Becker challenges McCarthy for House seat

In her race for re-election, Democrat incumbent Carolyn McCarthy said she is running this election like she has run every other one — full steam ahead. With election season in full swing, she will face Republican primary winner Francis X. Becker in the 4th Congressional District race in November’s election.

“I don’t take any opponent or any election for granted,” McCarthy said.

Some of her top priorities, McCarthy said, are to help curb the nation’s housing crisis and foster job creation. She said that she feels Congress has worked diligently to improve the employment outlook by passing the Small Business Jobs Act. McCarthy said it should spur economic growth and create new jobs by encouraging the development of American small businesses.

Becker, an original member of the Nassau County Legislature, said he is ready to challenge McCarthy on many issues, and has formulated a five-point plan — reduce spending, cut taxes for new businesses 2 to 5 years old, extend tax cuts set to expire Dec. 31, repeal “Obama Care” tax increases, and free the country from foreign energy dependence.

But, Becker said he wants to especially concentrate on creating and stimulating jobs. “I will go to Washington with an agenda to create real jobs — that will be my total focus,” he said. “To do this, in part, we must repeal ‘Obama Care,’ create new sources of energy in our own country which are high paying jobs, and extend tax cuts to allow the money to stay in the economy for new investment and purchasing power for the consumer.”

McCarthy said she also wants to create an energy plan so the country can become less dependent on foreign oil. “I worked with my colleagues in Congress to pass a comprehensive energy and climate change bill,” she said. “I believe that we must look at all of our options when it comes to ending our dependence and moving toward a clean energy economy, including domestic oil production, clean coal technology, nuclear energy and all renewable energy options.”

New solutions to deal with taxes are needed, McCarthy said. “Any tax extension legislation we pass should include an increase in the income threshold to better reflect my constituents, and the cost of living on Long Island… long term,” she said. “I favor comprehensive tax reform, including a cost of living index for income taxes as a more accurate assessment for taxes.”

On the issue of the housing crisis on Long Island, Becker criticized McCarthy’s Sept. 9 announcement in support of decreasing foreclosures by obtaining funding with the Housing and Urban Development Neighborhood Stabilization Program. “Each and every day, we hear how these government-run programs are failing,” Becker said. “The problem still exists that people are in homes they cannot afford. What we should be doing is focusing on creating private sector jobs so that families can have hope. We must stop mortgaging their futures with the out of control spending and debt upon debt insanity.”