Richard Hanna, Republican candidate for Congress, NY-24.

Utica, NY- Richard Hanna is taking Congressman Mike Arcuri, D-24, to task for his recent flop on the Healthcare Bill.  Arcuri, who voted in favor of the House version on November 7, 2009, has recently said he will not vote in favor of the final version.  This comes after ads have recently run on local cable and network channels calling for Arcuri to vote against the bill.  Arcuri’s vote in November was very import considering the close House vote.  The Bill passed 220-218 and needed 218 votes for approval.

At issue now is whether Arcuri is simply “pandering” for votes in a tough election year.  Hanna thinks so.  In a press realease, Hanna said Arcuri is following the footsteps of the famous flip-flopper John Kerry, referring to Kerry’s 2004 Presidential run where he infamously stated he voted for the war before he voted against it. 

Hanna also took issue with a statement Arcuri made on WKTV September 18, 2009.  “I go to bed one night and I say, ‘I am going to support it,’ and I wake up and read some more things and say, ‘Geez, I don’t know if I can support this thing,’” Arcuri said.

“The 24th Congressional District needs a representative who will always vote to put the people first no matter what side of the bed he wakes up on,” Congressional candidate Richard Hanna said.

“It was a bad bill before and it is a bad bill now,” Hanna continued. “The difference is Mr. Arcuri has determined his first vote has hurt his chances of re-election. This isn’t leadership, but rather pandering, politics and opportunism. I am confident the voters will not be fooled Mr. Arcuri’s election year rebranding but see this as politics of the worst kind.”