Democrat Vinnie Gentile and Republican Dan Donovan continued taking jabs at each today with neither of the two candidates for the 11th Congressional District seat delivering haymakers – let alone knockdowns.
Gentile, the diminutive but square-shouldered City Councilman, came out of his corner ripping Donovan for ” being silent” in the majority-GOP House adopting a 2016 budget in a 228-199 vote that saw all Democrats and 17 Republicans vote against the spending plan.
“Last night House Republicans came together in harmony to pass a brutal budget that would eliminate deficits by relying on nearly $5 trillion in cuts to programs that help working families make ends meet. The budget would privatize Medicare, end Medicaid as we know it and leave 16+ million Americans without health insurance by repealing the Affordable Care Act. The proposal seeks to balance the federal budget on the backs of the working poor by creating even more tax breaks for the super-rich while making it even harder for families to buy their first home, send their kids to college, and secure a dignified retirement,” said Gentile.
Gentile added the budget would decimate federal funding for New York City by cutting more than $13 billion in aid. At a time when subway and bus fares are on the rise and service is worse than ever, can we afford to lose $1 billion in transit funding, he asked rhetorically.
“I have called on my opponent to stand up to his party in the past and his silence was deafening. Now more than ever the people of New York’s 11th congressional district deserve strong leadership, not silence. Average Americans have a hard enough time trying to make ends meet, and Congress should be working to create jobs and put money back in people’s pockets. Instead, the Republicans have doubled-down on an extreme budget that supports the super-rich while sticking it to seniors and hardworking New Yorkers,” Gentile concluded.
Donovan, the long and lean Staten Island District Attorney, utilized his spokesperson Jessica Proud to counter with a remark that Gentile appears unable to ever cross Party lines or compromise.
“This is an ironic charge coming from the man who refuses to say which budget he supports. Mr. Gentile said there is nothing in the House GOP budget he supports, including cutting taxes on low and middle income families, eliminating perks for members of congress and balancing the budget,” said Proud.
“I guess we shouldn’t be surprised given his record voting to raise taxes on the middle class and a salary increase for himself,” she added.
The special election is May 5. The district includes Staten Island and parts of Southern Brooklyn.
