Tracy Mitrano

With the general election Nov. 6, Tracy Mitrano, the Democratic candidate aiming to represent New York’s 23rd Congressional District, criticized U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, for his voting record and calling him the riskier choice to represent the district.

She said in a conference call with regional media Tuesday that his political career shows he does not have the interests of district residents in mind, instead choosing to represent the wealthiest people and corporate interests. Among many items, she pointed out what she perceives as a lack of commitment on his part for affordable health care and his support for tax reform that prioritizes the prosperity of the top one percent.

Mitrano referenced Reed’s vote in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017, which gave permanent tax relief to businesses and the top one percent, namely millionaires. The corporate tax rate was reduced from 35 percent to 21 percent. In a survey with companies that received the tax break, The Wall Street Journal reported that four percent of companies plan on using the extra money to pay their employees more.

An analysis completed by the Tax Policy Center indicates the bottom 20 percent of income earners are expected to receive $40. Middle-class residents in the $40,000 to $50,000 income range are set to receive $500 to $600 in tax cuts. Abbey Daugherty, Reed’s communications director, said recent tax reform saves the average family of four in the district $1,600.

Those in the top one percent, Mitrano said according to the Tax Policy Center, will receive $69,000 annually in average tax benefit. Mitrano said she would work for permanent relief for the lower and middle-class. She also thinks there should be tax brackets to reflect those who earn more than $500,000; she said the .01 percent are those who benefit the most from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

“Those tax cuts have not paid for themselves,” Mitrano said. “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell … announced this week that Republicans would be cutting social security, Medicare, and Medicaid if they remained in office after November. Republicans like to call those entitlement programs, but the fact is, the people of NY-23 have been paying into those programs their whole lives. It’s their money.”

Mitrano also criticized Reed’s support of the American Health Care Act, which would have made cuts to Medicaid, decreasing its funding by $880 billion over the next ten years.

The act would have also allowed states to opt out of Affordable Care Act provisions that aimed not to allow insurance companies to discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions.

“Tom has never supported anything that would take away benefits from those currently receiving them,” Daugherty said.

Reed also voted against a bipartisan spending bill this year that Mitrano said would have increased broadband internet infrastructure and created programs to further combat the nation’s opioid epidemic.

“From the way that Congressman Reed has voted, you would think he represented a district of millionaires,” Mitrano said. “His votes do not reflect the lived realities of this district.”

Mitrano also called Reed’s frequent labeling of her as an extremist a “diversionary tactic.” She said his insistence to label her goes against the easygoing, bipartisan persona she said Reed tries to exude at his town halls and other events.

“He paints himself one way but votes another,” Mitrano said. “I’m a results-bringer; I’m an independent thinker; I challenge when it needs to be challenged. … I am the safe bet to make sure this district resets its compass.”