PlanPutnam.org
By Jeff Green
September 24th, 2010

POUGHKEEPSIE – Howie Hawkins of Syracuse wants to be included in the debates with the other three gubernatorial candidates – Carl Paladino, Andrew Cuomo and Rick Lazio.

Hawkins was in Poughkeepsie Thursday trying to drum up votes for his candidacy and explain what he calls his Green New Deal that includes creating jobs, providing a fiscal stimulus funded by a transfer tax and a tax on bonuses given to bank executives after their institutions were bailed out by the federal government.

He wants the ability to discuss his progressive agenda for New York with the other candidates during debates.

"You've got three conservatives on the economic question and I'm the progressive," he said. "I need to be in the debates so people who have progressive positions on the economic issues have an advocate and champion in those debates."