CORNING, NY - Randy Kuhl, a man who has continually voted to extend corporate welfare for Big Oil, has now decided that he and George W. Bush are not to blame for our skyrocketing gas prices. As middle-class families across Western New York struggle to keep up with record gas prices, Kuhl continues to support Big Oil above New Yorkers.

"Randy Kuhl has taken political blame shifting to a new low," said retired Navy Commander Eric Massa. "I for one am tired of Washington insiders saying one thing and doing another. Randy Kuhl's 'believe as I say, not as I do' attitude toward our rising gas prices is disingenuous and New Yorkers know it. It's time to end President Bush and Randy Kuhl's policy of Big Oil corporate welfare and take real action to help families at the pumps. Our political future cannot be about running away from voting records and blaming others, it must be about a new direction for the American people."

###

CORNING, NY - With gas prices continuing to rise around Western New York with driving season upon us, families across the 29th Congressional District are feeling the strain on their wallets. Last winter Randy Kuhl took a tax payer funded vacation to "study" energy independence while taking a river tour on the Amazon River and then returned to vote for continued Bush-Big Oil give-aways and against energy independence, and now we are paying the price.

"Randy Kuhl and George W. Bush refuse to take responsibility for our skyrocketing gas prices," said retired Navy Commander Eric Massa. "Exxon-Mobil has been raking in billions of dollars while middle class families are struggling to fill up their tanks just to get to work. Randy Kuhl has voted to continue corporate welfare handouts for Big Oil, and I think this is the wrong direction. I continue to reject corporate contributions while Randy Kuhl has taken $29,600 from Big Oil - it is clearly time to change the way things are done in Washington."

###

CORNING, NY - Following another big grassroots fundraising quarter, Congressional candidate and retired Navy Commander Eric Massa released the figures from his first quarter FEC filing. In this quarter, which ran from January 1st 2008 through March 31st 2008, Massa raised $277,906.97. This brings his campaign to a cash on hand total of $565,320.83. Thus far in the 2007-2008 cycle, the campaign has raised $875,979.47. Of the over 2,500 grassroots contributions during this quarter, the campaign received an average contribution of $102.96. At the end of the last quarter in 2007, Massa had over $88,000 more than his opponent, Randy Kuhl.

"Once again I am humbled by the overwhelming support we've received from our grassroots friends," said retired Navy Commander Eric Massa. "As I've said before, this campaign is about creating living wage jobs and lowering taxes for the middle class families in Western New York. Ours is a campaign of the people, not the oil lobbyists, and that is why I have continued to reject corporate contributions. There is a new way forward in Western New York and come November, we will bring a higher standard of leadership to Washington."

###

CORNING, NY - Earlier today, 24 year retired Navy Commander Eric Massa announced his full support for Senator Jim Webb's updated version of the Montgomery G.I. Bill. Massa also announced that he will be standing with Veterans advocacy group Operation Firing for Effect (OFFE) in Washington on Tuesday. Massa and the leaders of OFFE will be meeting with Congressional and Senatorial leaders to discuss how we can institute mandatory full funding for the V.A. system. This meeting will occur on Tuesday, April 15th at 1pm at the Cannon Office Building # 334 in Washington, D.C.

"As a Veteran, I know how important the Webb bill and mandatory full funding for the V.A. are, and that is why I am standing with our Veterans," said retired Navy Commander and Congressional candidate Eric Massa. "Right now we are seeing the highest level of returning Veterans since the Vietnam era, and we as a Nation must fulfill our end of the deal. We must help Veterans gain a higher education and institute mandatory full funding for our Veterans services at the V.A. We can accept nothing less."

CORNING, NY - On Thursday and Friday in the Corning Leader, Randy Kuhl made it clear that creating low wage jobs overseas continues to be his priority. On Thursday, Kuhl voiced his support for the Columbian free trade agreement, which would ensure the elimination of thousand of living wage jobs, and then on Friday, he bragged about creating "thousands upon thousands of jobs" in Iraq. As America spirals into recession, Randy Kuhl and George W. Bush believe the solution to our economic problems is to continue outsourcing American jobs.

"Once again, Randy Kuhl and George W. Bush have shown that they are more concerned with creating jobs in Iraq and Columbia than right here in Western New York," said retired Navy Commander Eric Massa. "Our country is in recession and we need to address this reality by ending Washington's failed free trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA. Today we have a member of Congress who believes it's more important to create jobs in Baghdad and Bogotá than in Canandaigua or Corning. This is wrong and it's clear that we need a member of Congress who will represent working families in New York, not Washington D.C."

