So says the New York Daily News:

Rep. Nydia Velazquez is the front-runner - for now, at least - to replace Hillary Clinton if she becomes the next secretary of state, a source close to Gov. Paterson said yesterday.

There are two other top contenders: Rep. Brian Higgins of Buffalo and Rep. Steve Israel of Long Island. Each would help Paterson with key constituencies when he makes his first run in 2010 for the post he inherited from disgraced Gov. Eliot Spitzer - upstaters in Higgins’ case and suburbanites in Israel’s.

Velazquez offers the tantalizing possibility of killing two political birds with one stone by appealing to Hispanics and women - both critical voting blocs.

I see this as much more likely than Brian Higgins… and far more realistic than Byron Brown.

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There is a lot of speculation about who Governor Paterson would appoint to replace Hillary in the U.S. Senate if she ends up as secretary of state. The one getting the most buzz seems to Brian Higgins (D-27), but, there is another Western New York politician whose name has been tossed out there.

Here is an opportunity for the governor to make Western New York really important,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant from Manhattan. “He needs to get someone of high quality and substance from Western New York. It’s the fair and right thing to do.”

While Clinton refused to address the speculation Friday during an appearance in suburban Albany, the game of political dominoes is already under way. Some news outlets are mentioning Mayor Byron W. Brown as a potential candidate, and the mayor said Friday he would consider an appointment but is “focused” on his current job.

Byron Brown? Is that a joke? I have yet to meet anyone who thinks he’s been a good mayor for Buffalo, why would Governor Paterson pick someone as incompetent and corrupt as Mayor Byron Brown?

For what it is worth, Buffalo Pundit is on board the Brian Higgins train. And Robert Harding of the Albany Project thinks the “change we need” is another damn Kennedy.

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That is the current buzz going around…

Pressure is mounting for an upstater to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate should she be asked by President-elect Barack Obama to join his cabinet as secretary of state.

Erie County Democratic Chairman Leonard R. Lenihan is already campaigning for Rep. Brian Higgins of Buffalo and others speculate that Gov. David A. Paterson may consider someone from outside the group of usual candidates, given the new and total domination of state government by New York City Democrats.

“Here is an opportunity for the governor to make Western New York really important,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant from Manhattan. “He needs to get someone of high quality and substance from Western New York. It’s the fair and right thing to do.”

I am skeptical of either scenario panning out.

First, I don’t think Hillary is under serious consideration — if she is under consideration at all. Second, she would make a horrible secretary of state, for one thing, and I can’t imagine that she would want the job. Hillary wants to be in a position to make her own mark on the world, and the last thing Obama wants is someone like Hillary in that position.

Dick Morris suggests it could just be a rumor started by the Clintonistas. I wouldn’t be surprised

If the republic survives after four years under Comrade Obama, then he is bound to be a one-termer. Even if not, administrations tend to undergo facelifts, meaning Hillary would be lucky to have a longer than four year run as the country’s top diplomat. She needs her Senate seat as a fallback for any potential climb up the power ladder. She likely won’t give that up.

But, let’s say I am wrong. I am just as skeptical about the idea that Western New York’s favorite camera whore would be appointed to fill her spot. Anecdotallly, I have heard that David Paterson really doesn’t have much love for upstate, and even if that is not true, I don’t think he will seriously consider choosing a Western New York congressman who isn’t well known across the state.

That being said, I welcome the possibility. If Higgins leaves his seat in the House, that seat has the potential to become competitive during an environment that historically should be good for Republicans. He also would likely face primary challenges in 2010 when that Senate seat would have an election for a permanent replacement an could easily be dropped for a more popular and well known Democrat. Perhaps Rudy Giuliani might have a shot at it — especially if the political climate is a good one for Republicans, which is not only historically likely, but a great possibility considering the mess the Democrats are going to get us into.

So really, I actually welcome the possibliliy of Higgins being appointed to the Senate in the unlikely scenario of Hillary being appointed as secretary of state. It actually presents the Republican Party with some good opportunities.

