By Eileen Buckley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-967906.mp3
Cheektowaga, NY – Powerful republican House Speaker John Boehner was in Western New York Monday to help raise money for republican congressional candidate Jane Corwin.
Corwin is running in a three-way special election for later this month to fill the 26th congressional seat vacated by former Congressman Chris Lee.
Republican supporters gathered at Salvatore's Italian Gardens in Cheektowaga for a fundraising luncheon.
Speaker Boenher spoke out against President Obama and democratic leaders for unemployment, high gas prices and U.S. debt.
Boehner told supporters Corwin is the right republican candidate to help fight for the GOP's agenda.
"But there is only one conservative candidate in this election and that is Jane Corwin," said Speaker Boehner.
"Jane will work with us to stand up to Nancy Pelosi and the liberals of Washington, D.C., and say no to the bailouts, not to the stimulus and say no to the continued tax and spend crowd that's down there," said Boehner.
Flight 3407 families had a chance to meet with during his visit. The families say a House amendment would weaken federal flight safety regulations they fought so hard to get passed.
John Kausner, who lost his daughter in the crash, said Beohner listen to their concerns and promised to "look into it".
"He promised us that he would look into it and deal with it. He is for safety. I am an optimist. My position is when Senator Schumer said to us he would work for us, he has and I believe when Speaker Boehner says he will work with us, he will," said Kausner.
Meanwhile, Corwin's two opponents held events not far from the Boehner event.
Jack Davis, running as an independent on the Tea Party line, inviting everyone regardless of party affiliation to have a hot dog at Zorba's Texas Hots at Transit Road, less than a mile from the Boehner event.
"I'm serving the people and the lobbyist at a $150 dollars a plate down the street are serving lobbyists. They're trying to buy another congressman from this District," said Davis.
Democratic opponent Kathy Hochul appeared on Transit Road at her campaign office in Clarence Monday afternoon.
Hochul and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare met along with voters throughout the 26th District.
"Without a doubt,the Republican budget will decimate Medicare. This would be one of my highest priorities. Looking out for the seniors, looking out the middle class and to help small businesses grow jobs.. that's what I'm all about. When my opponents meeting with the leader of this mess, that is the last person I would want to be with today in light of what has happened to the people in this room," said Hochul.
Voters will decide the 26th Congressional seat at a special election, Tuesday, May 24th.