Nuciforo sees Congress as next way to serve region
Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr. is running for Congress to be a strong progressive Democratic Representative.
“They’re [the American people] looking for a strong Democratic leader to go to Washington and fight exclusively for them. I intend to be that person,” said Mr. Nuciforo in an interview with The Beacon’s editorial board.
The current Berkshire County Middle District Register of Deeds, Mr. Nuciforo previously served as a State Senator representing the Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire District from 1997-2007. A native of Pittsfield, Mr. Nuciforo has strong roots in the area.
Mr. Nuciforo remains bullish on his prospects for election.
“We’re very pleased with the response we’re getting throughout the district,” said Mr. Nuciforo.
“What I’ve learned is just how angry the American people are about what happened in 2008-2009,” said Mr. Nuciforo, referring to the financial crisis. “They want a strong Progressive Democrat going to Washington…to stand up for their interests not to stand up for Wall Street as my opponent [Rep. Neal] has.”
Mr. Nuciforo had some very strong criticisms of Rep. Neal, particularly on the issue of financial deregulation, which he says the congressman has had a history of supporting.
“In the years leading up to the financial collapse in 2008 there were five significant deregulation bills that came before the United States Congress,” he said. “Congressman Neal is in a very small group of members of either party that supported all five.”
As for Mr. Nuciforo’s other opponent, Bill Shein, who is also running against Rep. Neal as a Progressive, he doesn’t seem particularly worried they will split the vote.
“Given Congressman Neal’s record it’s no surprise he would pick up other opponents,” he said. “There are a sufficient number of votes out there for us [the Nuciforo campaign] to succeed, and I think with our progressive message we’ll be fine.”
In terms of the specific policies he would advocate for if elected, Mr. Nuciforo is a supporter of single-payer health care.
“I’m the only candidate in the race who has actually sponsored a single-payer health care bill,” he said.
Mr. Nuciforo is also a supporter of The Fair Elections Now Act, which would provide for public financing of congressional elections.
This stance has gotten him criticized by fellow public financing supporter Mr. Shein, who points out Mr. Nuciforo voted to repeal Massachusetts’ Clean Elections Law, which provided for public financing of candidates for state office, when he was a state senator.
The Clean Elections Law was approved overwhelmingly by voters in 1998 and was the subject of much political squabbling before it was repealed in 2003.
Mr. Nuciforo explains this discrepancy by saying the Fair Elections Now Act has significant fundraising thresholds that candidates would have to meet before receiving state funds.
“Under the Fair Elections Now bill, any candidate for house of representatives…would have to raise no less than $50,000 in individual contributions before qualifying for any public money,” he said.
By contrast, Mr. Nuciforo said such fundraising thresholds were not included in the clean elections bill.
“The clean elections bill had almost no viability threshold,” said Mr. Nuciforo, who said he voted to repeal the Clean Elections Law in order to protect the public treasury.
As for what a good minimum threshold would be for candidates for state office under a public financing system, Mr. Nuciforo didn’t have an exact answer, but he said it should be calculated on the cost of a typical race.
On reproductive choice, Mr. Nuciforo pointed to being endorsed all five times he ran for state senate by NARAL. He also blasted Rep. Neal for voting for the Stupak Amendment, which would have prohibited health care plans under the Affordable Health Care for America Act from covering abortions except in cases of rape, incest or a danger to the life of the mother.
“That was the most recent and most significant assault on women’s health and reproductive freedom in recent memory,” he said. “With friends like that, who needs enemies?”
In the end, Mr. Nuciforo believes his combination of political experience and progressive politics make him the best fit to represent the 1st Congressional District.
“I think we need, in the United States Congress, an experienced Progressive that is prepared on day one to do this job,” he said. “I intend to be that person.”
Posted by Bera B. Dunau
on August 30, 2012. Filed under Community News,News.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry