McMahon Backed By Health-Care Union In Race for Congress
By ARI PAUL
City Councilman Michael McMahon has received the endorsement of the nation's largest local union in his bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Staten Island and a slice of western Brooklyn.

MICHAEL McMAHON: Labor support grows.

Service Employees International Union Local 1199, which represents health-care workers on the east coast, gave the nod to the Staten Island Democrat, who is looking to fill the vacancy U.S. Rep. Vito Fossella will create at the end of his term. His Republican opponent, should he win a party primary against Steven Harrison, will be former Assemblyman Robert Straniere or Dr. Jamstad Wyne.

'Good Health-Care Record'

"The lack of access to quality, affordable health-care is among the most pressing problems our country, and Staten Island and Brooklyn in particular, face today," said Local 1199 President George Gresham in a statement. "The health-care workers of 1199 are proud to endorse Michael McMahon for Congress. His record of protecting access to health-care and expanding funding for hospitals demonstrate his commitment to making progressive health-care reform a reality."

Councilman McMahon has already picked up the endorsements of the State AFL-CIO and the United Federation of Teachers. Mr. McMahon, a Democrat, has chaired the Council's Sanitation and Solid Waste Committee. In February, he pleased city uniformed union leaders when he introduced legislation that would require the city to pay the health-care costs for 9/11 responders suffering from work-related illnesses and injuries who are awaiting their disability payments.

"Health care isn't simply an abstract concept to be debated by politicians," he said in a statement. "It's something that gets delivered every day by real working men and women who have the right to be treated with respect in the workplace, and given a reasonable wage and benefits."

Councilman McMahon also picked up the endorsement Aug. 6 of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who said, "He may be a true son of Staten Island but he has Brooklyn in his blood, and I am confident he will serve both boroughs with distinction as a member of Congress."