Lester Freeman

 

I will develop approaches to challenge the status quo and get results.  As congressman, I will continue to fight for upstate New York, advocating  for more federal funding in areas of education, energy and job development.  I, desire to see beautiful upstate become a driving force in our region leading the way to energy independence, job creation and reducing taxes.

 

End the War

No More War!  The invasion into Iraq has led to the unfortunate occupation of people yearning to live and be free.  America must respect that and give them the resources and opportunity to realize their own revolution and evolution as a free country.  This war was based on a lie and a lie cannot live forever, however we can not cut and run.  I am not a military expert, but we should start by adopting and enforcing benchmarks to have a slow and steady pullout without having a power vacuum in vulnerable areas of Iraq.

Taxes

We must repeal the Bush tax cuts and the subsidies for the oil industry.  Then we need to  minimize the IRS!  The "Robin Hood Approach" of taxing the rich and giving to the poor doesn't work, because the poor never get it!  I will also work toward modernizing and simplifying our tax code with a "Flat Tax" so it provides greater opportunity and relief to more Americans.  Every family that makes under fifty thousand dollars per year pays nothing and a "flat tax" for the rest.  Keep it simple.

Health Care

I support a comprehensive health care plan for all Americans.  The greatest country on earth should be able to produce a health care plan that covers its greatest asset – our children.  Most of the time the uninsured happen to be the working poor, elderly, or someone's child that lives in poverty.  We must accept responsibility where it lies and fight to make sure that comprehensive health care for every American under the age of 20, becomes a reality. However this is only the first step to universal health care for every American young or old, rich or poor, black or white, EVERY AMERICAN!

Foreign Trade

I will personally fight for and support trade policies that benefit American workers and increase the export of American goods.  We need to produce more jobs at home and export more American products overseas.  A healthy relationship with other countries in the global market needs to be re-established to maintain and increase foreign trade.  This is why we must reevaluate the current NAFTA policies because I think our jobs are being exported and the American Worker is paying the ultimate price.

Abortion

Roe v. Wade is the law and I support it.  Women have the right to choose, however I do believe we need more parental involvement in the process for those under 20 years old. Our children are making adult decisions without all of the options being explored. 

Energy/Environment

I support a comprehensive national energy policy to get us closer to energy independence and at the same time decreasing our need for oil.  I will be a strong advocate to secure additional funding for our nation to become energy independent.  

In these times of record high heating oil, gas and electric prices the president plans to cut the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Budget (LI-HEAP) budget by $90 million.  This is wrong because it impacts the most vulnerable households and I will fight to get this reinstated.  With the record profits of the oil industry giants we need to repeal the $12 billion dollars in corporate welfare to pay for these programs.

I understand we need further expansion of GE in the wind turbine industry, which is good for the Global Environment and great for our local economy. The Capital District also has several companies that are in fuel cell research and development, like Plug Power and MTI and as the next Congressman for this area, I will support these businesses and more renewable fuels like the proposed Bio Diesel Fuel Plant in Amsterdam and the Ethanol Plant proposed for the Port of Albany. 

I also feel that there are major improvements of the solar industry, clean coal industry, geo-thermal industry and in Europe the Atomic Energy Industry has proven to be safe, reliable and something we need to investigate further.

I believe that the nanotechnologies industry can play a major role in the future of the capital region and he will fight for funding for education, research and development and the expansion at the University of Albany campus.

Gun Ownership

I believe that guns don't kill people, people do.  The illegal gun activity and people who use guns in a crime should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  We need to get the guns out of the hands of our youth, so I propose no one under the age of 20 can purchase any gun, firearm, explosive, knives or any weapon of any kind.

Marriage

I believe that you should be at least 20 years old to get married and it should be between two people who love each other.  If we allow gay marriage, I believe that “Civil Unions” and “Domestic Partnerships” laws should be repealed because they don't show any commitment between the parties.     

