PLATTSBURGH — Frustrated over the lack of action in Washington, D.C., North Country Congressman Bill Owens told local business leaders that they should not expect much in 2012.
"It's funny, but it's not," he told the Plattsburgh Noon Rotary Club.
"I don't think you will see anything happen until the next election is held."
'POLITICAL THEATER'
The problem, Owens said, is that the partisanship has gotten out of control, leaving Democrats and Republicans miles apart on any compromises.
A Democrat from Plattsburgh, Owens blames both parties for the problems.
"Political theater goes on all the time. It is all about ideology, and they forget that somewhere along the line there are facts. Getting people to focus on facts is extremely difficult."
An example of inertia just happened, he said, when a bill to approve a two-month extension on the payroll-tax cut was pulled by the Republican leadership before a vote could be taken. A similar bill passed in the Senate by a count of 89 to 10.
Owens said he would have supported the extension if it ever came to a vote.
"They (House Republicans) pulled it because they knew it was going to pass," he said.
COMPROMISE NEEDED
Owens said he hopes that more people get elected to Congress who do not put politics first.
"We need more people who are more towards the middle and willing to compromise. It will take time to get the ship turned in the right direction, but I think we can."
Owens said he feels he can be most effective working on issues important to the 11-county 23rd District, which stretches from Lake Ontario in the west to Lake Champlain in the east.
He said about 3,400 jobs in the district remain unfilled and that he is working with the Workforce Investment Board to get people in those jobs. Nationally, about 3.2 million unfilled jobs are available, Owens said.
"That's about $100 billion in payroll for the economy."
ALTERNATIVE
He will be challenged in next November's election by Republican Matt Doheny of Watertown, who lost to Owens in a close race in 2010.
Doheny said Owens is part of the partisan gridlock problem.
"I find it ironic that someone who voted against the payroll-tax extension for one year and who was against a conference version of the bill and someone who clearly advocates for tax increases, that he is railing against partisanship," Doheny said.
He said he has different views on how government should be working.
"I will provide the alternative."
Several other people, including Plattsburgh resident Tim Stampfler, have said they also want to run but have not yet filed the proper paperwork to become candidates.
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