Guaranteed Healthcare

By Donna Smith, community organizer, CNA/NNOC

CORNING, NY -- Well, it's a little difficult to interview Congressional candidate Eric Massa as he sits in a restuarant near his Corning, NY, campaign office.  Future constituents and friends drop by the table in an almost constant flow of energy for a man who already is showing tremendous leadership on issues he knows are critical to the hard working people in his southern and central New York district.

Eric talks baseball with one young man, and then admits he doesn't have much time to watch baseball so he may not be quite up-to-date on the teams' progress.  With another couple he talks about how the local businesses are fairing this summer.  Then he settles in to talk about issues he hears out in his district -- New York's 29th Congressional district.

Massa ran for this seat in 2006 and came close to winning the seat, so during this election cycle he's determined to close the deal with the people who tell him they are hurting for healthcare, worried about fair trade and concerned about gasoline and energy costs.

Eric is a cancer survivor and says he attacks the healthcare crisis from the perspective of someone who understands how awful things have really gotten for the vast majority of Americans.  "I know what it's like.  I was given four months to live when I got my cancer diagnosis.  But I know not every person in the country is given the chance to get well when diagnosed.  Many have to worry about much more than getting well," Eric said just before another local family dropped by his table to chat.

Each time a person walks over to greet the future Congressman, he rises and he takes whatever time that person seems to need to share what's on their minds. There is no pretense and no mincing of words.

After chatting with the young father and watching his little daughter demonstrate some of her newly learned songs, Eric added that he knows the nation needs a healthcare system that is more just and more economically responsible. "I support the idea of a single-payer health care system in which the doctor-patient relationship remains personal and private, but costs and payments are centrally managed. We can reduce overhead and operational costs. Such a plan would encourage preventive health care and dramatically simplify paperwork and reimbursement processes."

So he plans to get to work as soon as he arrives to begin his term in Congress.  And with the forcefulness of a man who means what he says, he shifts to another topic he says is critical and on the minds of his district residents: trade policy.

"Trade with China has been a disaster for American workers. Like much of the country, this district has seen a steady exodus of jobs overseas, exported to countries with worse labor and environmental practices than ours. Our trade agreements need to be overhauled, to promote fair trade, not free trade, and ensure our American workers are protected," he said.

He is concerned that in the coming weeks before the election he is able to turn up the heat on his opponent, Randy Kuhl, who has been asked to debate but has so far declined.  And Eric needs even more support from voters to take the momentum of the early stages of this campaign and finish with a strong win in November.

Give Eric some support: http://www.actblue.com/page/massa2008

Kuhl has disappointed many voters with his opposition to funding the S-CHIP program (the State Chicldren's Health Insurance Program) and his support of continued efforts to privatize and weaken the Medicare program.  Unlike Eric, Kuhl believes the healthcare industry's standing is more critical than the patients, nurses and doctors who reside in his district as evidenced by his weak efforts on healthcare reform.

It's time for new representation -- real representation in New York's 29th Congressional district, and Eric Massa is ready to provide that for the good citizens of the area.

A bit more about the 29th District in NY:

Median income
$41,857

Ethnic composition
93.4% White, 2.7% Black, 1.8% Asian, 1.4% Hispanic, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% other

A map: http://www.massaforcongress.com/ny29map_jpg.asp