NY-23 House candidates Della Pia, Langworthy answer midterm questions on key topics
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
New York's Republican Chairman, Nick Langworthy, is seeking to represent the 23rd Congressional District in the House of Representatives next year in a Nov. 8 matchup against Democrat Max Della Pia.
The USA TODAY Network New York sent the same set of questions to Langworthy and Della Pia on state and national issues, such as abortion and gun safety laws. Here are the unedited responses and some more detail on the candidates.
Max Della Pia
Party: Democratic
Residence: Owego
Age: 69
Q: Would you seek the adoption of any new gun control measures following the Bruen decision at the Supreme Court? If yes, what? If no, why not?
Della Pia did not respond.
What, if any, restrictions should be put on abortion? Should abortion laws be left to states or federal government?Editor's note: Della Pia's answer was delivered incomplete. For that reason, and because of deadline constraints, the following is his response and a partial statement from his website: The Republican party's intention is to codify the reversal of Roe vs Wade...People have a Constitutional right to control their reproductive lives. Abortions should remain safe and legal.
How specifically would you address inflation?
After 32 years in the US Air Force, we must restore and maintain our energy independence. We should never have to kiss the ring of a foreign power to reduce the cost of oil.
We need to shore up our our economy by strengthening our supply chains, particularly for strategic materials, like computer chips and supplies needed to fight a pandemic. Being dependent on foreign suppliers of critical materials is a recipe for disaster and keeping good-paying jobs here keeps our economy strong.
Should members of Congress and their family members be banned from stock trading? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Members of Congress and their families should be banned from stock trading. Members of Congress are in positions of public trust. As such, they are often in a position to know important news in advance of its public release. They are also in a position to take actions or refuse to take actions that would likely have a significant impact on stock prices. They may also be in a position to vote on or against key legislation that will have a significant impact on the value of publicly traded companies. This kind of activity and similar stock price manipulation and self dealing is unfair and these actions undermine the public trust.
Will you accept the election results in November?
Absolutely!
Who won the 2020 presidential election?
What is your top policy priority, how do you intend to achieve it and why do you think you deserve to be elected in November?
Universal health care is of critical importance for our families and for our economy. There are many ways of approaching the issue and I am not wed to any particular solution but we need to work together in a bipartisan way to reach consensus. It is interesting to note that 21 industrial countries have some form of universal health care, and yet, on average the US pays 2.3 times the average cost for health care and does not have universal health care. The administrative cost of our commercial health care policies is nearly a third of every premium dollar! Seven in ten Americans want universal health care. There is no reason why we cannot work in a bipartisan way to meet this critical need.
More:NY-23 Congressional District race 2022: Who is on the ballot and what are the top issues?
Party: Republican
Residence: Pendleton
Age: 41
Q: Would you seek the adoption of any new gun control measures following the Bruen decision at the Supreme Court? If yes, what? If no, why not?
New York has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation and more laws targeting law-abiding gun owners are not the answer. Democrats’ attempts to infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens while letting violent criminals out of jail is pure insanity. Americans’ Constitutional rights must be protected. I want to focus on addressing the underlying issue, which is the mental health crisis. We also need to harden targets like our schools and dedicate more school resource officers to identify and stop threats.
What, if any, restrictions should be put on abortion? Should abortion laws be left to states or federal government?
I am pro-life, but I support an exception for rape, incest and the life of the mother. The Dobbs decision correctly put this decision back in the hands of the states. I recently just left the NICU with our premie son, Oliver, and we met so many families who had been in there for weeks and months fighting for their child's life. Life is precious and it is my hope that we can, as a society, work toward a culture of protecting and cherishing life.
How specifically would you address inflation?
Inflation is the #1 issue facing families right now. The Biden Administration’s printing of money is what created it in the first place. We need a pro-growth economy that reduces wasteful spending and repeals onerous regulations. The Inflation Reduction Act was a $700B boondoggle that did nothing to actually reduce inflation and now Americans are facing it from all fronts with record inflation, skyrocketing energy and gas prices and the cost of getting a mortgage has doubled in the last year.
Should members of Congress and their family members be banned from stock trading? If yes, why? If no, why not?
I came out early in my campaign and called for a ban on stock trading by members of congress. You shouldn’t go to Washington to get rich, but Nancy Pelosi is now worth $135M & has been embroiled in allegations of insider trading. We’ve also had a congressman from NY go to prison for the same thing. Once elected, you should be forced to put any stocks into a blind trust. We need to drain the DC swamp and people need to trust that you’re there fighting for their interests, not to get rich.
Will you accept the election results in November?
Of course.
Who won the 2020 presidential election?
Joe Biden is the President in the White House. I wish that were different — we went from $2/gallon for gas, a booming economy, near energy independence, Russia and China were in check, our border was secure, and the list goes on. The next presidential election can’t come soon enough.
What is your top policy priority, how do you intend to achieve it and why do you think you deserve to be elected in November?
My top priority will be getting our nation back on track and reducing inflation and energy costs that are crushing household budgets. It’s my hope and belief that Republicans will take control of the House and I support the Commitment to America plan that will unleash America’s economy by cutting spending and regulations, reviving American manufacturing and working toward American energy independence. This will lower inflation, create good-paying jobs and put the economy back on track.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: NY-23 House race: Della Pia, Langworthy on guns, abortion
