Carl Paladino speaks in Olean
Steve Mayer
Issue date: 4/30/10 Section: News
Governor-hopeful Carl Paladino, '68, spoke at a Tea Party function at Olean Middle School Wednesday.
Image courtesy of the Olean Times Herald.
Roughly 60 Tea Party supporters gathered in Olean Middle School's LGI room Wednesday night to listen to Carl Paladino, '68, Republican gubernatorial hopeful, speak on a range of issues.
Paladino began by talking about the private sector job losses that have hit New York state.
"Last year, New York lost 274,000 jobs in the private sector, while creating thousands of state jobs," he said. "Creating jobs in the public payroll is a slap in the face to the public. Only cutting taxes and spending will create real jobs."
Paladino said he would focus on cutting taxes and spending as soon as he got into office.
"I will cut taxes by 10 percent in the first six months of my administration, and I will cut spending by 20 percent in the first year," Paladino said.
Paladino said he would review every department of every agency and authority to look at their efficiency, productivity and necessity. Where unnecessary, departments will be cut.
"I will create an atmosphere of lower taxes and less regulation, an atmosphere encouraging to job development and expansion," he said.
Paladino said he is only looking to serve one term in office.
"I have no quest for power, and no quest to have an elected tag on my back," he said. "I'm not seeking any other office. I'm just looking to serve you for four years."
Paladino accepted questions from the audience and addressed issues like the education system.
He said New York state's education system has been a complete failure. He noted 46 percent of students graduate from inner city Buffalo schools, and that parents of dysfunctional homes are the products of the same failed education system their children are in.
"We've heard people screaming about charters and vouchers to create competition," Paladino said. "The minute you create competition for those public schools, you will see improvement in quality."
Charlie Briggs, former vice president of labor union Local 1796, AFL-CIO and contract negotiator for union members, expressed his concern to Paladino about the power of unions.
"One hundred years ago, there was a legitimate need for unions - to represent common folks, us. That's who they used to represent," Briggs said. "They gave us labor laws, 40-hour work weeks and other things, and that's good. But what are they doing now? They are self-perpetuating their strength and their power, and are doing it through the progressives, predominately Democrats in power."
Paladino was also asked about abortion and marriage, which he said are not high up on his priority list.
"I do not see any reason to be debating (these issues) while we have these catastrophic problems with our budget," he said.
He said he is against all forms of abortion.
Next, Paladino covered gun control.
"The only restriction I will put on guns is I would require that the handler have a firm grip," he said.
Paladino also expressed concern for our state's welfare system.
"We are the only state left in America that has no residency requirement for welfare," he said. "Down in Long Island, Staten Island, Westchester and those counties, they've arrived there in droves. They come and get right into the welfare system."
Paladino's discussion then shifted inward, as he addressed personal issues.
He addressed his recent landing in hot water with a racially insensitive e-mail he forwarded.
"I resent e-mails that were inappropriate. It was careless, it was wrong … that was something that I did, and I acknowledge it, and I am by that," Paladino said. "The real problem is in Albany."
Paladino ended by assuring his supporters he will not be sidetracked if he is elected.
"I will give you four years of hard work, I promise you that," he said. "I will not be distracted. I am not going to any fundraisers and not going to any baby-kissing events."
e-mail: mayersm@sbu.edu
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