Anti-Woman Congressional Candidate Donated To Dorey Houle's First State Senate Run
Monroe Councilwoman Dorey Houle's stance on reproductive health, as well as other public health matters such as vaccine mandates, should be examined closely.
The above video was filmed and uploaded on August 1st, 2022, by then congressional candidate Colin Schmitt. Pictured right behind him is current candidate for the State Senate, and Acting Town Supervisor of Monroe, Councilwoman Dorey Houle. The association between the two, as well as potentially shared anti-woman views, should be cause for concern among members of all political parties.
About Schmitt
Colin Schmitt was previously the Assemblyman for New York’s 99th District from 2019 to 2023. He got virtually nothing done during his time in office.
Don’t take my word for it.
You can see the bills authored by Schmitt for yourself. Only six of the bills were approved, and those that were really didn’t do much of anything.
He did; however, introduce a bill that would bar the governor from issuing any further mask mandates. Thankfully, that bill failed.
There’s one other thing you should know about former Assemblyman Colin Schmitt.
Schmitt appeared on SiriusXM Patriot’s Breitbart News Sunday in 2019 to peddle election conspiracy theories. Saying about a bill in New York that would have allowed undocumented people to vote:
“I really do believe that this will come back up again … this is a fundamental right as an American citizen to vote,” Schmitt said. “And this bill and, really, this entire philosophy that this bill would have enshrined into law, endangers and attacks the integrity of our elections … regardless of what party you’re in.”
“At the end of the day, as American citizens, we have the right — and as New York citizens — we have the right to elect the leaders that we would like to elect,” Schmitt said.
Which are interesting comments because on the morning of January 6th, 2021, Colin Schmitt boarded a bus in the Monroe Park & Ride at 4:30am that was heading down to the Stop the Steal protest in Washington, D.C. that morning. The bus held members of the Orange County Right to Life religious group.
Schmitt said in an interview that he did not discuss the election that morning even though he could hardly be unaware of their little role in former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Instead, Schimitt talked about another conspiracy spreading at that time. He declined to directly say whether he believed Joe Biden was the legitimately elected president at the time when he wished his constituents a good trip down to Washington, D.C. Three months later, he says his appearance that morning was no big deal. “I have one of the more bipartisan voting records in the state legislature,” he said. “I'm willing to work with anybody.” (Source)
Now, I have to tell you here that the Orange County Right to Life group has since claimed that nobody from their buses participated in the insurrection. Schmitt has since claimed that his “speech” was about matters unrelated to the 2020 election, which is kind of weird given that this was a bus full of people going to Washington D.C. explicitly to hear from the President of the United States about how the election was stolen from him.
Orange County Right to Life President Clay Boone commented on the nature of Schmitt’s speech, telling Mid-Hudson News, that Schmitt was on the bus to talk about an alleged bill that would have allowed the governor to “the authority to detain people against their will during public health emergencies.”
Later that month, some residents of the Hudson Valley would be arrested and charged by the FBI for participating in the insurrection.
Pat Ryan would, barely, go on to defeat Schmitt for the 18th Congressional District seat. It’s a miracle that Colin Schmitt didn’t request to impound the voting machines, given that he’s tried that tactic before.
Oh, and also speaking out in support of Mr. Schmitt’s participation that morning on the bus? Monroe Town Supervisor Tony Cardone
In one of the more than half dozen emails of support [for Colin Schmitt], Monroe Town Supervisor Tony Cardone responded:
“Assemblyman Colin Schmitt is a friend and a leader of integrity. The Orange County Democratic Party should be ashamed of themselves for their statements. These claims are entirely false and must be rejected. Attacks on local private Orange County citizens by the Democratic Party set a new standard of lowest of the low. Thank you, Colin Schmitt, for your continued leadership.” (Source)
Schmitt’s Record On Women & Public Health Issues Is Awful
-In July 2022, Schmitt voted against S51002, which was “an anti-discrimination law that would enshrine the constitutional right to abortion.
-In July 2020, Schmitt voted against holding A06559 for consideration. The bill “Prohibits any life insurance company, providing a policy with coverage up to $500,000, from denying or canceling the policy for an individual who has a pre-existing medical condition; excludes a terminal diagnosis and participation in high risk activities.”
--In April 2019, Schmitt voted against S01507C, which “Enacts into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the state health and mental hygiene budget for the 2019-2020 state fiscal year; extends and enhances the Medicaid drug cap and reduces unnecessary pharmacy benefit manager costs to the Medicaid program (Part B […] relates to guaranteed availability of health insurance and coverage for pre-existing conditions (Subpart A).” Under the provision in the bill, “An insurer may not impose any pre-existing condition exclusion in an individual or group policy of hospital, medical, surgical or prescription drug expense insurance.”
-In January 2019, Schmitt voted against the final passage of S240, which “Enacts the reproductive health act; revises provisions of law relating to abortion.”
Given that the far right is looking to crack down on abortion and IVF, it’s clear they’re going to go after birth control next.
How will Dorey Houle vote if she’s your next New York State senator?
Dorey Houle Took Money From Schmitt For Congress
During her first run for the New York State Senate, Monroe Councilwoman Dorey Houle accepted $1,000 from Schmitt for Congress on July 18th, 2022.
While not the largest donation received, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on given Schmitt’s far-right political views concerning abortion and reproductive health.
By comparison, Monroe Town Supervisor Tony Cardone, his family, and the Cardone for Supervisor political action committee have (so far) combined to give Dorey $945.
Supervisor Cardone most recently contributed $50 to Friends of Dorey Houle on August 21st, 2023. What makes this donation interesting is that it came after Councilwoman Dorey Houle was appointed by Supervisor Cardone to be the liaison of the Monroe Town Board to the State Senate, which is a position that allegedly did not exist prior to Dorey Houle running, and losing, during her first run for State Senate. I have since FOILED previous liaison assignments.
Sure, it’s only $50, but call me crazy here: A Town Supervisor created a position for a once and future state senate candidate — while that candidate was a member of the Monroe Town Board — whose campaign he and his family have donated nearly $1,000 to since October 12th, 2022.
We’ll circle back to Cardone’s donations in the future. I need to go update my ethics complaint against him to include this information first.
Why Does This Matter?
Now that Monroe Councilwoman Dorey Houle is running for State Senate again, her views concerning reproductive health and other public health items — such as vaccines — are of vital public importance.
Unfortunately, Monroe Supervisor Cardone has thus far shielded Councilwoman Houle from answering these questions during the public comment period at Town Board meetings. (This means that, if Councilwoman Houle doesn’t reply to you via email or phone call, then there are no other means to get a straight answer from her concerning her positions which directly impact the health and safety of town residents.)
If Councilwoman Houle shares views like she shares money with former Assemblyman Schmitt, than every woman within the State Senate District 42 should make sure Dorey doesn’t win in November.