News

Bishop Honored at Sachem East Safe Driving Fair

Oct
19
2012

In the middle of battle to hold onto his seat in Congress, Rep. Tim Bishop, D- Southampton, stopped by Sachem East Thursday to receive the 2012 Graduated Driver Licensing Champion Award during the school's summit on safe driving.

Sponsored by State Farm, the award is presented to elected officials who have supported and furthered graduated licensing legislation with an emphasis on safe driving for teens.| read more ››

Public Safety Unions Back Bishop, Altschuler

Oct
18
2012

Suffolk's police unions yesterday put their support behind Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) in his race against Republican Randy Altschuler, who has been endorsed by county sheriff's deputies and correction officers.
The Police Benevolent Association, Superior Officers Association, Detectives Association and district attorney Detective Investigators Association announced their endorsement at...| read more ››

Bishop, Altschuler Debate Jobs, Economy In Bridgehampton

Oct
16
2012

The debate between Democratic U.S. Representative Tim Bishop and Republican Randy Altschuler in Bridgehampton on Monday turned inward when the candidates argued over their campaign tactics in a race marked by a flood of attack ads.

The two men covered well-trodden ground in what was their fourth debate on the East End, once again laying out their differing visions for economic recovery. But to a greater extent than in past debates, they expressed frustration over the tone of the race itself.

The candidates even attacked each other’s attacks during an extended exchange, with Mr. Altschuler calling the congressman’s tactics “filthy” and Mr. Bishop calling his opponent’s ads “unseemly.”

“This has been an ugly, bruising campaign,” Mr. Bishop said. “I think...| read more ››

Spending by outside groups top $2M in House race

Oct
15
2012

Spending by outside interest groups in the congressional race between Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) and St. James Republican Randy Altschuler has topped $2 million -- double the total spent by such groups when the candidates first squared off in 2010.

Prosperity First Inc., a new super PAC largely funded by East Setauket hedge fund manager Robert Mercer, on Tuesday purchased $104,868 in ads supporting Altschuler, according to Federal Election Commission reports. Over five weeks, the PAC has poured nearly $800,000 into the 1st Congressional District contest.
Bishop, seeking his sixth term, has benefited from only about 20 percent of expenditures by groups that operate independently of candidate committees. On Tuesday, the Communications Workers of America's Working Voices PAC bought...| read more ››

On the Right Path

Oct
11
2012

Earlier this year, a Blue Ribbon task force that I appointed to examine Suffolk County’s budget crisis informed us that we were facing a three-year budget deficit of $530 million – a shocking number that was far worse than we could have imagined.

With your support, we have taken the tough measures needed to pull our county out of this mess and avert a fiscal disaster. In just the past few weeks, I am proud to say that we have taken important steps to move Suffolk County forward including unanimous, bipartisan support for a contract with the PBA. And I am particularly proud to say something many thought unthinkable several months ago—I introduced a balanced budget which stays within the...| read more ››

Suffolk Notebook: Bellone Balances Budget, Stays Under Cap

Sep
30
2012

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone on Friday released a proposed 2013 budget that erases the county's deficit while keeping increases under the state's 2 percent tax cap.

Bellone's budget, which the executive said increases less than 1 percent year-over-year, freezes the county's spending while enacting a slate of new measures meant to rein in costs.| read more ››

National Welcoming Week Nets "Major Results" in NY

Sep
21
2012

NEW YORK – National Welcoming Week, an effort to promote meaningful talks on immigration, has netted some big results in New York. It's being viewed as a major change for Suffolk County, according to Maryann Slutsky, director of Long Island Wins.

Under the past administration, says Slutsky, people who wanted to talk constructively about immigration were "drowned out with negative rhetoric." That's why she's pleased that County Executive Steve Bellone decided to host National Welcoming Week in Suffolk County.| read more ››

Bishop: GOP Chooses My Way Over Our Highways

Sep
20
2012

Last summer, our nation’s creditworthiness was held hostage to political gamesmanship by Republicans, causing significant damage to the economy and public confidence in the federal government. More recently, the critical operations of the Federal Aviation Administration were hamstrung for weeks by the injection of partisan posturing into a traditionally nonpartisan issue — airline safety.| read more ››

Poll: Tim Bishop holds 13-point lead over Randy Altschuler

Sep
13
2012

Less than 600 votes separated them last time, but with eight weeks to go in their rematch, Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop has seized a 13-point lead over Republican Randy Altschuler, according to a new poll released Thursday.

According to Siena College, Bishop (D-Southampton) leads Altschuler, a St. James businessman, 52 percent to 39 percent, among 624 Suffolk County voters surveyed from Sept. 5 to 10. Notably, Bishop led among independent voters, 49 percent to 41 percent.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

Siena said that voters saw Bishop as better representing them on most issues, including taxes, jobs and the war in Afghanistan.

The two candidates have recently unleashed critical television ads...| read more ››

Bishop Comments on Pell Grant Cuts

Sep
4
2012

“Across America, there are more than 20 million college students heading back to classes this fall,” Bishop said. “Paul Ryan’s Altschuler-approved budget would slash Pell Grants by billions, eliminating the grants for 400,000 students in academic year 2013-2014, cutting grants for hundreds of thousands more in years to come, and reducing assistance for virtually every other recipient.”| read more ››