The Peru Gazette

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From the office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C.  – Tonight, Congresswoman Stefanik spoke on the House Floor to condemn the violence that took place on the United States Capitol grounds today, and object to certain electors during the Joint Session of Congress to Count Electoral Ballots. The transcript of Congresswoman Stefanik’s speech is below, and you can watch it here. 

“Madam Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart. 

This has been a truly tragic day for America. And we all join together in fully condemning the dangerous violence and destruction that occurred today in our Nation’s Capitol. 

Americans will always have the freedom of speech and the Constitutional right to protest, but violence in any form is absolutely unacceptable, it is anti-American, and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

Thank you to the heroic United States Capitol Police. And thank you to the bipartisan professional staff of the United States Capitol for protecting the People’s House and the American people. 

This hallowed temple of democracy is where generations of Americans have peacefully come together to face our nation’s greatest challenges, bridge our deepest fissures, and create a more perfect system of government. This is the appropriate place we stand to respectfully and peacefully give voice to the people we represent across our diverse country. 

“The Representatives of the American people in this House are standing up for three fundamental American beliefs: the right to vote is sacred, that a representative has a duty to represent his or her constituents, and that the rule of law is a hallmark of our nation.”

And in the spirit of healing, those are not my words, those are the words of you, Madam Speaker. From this very same Chamber, when some of my colleagues and friends across the aisle objected to the 2005 electoral college certification. 

In fact, there were objections on this Floor to the certification of nearly every Republican President in my lifetime – in 1989, in 2001, in 2005, and in 2017.

So history is our guide that the People’s sacred House is the appropriate venue for a peaceful debate. And this peaceful debate serves as a powerful condemnation of the violence that perpetrated our Capitol Grounds today. The violence that was truly un-American.  

Today’s discussion is about the Constitution. And it is about the American people. But it must also be about clearly and resolutely condemning the violence that occurred today.

I am honored each and every day to represent New York’s 21st Congressional District, and I believe it is my solemn and sacred duty to serve as their voice and their vote in the People’s House. 

Tens of millions of Americans are concerned that the 2020 election featured unconstitutional overreach by unelected state officials and judges ignoring state election laws. We can and we should peacefully and respectfully discuss these concerns.

In Pennsylvania, the State Supreme Court and Secretary of State unilaterally and unconstitutionally rewrote election law eliminating signature matching requirements. 

In Georgia, there was unconstitutional overreach when the Secretary of State unilaterally and unconstitutionally gutted signature matching for absentee ballots and ,in essence, eliminated voter verification required by state election law.

 
In Wisconsin, officials issued illegal rules to circumvent a state law – passed by the legislature as the Constitution requires – that required absentee voters to provide photo identification before obtaining a ballot.  

And in Michigan, signed affidavits document numerous unconstitutional irregularities — officials physically blocking the legal right of poll watchers to observe vote counts, the illegal counting of late ballots, and hand stamping ballots with the previous day’s date.

My North Country constituents and the American people cherish the Constitution. And they know that according to the Constitution, elected officials closest to the people in state legislatures have the power of the pen to write election law, not unelected bureaucrats, judges, Governors, or Secretaries of State.

To the tens of thousands of constituents who have reached out to me, thank you. Please know that I’m listening and I hear you. Both those who agree and those who disagree. 

Our Constitutional Republic will endure this tragic day because the Founding Fathers understood Congress and the American people would face unprecedented and historic challenges by debating them on this very Floor. 

I believe that the most precious foundation and the covenant of our Republic is the right to vote, and the faith in the sanctity of our nation’s free and fair elections.

And we must work together in this House to reform our elections and rebuild that faith, so that our elections are free, fair, secure, and safe, and most importantly, that they are according to the United States Constitution.”

Source: Congress validates Biden’s presidential election victory; Trump says there will be ‘orderly transition’ (Timeline) – syracuse.com

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New York State plan provides guidance, structure to vaccination effort

PLATTSBURGH, NY (01/06/2021) – The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine to the North Country has generated excitement, anticipation and relief with many in the community eager to roll up their sleeves to be vaccinated. Vaccination of high risk groups, in accordance with the New York State Department of Health’s Vaccine Administration Plan, is underway while local health officials prepare for the next phase of distribution.

“The state’s plan takes a data driven approach to assuring those at the highest risk of transmitting or becoming infected with COVID-19 receive vaccine first. It’s a very prescriptive plan and of course supply dependent,” explained Wouter Rietsema, vice president of population health and information services at the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH). “It’s a huge undertaking and one that will require patience as we await supply and guidance for even broader distribution.”

