Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)
CLEVELAND – As the GOP Convention comes to a close, Chautauqua County’s representative in Washington is calling for unity to elect Donald Trump.
During a conference call with reporters on Thursday morning, Republican Tom Reed of Corning – who attended his first national convention since being elected to office in 2010 – explained why he’s calling for unity to elect Donald Trump and Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence.
“Our families deserve a president and vice president who cares about our needs,” said Tom Reed.
“I am dedicated to our families and making sure they are treated fairly. With these proven leaders in the White House we will succeed. We will create jobs, address poverty, and keep our nation safe,” Reed added.
Meanwhile Reed’s opponent in the upcoming November Election is criticizing him for attending the RNC.
Democrat John Plumb of Jamestown released a statement on Thursday saying that Reed’s attendance at the RNC is another sign that he is more focused on serving the special interests in Washington, rather than representing families in the 23rd congressional district.
John Plumb
“It comes as no surprise that Congressman Reed has chosen to spend the week in Cleveland rubbing elbows with the special interests he does so much for instead of answering to the families here at home that he’s left behind,” Plumb said. “Congressman Tom Reed spends his time in Washington helping to create a rigged system that allows politicians like himself, millionaires, and special interests play by a different set of rules – all at the expense of families here in Western New York and the Southern Tier. As one example, he’s voted to crush working families with a $2,000 income tax increase all so millionaires could get special tax breaks.”
Plumb was referring to Reed’s 2014 vote on the federal budget which, as the New York Times wrote, “lowers the top tax rate to 25 percent for the wealthiest taxpayers, down from the current 39.6 percent, while raising taxes on middle-class families with children by an average of $2,000.”
Plumb also said that next week he plans to stay in the district and campaign instead of attending the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
