Arcuri Backs Permanent Internet Tax Ban

Rarely does Rep. Michael Arcuri take a stand that’s in line with the constituents of the 24th District, but on the issue of Internet taxation, Arcuri deserves praise for signing on to a measure that would put a permanent “moratorium on Internet access taxes.” Arcuri became a co-sponsor of the bill (H.R. 743) in September.

With only a week left to act before the tax ban expires, it’s unclear if Arcuri’s Democrat colleagues will allow a vote on the bill or instead opt for a four-year extension that won approval on a 405-2 vote. Arcuri would be wise to lobby his liberal allies to make the ban permanent.

Arcuri’s Economic Plan: Government Knows Best

Rep. Michael Arcuri is making the most of the $40-billion, pork-laden economic development package that would create a new Northern Border Regional Commission to supposedly benefit the Central New York area, reports News 10 Now of Syracuse.

Arcuri said the commission would directly benefit Cayuga, Herkimer, Oneida, and Seneca Counties.

“What benefits Rome benefits Herkimer, and what benefits Herkimer benefits Cortland so we are a region, this money helps to I think create a regional approach to economic development and that really is I think will be the best thing that can happen to our area,” said Congressman Michael Arcuri.

The bill was passed by the House last week. Arcuri said some possible projects under the commission include transportation infrastructure, broadband development, and alternative energy projects.

Last week Syracuse Post-Standard columnist Mark Weiner noted that Arcuri was claiming credit for the bill, even though he wasn’t the sponsor.

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.

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 Secures Money for Manure Project, Other Pork

There are benefits to being in the majority in Congress, and Rep. Michael Arcuri is taking full advantage of bringing home the bacon. There’s no better example of that than the $25,000 he secured for the Chenango County Agricultural Energy Steering Committee to study how to “turn cow manure into energy.”

The manure project is just one of many pork-barrel projects that Arcuri has trumpeted in recent weeks. Other examples include:

• A federal grant of $1.2 million for Broome County to purchase four new hybrid-electric transit buses. Arcuri had the help of Rep. Maurice Hinchey for this grant.

• Four fire departments in Arcuri’s district will get a total of $526,672 to improve their preparedness as first responders. They include $185,250 for the Pinders Corners Fire Department in Otsego County, $135,850 for the Coventry Volunteer Fire Company in Chenango County, $57,000 for the City of Norwich Fire Department in Chenango County, and $148,572 for the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department in Oneida County.

• Oneida County will get $243,600 from the U.S. Transportation Department to buy to buy “one support vehicle, a bus washer, and computer hardware and software.”

• Following in the footsteps of former Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, Arcuri has secured $1.7 million from the Federal Aviation Administration for “continued redevelopment efforts at the Griffiss Airfield in Rome.” This brings the total to $19.4 million for Griffiss over the past four years.