Republican congressional hopeful John Katko is criticizing Democratic incumbent Rep. Dan Maffei’s legislative record from his two terms in Congress as part of the latest salvo in a race that is getting tighter, according to some national political pundits.
During a news conference this week, Katko, a former prosecutor, pointed to a list of legislation Maffei has introduced in the 113th Congress.
“He has introduced 12 bills this Congress," Katko said. "Not one of them has made it out of committee. Not one of them became law. Not one of them gained bipartisan support of any magnitude whatsoever.”
Katko suggests Maffei's record is also bad because his legislation hasn't been able to drum up strong support from his own party, either.
“Dan Maffei has been in Congress four of the last six years," Katko explained. "In the last term, even though it’s a Republican majority in the House, he can’t get the support of his own party in introducing legislation. That’s failed leadership in and of itself.”
Katko specifically points out the Members Play by the Same Rules Act, which would force members of Congress to get health insurance through state exchanges.
"For them to take that and to basically snow the good people of this district by saying he’s fighting for them is absolutely rubbish," Katko said. "Because as you can see from this, they are empty promises. These are facts. They are not attacks, and they’re simply to show what the deal is.”
Katko says the worst part is that Maffei has used introduction of some of this legislation in campaign ads.
“If I introduce a bill and I have zero co-sponsors and it’s going nowhere, you can’t use that to tout you are doing something in Congress," Katko said. "That’s not doing anything. That’s not leadership. Anyone can introduce a bill at any time. But when you introduce a bill and use those bills to show you are a crusader and working for the middle class, that’s as hollow as hollow can be.”
Katko says if elected, he would work across party lines to create coalitions that would lead to laws being passed in Congress.
Maffei's Campaign Manager Kane Miller calls the assertions laughable, noting that the 113th Congress has been the the least productive ever. He points to Maffei's legislative work involving $6 million in benefits and grants brought to central New York during his terms in office.
