Howie Hawkins for Governor - Green Party
Media Release
www.howiehawkins.org - www.gpny.org

For Immediate Release:
September 30, 2010

For More Info:
Howie Hawkins, 315-474-7055
Michael O'Neil, 917-825-3562
Mark Dunlea, 518-860-3725

Green Candidate Calls For Issues Over Egos

"What is this, the Real Candidates Of Erie County?" asked a bemused Howie Hawkins after viewing the onscreen confrontation between Carl Paladino and New York Post scribe Fred Dicker. "Actually, the constant bickering reminds me more of Jersey Shore. Maybe Cuomo should hire Snooki as his Press Officer. That's about the level we're at now."

As a Green Party candidate with an economic vision distinct from the Democrat and Republican's plan for fiscal austerity, Hawkins sees the personal attacks as a smokescreen to cover their similar policies.

"Both want to cut public spending and services in order to keep tax breaks for the wealthy. All that's left to argue about is 'who's the bigger man?' -- and the media's falling for it. Given the chance to debate, I can provide New Yorkers with a competing vision, my prosperity plan vs. their austerity plan."

Hawkins is calling for a "Green New Deal" with a WPA-style green jobs program to put the state's 800,000 unemployed back to work. The plan, according to Hawkins, could be financed with the yearly $16 billion in Stock Transfer Tax funds that are currently rebated right back to Wall Street.

"Cuomo and Paladino whine about the so-called 'budget crisis' but won't even mention the Stock Transfer Tax. Andy and Carl's hot tub reconciliation will come after Election Day, when they're toasting champaign glasses with Wall Street banksters."