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WGXC Congressional Report: 20191124
Nov 24, 2019 12:52 am
This is WGXC's Congressional Report, tracking the votes, words, and actions of Rep. Antonio Delgado, a Democrat from Rhinebeck representing the 19th Congressional District, and Paul Tonko, a Democrat from Amsterdam from the 20th Congressional District. The Fivethirtyeight.com website reports that, so far, the first-term Congressperson Delgado votes with Donald Trump's positions 3.6 percent of the time. Since Democrats took over the House of Representatives Tonko also votes with Trump's positions 1.8 percent of the time. In the previous Congressional session, Tonko voted with Trump 22.6 percent of the time. Click here to play or download an audio version of this report.
• Emilie Munson is reporting for the Times Union about the barrage of aggressive messaging aimed at U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado on cable and social media as the 2020 election cycle looms. On November 18, the American Action Network, a conservative advocacy group, launched a $125,000 television and digital advertising campaign urging Delgado to vote no on impeaching President Donald Trump. The same day, Protect Our Care, a healthcare advocacy organization, kicked off an online advertising push to promote the work of Delgado and other Democrats on legislation intended to lower drug costs. Protect Our Care is spending $2 million on 15-second commercials targeting the districts of 10 freshman Democrats, including Delgado. The Republican National Committee bankrolled a commercial attacking Delgado's impeachment support in October. The spot aired on CBS6 Albany. FCC records show Delgado's counsel tried to block the airing of the advertisement by suggesting it made false claims about the congressman's legislative record, but the station chose to run the commercial. On his part, Delgado released his first 2020 campaign commercial in October and has been buying TV spots on NBC stations in the Albany area. The commercial highlights the many town hall meetings Delgado has held within the 19th Congressional District, a practice in strong contrast to his predecessor. Read the full story in the Times Union.
• Paul Tonko, but not Antonio Delgado, signed a letter with 106 other members of Congress Nov. 21 demanding that the White House fire Senior Advisor to the President Stephen Miller because of his racist views. A slew of recent emails from Miller with racist comments were unveiled in the media.
• This week the U.S. Senate passed Representative Antonio Delgado’s bill to rename the Pine Plains Post Office after fallen soldier Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent. Kent, a Dutchess County native, was killed in Syria by a suicide bombing during her fifth combat tour in the Middle East this past January. “Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent devoted her life to protecting our country and defending our democracy—and with Senate passage of this legislation, we are one step closer to renaming the Pine Plains Post Office the Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent Post Office.” Delgado said, “the courage and devotion to our nation shown by SCPO Kent should be an inspiration to us all. I urge the President to sign this bill into law as soon as possible to honor the life and legacy of SCPO Kent in this permanent way.”
• While Republican Elise Stefanik and Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney have starred in impeachment hearings the last two weeks, other Hudson Valley representatives have been mostly quiet on the issue. Paul Tonko and Antonio Delgado have released few statements, nor done many interviews about impeachment. Delgado addressed the issue briefly and blandly, at a Nov. 23 town hall meeting in Delaware County. CLICK HERE TO PLAY OR DOWNLOAD AN EXCERPT OF DELGADO TALKING ABOUT IMPEACHMENT.
• Paul Tonko does list any public events this week on his website. Antonio Delgado lists public appearances on his website only if his staff organizes the events. He has none listed this week.
• Emilie Munson is reporting for the Times Union about the barrage of aggressive messaging aimed at U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado on cable and social media as the 2020 election cycle looms. On November 18, the American Action Network, a conservative advocacy group, launched a $125,000 television and digital advertising campaign urging Delgado to vote no on impeaching President Donald Trump. The same day, Protect Our Care, a healthcare advocacy organization, kicked off an online advertising push to promote the work of Delgado and other Democrats on legislation intended to lower drug costs. Protect Our Care is spending $2 million on 15-second commercials targeting the districts of 10 freshman Democrats, including Delgado. The Republican National Committee bankrolled a commercial attacking Delgado's impeachment support in October. The spot aired on CBS6 Albany. FCC records show Delgado's counsel tried to block the airing of the advertisement by suggesting it made false claims about the congressman's legislative record, but the station chose to run the commercial. On his part, Delgado released his first 2020 campaign commercial in October and has been buying TV spots on NBC stations in the Albany area. The commercial highlights the many town hall meetings Delgado has held within the 19th Congressional District, a practice in strong contrast to his predecessor. Read the full story in the Times Union.
• Paul Tonko, but not Antonio Delgado, signed a letter with 106 other members of Congress Nov. 21 demanding that the White House fire Senior Advisor to the President Stephen Miller because of his racist views. A slew of recent emails from Miller with racist comments were unveiled in the media.
• This week the U.S. Senate passed Representative Antonio Delgado’s bill to rename the Pine Plains Post Office after fallen soldier Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent. Kent, a Dutchess County native, was killed in Syria by a suicide bombing during her fifth combat tour in the Middle East this past January. “Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent devoted her life to protecting our country and defending our democracy—and with Senate passage of this legislation, we are one step closer to renaming the Pine Plains Post Office the Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent Post Office.” Delgado said, “the courage and devotion to our nation shown by SCPO Kent should be an inspiration to us all. I urge the President to sign this bill into law as soon as possible to honor the life and legacy of SCPO Kent in this permanent way.”
• While Republican Elise Stefanik and Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney have starred in impeachment hearings the last two weeks, other Hudson Valley representatives have been mostly quiet on the issue. Paul Tonko and Antonio Delgado have released few statements, nor done many interviews about impeachment. Delgado addressed the issue briefly and blandly, at a Nov. 23 town hall meeting in Delaware County. CLICK HERE TO PLAY OR DOWNLOAD AN EXCERPT OF DELGADO TALKING ABOUT IMPEACHMENT.
• Paul Tonko does list any public events this week on his website. Antonio Delgado lists public appearances on his website only if his staff organizes the events. He has none listed this week.