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October 21, 2008                                                                      Jordan Karp, 315-733-1400

LOCAL WORKERS OVERWHELMINGLY BACK ARCURI

Carpenter's Union Endorses Arcuri's Record of Fighting for Middle-Class Families

UTICA, NY – Continuing to build on his overwhelming support from local working families, Congressman Mike Arcuri was endorsed today by the Empire State Regional Council of Carpenters in his bid for re-election based on his track record of middle-class tax relief and support for bipartisan energy solutions.

"Two years ago, I promised to go to Congress and fight for local working families and I have done just that – working in a bipartisan way for middle-class tax relief, energy solutions, and help for families struggling to send their kids to college," said Arcuri. "It is an honor to be recognized for the gains we've made, but there is more to be done to make sure local families have what it takes to get ahead. I will continue to fight in Congress to foster new job creation and economic development right here in Upstate New York."

In his first term in office, Arcuri was honored by the national Drum Major Institute for public policy for his 100% voting record with working families, including his strong support to raise the federal minimum wage, middle-class tax relief and refusal to support the Peru Free Trade Agreement. Arcuri also voted to raise the federal minimum wage for the first time in a decade. In July, the first increase went into effect, giving working families a much needed pay raise.

Arcuri has voted 22 times for middle-class tax relief, including protecting local families from the Alternative Minimum Tax and targeting assistance to jump start the economy. Arcuri voted for tax rebates of up to $1,800 per family and extended unemployment insurance for workers hit by the economic downturn.

To help area families struggling with high gas prices, Arcuri cosponsored legislation to increase domestic oil production by drilling on the 68 million acres of land, onshore and offshore, already available to oil and gas companies. Arcuri also voted to increase drilling in Alaska, hold price gougers accountable and invest in new alternative energy production that would create new good-paying jobs in Upstate New York.

Arcuri also has the endorsement of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), New York State AFL-CIO, the New York State Public Employees Federation of the AFL-CIO, the Teamsters Local Union 182, the Civil Service Employees Association, the United Mine Workers of America - New York/Pennsylvania State COMPAC Council, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades of America and Canada - District Council #4, the Empire State Regional Council of Carpenters Local 747 and the Central New York Community Action Program (CAP) Council - Region 9 UAW.

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