While the House and Senate agreed and voted on a resolution to the debt ceiling debate this week, most local residents were left without representation in Washington D.C. However, both David Weprin and Bob Turner, candidates in the special election to replace Anthony Weiner, continued their push to convince voters they were the right man for the job.
Republican candidate Bob Turner kicked the week off with an endorsement from Long Island Republican Congressman Peter King.
“Bob Turner is a businessman who knows what it takes to create jobs,” King said. “He is a staunch supporter of Israel and an independent voice for fiscal reason. He will bring to Washington common sense and a can-do business perspective.”
Turner’s campaign has continually called Weprin a “career politician,” and questioned his opponent’s time as the City Council Finance Committee Chair. Notably, Turner questioned Weprin’s role in the slush fund scandal.
The now infamous scandal erupted in 2008 and 2009 when reports surfaced that the city’s discretionary funding was being allocated to bogus nonprofit organizations and held to use for political donations and favors.
“David Weprin either knew about these fake charities or he wasn’t doing his job; there is no in-between,” Turner spokesman William O’Reilly said.
Weprin has maintained that he was not involved in the scandal and these fake organizations were never brought for a review in his committee.
“Bob Turner is lying about David Weprin in a sad, pathetic attempt to distract the people of Brooklyn and Queens from his extremist tea party-inspired plan to slash trillions from Medicare and Social Security,” Weprin spokesman Jake Dilemani said to various news organizations.
Weprin has been trying to keep the focus on the recent debt ceiling debate and potential cuts to senior entitlements.
On Sunday he was joined by State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing) and Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) at the Rego Park Social Security office. Weprin stated that it is “imperative” that budget negotiations do not harm Social Security. He also condemned the Republican party for playing “partisan” games.
“Seniors should not become the innocent victims of the Republicans’ irresponsible, partisan games and their failure to negotiate in good faith,” Weprin said.
The debt deal signed on Tuesday averted cuts to Social Security and Medicare, but future cuts to the programs are possible. This caused Weprin to blast the deal.
“As I’ve said over and over again, I won’t support any plan that puts Medicare and Social Security at risk, and this egregiously unfair debt plan could still cut these vital programs,” Weprin said. “The cuts signed into law yesterday are going to be devastating to families and businesses in Queens and Brooklyn who need our help now more than ever, and I will fight to support them, not the dangerous Republican plan to end Medicare.”
Meanwhile, Turner praised the debt ceiling agreement. “This agreement is far from perfect, but it will protect Social Security and Medicare and prevent default on our debt, which would have damaged this weak economy even more,” Turner said.
The special election to replace Weiner will occur on September 13.
by Eric Yun