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The Buffalo Bean recently had the opportunity to interview Dan Humiston, candidate for U.S. Congress in New York’s 27th district. The interview was conducted via email and is posted below:

THE BUFFALO BEAN: You were quoted in the Buffalo News last week saying that when things are bad “you want to shake things up.” How would you shake up Washington?

DAN HUMISTON: I would shake things up in two very important ways: First I would bring a new perspective to the job; the perspective of a entrepreneur who has personal experience in creating jobs, making payroll and having to operate within a budget; things that career politicians have never had to do. Second, I would not be afraid to buck the House leadership, I don’t think Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank know a thing about Western New York and I would stand up to them when it is in the interest of the 27th district. `

TBB: You’ve been very critical of your opponent, Brian Higgins, for his vote for the $700 billion bailout. From talking with the voters in your district, have you found a lot of anger over this issue?

DH: Western New Yorkers didn’t create the financial crisis but now we have to pay for it, you bet voters in this district are unhappy about that bailout. I was on record against the bailout before the first vote because I knew it was it wasn’t fair to Western New Yorkers. Unfortunately, too many members of Congress ignored their constituents and caved to pressure from their party.

TBB: Higgins claims a lot of credit for making things happen in the 27th district. Is that credit deserved?

DH: I am sure Brian Higgins made some things happen during his time in Congress but he has done nothing to impact the most important issue facing this region, creating, keeping and attracting jobs. There over 70,000 fewer people living here today than lived here when he first took office in 1988. If I am elected to Congress, growing the population will be my priority.

TBB: You have spent the majority of the campaign out on trail by yourself. It was only recently that Brian Higgins seemed to acknowledge your presence in the race, even agreeing to a number of debates. What do you think accounts for Higgins’ sudden interest in his reelection campaign?

DH: That is a question that you need to ask Brian Higgins but I can tell you this; people are worried about the direction of this county; Congress’s approval ratings are the lowest they have ever been and the voters are mad about the bailout. Business as usual isn’t working and many see an opportunity for change in my candidacy.

TBB: The dominant theme of this election season has been “change.” Please explain how you will do things differently than your opponent in Congress.

DH:The biggest difference between Brian Higgins and me is our respective backgrounds. I am an entrepreneur, my background is in business. Brian’s a politician whose background is in government.

Entrepreneurs who are successful in business are good at managing constant change, at taking risks, and turning problems into opportunities.

Politicians who are successful in government are good at managing the status quo, at avoiding risk and turning opportunities into problems.

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While Brian Higgins voted for the massive bailout plan that failed yesterday, Dan Humiston has come out against the bailout, saying it is the wrong answer to our economic crisis.

“I am firmly against a plan that requires innocent Western New Yorkers to clean up the financial mess that greed on Wall Street created. Our community wasn’t responsible for and didn’t benefit from Wall Street’s sub-prime fiasco, so why should we have to pay to fix it?” Humiston said.

“I applaud the House of Representatives for their decision to reject the proposed corporate bailout. I hope that those who voted against the bailout will continue to stand their ground and tell Wall Street that their votes are not for sale. I’m disappointed that Congressman Higgins voted to support the bailout. It’s unfortunate that he chose to support his friends on Wall St. instead of the hardworking families in Western New York.”

Humiston also said that “Western New York families can’t afford to bail out Wall Street. We shouldn’t allow the Wall Street-manipulated media or politicians with hidden agendas to scare us into making a bad decision.”

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This news release from the Federal Election Commission apparently missed the radar of the Buffalo News: 

WASHINGTON — The Federal Election Commission (FEC) cited four campaign committees today for failing to file the Pre-Primary Report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) for primary elections on September 9.

As of 5 p.m. September 5, 2008, the required disclosure report had not been received from Barb Davis White for Congress, the principal campaign committee for Barbara Davis White in Minnesota’s 5th district whose treasurer is Ly’neys Rita Hill; Higgins for Congress, the principal campaign committee for Brian Higgins in New York’s 27th district whose treasurer is Gary M. Kanaley; Friends of Graham Long, principal campaign committee for Graham E. Long in New York’s 3rd district whose treasurer is Anita Long; and Stark for Congress, principal campaign committee for Paul Stark in Wisconsin’s 3rd district whose treasurer is John Sackett.

The reports were due on August 28, 2008, and should have included financial activity for the period July 1, 2008, through August 20, 2008.  If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by August 25, 2008.

The committees were notifed in early August of their requirement. So, why didn’t Brian Higgins file his reports, and why hasn’t this been considered newsworthy by the Buffalo News?

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Dan Humiston, who is running against incumbent Brian Higgins in the 27th district, called on Higgins today to “promise the people of Western New York that he won’t take another vacation until Congress passes a comprehensive American Energy Plan that includes off-shore drilling.”

The Buffalo News reported on Saturday that Brian Higgins doubted the impact that offshore drilling would have on gas prices. I noted that Brian Higgins needs to face reality when it comes to drilling.

Dan Humiston was also concerned by the article. From a press release:

Following an article in Saturday’s Buffalo News in which Congressman Brian Higgins questioned the utility of domestic drilling, Humiston expressed concern. “Brian Higgins is against off-shore drilling, so instead of working to find a compromise, he voted to take a five-week paid vacation,” Humiston said at a press conference he held this morning. “Higgins made a serious mistake when he took a vacation instead of working to solve our energy crisis. His irresponsible behavior hurt Western New York families and businesses by unnecessarily keeping gas prices high all summer.”

Humiston acknowledged that off-shore drilling will not solve our long-term goal of fossil fuel independence. However, he added, “Off-shore drilling will certainly achieve our mid-term goal of foreign fuel independence. It will also immediately solve our short-term goal of lowering the price at the pump. The moment that we pass a plan to increase the supply of oil through off-shore drilling, the market will react and the price of oil will go down.”

After a five-week paid vacation, Congress will reconvene on September 8. They will then only have until September 26 to pass a comprehensive American Energy Plan before they’re scheduled to start a long three-and-one-half month paid vacation. “In July, the people of Western New York trusted Brian Higgins to make the right decision on his own, but he took a vacation and let us down,” Humiston said. “Apparently, when it comes to his vacations, we can’t trust him to do the right thing on his own. Therefore we now must insist that he signs a pledge that he will NOT take another vacation until Congress passes a comprehensive American Energy Plan that will provide immediate relief at the pump through off-shore drilling.”

Humiston is calling on all Western New Yorkers to insist that Brian Higgins sign the following pledge:

I, Brian Higgins, will NOT vote to start my scheduled three-and-one-half month paid vacation until Congress passes a Comprehensive American Energy Plan that includes off-shore drilling.

Sounds fair to me. If Brian Higgins won’t do something to lower gas prices, which has kept many in his district from going on vacation, why should he be able to go on a vacation of his own… which we’ll be paying for?

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Yesterday, Rep. Brian Higgins argued that the current downward trend of gas prices means we do not need to drill for our own oil.

Rep. Brian Higgins said Friday he doesn’t oppose drilling for more oil but questioned the utility of that as a near-term solution to high fuel prices and said oil companies already have drilling rights they’re not taking advantage of.

Higgins’ comments came in an appearance before members of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce at the Chautauqua Country Club. The congressman addressed questions from the floor including issues about rising fuel costs.

“We need serious energy policies that wean us off of our addiction to oil,” said Higgins, D-Buffalo. 

While he was not opposed to drilling — a practice being championed by some Republicans — he questioned the practices of oil companies who already have the rights to drill on millions of acres in the United States.

Higgins also said the impact of finding new oil would not be realized by consumers for 10 to 15 years.

It sounds to me as though he is opposed to more drilling, but with polls showing  a large majority of Americans support offshore drilling, he’s trying to soften his public position.

Of course, what he doesn’t seem to understand is that gas prices really started to go down when President Bush called on congress to open up off-shore drilling. It’s all fine and good to say we need to look into alternative sources of energy, but we cannot pretend that such a solution is just around the corner, or that we can afford to ignore our own vast untapped resources of oil. If we began oil exploration and drilling in the United States, prices would drop significantly. We can work towards alternative sources energy, but we cannot ignore the reality that so much of our country’s economy relies on oil and we need to find more sources of it. 

