Post-Standard endorsement - 23rd Congressional District: Bill Owens

Syracuse Post Standare calls Congressman Owens

"An effective advocate for his district,

a voice for moderation and civility in the House,

Owens deserves re-election.

In the 23rd District, which sprawls across the North Country south to Madison County, Republican challenger Matt Doheny, like Buerkle in the 25th, wants to return “certainty” to economic policy-making. Few candidates demonstrate more “certainty” — at least about what’s wrong.
The TARP bank bailout? “Flat-out wrong.” The same with the economic stimulus, health insurance reeform and new financial services regulations. The old earmark process? “Flat-out wrong,” says Doheny.

The energetic Doheny calls for new ideas and straight talk. He says his years working with troubled companies “on the front lines of capitalism” give him the skills needed to deal with economic issues.

Democratic incumbent Bill Owens argues he is a better fit for the district than a man with a “career on Wall Street.” Owens, the first Democratic congressman in the district since the Civil War era, won a tumultuous special election last year that included two Republicans — one of whom dropped out and endorsed Owens. In his short tenure, he has compiled a moderate record — voting for the health care bill, but opposing the financial regulation bill because of concerns it would hurt small banks in his district. Like Doheny, he calls for fresh thinking and is concerned about the federal deficit.

Read more from The Syracuse Post Standard HERE