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Audio Feature: This week in news for Rep. John Faso
Feb 17, 2018 11:43 am
Here's the week in the news for Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook), the District 19 Congressperson for the WGXC listening area. Faso returned to Washington D.C. this week where Fivethirtyeight.com currently reports Faso votes with Donald Trump's positions 86.6 percent of his votes, up slightly from last week. Click here to download or play an audio version of this report (3:43).
• A school shooting in Florida Feb. 14 left 17 dead and at least 14 wounded, and local officials reacted with statements. Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) did not offer any specific remedies, with a Twitter statement that read, "As we learn more about the senseless and tragic shooting in Florida, my prayers are with the victims and all the students, teachers, law enforcement and families impacted by this violent attack. We must understand how to recognize warning signs and better protect our communities." On December 6, Faso voted for the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which takes away the right of individual states such as New York to determine what qualifications a person must meet before being allowed to carry a concealed firearm in its borders. Instead, the state with the least regulation makes policy for all other states, since its concealed carry rules would be law everywhere. The International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys opposed the bill. Faso also received $5,950 in 2016 from the National Rifle Association. New York's Senators also did not offer any specific solutions to the school shooting problem. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand released a statement on Twitter that read, "Heartbreaking and horrific images from yet another school shooting, this time in Parkland, FL. Thinking of the victims and their families, and grateful to the first responders on the scene. When will enough be enough for Congress to finally take gun violence seriously?" Sen. Chuck Schumer's statement read, "Another shooting in our schools, today at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Yes, our children are resilient, but this is not a burden they should ever have to bear. My heart aches for these children and their families." ABC News reports there have been 18 school shootings in the first 45 days of 2018. That is more than one every other day school has been in session.
• Rep. John Faso voted Feb. 15 for the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017. The bill passed 225-192. Supporters say it will deter lawsuits filed under Americans with Disabilities Act, while critics say it will undermine access private establishments. Many blind protesters, and people using wheelchairs interrupted the final vote before being ushered out of the senate by police. "Rep. Jim Langevin, a Democrat from Rhode Island, who uses a wheelchair due to an accidental shooting that decades ago left him paralyzed, said that the bill ignores the underlying problem of predatory lawsuits and would lead to more businesses ignoring ADA requirements," Roll Call reported.
• Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) hosted a phone conference call with constituents Feb. 15. Faso's website live streamed the event on his website, but did not archive the recording. Since he was elected in 2016, Faso has not held any traditional town hall meetings, like his Democratic and Republican predecessors Scott Murphy and Chris Gibson did. WGXC did archive the recording. Click here to download or play the audio recorded by Sajaa Tracy.
• A school shooting in Florida Feb. 14 left 17 dead and at least 14 wounded, and local officials reacted with statements. Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) did not offer any specific remedies, with a Twitter statement that read, "As we learn more about the senseless and tragic shooting in Florida, my prayers are with the victims and all the students, teachers, law enforcement and families impacted by this violent attack. We must understand how to recognize warning signs and better protect our communities." On December 6, Faso voted for the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which takes away the right of individual states such as New York to determine what qualifications a person must meet before being allowed to carry a concealed firearm in its borders. Instead, the state with the least regulation makes policy for all other states, since its concealed carry rules would be law everywhere. The International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys opposed the bill. Faso also received $5,950 in 2016 from the National Rifle Association. New York's Senators also did not offer any specific solutions to the school shooting problem. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand released a statement on Twitter that read, "Heartbreaking and horrific images from yet another school shooting, this time in Parkland, FL. Thinking of the victims and their families, and grateful to the first responders on the scene. When will enough be enough for Congress to finally take gun violence seriously?" Sen. Chuck Schumer's statement read, "Another shooting in our schools, today at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Yes, our children are resilient, but this is not a burden they should ever have to bear. My heart aches for these children and their families." ABC News reports there have been 18 school shootings in the first 45 days of 2018. That is more than one every other day school has been in session.
• Rep. John Faso voted Feb. 15 for the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017. The bill passed 225-192. Supporters say it will deter lawsuits filed under Americans with Disabilities Act, while critics say it will undermine access private establishments. Many blind protesters, and people using wheelchairs interrupted the final vote before being ushered out of the senate by police. "Rep. Jim Langevin, a Democrat from Rhode Island, who uses a wheelchair due to an accidental shooting that decades ago left him paralyzed, said that the bill ignores the underlying problem of predatory lawsuits and would lead to more businesses ignoring ADA requirements," Roll Call reported.
• Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) hosted a phone conference call with constituents Feb. 15. Faso's website live streamed the event on his website, but did not archive the recording. Since he was elected in 2016, Faso has not held any traditional town hall meetings, like his Democratic and Republican predecessors Scott Murphy and Chris Gibson did. WGXC did archive the recording. Click here to download or play the audio recorded by Sajaa Tracy.