Here's one for the irony department: Don Hassig, a Green Party candidate for Congress against Rep. Bill Owens, wasn't able to make it to a news conference today because his van was out of commission.

The problem? The 2001 Chevy failed a state emissions inspection.

"According to my mechanic, it will need about one hundred dollars in parts and labor to get it right," Mr. Hassig said in an email. "I am happy to operate a vehicle that meets NYS requirements for emissions. Its an improvement upon the old days when vehicle emissions were not given much consideration."

Mr. Hassig's organization, Cancer Action Network, agitates for what he describes as Kick[butt] Revolution.

He started his description of an arrest in St. Lawrence County thusly: "I began to dance for environmental revolution in the main hallway of the courthouse."

The election is Nov. 6. The news conference, which was held via telephone conference call, discussed hydrofracking and access to healthy food.

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