Mike Arcuri

Michael Arcuri
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 24th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 4, 2007
Preceded by	Sherwood Boehlert
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Sabrina Deon-Arcuri
Residence	Utica, New York
Alma mater	SUNY at Albany, New York University
Occupation	attorney

Michael Angelo "Mike" Arcuri (born June 11 1959) is an American District Attorney and politician. Currently he is congressman for New York's 24th congressional district.

Background

Michael Arcuri graduated from Thomas R. Proctor High School, in Utica, New York.

In 1981, Arcuri graduated from the State University of New York at Albany where he majored in history and minored in economics. During his years at Albany, Mike worked for New York Public Interest Research Group, and played rugby and varsity football.

In 1984, Arcuri graduated from New York Law School in New York City and was admitted to practice law in New York state in 1985, and returned to Utica to open a law office in 1986. In addition to private practice he served as attorney for the New Hartford Central School District’s Board of Education.

Career as a District Attorney

In 1993, Arcuri was elected District Attorney of Oneida County, only the third Democrat ever elected to that position and the first in over 40 years.

In 1997, he received the Mohawk Valley Person of the Year Award from the YWCA for his work in the area of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Congressional candidacy

In November 2006, Arcuri defeated State Senator Ray Meier for the 24th District congressional seat left open by the retiring Sherwood Boehlert, becoming only the second Democrat to represent the area in 106 years. Arcuri won by an unexpectedly large margin, 54 percent of the vote to Meier's 45 percent.

Issues and positions

Arcuri is a Democrat and member of the Blue Dog Coalition.

Offshore drilling

Arcuri voted NO on Roll Call vote #831. This motion to recommit H.R. 3221 would have sent the underlying bill back to committee with instructions to add provisions opening the outer continental shelf to exploration for natural gas.

Arcuri voted YES on Roll Call vote #835. This vote on passage of H.R. 2776 was a vote to raise taxes on domestic oil and gas production, including denying large oil and gas companies the Section 199 domestic production activities deduction. This would raise the corporate income tax on oil companies from 31.85 percent to 35 percent.

Arcuri voted YES on Roll Call vote #1140. This vote on agreeing to the Senate amendment to H.R. 6 was the final House vote to approve an energy bill that would expand mandates for biofuels while raising taxes on domestic energy companies through a longer amortization period for geological and geophysical expenditures.

Arcuri voted YES on Roll Call vote #84. This vote on passage of H.R. 5351 would have increased taxes on oil and gas companies by $18 billion, including the repeal of the Section 199 deduction for oil and gas companies.

Arcuri voted YES on Roll Call vote #334. This vote on passage of H.R. 6049 would have extended subsidies for alternative energies by raising taxes.

Arcuri voted YES on Roll Call vote #448. This vote to suspend the rules and enact H.R. 6346 would have imposed rules prohibiting “price gouging” in emergencies and empowered the Department of Justice to enforce these rules.

Arcuri voted YES on Roll Call vote #455. This vote on passage of H.R. 6275 would have paired temporary relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax with tax raises, including a corporate income tax raise on oil and gas companies via repeal on the Section 199 deduction.

Arcuri voted YES on Roll Call vote #469. This vote to suspend the rules and enact H.R. 6251 would have made oil and gas companies ineligible to bid on new leases if they hold any leases not already developed.

Arcuri did NOT co-sponsor any of the following bills in support of ANWR drilling: H.R. 3089, H.R. 6107, and H.R. 6384.

Acruri did NOT co-sponsor any of the following bills in support of Outer Continental Shelf production of oil and/or gas: H.R. 2784, H.R. 3089, H.R. 6001, H.R. 6009, H.R. 6108, H.R. 6384, and H.R. 6418.

For these votes, Arcuri received a 0% on the Americans for Prosperity’s “Freedom from Foreign Oil Scorecard,” a rating calculated based on roll call votes and cosponsorship of energy-related legislation.

Controversy

- In 2002, Arcuri personally prosecuted Joseph A. Smith of Oneida for the murder of Desiree Case of Yorkville. Her body was discovered in an abandoned house on February 26, 2000. Smith was arrested on November 29, 2001 after he was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in a sealed indictment. Despite one mistrial, Arcuri chose to press on with the weak case, and a jury found Smith guilty of both counts of murder in March of 2002. In late June of 2002 a judge set aside the conviction, on a technicality, when it was discovered the defense was not provided all of the evidence in the case. Smith was released from jail on August 1, 2002. He later filed a claim for misconduct and negligence against the Oneida County District Attorney's Office and the City of Utica, N.Y., Police Department, which was settled out of court. However, Case's actual killer, Earl Wright, was located within the New Yorks State Prison System and would eventually plead guilty to manslaughter while an accomplice, Michael L. Nero, would plead guilty to assault.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
• Committee on Rules
  • Rules& Organization of the House Subcommittee

Family and personal life

Arcuri has two children from his first marriage, Carmen Joseph and Dominique. He married his current wife, the former Sabrina Deon, in August 2007. His father was Carmen Arcuri (deceased). His mother, Elizabeth, retired as a stenographer with the State of New York.

References

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

• U.S. Congressman Michael Arcuri, official U.S. House site
• Elect Michael A. Arcuri, official campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
• DCCC — Hon. Mike Arcuri profile

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