CORNING, NY - Yesterday on a press call, Congressional candidate Eric Massa issued an invitation to his opponent to join him in a series of debates on the issues facing the families of Western New York. In this invitation, Massa called on Randy Kuhl to engage him in a minimum of one debate for each of the eight counties in New York's 29th District. Recently Kuhl announced he would hold closed door, private "office hours" around the district - a significant change from the town hall meetings that he once conducted. Rather than having an open discussion with his constituents, Kuhl has followed the teachings of George W. Bush and Karl Rove by minimizing his contact with the public, not answering questions, and rejecting open dialog.

"Now that Randy Kuhl has announced his intention to run for reelection, he owes it to the voters to join me in public debates," said retired Navy Commander Eric Massa. "I will adjust my calendar to accommodate him so we will not infringe on his schedule. It's quite unfortunate that Randy Kuhl has decided to hide behind his staff by holding closed door meetings rather than having an open and transparent dialog with the public. It's time for both of us to present our ideas to the public and let the campaign season begin."

###

CORNING, NY - On Wednesday, March 19th 2008 at 9:00 am, retired Navy Commander Eric Massa will join fellow Congressional Candidates Dan Maffei (NY-25) and Iraq Veteran Jon Powers (NY-26) for a press conference at the Rochester Veterans Outreach Center at 459 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620. During this press conference, all three candidates will observe the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Additionally they will be calling on their opponents and the White House to provide more targeted funding for our Veterans.

Since the war in Iraq began on March 19th, 2003, 3,990 American troops have been killed, tens of thousands have been injured and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died. While President Bush and Randy Kuhl continue to block health care for working Americans, deny us the truth of our economic situation, and create more hurdles for Veterans requiring services, they have no problem spending $3 trillion on a war of choice against a country that had no involvement in the 9/11 attacks.

"Those of us that wore the uniform honor our men and women who stood with us," said retired Navy Commander Eric Massa. "Today I call on Randy Kuhl to finally stand up to George W. Bush's failed foreign policy. Since he came into office, Mr. Kuhl has gone out of his way to rubber stamp President Bush's each and every demand for Iraq. We are currently spending almost $6,000 per second in Baghdad while thousands of children right here in Western New York cannot receive access to health care. Additionally, our returning Veterans continue to encounter more and more red tape while trying to receive the long-term care they have earned. This is the hypocrisy of incumbency and we must hold our failed leaders accountable."

WHAT: Congressional Candidates Eric Massa (NY-29), Dan Maffei (NY-25) and Jon Powers (NY-26) will be observing the five year anniversary of the start of the Iraq War and demanding change.
WHERE: The Rochester Veterans Outreach Center - 459 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 19th at 9:00 am.

CORNING, NY - Following the historic swearing in of New York Governor David Paterson, Eric Massa issued the following statement:

"I want to take this opportunity to congratulate my friend and our new Governor David Paterson. The families of Western New York are looking for a leader, and having known Governor Paterson for a number of years, I am certain that he will be fantastic this new role. We deserve a governor who can work across the aisle to the benefit of the working families of Western New York, and that's exactly what we will get with David Paterson."

CORNING, NY - Following Randy Kuhl's announcement that he will seek reelection in New York's 29th Congressional District, Congressional Challenger Eric Massa issued the following statement:

"I welcome Randy Kuhl's participation in the political process," said retired Navy Commander Eric Massa. "This race is and always has been about the families of Western New York, not Eric Massa or Randy Kuhl. As we move forward, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether they want more of the same from Washington, or whether they are ready for a change in leadership and a new vision for America. I believe we must save our country's economy by enforcing fair trade, not by giving away living wage jobs through free trade agreements like CAFTA. I believe that all Americans should have access to the same quality health care that Congress already enjoys. I believe in ending the war in Iraq and bringing out troops home now."

"In November, together, I know we can move this country in a new direction."

CORNING, NY - Yesterday, Randy Kuhl voted against the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 in yet another lock step Bush vote. Earlier this year, Kuhl stood against SCHIP health care for millions of children on four separate occasions, and now he stands against helping families receive access to critical mental health and addiction treatment. Kuhl, who has received thousands of dollars from insurance lobbyists, has a long history of standing with big business and against families of Western New York.

"The Wellstone bill is one of the most important mental health bills ever to pass the House, but once again Randy Kuhl has decided to stand against families," said Congressional challenger Eric Massa. "If this legislation had been in place a few years ago, it's quite likely that the tragedy of Virginia Tech could have been averted. New Yorkers don't deserve to have a Congressman who consistently puts the priorities of George Bush and insurance lobbyists over those of our own families. Mr. Kuhl stood against our children four separate times during the SCHIP debate and now he stands against those that need our help the most. The working families of Western New York want a Congressman who will represent their values in Congress, not insurance lobbyists, and that's exactly why I am running."