CBS 6 Interview
January 20, 2023
Marc Molinaro again conducted an interview with CBS 6 Albany, this time about the debt limit and commitments to Social Security and Medicare. CBS 6 is turning into a go-to for Molinaro, generally providing softballs without much follow-up.
In this case, Molinaro remained the good soldier for Kevin McCarthy, soft-threatening a government shutdown and criticizing the Biden administration, although not quite understanding that spending is under legislative control and their recently-passed budget is the "road map" he can't find.
Quotes:
Republican Congressman Marc Molinaro says he would not cut services like Social Security or Medicare, but wants to limit more government spending in the future.
"The burden begins with the Administration in taking corrective action and slowing spending that is within their control," Molinaro says. "I do not support reducing benefits in any way to those who have earned them. What we need to do is see the Administration lay out their road map. If you want me as a member of Congress to consider extending the debt ceiling, then there needs to be a clear commitment to corrective action."
Source: CBS 6 Albany
CBS 6 Interview
January 8, 2023
Marc Molinaro conducted an interview with CBS 6 Albany about the Speaker vote and his unconventional first week in congress. He was largely noncommittal and generally positive, but there were a handful of items to acknowledge:
- Once again, Molinaro expressed his opposition to cutting Social Security and Medicare. He did not mention Medicaid (the interviewer also did not mention it specifically). It did not sound like he would use his leverage to aggressively protect these programs, but that'll be something to watch.
- His discussion of the proposed Rules Package was limited to the motion to vacate the chair and did not address the other far-right proposals, including interference in DOJ prosecutions of Trump and other participants in anti-democracy crimes, weakening the ethics committee, attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci and other health officials and expedited floor votes on anti-abortion legislation.
- Finally, curiously, he continued with the fiction that the New York delegation turned the tide of the Friday evening election of Kevin McCarthy. All Republican members of the New York delegation voted to adjourn, and later changed their votes when Matt Gaetz and McCarthy had reached agreement. They did think it was appropriate to adjourn and go home until Gaetz changed his mind.
Quotes:
"Obviously the session didn't start the way me or the American people wanted, but the moment of being sworn in didn't lose its significance on me. It's a commitment between me and the people of the 19th Congressional District, not only to uphold the Constitution, but to deliver results."
. . .
“I'm proud of the New York delegation. We made it very clear that we didn't think it was appropriate to adjourn and go home. I do believe making that clear, we probably bought the leadership and Speaker McCarthy time to come to the conclusion that 15th vote was the one to get him over the line. I didn't think it was appropriate to go home until that decision was made.”
. . .
“The final rules, while it’s a lot of inside baseball for average Americans, does leave every member of the house the ability to have a great deal of influence. And so while so many are focused on one side of the ideological spectrum, every member - this member - of behalf of the 19th congressional district, can speak very clearly and can leverage that one voice, that one vote, and hopefully move Congress and America towards the results and the relief that the people I represent want.”
. . .
“Well, listen – I do not support cutting Medicare and Social Security and of course I grew up on food stamps and want to fight for the most vulnerable this in the district and across America and so there will be people who disagree with me.”
. . .
"We just went through a Speaker vote. [The debt ceiling] is obviously a decision that is going to have to be made later in the session. I think we ought to use the tools that we've been given, and I will use my vote to drive down federal spending, to focus on developing a balanced budget and work to reduce the cost of living and taxation of small businesses, families and farmers. I want this Congress to focus on that.”
Source: CBS 6 Albany
Statement on Anniversary of January 6
January 6, 2023
On the anniversary of January 6, Marc Molinaro chose not to attend a bipartisan ceremony recognizing the sacrifices of the Capitol Police and other members of law enforcement who protected congress from insurrectionists. He did provide a statement that sought to find common ground between those who would attack the Capitol and law-abiding Americans.
In the Daily Freeman, Marc Molinaro said: "We have ideological differences in this country. Despite those differences we can never accept turning to violence. January 6 was a sad day for our nation and I will work every day on behalf of Upstate New York to bridge the partisan divide to make progress for our community"
Statement on George Santos Controversy and Calls for Resignation
January 3, 2023
Along with an acknowledgement that George Santos should comply with legal investigations, Marc Molinaro made the single statement that Santos has "disappointed" him, and that Santos's fictional background and deceptive finances are "troubling." It does not suggest that Santos take any specific action or resign his office.
Source: NY1.com