Memo · News · Press Release

The Case Against John Faso

“Antonio Delgado has the strength, courage and leadership to finally give this community the voice it deserves. Antonio will always put the needs of this district first, whether it’s through fighting for affordable health care or working to create good-paying jobs and better wages. Antonio’s strong support in the primary adds to his impressive momentum and has put him in great position to win in November.” –DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján

To: Interested Parties

From: Evan Lukaske, DCCC regional press secretary

Date: June 26, 2018

Re: The Case Against John Faso

The primary results in New York’s 19th Congressional District put Democrats in a strong position to flip this swing seat. The general election pits attorney Antonio Delgado against career politician and Albany lobbyist John Faso, whose vote for the GOP health care repeal bill and ownership of the destructive Republican agenda will be an anchor on his candidacy. Delgado’s fight for affordable health care and good-paying jobs contrasts sharply with Faso’s dismal record, which consists of casting the deciding vote to move the health care repeal bill out of committee, and breaking promises to constituents with brain tumors.

This Hudson Valley seat is a true swing district, voting for President Obama twice, and electing numerous Democrats at the federal level. Faso is well known as one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the country, based on the powerful grassroots backlash against his time in Congress and numerous public polls that show a close race.

With unprecedented grassroots energy, Delgado’s impressive candidacy and Faso’s insider profile and dismal voting record, Democrats are in an excellent position to flip this seat this November.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

 [Times Herald-Record, 3/17/17]

“The Cook Political Report, an online political newsletter, is calling the race for New York’s 19th Congressional District against incumbent GOP Rep. John Faso a toss up, even with 16 months to go before the general election […] Despite his long tenure in Upstate politics, Faso was one of just 15 Republicans to win by single digits in 2016.” [Times Herald-Record, The Fray (blog), 7/7/17]

“John Faso, the Kinderhook Republican who continues to do more or less whatever Donald Trump and Paul Ryan tell him to.” [Times Herald-Record, Editorial, 6/12/17]

HEADLINE: Delgado portrays self a fundraising powerhouse who can ‘inspire,’ ‘lead,’ ‘get out the vote’ [Daily Freeman, 2/23/2018]

 REP. JOHN FASO: LOBBYIST, CAREER POLITICIAN

Health care repealer

In his role on the House Budget Committee, Faso played a major role in passing the deeply unpopular health care repeal bill, casting the deciding committee vote to send the bill to the entire House for passage. It only got worse from there.

 After promising a constituent with a brain tumor that he would not vote for the health care repeal bill, Faso did exactly that. The heartless bill  would have gutted pre-existing condition protections, imposed an age tax on older New Yorkers, increased deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, and done nothing to lower the price of prescription drugs. If the bill been signed into law, Faso’s vote would have resulted in nearly 35,000 of his constituents losing their health care coverage.

Even though the bill ultimately failed in the Senate, Faso and House Republicans did succeed in causing massive spikes in New York health care premiums. Citing uncertainty in health care markets due to Republican efforts to gut the ACA, New York insurers hiked premiums on New York families an average of 15% and topping out at nearly 32% for 2018. Unfortunately, the damage is just getting started – New York insurers are now requesting premium increases averaging 24% and up to a high of 39% for 2019, again citing Republican sabotage of the health insurance market, particularly through the Republican tax bill.

Voted to slash Medicare and Social Security

As a member of the House Budget Committee, Faso voted to advance an extremely harsh, partisan budget that slashes Social Security and Medicare. The bill cuts $536 billion from Medicare and increases the eligibility age from 65 to 67, and cuts about $4 billion from Social Security. The budget also made deep cuts to other popular programs like Pell Grants and veterans’ benefits.

Owns the GOP tax scam

The Republican Tax Plan, a massive giveaway to big corporations and the rich, hits New York harder than almost any other state in the country. A key cause of the financial pain is the capping of the state and local tax deduction, a major tax break that saves New York families and homeowners thousands of dollars per year.

No matter his vote, the Republican Tax Scam – passed and touted by Speaker Ryan and Republican leadership – is sure to be an anchor on Faso’s candidacy. Since the Tax Scam’s passage, the bill has only grown more unpopular based on. Public polling.

On the trail, Faso will have to explain to voters why 83% of the tax cuts go to the wealthiest one percent, why big corporations deserve larger tax cuts than middle-class families, why companies that have announced nearly $475 billion in stock buybacks are simultaneously laying off workers, and why Republicans voted to blow a $1.9 trillion hole in the deficit. Speaker Ryan may be retiring, but not before making a problematic declaration that Republicans like Faso will have to address: they intend to use the deficit hole to slash Medicare and Social Security.

Significantly, the tax bill also gutted the Affordable Care Act and the nonpartisan CBO found that it will increase health care premiums in a state where insurers are proposing premium hikes averaging 24%.

Faso’s own history of proposing tax cuts for corporations,[1] banks,[2] and the wealthiest 1%[3] – and voting at least 132 times to increase taxes or extend tax increases[4] – will make it even more difficult to explain why his constituents shouldn’t punish him for a Republican tax bill that so harms New York.

Career politician and Scandal-Plagued Albany lobbyist

In a climate where voters are sick and tired of career politicians and lobbyists who have an undue influence on what happens in Washington, the Republican candidate in NY-19 is…a career politician and lobbyist.

Faso’s background consists exclusively of navigating the revolving door of Albany politicians and lobbyists. Faso served in the New York State Assembly for 15 years, followed by 15 years of lobbying, punctuated by unsuccessful runs for New York State Comptroller, Governor and Congress.

Faso faced serious allegations of illegal lobbying for his firm’s involvement in a pay-to-play scandal. The scandal centered on his firm’s “Albany-based partner/lobbyist” engaging in “unlawful activities” that ultimately led to the firm paying a $500,000 fine. Albany insiders speculated that Faso was the lobbyist in question.

Faso isn’t just a career politician and lobbyist – he’s a staunch defender of our dark-money-soaked campaign finance system. Faso has praised the Citizens United decision; attacked the very concept of campaign contribution limits; paid himself nearly $60,000 out of his own super PAC; and rode over a million dollars in outside spending by billionaires Paul Singer and Robert Mercer to his 2016 victory.

THE PATH TO VICTORY

New York’s 19th Congressional District is a swing district with a history of supporting Democrats and Republicans. President Obama won the district in both of his presidential runs and Senators Gillibrand and Schumer easily carried the district in 2012 and 2016, respectively.

Antonio Delgado is in excellent position to flip this seat. Delgado’s priorities of affordable health care, fighting for good-paying jobs and bringing economic development to the Hudson Valley will resonate deeply in this community.

Delgado is a fundraising powerhouse. Through 2018, Delgado has raised more than $2.3 million, demonstrating incredible momentum and that he’ll have the resources to win this competitive seat. Furthermore, Faso has proven to be a weak fundraiser, Delgado continually outraised him throughout 2017 and early 2018.

Polling has consistently highlighted Faso’s vulnerability. A February 2018 PPP poll showed Faso tied with a Democratic candidate, 42%-42%, and a November 2017 PPP poll found Faso trailing a Democratic candidate, 40%-46%. In a May 2018 campaign poll, Delgado was in a dead heat with Faso, 42%-42%.

—–

[1] Faso campaign website, archived 7/12/06

[2] The Bond Buyer, 4/16/98

[3] The New York Times, 10/19/06

[4] John Faso voting record, New York State Assembly, accessed 7/26/16





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