(Smithtown, NY – June5, 2010)– New York State Assemblyman Michael J. Fitzpatrick (R, C, I – St. James) is withdrawing as a 2010 candidate for the US House of Representatives in the First Congressional District. To pursue state and national support for an important legislative issue on behalf of taxpayers -- pension reform – he will seek re-election to the New York State Assembly.

Starting Tuesday, June 8, hundreds of Fitzpatrick supporters will begin circulating party designating petitions for his re-election to the New York State Assembly to ensure November ballot lines for the Republican, Conservative, and Independence parties.

Assemblyman Fitzpatrick issued the following statement in regard to his electoral choice:

“Since I first ran for the Smithtown Town Council in 1987, the friendship of my fellow Republicans and Conservatives and the support of the hard-working taxpayers of our communities has meant a great deal to me.

“For fifteen years, I worked on behalf of my neighbors all across Smithtown. Since election to the State Legislature, I continued to represent not only the entire township, as it comprises the bulk of the Seventh Assembly District, but taxpayers in the towns of Brookhaven and Islip, as well.

“The dynamics of this year brought forth a great opportunity to take the fight for fiscal sanity from the state to the national level with a run for the US House of Representatives. I remain grateful for the continued support shown as we explored the Congressional run to unseat a liberal Democrat, whose voting record is not in line with the concerns of, or economic realities, facing Long Island taxpayers.

“Before any of the Parties circulate petitions, however, I am announcing that I am withdrawing from the Congressional race to seek re-election to the Assembly so that I may pursue state and national support for an important legislative issue on behalf of our overburdened taxpayers -- pension reform.

“I’m proud to have introduced legislation that’s been called a real game-changer – a bill to cap the Defined Benefit Pension plan for elected officials and patronage and political appointees, that is, the ‘political class.' The bill would create a Defined Contribution plan, going forward, for lawmakers and denizens of government that would create a strong incentive to enact policies for a healthy and growing economy.

“The issue has gained attention in major news publications and attracted the interest of a wide range of powerful political personalities from ‘The Architect’ Karl Rove to Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch to Long Island economist Raymond Keating.

“Much of Albany’s dysfunction stems from a patronage system that feasts on a loophole in the system which allows “the political class” – elected officials and patronage (and political) appointees -- to move to high-paying jobs for the last three years of their careers to boost their guaranteed-for-life personal pensions. This is referred to as “pension spiking.”

“My measure would eliminate this practice and establish a link between legislators’ pensions and the free market economy. It would create an enormous incentive for legislators to focus their efforts on stimulating economic growth, reducing job-killing regulations and laws, and creating a competitive, pro-business economic environment in the state. The fortunes of taxpayers and politicians would be inexorably linked, fostering a sense that, for the first time, legislators will act on behalf of everyday citizens and not special interests.

“I’m also preparing to introduce additional pension reform legislation to protect taxpayers in the wake of ongoing disclosures regarding MTA payroll and pension abuse.

“This fight will consume my energies for the foreseeable future. Another opportunity to seek other office may arise in the future. In the meantime, however, I promise to continue to fight for my neighbors and fellow taxpayers on the fiscal issues which plague our New York State, as they plague our nation.

“I am honored to have so many supporters circulating designating petitions for the Seventh Assembly District to ensure three ballot lines in November: Republican, Conservative, and Independence.

“As to the important effort to unseat the incumbent, I urged the remaining Congressional candidates to join me in support of the basic principles of limited government, individual liberty, and economic freedom. That is the way to the victory in November we all deserve.”

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