Rep. Stefanik calls for unity
Says conservatives and GOP must work together to keep House
Republicans and conservatives don’t always agree. Yet U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik told the Upstate Conservative Coalition on Tuesday night that they must be united on Nov. 6 in order “to keep the House.”
“It’s incredibly important to turn out to vote in November,” Stefanik told a crowd of about 50 at the Milton Community Center. “We don’t want Nancy Pelosi as speaker.”
Julie Killian, candidate for lieutenant governor and running mate with Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro, warmed up the audience by warning of the dangers of another Andrew Cuomo win after the governor’s victory in the Democratic primary. The state, she said, will end up with “anti-cop, anti-business, and anti-everything that we stand for policies.”
“It’s going to get worse if we don’t pull together,” Killian said.
Pulling together does seems to be an issue. The Upstate Conservative Coalition, which its political director David Buchyn said is the tea party and not linked to the Conservative Party, is focused on limiting government and on the Second Amendment and repealing the state SAFE Act, New York’s 2013 gun-control law.
Some coalition members feel that the views of Stefanik and Killian are moderate and they would like to see them move farther right.
Killian wouldn’t commit to saying the SAFE Act was unconstitutional when prodded by a member. She said she doesn’t believe it can be repealed in Albany but seeks to “chip away at the law” because she sees her job “as getting things done, not working on doing something that can’t be done.”
“I’m being realistic,” she said. Stefanik got a round of applause when she said she did believe the SAFE Act was unconstitutional. She also called Obamacare a disaster and reminded the audience she worked hard to repeal many of portions of the law.
But she separated with some of the coalition on renewable energy, which she would like to support, and climate change, which she believes is a threat. On this issue, she is at odds with President Donald Trump on his withdrawal from the internationally backed Paris Agreement on climate.
“We need to be tough on China and India on climate change,” Stefanik said. “But we can’t be tough on them if we leave the table.”
Stefanik said she believes in “modernizing” Social Security. Her plan is to keep Social Security as is for those 50 years and older, but could not articulate a plan for those who are younger, except perhaps raise the age of eligibility.
Stefanik also said she would back Kevin Mccarthy for Speaker of the House once Paul Ryan steps down. Some in the audience wanted her to go with Jim Jordan, a leader in the conservative Freedom Caucus. She said that would be unwise.
“It’s about building consensus and coalitions with diverse members,” Stefanik said. “My opponent won’t say who she will vote for for speaker. Sounds to me she wants Nancy Pelosi and that would be a disaster.”