Last week saw a stunning shift in national politics with the Democratic Party taking control of both houses of Congress for the first time in 12 years.
The Associated Press
Democratic candidate Michael Arcuri smiles with his girlfriend Sabrina Deon by his side during his acceptance speech after winning the 24th Congressional District seat, Tuesday.
Democratic candidate Michael Arcuri smiles with his girlfriend Sabrina Deon by his side during his acceptance speech after winning the 24th Congressional District seat, Tuesday.
A widely-asked question is what this will mean for the direction in the war in Iraq and other global issues. Yet there are local implications when the 110th Congress is sworn in Jan. 1, 2007.
The biggest impact from Congress' new makeup likely will be the return of federal dollars to this area for highway spending and other local projects.
New York's senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer will be in the majority party.
In the House of Representatives, Michael Arcuri, the newest 24th District Congressman, will be part of the majority party.
On the flip side, 25th District Congressman James Walsh will now be part of the minority and soon-to-be one of the former chairmen of the House's Appropriations committee - at least for the next two years.
“I don't think there's going to be an awful big impact,” said Chris Palermo, a Republican Cayuga County legislator who represents Sterling and Victory. Both towns are represented in the House by Walsh.
Walsh has been integral in securing $1.3 million for the construction of new sanitary sewers in Fair Haven. But Palermo said that the importance of Lake Ontario and support for its protection will rise above any partisan bickering.
“I can't imagine - whether it's a Democrat or a Republican - that they wouldn't support water quality,” Palermo said. He also believes federal support will remain in place for the county's anaerobic digester on County House Road in Sennett because of the supportive politics of renewable energy sources.
“It's just more hands to shake up here and more people who want a share in the credit, but they're welcome,” Palermo said.
“I think it's an improvement being a blue state,” said Tim Lattimore, the city of Auburn's Republican mayor. “I see nothing but positive things coming out of our elected officials since the reversal of the leadership positions in the two houses. Hopefully, New York state will receive more funding, not less, in the future.”
Lattimore believes that the change in Congress might mean more funding for roadwork and a general return of more tax dollars to this region.
While Arcuri's freshly minted Congressional status might be considered a weakness, Kate Lacey, Cayuga County Democratic Party chair, notes that all first-time legislators have to start at the bottom and build up political clout through the years.
But she believes that the high priority placed by top Democratic Party leaders on helping Arcuri win a wide-open Congressional seat while political climes turning cold for Republicans will ensure that Arcuri will be empowered to win reelection by getting good committee assignments - something akin to retiring U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert's high-ranking slot on the House's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee or Walsh's appropriations leadership post.
“It was a fortunate time for us to choose a Democratic congressman,” Lacey said.
She also believes that Clinton's and Schumer's influence will expand even more in a Democratic Senate. She said they were already powerful because of the prestige of representing New York with its large population and media and financial power centers, and noted Schumer built up a lot of connections heading the Democratic Senate campaign committee.
“If you get elected to the Senate from New York, you're already special. This just makes it better,” Lacey said.
State Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, whose district overlaps with Arcuri's in parts of Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca and Tompkins counties and with Walsh's in parts of Cayuga, Monroe and Wayne counties, says it might be premature to foretell if Democratic power in the U.S. Congress will change the amount of money brought into the state.
He did say that Arcuri might be at a disadvantage in comparison to Boehlert's high level of seniority, and noted that Walsh, while in the minority party, will still have a high level of seniority on the appropriations committee.
Nozzolio said that the single most significant factor will be an individual legislator's work ethic at making connections and seeking out funding for their home district.
“I'm always a believer, whether you're in a majority or a minority, it matters how aggressive you are,” Nozzolio said. “Senators Clinton and Schumer were in the minority and we hope they're going to be as aggressive (in the majority) as they were in the minority.”
Nozzolio also said that the election results showed that the public doesn't want political parties to stand alone but to conduct governance in a bipartisan fashion. He believes that message will ensure access to funding for all legislators.
“In effect, our citizens demanded that our legislators work in partnership with each other and on behalf of their constituents aggressively,” Nozzolio said. “No one succeeds by working alone.”
He noted that he disagrees philosophically with Clinton and Schumer on many things, but that they've been great partners on projects for the part of the state he represents.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
The biggest impact from Congress' new makeup likely will be the return of federal dollars to this area for highway spending and other local projects.
New York's senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer will be in the majority party.
In the House of Representatives, Michael Arcuri, the newest 24th District Congressman, will be part of the majority party.
On the flip side, 25th District Congressman James Walsh will now be part of the minority and soon-to-be one of the former chairmen of the House's Appropriations committee - at least for the next two years.
“I don't think there's going to be an awful big impact,” said Chris Palermo, a Republican Cayuga County legislator who represents Sterling and Victory. Both towns are represented in the House by Walsh.
Walsh has been integral in securing $1.3 million for the construction of new sanitary sewers in Fair Haven. But Palermo said that the importance of Lake Ontario and support for its protection will rise above any partisan bickering.
“I can't imagine - whether it's a Democrat or a Republican - that they wouldn't support water quality,” Palermo said. He also believes federal support will remain in place for the county's anaerobic digester on County House Road in Sennett because of the supportive politics of renewable energy sources.
“It's just more hands to shake up here and more people who want a share in the credit, but they're welcome,” Palermo said.
“I think it's an improvement being a blue state,” said Tim Lattimore, the city of Auburn's Republican mayor. “I see nothing but positive things coming out of our elected officials since the reversal of the leadership positions in the two houses. Hopefully, New York state will receive more funding, not less, in the future.”
Lattimore believes that the change in Congress might mean more funding for roadwork and a general return of more tax dollars to this region.
While Arcuri's freshly minted Congressional status might be considered a weakness, Kate Lacey, Cayuga County Democratic Party chair, notes that all first-time legislators have to start at the bottom and build up political clout through the years.
But she believes that the high priority placed by top Democratic Party leaders on helping Arcuri win a wide-open Congressional seat while political climes turning cold for Republicans will ensure that Arcuri will be empowered to win reelection by getting good committee assignments - something akin to retiring U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert's high-ranking slot on the House's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee or Walsh's appropriations leadership post.
“It was a fortunate time for us to choose a Democratic congressman,” Lacey said.
She also believes that Clinton's and Schumer's influence will expand even more in a Democratic Senate. She said they were already powerful because of the prestige of representing New York with its large population and media and financial power centers, and noted Schumer built up a lot of connections heading the Democratic Senate campaign committee.
“If you get elected to the Senate from New York, you're already special. This just makes it better,” Lacey said.
State Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, whose district overlaps with Arcuri's in parts of Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca and Tompkins counties and with Walsh's in parts of Cayuga, Monroe and Wayne counties, says it might be premature to foretell if Democratic power in the U.S. Congress will change the amount of money brought into the state.
He did say that Arcuri might be at a disadvantage in comparison to Boehlert's high level of seniority, and noted that Walsh, while in the minority party, will still have a high level of seniority on the appropriations committee.
Nozzolio said that the single most significant factor will be an individual legislator's work ethic at making connections and seeking out funding for their home district.
“I'm always a believer, whether you're in a majority or a minority, it matters how aggressive you are,” Nozzolio said. “Senators Clinton and Schumer were in the minority and we hope they're going to be as aggressive (in the majority) as they were in the minority.”
Nozzolio also said that the election results showed that the public doesn't want political parties to stand alone but to conduct governance in a bipartisan fashion. He believes that message will ensure access to funding for all legislators.
“In effect, our citizens demanded that our legislators work in partnership with each other and on behalf of their constituents aggressively,” Nozzolio said. “No one succeeds by working alone.”
He noted that he disagrees philosophically with Clinton and Schumer on many things, but that they've been great partners on projects for the part of the state he represents.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net