Melissa Manno reports in the Times Union that Rep Paul Tonko wants to contrast the previous Congress, run by his party, and the new Congress now run by the Republicans. “A powerful statement was made by the 117th Congress and now, following that with the opening of the 118th, which to me, seemed to surround itself with chaos and confusion and crisis ... the stark contrast between the two sessions to date is very powerful,” the Amsterdam Democrat said to reporters at his Albany office on Jan. 14. Tonko boasted that when his party ran things, they passed the American Rescue Plan, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. And Tonko bemoaned that Republicans are seating, and putting on committees, George Santos, who was elected on Long Island despite a mountain of lies. “The trust between the representative and the representative’s constituents is powerful and essential, and once that trust is eroded, I don’t think you can serve in an effective capacity,” Tonko said. So far, Republicans in the House of Representatives have passed a number of bills with no chance to pass the Senate, still held by Democrats, or be signed by President Joe Biden. Tonko, though, says the Democrats are focused on legislation that probably won't get anywhere in the Republican-controlled House. Tonko said House Democrats are working on a clean energy innovation economy, driving down the cost of health care, and making certain that “the path forward is one of progress for the American public and for the American business community.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.