Education

No Child Left Behind has failed our children and left tax-payers holding the bag!  We can no longer support what the federal government will not. Unfunded mandates in education have hurt our children's development and left homeowners to foot the bill.  We also need to provide funding to the school districts that have charter schools to offset the additional expense of these schools.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the president's budget will slash the New York's K-12 education budget by $231 million, NY's Child Care budget by $2 million and NY's Head Start budget by $60 million, which would be at its lowest level since 2002.  Bush has failed us again!

Studies have proven over and over again that our children absorb and retain more than 75% of their knowledge by the time they are nine years old.  We are behind the rest of the world in our early child development and need to start children in school at 4 years old and have a longer elementary school year, during these critical developmental years.

Immigration

Protecting and strengthening our borders is a priority.   Additional funding must be allocated to secure our borders and fight terrorism.  Our visa policy is broken and our government doesn't care. We have let millions of people in our country legally on temporary visas and didn't keep track of them.  I support a comprehensive immigration bill that will reward responsible immigrants that want to become Americans with citizenship, after we secure the borders and fix the visa problem.  We need to deal with those persons who are here illegally appropriately and fairly.  This is not an easy subject and there is not an easy answer.

Economy

I understand our upstate municipalities have an old infrastructure.  Municipalities  such as Cohoes, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Gloversville, Rensselaer, Cobleskill,  Schoharie, Troy and even New York State's Capitol Albany have an old infrastructure.  I will fight to procure funding for our region to rebuild and replace our roads, bridges, water and sewage lines.  Senator Charles Schumer stated on in a press conference with Mayor Jennings, the boarded buildings are a "cancer on our communities".  As a life long resident of the South End of Albany, I understand how critical it is to fund key agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help rebuild our inner cities. 

According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, George Bush's new budget will cut New York's Community Development Block Grant funds by $67.4 million, which is 45% below the  2001 level.  As the next congressman, I will fight to restore these items in the budget and more.

I have the experience working with Albany Mayor Gerald J. Jennings in urban redevelopment with my time with the Albany Community Development Agency and as the Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator which assures minority participation in all redevelopment and government contracts.  I was also involved with the HOPE 6 single family housing development in North Albany.

I worked as a Legislative Aid with the Albany County Legislature preparing and drafting bills for the Civic Center and working with Albany County Executive Michael Breslin, John Egan, Harold Joyce and the Albany County Co-Chairman Frank Commisso during the Airport Redevelopment.  

As Congressman, I will work with the Senator Schumer and all the state and local officials in the 21st Congressional District to clear away the problem properties.  More importantly he will work with everyone to rebuild the inner cities with safe and affordable housing.  If you rebuild the inner cities there will be less crime, drugs and illegal activities in those areas and the rest of the surrounding areas benefit with higher property values and lower taxes.

Age of Majority

Our children are growing up in a different era and a different environment.  We must protect our youth from predators and maybe more important, we must protect them from themselves.  It's all about our children's future, which is the foundation this country was built on. 

When I am elected as the next Representative for NYS's 21^st Congressional District, I will propose a law to make the “National Age of Majority - 20 years old”. 

The age of majority is the age at which an individual is considered an adult and responsible for their actions in the legal sense.

    To purchase or obtain Tobacco, Smoking or chew other would change to 20
    To Gamble on net, lottery, sports or at a casino would change to 20
    To be in, purchase or obtain any Pornography would change to 20
    To sign or enter into any Legal Contracts would change to 20
    To become a “Professional” in any sport would change to 20
    To vote in any Federal Election would change to 20
    To obtain a Marriage License, would change to 20
    To obtain any Credit Cards would change to 20                  
    With parental consent you can join the military at 17,
         but to serve in combat would change to 20

Vote on Primary Day

September 9^th, 2008

BIOGRAPHY – Born March 22-1967, Hometown: Albany, New York, Age 41, A.A. Morrisville College, Bachelor of Arts Stony Brook University – Long Island, NY Life long DEMOCRAT since 1993.