To research and develop viable alternative sources of energy without drilling for our own oil in the interim keeps us sending money to terrorist-funding countries. Is that what Brian Higgins wants?

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This story puzzles me:

The Seneca Nation of Indians Volunteer Fire Department will receive $27,654 in federal homeland security funding for fire prevention and safety, Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, announced.

“These resources play an important role in safeguarding the Seneca Nation residents, businesses and the dedicated first responders who work to protect and serve the Salamanca area,” Higgins said.

“This grant clearly demonstrates how our two nations can work together,” said Seneca President Maurice A. John Sr. administered by the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the US Fire Administration.

“This grant clearly demonstrates how our two nations can work together, and continue to,” said President John. “This money will have a much-needed good effect on our Nation’s firefighting capabilities and the crucial protection of our people and businesses.”

So let me get this straight… The Seneca Nation, which is sovereign, doesn’t pay taxes to the United States, gets plenty of money from Americans via gaming, gasoline and tobacco sales… and yet they’re getting grants paid for by American taxpayers?

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This says it all.

Nearly all of the Democrats representing Western New York — including Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Reps. Brian Higgins of Buffalo and Louise Slaughter of Fairport — share in the blame for the deadlock because they are in the majority, and either back Pelosi or blindly genuflect before the no-drilling, no-refineries and no-nukes altar.

It is a formula for more pain at the pump and another war. 

I’m not counting on the aforementioned Democrats to stop being part of problem anytime soon. 

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It’s amusing to see that once I started going after Rep. Brian Higgins for failing to get results for his constituents (particularly his abandoning the tearing down of the Skyway for at least another decade) that suddenly a bunch of liberals come out of the woodwork defending Higgins and touting his so-called accomplishments. Believe it or not there are a few people who think Higgins has done more than just smile for the camera, and actually “works his ass off every single day to change people’s minds about Buffalo and WNY.” Which certainly explains why the population here keeps going down year after year.

Of course, maybe I’ve been too hard on him. After all, Higgins ranks quite low in influence in the House of Representatives, 333 out of 435. He also ranks in the bottom half for the 2004 class, and is in the bottom of the barrel for this state.

But you’re not going to read that on Higgins’ congressional or campaign websites.

But hey, when there’s not much to credit Higgins with, you can always accuse his opponent of “purveying cancer” or come up with some other silly red herring. Perhaps after that we can blame anyone connected to industries that produce or sell food for causing obesity.

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Jack Davis attacked Jon Powers the other day for accepting contributions from strip-club owner Richard Snowden, so in order to be fair, it is worth noting that Rep. Brian Higgins also accepted contributions from Snowden and his wife… In fact, they each donated the maximum $4,600… and $9,200 of Snowden cash is nothing to scoff at.

And Higgins undoubtedly knows where that money is coming from:

 
Hillary Clinton, Richard Snowden, and Rep. Brian Higgins back in 2004

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Progress was made today in the renaming of a stretch of Route 20A in Orchard Park (near Ralph Wilson Stadium) after Tim Russert, when the House of Representatives approved a resolution previously passed by the Senate last month. All it needs now is to be signed by President Bush.

US Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton and Congressman Brian Higgins proposed the renaming shortly after Russert’s untimely death from a heart attack.

Following the House vote, Higgins said it’s a “fitting remembrance of a man, who after all his success, never forgot his hometown.”

Under the legislation the stretch of Route 20A between Abbott Road and California Road in Orchard Park will be designated as the “Timothy J. Russert Highway.”

While it’s all fine and good that Brian Higgins did his part in this effort  – or at least is clamoring for accolades — I wish he put as much effort into tearing down the Skyway. Something tells me that Higgins wouldn’t ever have said “For the next five or 10 years, the renaming of the highway will continue to be subject to debate,” which he did say about the tearing down of the Skyway, despite the fact it was once a priority for him.

