Chris Lee: No Unemployed Millionaire Left Behind

Chris Lee took the first swipe at Alice Kryzan by accusing her of having caused (past tense) the loss of jobs and the raising of taxes in the district. Both charges are patently false, simplistic distortions of the conclusions of some right-wing think tank and ignore the tax plans of either presidential candidate.

Although Lee and Domagalski complained about a clumsy DCCC ad that was run earlier, Kryzan has no coordination with DCCC and had nothing to do with that ad.

Kryzan, once smeared, is not one to go along lightly. She released the following press release today:

Yesterday, Chris Lee released a television ad that belies reality and shows just how out of touch he is with Western New Yorkers. Following a convincing primary victory and the release of a poll showing Kryzan with a ten point lead, Chris Lee clearly recognizes that momentum is on Alice’s side and is resorting to desperate and cheap attacks to muddy the airwaves.

Rather than keep his pledge to make this campaign about the issues, Lee is spending his time and money making false and misleading attacks on Alice. Instead of saying how he will work to improve the lives of working families in Western New York, Lee released a negative ad suggesting Alice, who has never held office, has raised taxes and supported legislation that has “killed jobs.” Meanwhile, Lee continues to support the same knee-jerk deregulation that has plunged our economy into
chaos and put the protection of CEO’s paychecks before helping the hardworking families of Western New York. While wages stagnate and unemployment grows, Lee thinks we should extend the Bush tax cuts for millionaires like himself. Chris Lee just doesn’t get it.

“The last thing New Yorkers need is the same old politics and same failed policies in Washington,” said spokesperson Anne Wadsworth. “Chris Lee has already demonstrated that he is not willing to engage the voters in a conversation about their real concerns: soaring energy costs, crumbling financial markets that are crippling savings and retirement pensions, and healthcare and education costs that are too much for many working families. This is not a time for
politics; this is a time for action.”

FACT: Chris Lee’s policies may be good for millionaires but not for Western New Yorkers

• Lee Supports Tax Cuts for Millionaires like Himself. In 2001 and 2003, Chris Lee supported extending the Bush Tax Cuts that benefit the wealthiest one percent. Chris Lee’s company, International Motion Control, sold for $395 million in 2007. [Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, 8/22/08; PR Newswire, 3/26/07]

• Alice Will Fight for Working Families: Kryzan stated on her campaign website that too many families have seen their wages decline in recent years and that she will fight to make fair pay a reality. “During the Bush Administration, wage growth has stalled leaving working families financially insecure and unable to plan for the future. I will support policies that provide families with a living wage, reliable healthcare and retirement security.” [Kryzan for Congress, 9/10/08]

• Alice is Against Shipping Jobs Overseas: On her campaign website, Kryzan made the statement that she will ensure that trade negotiations are environmentally sound and protect American workers. “I will work to ensure that all U.S. trade policies include environmental and labor protections and provide an even playing field for American workers and their families and include U.S. environmental standards, worker safety standards, and product safety standards.”
[Kryzan for Congress, 9/10/08]