Congressman Donovan shouldn't need 'thanks' to do right thing (commentary)

COMMENTARY BY MICHAEL DE VITO, JR.

Editor's note: Michael De Vito Jr., a Democrat, has filed Federal Election Commission paperwork to run against Rep. Daniel Donovan in 2018. This commentary is a response to an op-ed written by Donovan and published on SILive.com and in the Staten Island Advance:

In your July 13 op-ed, you display concern over allegations of Russian interference in our election. Your sincerity shows breaches when you call the issue "political distraction" and use the derisory phrase, "obsessed with Russia."

What is true is that on May 9, at our meeting in your office, you expressed your utmost confidence in the President because of your long friendship (your words). You have not yet expressed full faith in our Intelligence Community. What is true is that transparency, justice, truth and trust are fundamental American values and ideals that every patriot cares for, no matter where the evidence points, or to whom.

What is untrue is that you had something to do with moving the seawall initiative forward. That funding was reserved under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013. You wrote a letter in support of it in September of 2016. That's not getting the job done. I know, because I was in the room at the Vanderbilt when the Governor presented the project. You were neither there nor thanked, because your involvement was not as you reported it to be.

What is also untrue, Congressman, is that you were not thanked for your "No" vote on the ACA Repeal, and that you would tell Rachel Roubein of The Hill otherwise is as unfunny as it is embarrassing to our district. Over 100 "thank yous" given you publicly and privately are currently being re-posted to social media feeds.

We suffer as a district, paying for desperately needed projects with local funds, with higher tolls and fares, because federal resources aren't being brought home.

We need a champion -- someone willing to work tirelessly, even through recess.

We deserve forward progress on the problems stifling our growth, preventing our stability, and challenging our pursuit of happiness.

We need someone who doesn't need thanks for doing the right thing.

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