Since Higgins seems to be more effective at renaming highways than he is at removing dangerous ones, I think the Skyway should be renamed Brian Higgins Highway in honor of his tireless efforts to replace the dangerous Skyway.

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I hate the Skyway. I drive over it twice everyday of the week, and it sucks. When I moved here in March, it was the thing I was least looking forward to. I must admit that I was pleased when I discovered that Brian Higgins was a strong advocate for tearing the thing down… In fact, it’s one of the key issues of his agenda on his campaign website.

Brian has been vocal in his support to remove the Buffalo Skyway bridge.  For Brian, this issue isn’t about tearing something down, it is about building something up. 

Unfortunately, since I’ve been following this, it’s become clear that Higgins hasn’t been able to do a thing to get it done. And apparently, most believe the Skyway is here to stay, according to this story from Business First.

The Buffalo Skyway, it appears, will be around for a while. Maybe a long while.

Efforts to remove the elevated highway gained momentum last year as plans were rolled out for development of the city’s inner and outer harbors. But momentum to tear down the mile-long roadway has slowed.

At a Business First-hosted Power Breakfast last month, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. Chairman Jordan Levy seemed to drive a stake through the hope of tearing down the 110-foot-tall structure. Standing in the Harbour Club at HSBC Arena, with the Skyway looming directly outside the windows behind him, Levy delivered a punchy response when asked about the prospects of demolishing it.

“It’s not coming down,” Levy said. “It’s just reality. We just have to move on.”

And what does our fearless advocate for tearing down the Skyway say about this?

Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, is a longtime advocate of demolishment and says the battle is not over. However, he concedes that any decision about the Skyway’s fate is years away.

“For the next five or 10 years, the Skyway will continue to be subject to debate,” Higgins said. “As the waterfront continues to develop, it will become more and more apparent that the Skyway sits on and represents hundreds of acres of prime waterfront land that could, and should, be developed.”

I’m sorry, but I thought tearing down the Skyway was a priority for Higgins. His campaign even launched a website devoted to the effort, Skyway Alternatives (warning, extremely slow website) so I can’t understand how this went from a high priority campaign promise to a back-burner issue that we’re apparently supposed to wait 10 years before we can say goodbye to the Skyway? Higgins’ campaign website says “the Skyway, while designed to be functional for the Buffalo of the 1950s, has since become a dangerous and costly eyesore.” If it’s dangerous, why must we wait ten years before we can consider safer alternatives?

And, let’s face it, as The Waterfront continues to be developed, options for Skyway alternatives will become significantly reduced, more burdensome, and more costly. Maybe if Higgins drove over the thing everyday like I do, he’d be less willing to wait ten years to solve the problem. Meanwhile, I have at least another decade of driving on a dangerous highway while Higgins spends his time down in Washington D.C. pretending to be working on behalf of his district.

Brian Higgins‘ website touts the slogan, “Demonstrating Leadership. Getting Results.” Some results. I’m driving daily over the results of his “leadership”.

UPDATE: Higgins’ congressional webpage has this to say about the safety concerns of the Skyway:

The Skyway is a 1.4 mile long, 55 mile-per-hour bridge with no shoulders located 110 feet above Buffalo’s Inner Harbor.  This environment leaves stranded motorists in a very precarious situation, and Buffalo Police records reveal a very high incidence of accidents and fatalities.  Additionally, because of it high elevation at a specific location where it takes some of the worst of Lake Erie’s winter winds, the Skyway is closed so frequently that it is the only bridge in New York State with a mechanized closing system which lights up and tells commuters in distant suburbs when it is closed.  Engineers have also indicated that the tight turning radii of several of the Skyway’s access ramps, coupled with the grade at which they are inclined, are a cause for serious safety concerns – ramps like these could not be built today under current federal highway safety regulations.

I guess just not serious enough that we can wait at least wait 10 years to keep debating what to do about it.

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The Buffalo News reports that Jon Powers is taking heat for contributions he received from Richard Snowden a well-known strip club owner in Buffalo.

Congressional hopeful Jon Powers is drawing fire from a prominent Democrat for taking campaign contributions from Richard A. Snowden of Buffalo, whom she describes as a “notorious strip club owner.”

