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Congressional endorsements are policy driven
October 16, 2008

To evaluate our region’s Congressional candidates, we analyzed incumbent records, and in the region’s most contested race – the 26th Congressional District – a committee of board members and representatives from our Government Affairs Council interviewed the candidates and reviewed their responses to our issues questionnaire.

The Partnership’s endorsements:

26th Congressional District: Chris Lee
Chris Lee is running on a pro-business platform that is virtually in lockstep with the Partnership’s federal agenda. As a business owner, he understands firsthand how government mandates impact businesses of all sizes, and he believes strongly that when it comes to requirements regarding paid leave, healthcare and other labor matters, businesses should be making decisions on their own about how to create a competitive and attractive workplace, not reacting to federal dictates. Further, he understands the challenges employers in our region can face recruiting top talent, and supports UB2020, reform of the U.S. immigration system (including exempting H-1B from caps) and improvements to the Workforce Investment Act as mechanisms to enhance the local workforce.

27th Congressional District: Hon. Brian Higgins
Congressman Higgins has proven to be a leader in the Congressional Northern Border Caucus and Great Lakes Task Force, which has put him in a position to champion our Great Lakes Business Agenda. The Congressman continues to make himself available to the Partnership and our members, and his staff seeks our members’ perspective on issues.  He’s proven effective whether serving as an advocate on state matters, such as hydropower issues, removing toll barriers and Buffalo waterfront development, or acting on federal issues related to the northern border.  Finally, Congressman Higgins has been receptive to the annual Regional Agenda process the Partnership facilitates, and has worked effectively with colleagues to deliver on projects such as the federal courthouse, now under construction next to Buffalo City Hall.

28th Congressional District: Hon. Louise Slaughter
Congresswoman Slaughter has used her powerful position as Chair of the House Rules Committee to delay implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative at our border. She has long been an advocate for protecting the expedited, safe and uncomplicated flow of goods and people across the Canadian/U.S. border and is a loud and clear voice in Washington that a one-size-fits-all approach to northern and southern border issues is unacceptable. Congresswoman Slaughter, who has also supported our Regional Agenda, pushed for language in the WHTI bill that would allow alternative documents to allow passage over the border, which ultimately has led to New York State’s enhanced driver’s licenses, which became available on September 16, 2008.

Moving Forward
We believe it is critical to our region that the WNY federal delegation champion the Great Lakes Business Agenda, along with their colleagues in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and the other “lakes states.” 

Consider the following:

• The 12 states in the Great Lakes region account for 33% of the nation’s population, 32% of its GDP, 30% of its merchandise exports and 28% of its patents
• Canada is the largest trading partner to 39 out of 50 states
• 62% of all U.S.-Canada trade goes through the Great Lakes region
• Seven million jobs across the U.S. (including 468,750 in New York State) depend directly on trade with Canada through the Great Lakes

These realities exist despite a change in the global economy and a recognized departure from the industrial past that shaped the region. Imagine the Great Lakes’ potential with strategic federal investment and policy reform, specifically in these areas:

• A true federal transportation infrastructure policy that targets dollars to areas that facilitate trade (and support its dependent jobs) for the nation (not just to areas with most congestion)
• Policy, technology and procedures to deliver the efficient movement of all people and goods across the CanAm border with no more than a 15-minute wait
• Fundamental reform of the U.S. immigration system, in particular: exempt high skill visas (scientists, engineers) from national caps, allow spouses of visa holders to work, create visa programs for professions crying for additional trained people – e.g. RNs -- and would expedite student visas
• Federal government support for innovation in the Great Lakes region that fuels research, development and commercialization activity in key industry sectors, including clean energy, sustainable transportation and fresh water

Just like we’ve amplified the Partnership’s voice (and therefore your voice) in Albany by forming the Unshackle Upstate coalition, we have formed a coalition with our counterparts in Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland and points in between, to become a strong, loud voice in Washington about these issues.  We look forward to working hand in hand with our delegation to achieve the goals outlined above.

You can help us:  If your company is affected by these issues and you have a compelling story that can highlight the challenges faced by region’s employers, please reach out to our Director of Government Relations, Glenn Aronow. 

Thanks very much.

Andrew J. Rudnick