CVPH received its first batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in mid-December with a directive from the state to vaccinate its highest risk health care workers and set aside a portion of vaccine for other facilities to do the same.

On December 22, Alice Hyde Medical Center COVID-19 received 600 doses of Moderna vaccine and in accordance with New York’s prioritization and allocation framework, began vaccinating its employees and employees of community organizations framework.

Hospitals are following guidelines developed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and specific directives from DOH for distributing the vaccine. Rietsema explained that maintaining health and safety at health care organizations requires a vaccination effort broader than just patient-facing employees. “For the purposes of this effort, all high risk hospital workers are included in the first phase,” he said.

“The state’s plan has designated tiers and subsets within those tiers. Currently, we are in Tier 1a. Across the country, there are 21 million health care workers, and 3 million long term care residents included in that tier. Vaccine supply is still limited so the state is opening up access to healthcare workers in Tier 1a in a phased approach. As different sectors are added they are afforded the opportunity to schedule vaccination at hospital-operated vaccination clinics. To date, those sectors have included hospitals, high risk residential treatment facilities and EMS. This week additional high risk outpatient healthcare providers have had the opportunity to schedule. As the supply increases, more subsets will be included in the active vaccination phase,” he explained.

Preparing for Public Distribution

Hospitals have initially assumed a pivotal role in the vaccination effort but with an increase in supply, the baton will be handed to local health departments. They will enact their plans to vaccinate essential workers and those designed as increased risk of severe COVID-19. “As the supply of vaccine becomes more plentiful, it will be pushed out to local health departments and pharmacies. Right now, there is no way of knowing when that will be,” Rietsema said. “The local health departments are experts at this – educating and vaccinating the public. They have a proven track record,” he added using influenza vaccination efforts as an example.

“The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) appreciates the community’s enthusiasm for wide-spread vaccination in the North Country,” stated John Kanoza, Director of Public Health in Clinton County. “Working with our partners at CVPH, CCHD is ready to begin our distribution plans for future tiers and phases as soon as more vaccine becomes available. Vaccine distribution of this size is complicated. We ask for your patience. As more vaccine becomes available, CCHD will continue to let you know who New York State has prioritized to receive it, and how they can get vaccinated. While you wait and even after you get vaccine, please continue to practice prevention methods,” Kanoza urged.

“Wear a mask that goes over your nose and mouth. Keep at least 6 feet between yourself and others. Avoid crowds and gatherings. Wash your hands often or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Stay home when you are sick. Reduce contact and the length of time you spend with those who do not live in your household,” the county health official offered.

“Even after receiving vaccine, people will have to continue wearing masks and social distancing until we have evidence that the vaccine not only protects us from disease but also from asymptomatic infection and spread,” noted Kanoza.

Launched earlier this week, a New York State app, “Am I Eligible,” can help determine eligibility for the vaccine and connect New Yorkers with administration centers. To access the app visit https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov.

As the state-designated Northern New York Hub for vaccination, CVPH will assume a supporting role in the regional effort. “We are partnering with the local experts in seven counties to support the equitable, efficient and safe vaccination of essential workers and prioritized members of the public in a manner that is meaningful to each community and is aligned with the state’s plan,” Rietsema said.

The Strand Center for the Arts is excited to host a Pop-Up Gallery Exhibition for the New Year in January and is looking for artists. This special exhibition will be held at The Strand Center Main Gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh. The exhibition will open on Saturday, January 23, 2021, from 10:00 am to 3:00 p.m.

All artists are eligible to enter on a first come-first served basis, with a maximum of twenty artists capable of hanging their work in the gallery for the duration of the day’s exhibit. Those artists desiring to have their work in the show may do so by contacting The Strand Gallery Director, David Monette, at david.monette@strandcenter.org by Thursday, January 21. If selected to exhibit, those artists would then be responsible for hanging their work before the show and removing it afterward. All media will be accepted, both 2d and 3d, and all pieces must be labeled on the front and back with the artist’s name, title, price, and media. Additionally, 2d artwork must be framed and wired for hanging.

Concerning the exhibit, Gallery Director David Monette stated, “Our pop-up series of exhibitions during this period of uncertainty has been very popular. We started them at the end of September and have run at least one a month since then. The attendance, both by the visiting public, craving to see live art in a safe environment, and by the artists, in turn craving to have their artwork viewed by others, has been amazing. We are quite sure that this event will be no different.”

