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Gillibrand says middle class tax cuts are priority

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Greenport) is seeking re-election to the 20th Congressional District seat on the Democratic ticket.

Gillibrand is completing her first two-year term in the House of Representatives, and is a member of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, a fiscal watchdog, pay-as-you-go group of representatives.

On taxes, Gillibrand said that the Alternative Minimum Tax must be “eliminated or permanently fixed so that small-business owners and the middle class do not have to pay additional money in taxes.”

She supports middle class tax cuts and called them one of her “top priorities.”

She said that because property tax deductions are only available to those who itemize their taxes, she sponsored a bill that would provide a property tax deduction of $1,000 for those who do not do so, “because the middle class typically doesn’t itemize.”

Gillibrand also sponsored a college tuition deduction of up to $10,000, and another bill to double the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. She said the latter was partially successful, in that it was increased to about $4,000 for child care, but that she wants to increase it further and do more.

The congresswoman also said she “has asked for a position on the Ways and Means Committee to help get a handle on taxes.”

On the economy and the bailout, Gillibrand said that although the bailout bill was intended to fix the problem, she voted against it because she felt it would not work. She said she felt both versions of the bill were insufficient and flawed. It was initially voted down, but passed a few days later.

“It wasn’t the right strategy,” she said, “and they’re already changing their minds, saying we need to buy equity and recapitalize,” which she said is exactly part of what she had proposed for the bailout. Gillibrand said some thought her idea was too large a solution to facilitate a quick passage.

She explained that a good model exists in Sweden, where they “helped banks recapitalize and actually bought banks.

“We should be buying equity, and raise the limits for the FDIC,” she said, noting that she “tried to make those changes” but that the Senate took over the bill.

“I worked as a securities lawyer, so I understand the terms,” she said, “such as ‘credit default swap.’ It’s only been in existence for about three or four years.

“It’s a $50 trillion problem,” she said, describing it as “a system of betting” in which overlending is the norm. “That’s the problem. The banks were holding and had to pay out the other side of the bet. It’s a much bigger problem.”

Gillibrand said it happened because there was no oversight since credit default swaps are not traded on the exchange, and that she wants them to be.

On energy, Gillibrand said she wants the U.S. to become energy independent, including increasing domestic production.

She has supported investment in renewable energies, including wind, hydro, solar and cellulose-based ethanol, which she noted can be generated from a variety of sources such as wood pulp and switchgrass. She said corn-based ethanol needs to be avoided because it drives up the market for corn, which affects other industries, including livestock feed and corn by-products.

The congresswoman said she believes cars should be made more energy efficient, and that fiscal incentives such as “a tax break for cars that get over 60 mpg” would help speed up the transition. She supports continued integration of electric cars into the market, and also voted to help pass the first increase in gasoline mileage standards in 30 years.

Gillibrand has also sponsored legislation to take tax breaks from profit-making gas and oil companies and reinvest that money in alternative energy.

She said that how America transports itself also needs to be revisited, and expressed support for concepts such as a “light rail throughout the district.”

In discussing how electricity is delivered, she noted that there “is no nationalized vision for the grid, and we need to build it.”

On jobs, Gillibrand expressed severe concern for recent job losses in the region. “We lost about 1,000 jobs in last few months,” she said, adding that she has been lobbying Gov. David Paterson to help bring a focus on the problem.

At the federal level, Gillibrand announced earlier this month that Trade Adjustment Assistance will be available for about 340 employees at Kaz when it moves operations to Mexico.

She said one area for creating jobs is investment in alternative technology, and that the district is a prime location for high-tech manufacturing, noting the planned expansion of AMD in Saratoga County.

Gillibrand, a founder of the bipartisan Congressional High Tech Caucus, has hosted two Upstate NY Economic Summits to focus on creating jobs and stimulating growth.

Regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gillibrand serves on the House’s Armed Forces Committee and said the United States needs to place more of the responsibility on the Iraqi people and forces, with a refocus on fighting threats in Afghanistan.

She wants to make the Veterans Administration “proactive,” and has been working throughout her term to address veterans’ needs. She wants a manual developed to provide veterans transitioning from active duty to civilian status with a unified reference for the benefits and resources they are entitled to. It passed the House, but was not approved by the Senate.

On affordable health care, Gillibrand said there has been no progress, noting that President George Bush vetoed a Children’s Health Care bill. She said the cost of implementing it was to have been paid for “by closing some corporate tax loopholes and a tobacco tax.”

On immigration, Gillibrand said a better program is needed, adding that immigration needs to be “right-sized,” meaning an appropriate workforce number first needs to be determined in order to begin addressing the problem.

“Amnesty is no good,” she said, “and enforcement is important.”

Regarding farming, Gillibrand serves on the House Agriculture Committee and has been working to assist local farms and the farming community. She has authored several amendments to farming bills which have been passed into law, including a federal “buy local” preference and another to assist the conversion to organic farming.

“It’s an expensive transition,” she said, “and this will provide $20,000 for three years, each year.”

She also wants hearings to reform milk pricing, and wants “a safety net for dairy farmers when the cost of milk goes down.”

In summary, Gillibrand said she is seeking re-election “to make a difference,” and that her record over the past two years reflects her commitment to constituents. She cited “open and accountable government” and has held about 50 “Congress on Your Corner” meetings at grocery stores, convenience shops and similar locations.

Gillibrand is married, with two children, and lives in Greenport.

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