Faso surrounded by family on the front steps of his home
KINDERHOOK – Former state Assemblyman John Faso, a Republican, formally announced his candidacy for Congress in the 19th District of New York.
In making his announcement on Tuesday on the front steps of his Kinderhook home surrounded by his family, Faso enumerated a number of accomplishments while in the Assembly – working to close a $5 billion budget deficit; reform in the areas of spending, debt, criminal justice and education.
At a campaign stop in New Paltz, Faso said growing the economy would be a top priority.
“More small businesses are shutting down and closing than are being established, so we have to reform the tax code, fix the immigration system, do a whole range of things that will improve our economy because we have to get the economy growing, not at 1 ½ percent to two percent, it has to grow 3 ½ to four and higher in order to produce the jobs that we need for millennials, who are coming into the workforce, but also create the opportunities that people want for their children to advance,” he said. “That’s the American dream and that’s why I am running.”
Faso said the country needs to “dramatically change the direction of the federal government under President Obama.”
He said the federal government “is routinely mortgaging the futures of our children and grandchildren by failing to reform federal spending” He claimed every person in America owes over $60,000 as their share of the national debt.
The 19th District includes Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, and Ulster counties and portions of Broome, Dutchess, Montgomery and Rensselaer counties.
