Bricks, Threats, as Politicians Consider Health Reform

By Rachel Ward

Rochester, NY – Congresswoman Louise Slaughter says the brick that was thrown through a window at her Niagara Falls office is not the only act of harassment that she's seen in recent days. As chair of the House Rules Committee, the Democrat has had a high profile during the health care reform debate.

Slaughter says she recently received a message on her campaign phone line that mentioned violence.

"There also was a strange call that we got about snipers at the ready to assassinate - [that] was the term used - children of members [of Congress]. It's nasty."

Slaughter says the matter has been turned over to the U.S. Capitol Police for investigation. The vandalism at her Niagara Falls office is being handled by local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

The Monroe County Democratic Committee office also had a window smashed by a brick over the weekend. A spokesman for the Democrats says the brick had a note attached to it, with the quote "extremism in defense of liberty is no vice."