Not only has Powers accepted $7,000 from Snowden and his Rick’s Tally-Ho “gentleman’s cabaret” in Cheektowaga, but Snowden co-hosted a fundraising event for him Tuesday at the Saturn Club in Buffalo, according to former Wyoming County Democratic Chairwoman Anne Weidman.

“I am frankly disgusted to learn you have taken campaign contributions from Rick Snowden, a notorious strip club owner with establishments in both Erie and Monroe counties,” Weidman told Powers. “Mr. Snowden’s profits come directly from the exploitation of women, mostly young women, and his ‘sweat money’ has no place in progressive politics or the Democratic Party.”

Weidman, a supporter of Powers opponent Jack Davis in the Democratic primary for the 26th Congressional District who is co-chairwoman of Women for Davis, said in her letter that Davis would not accept such contributions. Davis, a successful businessman from Clarence, has pledged to finance his campaign this year with $3 million of his own money.

Let’s face it, these days, endorsements and contributions are heavily scrutinized these days. In 2006, congressional Democrats play the guilt-by-association card heavily against Republicans who had received donations from (or connected to) embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Of course, it should be noted that Democrats who had received Abramoff-connected cash largely refused to return such donations.

In the presidential campaign this year, endorsements and contributions have been so heavily scrutinized that John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama all have had to return money in order to protect their campaigns from criticisms. That precedent certainly makes this criticism of Powers’ contributions from Snowden fair game, and thus Powers’ decision on what to do with the contributions made or raised by Snowden will be important - especially given this point by Weidman:

“You are the candidate running on a slogan of ‘leadership by example,’ ” Weidman continued. “If you truly wish to lead by example, you should return Mr. Snowden’s three contributions and pledge to never accept campaign funds from those who profit from cultural misogyny and the exploitation of vulnerable young women.

“I hope you will do the right thing,” she added.

A memo obtained by The Buffalo News and distributed by the Davis campaign to supporters outlines the situation, calling it “hardly the kind of leadership we need for Western New York or in the House of Representatives.”

I couldn’t have said it better. Jon Powers certainly has made “leadership by example” his campaign theme. So, just what kind of leadership by example will Powers set? Considering the example set by Democrats in congress in past years, I am not counting on Powers to give up any of those contributions.

UPDATE: Snowden does get around.

Hillary Clinton, Richard Snowden, and Rep. Brian Higgins back in 2004.

It is also worth noting that Snowden was previously involved in Republican politics until November 2006, when he switched parties and quickly became a big Democratic fundraiser.

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The race to take back CD-27 is on!

Daniel J. Humiston joined the growing cadre of local businessmen plunging into Republican politics Tuesday by promising to transfer his experience as founder of the Tanning Bed chain to the House of Representatives.

Surrounded outside West Seneca Town Hall by several bronzed employees of his 23- year-old company, Humiston launched what he acknowledged will prove a tough campaign against Brian Higgins, the two-term incumbent Democrat. But he pointed across Union Road to the location of his first Tanning Bed outlet, recalling the chance he took on a venture that now employs more than 700 people in 34 outlets.

“Fast-forward 23 years, and here I am again in the same spot,” he said. “I have the same feeling, except this time my vision is for Western New York. It’s a vision of growth, it’s a vision of prosperity, and it’s a vision of optimism.”

Humiston, 44, is a member of the Independence Party but will receive the backing of Republican leaders to run on their line. Erie County Republican Chairman James P. Domagalski was on hand to demonstrate his support, reflecting yet another candidate from the business community he has recruited for major offices.

“I think you see in Dan a focused businessman with proven leadership and job creation skills, and someone who’s about achieving something — not being something,” Domagalski said. “The incumbent is very good at getting press. Our opponent in this race has been at three different levels of government, and the thing that he’s best at is criticizing the level of government he left when he’s at the next level.”

Given the recent slowdown of the economy, it certainly is a good idea to have someone with business experience representing the district instead of someone whose voting record suggests he knows very little about what’s good for business.

UPDATE: Watch the video.

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