Jim Walsh Readies For 2008



Jim Walsh has had a full year now to adjust to his minority status. And when he met the cameras for a year-end briefing, the Republican was already setting the table for next year's elections. “I've always said, when Republicans are in control of the congress, the debate is over how much to cut your taxes. When the Democrats are in control, the debate is always, how much can we raise your taxes. And that's exactly what happened this year. And it will be a big part of the debate next year.” Walsh's own debates next year may be a rematch with Dan Maffei, who came within a few thousand votes of an upset last year. The congressman knows the Democrats will come after him even harder in '08, but he's trying hard to postpone the next campaign for as long as possible. Congressman James Walsh of New York served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal in the 1960's.

Jim Walsh Readies For 2008

Jim Walsh Readies For 2008

Last Update: 12/20 7:21 pm
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Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - The first session of the 110th Congress is history. Syracuse Republican Congressman Jim Walsh is home for the holidays. And with another re-election battle looming in the new year, he has little time to look back.

Jim Walsh has had a full year now to adjust to his minority status. And when he met the cameras for a year-end briefing, the Republican was already setting the table for next year's elections.

“I've always said, when Republicans are in control of the congress, the debate is over how much to cut your taxes. When the Democrats are in control, the debate is always, how much can we raise your taxes. And that's exactly what happened this year. And it will be a big part of the debate next year.”

Walsh's own debates next year may be a rematch with Dan Maffei, who came within a few thousand votes of an upset last year. The congressman knows the Democrats will come after him even harder in '08, but he's trying hard to postpone the next campaign for as long as possible.

“I'm not concerned about that. I’m concerned about doing my job, in a very acrid and partisan environment, where people of good will, who are willing to reach across the aisle, make compromises to get things done, can be successful. And I think I’ve exhibited that ability time and time again.”

For the moment, he'll enjoy the holidays. Knowing the new year will have to combine an unprecedented combination of lawmaking and fundraising.

“I'll have to raise a lot of money, more than I ever have before. But that's just the nature of the beast today.”

A spokesman for the Maffei campaign says the Walsh vote Wednesday against expansion of the Alternative Minimum Tax was irresponsible, because it failed to replace the lost revenue generated by the wealthiest Americans.

Walsh also says he hopes to have Rudolph Guiliani at the top of the ticket next fall, to help boost his own re-election battle with the Democrats.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: December, 2007; RPCV James Walsh (Nepal); Figures; Peace Corps Nepal; Directory of Nepal RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Nepal RPCVs; Politics; Congress; New York

When this story was posted in December 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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