolution. He said the new commission could help create new jobs and economic growth in his district, which includes Cayuga, Seneca, Oneida and Herkimer counties.

Rep. John McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, chimed in Friday with a news release headlined, “McHugh’s Northern Border Regional Commission Approved By House.”

McHugh noted that each of the 11 counties in his district, including Oswego and Madison counties and part of Oneida County, will be eligible for investment from the commission.

A little digging on Weiner’s part found that neither Arcuri nor McHugh could really take full credit for the bill’s passage. That’s because earmark-loving Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota sponsored the bill and Rep. Michael Michaud of Maine led the effort to get the four states included in the package.

Army Veteran Attacks Arcuri for Anti-War Votes

Retired Major Joseph Bolton of New Hartford wrote a lengthy piece in the Utica Observer-Dispatch criticizing Rep. Michael Arcuri for his votes against the Iraq War. Bolton, who was attached to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum and served in Afghanistan, retired in March from the Army.

Rep. Michael Arcuri says he supports the troops, but twice voted to cut off funding for our soldiers fighting in Iraq, putting their lives at risk and rendering their sacrifice meaningless. He supports us, but Congressman Arcuri remained silent when General Petraeus was slandered in the New York Times by Moveon.org as a traitor (General Betray-us).

I ask the congressman, why are the Afghan people worthy of our love and sacrifice while the Iraqi people deserve to be abandoned? How are the soldiers fighting in Afghanistan serving a more noble cause than those fighting in Iraq?

We soldiers are not helpless victims that need to be rescued from George Bush. We are volunteers who recognize that some ideals are worth our sacrifice and devotion. We believe that some things are worth more than our time, material comfort and even our lives. We believe that by giving so much now, we are building a future free of terrorism for our children and the children of Iraq and Afghanistan.

I always envisioned retirement as a time for me to step back from war and build my new life. I never thought that I would have to criticize my own congressman. But as long as my fellow soldiers fight on, I will speak for them and the people they defend.

This isn’t the first time Arcuri has come under attack from a constituent on Iraq, but Bolton’s article showcases what little credibility Arcuri has on this issue.

Arcuri Fights for Unneeded Social Security Office

Rep. Michael Arcuri is showing his true colors as a tax-and-spend liberal. The first-term congressman has renewed his fight to save the Social Security office in Auburn despite a shrinking caseload and staff. The Social Security Administration is ready to close down the branch at 1110 Corporate Dr., but Arcuri, always on the lookout for spending more government money unwisely, won’t give up.

In a letter to the agency’s commissioner, U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, argues the Social Security Administration is not using an projected $401 million increase in federal funds as anticipated. Arcuri first spoke out against the office’s closure in June.

“Through my meetings with SSA staff regarding this matter, it has been made clear that additional administrative funding was a critical step to staving off closure of the Auburn office,” the congressman wrote to SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue. “I find it troubling that SSA would move forward with any district office closures this year before the agency’s budget for fiscal year 2008 is finalized.”

Arcuri Praises Government Waste

In a purely political move to shore up his support in rural areas of the 24th District, Rep. Michael Arcuri commended the Farm Service Agency for keeping open two offices in Herkimer and Broome counties rather than consolidating them into a single, more efficient operation.

Talking to farmers across the 24th district, I know how valuable Farm Service Agency county offices are as resources for local farmers. I commend Director Humphrey for his decision to keep FSA offices in Herkimer and Broome Counties open and for listening to the input of local residents and their representatives. This is very good news for farmers and rural communities in Broome and Herkimer that depend on agriculture for jobs and business.

I recently sent a letter calling on the Farm Service Agency to halt plans to close local FSA offices and I strongly supported two pieces of legislation which would have prohibited FSA office closings for one-year. I strongly believe the FSA should halt all current closure efforts, and I am pleased that the agency has decided to discontinue such efforts in Herkimer and Broome.

Talk to Arcuri This Saturday on WIBX

Listens of radio station WIBX will have an opportunity to chat with Rep. Michael Arcuri this Saturday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m. He’ll be on the show with Hamilton College Director of Financial Aid Matt Malatesta to discuss the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. You can reach the station at (315) 736-0186.