The New Year Pop-Up Gallery Exhibition will be on view in The Strand Center Main Gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh only on Saturday, January 23, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, and is free and open to the public. Facemasks, social distancing, and a cap on the amount of people allowed in the gallery at any one time will be strictly upheld. For more information on these exhibits, upcoming events, concerts or classes happening at The Strand Center for the Arts, please call 518-563-1604 or visit www.strandcenter.org.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Final Deadline to be Eligible for Inclusion in the Show:

January 21, 2021

Show on View:

January 23, 2021

Hanging Time for Show: January 23, 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Removal Time for Show: January 23, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

From Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

“Today we are witnessing democracy at work. This isn’t as some of our colleagues have referred to, sadly, as frivolous, this debate is fundamental to our democracy. The Representatives of the American people in this House are standing up for three fundamental American beliefs: the right to vote is sacred, that a representative has a duty to represent his or her constituents, and that the rule of law is a hallmark of our nation.”

The words above are not mine. They are those of Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the Democrats’ objection to the 2005 electoral college certification of President George W. Bush.

In her speech, Speaker Pelosi went on to say: “Our very democracy depends on the confidence of the American people in the integrity of our electoral system. So, my colleagues, please don’t talk about this as a conspiracy theory, it’s not about that, it’s not about conspiracy. It’s about the Constitution of the United States.”

Sixteen years later – this discussion is still about the Constitution. It is still about the American people. And it is my belief that the House of Representatives should have this debate once again. It is my belief that the American people deserve it.

I am honored every day to represent New York’s 21st Congressional District, and I believe it is my solemn and sacred duty to serve as their voice and their vote in the House of Representatives.

Today, I will respectfully object to contested electors from the states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I do not take this action lightly. I am acting to protect our democratic process and the Constitution. Article II and the Twelfth Amendment of the Constitution make clear that I have an obligation to act on this matter if I believe there are serious questions with respect to the Presidential election.

I believe those questions exist. Tens of millions of Americans are rightly concerned that the 2020 election featured unprecedented voting irregularities, unconstitutional overreach by unelected state officials and judges ignoring state election laws, and a fundamental lack of ballot integrity and security.

In Pennsylvania, the Democratic State Supreme Court and Secretary of State unilaterally and unconstitutionally rewrote election law eliminating signature matching requirements. They arbitrarily allowed late arriving ballots to be counted even though doing so explicitly ignored and broke state election law. And duly credentialed election observers were not allowed to observe voting and the counting of the vote – another unconstitutional act.

In Georgia, there was unconstitutional overreach when the Secretary of State unilaterally gutted signature matching for absentee ballots and in essence eliminated voter verification required by state election law. In addition, more than 140,000 votes came from underage, deceased, and otherwise unauthorized voters — in Fulton County alone. And many individuals testified to not being able to meaningfully observe the counting of ballots.

In Wisconsin, partisan state officials issued rules to circumvent a state law – issued by the legislature as the Constitution requires – that required absentee voters to provide photo identification before obtaining a ballot. Wisconsin’s very own Supreme Court reprimanded the officials for issuing “legally incorrect” guidance. It is also a fact that Wisconsin state law specifies absentee ballots may only be returned by mail or delivered in person to the clerk’s office – but the City of Madison illegally held events at multiple locations to collect more than 17,000 ballots anyway.

In Michigan, many individuals signed affidavits documenting the unconstitutional irregularities they witnessed – officials physically blocking the legal right of poll watchers to observe vote counts, the counting of late ballots, hand stamping ballots with the previous day’s date, and more. The merits of these illegal, alarming, and reprehensible actions were never considered by a court.

These unconstitutional acts are why I object today.

I know my constituents in the North Country cherish the Constitution, and they know the Constitution grants the power of the pen to write election law to those closest to the people – the state legislatures. It is not the legal right of unelected bureaucrats, judges, Governors, or Secretaries of State.

To the tens of thousands of constituents who have reached out to me in the past few weeks – please know that I’m listening, and I hear you. I believe the most precious foundation and covenant of our Republic is the right to vote, and consequently, the faith in the sanctity of our nation’s free and fair elections.

Today, my vote is about restoring the faith of the American people in our elections – that they are free, fair, secure, and according to the United States Constitution. Our Constitutional Republic will endure this important debate today because the Founding Fathers knew Congress would face unprecedented challenges. We will endure because we did so after my Democrat House colleagues objected to nearly every single Republican President in my lifetime – in 1989, 2001, 2005, and 2017. The United States of America has endured through every election since it’s founding and the ratification of the Constitution in 1788 – and that is why America will forever be the shining city on a hill.

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