Steve Harrison | Democrat for Congress

By Tom Wrobleski
Staten Island Advance

While one of his Democratic challengers joined dozens of protesters on the sidewalk below, GOP Rep. Vito Fossella entertained Vice President Dick Cheney at a Fossella fund-raiser hosted by billionaire oil executive David Koch yesterday at Koch's Upper East Side home.

Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), as he has done in the past,
declined to say how much was raised at the event, saying only that it
was a "success."

"It accomplished the goal of helping us to raise the money we'll need
to run a competitive race," Fossella said.

The exact take won't be known until the Fossella campaign files
financial disclosure forms with the Federal Election Commission.

Democrat Stephen Harrison lambasted Fossella for joining with Koch,
whose oil company has been fined millions of dollars for environmental
violations.

Pointing to the celebration of Earth Day today, Harrison said:

"The timing of the fund-raiser drove this as much as anything. Koch
Industries is one of the most prolific polluters of the environment
that we're aware of."

In 2000, Koch Industries agreed to pay $35 million in fines and
penalties as part of a settlement over alleged contamination of lakes
and streams in six states from Missouri to Texas.

At the time, it was the largest civil penalty ever levied against a
single company under the Clean Water Act.

In 2001, Koch Industries agreed to pay a $20 million fine to avoid
trial on charges it violated federal air pollution laws and then tried
to cover it up.

"These are the kind of people that you'd expect an experienced
politician to run away from," said Harrison, who lost a 2006 race to
Fossella.

But Fossella called Koch Industries "an American success story."

"They employ tens of thousands of people, they believe in free
markets, and innovation and creativity," Fossella said. "I think that
sounds pretty good."

Not that Fossella totally discounted the environmental concerns.

"There is always a concern," he said. "There are times when these
things happen. But nobody fought harder than me, for example, to close
the Fresh Kills landfill, which was an environmental nightmare."

Fossella called Harrison's remarks "misleading."

"He used these tactics last time, running a negative campaign that was
rejected overwhelmingly by the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn,"
he said. "It seems to be the same drumbeat."

Harrison, a Brooklyn attorney, joined about 50 or 60 other protesters
-- including pro-environmentalists, anti-war activists and those
calling for President Bush to be impeached -- outside Koch's building.

He said the fund-raiser featuring Cheney, whose approval rating hovers
around 20 percent, "shows that Congressman Fossella continues to be
out of touch with what's happening out there."

Said Fossella, "To be effective, I have to work with all people to
serve the people of my community, including the vice president."

Harrison is running in a primary against Brooklyn City Councilman
Domenic Recchia.

Fossella's most recent filing with the FEC showed him with about
$76,000 less in cash on hand than Recchia.









	Fossella entertains Cheney at billionaire's fund-raiser Challenger Harrison joins protest outside Manhattan home of lawmaker's host By Tom Wrobleski Staten Island Advance While one of his Democratic challengers joined dozens of protesters on the sidewalk below, GOP Rep. Vito Fossella entertained Vice President Dick Cheney at a Fossella fund-raiser hosted by billionaire oil executive David Koch yesterday at Koch's Upper East Side home. Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), as he has done in the past, declined to say how much was raised at the event, saying only that it was a "success." "It accomplished the goal of helping us to raise the money we'll need to run a competitive race," Fossella said. The exact take won't be known until the Fossella campaign files financial disclosure forms with the Federal Election Commission. Democrat Stephen Harrison lambasted Fossella for joining with Koch, whose oil company has been fined millions of dollars for environmental violations. Pointing to the celebration of Earth Day today, Harrison said: "The timing of the fund-raiser drove this as much as anything. Koch Industries is one of the most prolific polluters of the environment that we're aware of." In 2000, Koch Industries agreed to pay $35 million in fines and penalties as part of a settlement over alleged contamination of lakes and streams in six states from Missouri to Texas. At the time, it was the largest civil penalty ever levied against a single company under the Clean Water Act. In 2001, Koch Industries agreed to pay a $20 million fine to avoid trial on charges it violated federal air pollution laws and then tried to cover it up. "These are the kind of people that you'd expect an experienced politician to run away from," said Harrison, who lost a 2006 race to Fossella. But Fossella called Koch Industries "an American success story." "They employ tens of thousands of people, they believe in free markets, and innovation and creativity," Fossella said. "I think that sounds pretty good." Not that Fossella totally discounted the environmental concerns. "There is always a concern," he said. "There are times when these things happen. But nobody fought harder than me, for example, to close the Fresh Kills landfill, which was an environmental nightmare." Fossella called Harrison's remarks "misleading." "He used these tactics last time, running a negative campaign that was rejected overwhelmingly by the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn," he said. "It seems to be the same drumbeat." Harrison, a Brooklyn attorney, joined about 50 or 60 other protesters -- including pro-environmentalists, anti-war activists and those calling for President Bush to be impeached -- outside Koch's building. He said the fund-raiser featuring Cheney, whose approval rating hovers around 20 percent, "shows that Congressman Fossella continues to be out of touch with what's happening out there." Said Fossella, "To be effective, I have to work with all people to serve the people of my community, including the vice president." Harrison is running in a primary against Brooklyn City Councilman Domenic Recchia. Fossella's most recent filing with the FEC showed him with about $76,000 less in cash on hand than Recchia. Home \| About \| News \| Issues \| Endorsements \| Contact \| Deeper Than a Soundbite Contribute \| Volunteer \| Campaign Blog \| Host an Event \| Attend an Event Paid for by Friends of Stephen Harrison. Powered by Campaign Engine.
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Fossella entertains Cheney at billionaire's fund-raiser