Complied by Cindy J. Roth
Barra boasts of the legislation he passed this year, 15 bills in total, which he claims is the highest number of any freshman assemblyman belonging to the minority party. Barra prime sponsored eight bills, most of which deal with tax exemptions for local municipalities. He also cosponsored seven others, including bills that required public schools to have cardiac automated external defibrillators and establishing local library funding districts.
Grasso claims the district suffers from a lack of efficient leadership, which he can bring to the district, being of the Assembly's majority party.
Both men agree the state education systems needs reform and that more money should to be brought back to the district's schools. Grasso said he would also fight hard make sure that all the lottery money designated for education to be used in area schools.
Besides education, Barra said he would focus his reforms on healthcare. The incumbent is looking to expand Child and Family Health Plus to reach more families and the EPIC program to reach more senior citizens. His proposals would require new legislation that would expand income limits so more people can access these programs.
Grasso's focus is on making the criminal justice system more effective by demanding tough, punitive sentences for criminals who are repeat offenders and force corporate criminals to pay both financially and with jail time.
State Senate race
9th Senatorial District -- Dean Skleos (R) v. Richard Glassberg (D)
Republican incumbent Dean Skelos is seeking his 10th term in office Nov. 5 as he vies against political newcomer, Democrat Richard Glassberg.
The candidates agree the key issue for this race is the declining health of New York State finances. Skelos said he would concentrate on getting the state back on track financially by tightening the state's belt and establishing spending priorities. But the senator doesn't consider raising taxes an option. Skelos said his funding priorities would be education and preserving both the STAR and EPIC programs. STAR provides a partial exemption from school property taxes for owner-occupied, primary residences and EPIC provides drug help for senior citizens.
Glassberg said the only way to make the right financial decisions is to examine the budget line by line and take a real close look at all the state programs to make sure they work and should continue to be funded. If elected, Glassberg said he would pursue making an itemized budget available. He would also work for an on-time budget, putting an end to unfunded mandates and revamping the "antiquated" school-aid system, which he said, does not give Long Islanders a fair share of the funding.
Skelos said his proudest accomplishment in the last term was a $50 million biotechnology program. He believes it will bring economic growth and jobs to Long Island, which he hopes will become the Silicon Valley of the bio tech industry.
Glassberg's other main objective, if elected, will be to make HMOs accountable for their actions. He said it's not right that a person cannot sue their HMO if it causes a delay in treatment or denies care.
Congressional races
4th Congressional District -- Carolyn McCarthy (D) v. Marilyn O'Grady (R)
Three-term incumbent Democrat Carolyn McCarthy is taking on Republican challenger and political novice Marilyn O'Grady in the race for the Fourth Congressional District seat.
Toughening up gun laws is still one of McCarthy's chief priorities. She was defeated in 1999 in her attempt to get a bill passed requiring background checks on all buyers at gun shows and expects to reintroduce that bill. Her Our Lady of Peace Act bill, which recently passed in the house is named for the Lynbrook church where the Rev. Lawrence Penzes and a parishioner were gunned down during a morning Mass last March. The bill requires Federal background check to include mental health records.
O'Grady does not favor additional gun control measures but greater enforcement of those laws already on the books.
O'Grady said she entered the race because she did not see any good ideas coming out of Washington, D.C. on how to solve the nation's health care crisis.
She proposed giving citizens more of a variety of policies, to keep the costs down. She added that tax laws are stacked against poor families who have no insurance from their employer and are forced to buy an insurance policy.
McCarthy said another one of her chief priorities in the next term would be a prescription drug bill and Medicare reimbursements.