LIFE LONG DEMOCRAT

Lester Freeman, was born and raised in the City of Albany. He grew up in one of Albany’s poorest neighborhoods in the City and County of Albany, with his two older brothers, raised by a single mom. He is a product of the Albany Cit y school system and graduate of Albany High School. His roots run deep throughout the Capital District , along with his passion for change!

To this day, Lester Freeman credits Albany County Head Start and the NYS Youth Opportunity Program, for helping make the decision to attend College.

Professional, Educational & Civic Experience

Lester is running on his record of 14 years experience in City and County government working on State issues affecting the County of Albany. He is a graduate of Morrisville College and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Stony Brook University.

After graduating in 1993, Lester worked as an Legislative aide for the Albany County Legislature and served on the Albany County Airport re-development project and the Civic Center Committee, drafting and researching bills.

Lester currently works for the City of Albany on Section 3 and Section 8 Housing in urban development areas. He also has worked on small business development, Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise participation regulating procurement contracts let by the City of Albany and the Albany Housing Authority .

Lester has served as Treasurer, on the Board of Directors at Albany County Head Start. Volunteer and Coach in Albany’s South End at American Little League. Lester is a former small business owner of Freeman’s Restaurant in Albany’s South end. He is currently a member of the Kiwanis Club of Albany.

Where Lester Stands On The Issues 

Age Of Maturity 18-20 YRS

Lester believes in adjusting the age of maturity from 18-20 years of age. This will limit our teens from purchasing cigarettes, gambling, and failing prey to credit card companies. Under this proposal young men and women would be able to join the military at 18 years of age, however, they must be 20 years of age to enter into military combat. The proposal is designed to protect our children from harmful and financial destructive habits that will impact our children’s future before they ever get started living responsibly as an adult.

Gun Violence

Lester grew up in Albany’s south end neighborhood and understands urban issues hindering the success of children living in impoverished communities throughout the 21^st Congressional district.. This summer, there has been an “up tick” of senseless violence in our streets that has claimed the lives of young and old alike. Cities of Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Amsterdam are experiencing gun violence at a rate never seen before. As Congressman, Lester will fight to bring more fund to staffing levels at community centers, vocational training in construction and education grants for single moms to attend community college for occupational training in nursing and other health related fields.

Investing In Public Schools

Lester supports the repeal of “No Child Left Behind”, a law that unfairly ties the hands of school administrators and homeowners. Every year, Administrators are force to make cuts to school budgets around the nation, leaving our kids without pencils and notebooks for the upcoming school year. Homeowners are left to pay for this experiment that has yet, to show results leading to academic achievement, thus, lowering taxes! We must turn back to the public school model and invest our financial resources in a system that has lasted as long as this country has existed. “Remember, education is a right extended to every American, not a privilege for the rich.”

Lester opposes the war in Iraq and Afghanistan!

He wants to bring our troops home and cut military spending overseas. However, we cannot cut off funding to our brave men and women presently on the ground, leaving them in harms way. We must make sure our troops leave safely and orderly without loosing another life on the ground. Lester, feels that the United States should abide by International law, and close some military bases around the world where we are no longer obligated to be. Doing so, will result in saving American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and help to increase more jobs and our presence at home!

Health Care and Tax Exemptions for Seniors and Veterans Lester supports Universal Health Care in the United States for every American man, woman and child.

A single payer health care system would help save this nation $278 million dollars a year in paperwork alone. Making sure that the least among us are insured must be made a priority for the next U.S. Congress in the 21^st Century. Lester supports making Medicare easier for our seniors to apply and receive benefits. He will fight for more tax exemptions for our Veterans and Seniors living in their homes to offset property and school taxes!

Flat Tax for the Working Poor & Middle Class families

As Congressman, Lester will introduce a flat tax to benefit the working poor and middle class families earning below $50,000 a year. The proposal is simple. Taxpayers will not pay Federal income taxes on the first $50,000 earned, thus, leaving more money in your paycheck. This will provide a permanent stimulus for our nation, and those people hit hardest living in urban and rural America.