NORWICH – U.S. Representative Richard Hanna said he is thankful to retain Chenango County after redistricting in New York because of the highly-driven business and government leaders he reconnects with on his periodic visits here.
He particularly complimented City of Norwich Mayor Joe Maiurano for engaging his office so often.
“You just don’t see that every day. He does a great job for you,” the 24th District Republican told a group of about 30 Commerce Chenango members yesterday. Hanna was on a campaign trip through the county Tuesday, making stops in the morning at New York Pizzeria in New Berlin and at Fred’s Inn for a Chamber-sponsored luncheon.
Rep. Hanna recently received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise Award in recognition of his voting record in the House. He scored the highest in New York – 100 percent – on key votes to support economic growth and job creation, including the repeal of 1099 reporting requirements, the 3 percent withholding requirement from contractors and the president’s health care law.
“Supporting small businesses, working to help rebuild upstate New York’s economy and therefore putting people back to work has been a hallmark of my time in office,” he said.
Hanna employed more than 450 people at his construction business which he operated in nearby Marcy for 30 years prior to entering politics.
He said people living in Chenango County are a microcosm of the country at large, facing all of the same issues from unemployment, high property and school taxes, to oppressive regulations that thwart enterprise and a declining population. After the 2010 population census, New York lost two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“People with means are leaving the state to invest and live where there is no inheritance tax. ... Young people are leaving to find jobs, so you’re a missing the vibrance of your youth. People are disengaged. I meet with people everyday who say it’s not worth it in New York. Well, it’s getting to be that way for the country. We are shoving people off the borders,” he said.
Rep. Hanna supports moving the U.S. to a “territorial” tax system by which companies would only be taxed once. Currently American companies pay taxes in foreign countries when they operate, but are again taxed by the United States if they wish to bring dollars home to invest and create jobs in America.
“We have the highest repatriation taxes in the world ... Most countries don’t charge to bring back their own products, but we do,” he said, adding that he was disappointed after Speaker of the House John Boehner decided to wait to include the measure in a future overhaul of the tax code.
“That’s silly. They want to wait. The bi-partisanship in Washington is as bad as you think. There’s awful gridlock, with so much opportunity,” he said.
In his two years in office, Hanna has compiled a moderate voting record for a Republican. Progressive Punch ranks him the 205th most progressive representative based on critical votes, which places him to the left of all but 14 Republicans.
Hanna said he views it as his responsibility to never say a negative thing about President Obama nor a member of the Democratic Party. He has, however, said some things to some people on his own side. When asked which candidate he would choose to run against the President, Hanna said he would fall behind whoever is the party’s candidate. He previously endorsed John Huntsman.
Hanna serves on three House committees: Education and the Workforce, Small Business, and Transportation and Infrastructure. Among other efforts, he said he has tried to lower what he called “superfluous” and “counterproductive” mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency and is helping American farmers get through immigration red tape for hiring workers. And he was recently the only Republican at a rally for the Equal Rights Amendment.
He is most proud to describe a bill he is introducing next year, called STEM. It would create a permanent tax deduction for college tuition, room and board for students majoring or enrolled in any field of science, technology, engineering and math field.
“We’ve lost our manufacturing base in this county. We’ve been service driven, but service jobs don’t support a middle class life style. They don’t buy cars for people. I don’t see any other way to help 24 million people out of work find a job,” he said.
Hanna’s Democratic opponent in November will be Dan Lamb. Before he faces Lamb, however, he is being challenged by Tea Party Republican Michael Kicinski of Earlville. The two will face off in the June 26 primary.