Elmira, N.Y., May 7—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia), Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Joe Giglio (R,C-Olean), and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today sent...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is urging the state Department of Health (DOH) to align their COVID-19 guidance for group homes and day habilitation programs with that of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Currently, state policies...

“Finally, the Legislature is acting to curtail the governor’s excessive executive orders as I have been arguing for over the past year. Today we’re ending restrictions on healthcare facilities and providers in helping to administer the COVID-19...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is disappointed by the Assembly Majority who just rejected a bill which would give veterans 85 years and older a modest $71 personal income tax exemption to help make living in New York more affordable...

Members of the Assembly Minority Conference today wrote to Speaker Carl Heastie and colleagues in the Majority Conference seeking the official notification from Gov. Cuomo and certification from Dr. Howard Zucker, Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner,...

“The budget agreement being passed now has the largest spending this state has ever seen – $212 billion with $5 billion in new taxes despite the significant federal aid New York just received. This budget is irresponsible and doesn’t prioritize...

Elmira — State lawmakers from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions today renewed their call for Governor Andrew Cuomo to give the go-ahead to allow all schools to return to full-time, in-person classroom instruction. The move has also...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling on the governor to send a message of necessity to allow the Legislature to approve the appropriation bill which would release $1.3 billion in federal aid passed by Congress in December 2020....

State lawmakers from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions are getting behind area school superintendents and joining the call for the Cuomo administration to give the go-ahead to allow all schools to return to full-time, in-person classroom...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is disappointed by the governor’s announcement that he plans to keep in place the 11 p.m. curfew for restaurants and bars, along with the food requirement with alcoholic drink purchases. These mandates...

“Assembly Majority can’t seem to help themselves. We just received nearly $24 billion from the federal government in aid and $5.7 billion in increased tax receipts, yet, still, Assembly Majority members want to impose another $14.6 billion in taxes...

“Assembly Majority need to come clean – the bill they claim strips the governor of his emergency powers actually extends it for as long as he sees fit. They have been lying to the press, New Yorkers and themselves, taking a victory lap on what is...

“The Cuomo administration has gone through great efforts to mislead the public about the magnitude of deaths at nursing homes during the pandemic. It is shocking, but hardly a surprise, that the governor’s top aides interfered with and rewrote the...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling out Assembly Majority for misleading the public on their supposed deal to “strip” the governor of his extraordinary powers when in fact it essentially extends them. Majority announced...

“Assembly Majority leaders should be ashamed of the great lengths they are taking to protect the governor and the extraordinary emergency powers which he squandered by lying to the public about there being more than 15,000 nursing home deaths. My Minority...

“The Assembly Majority leadership needs to do their job. We are meant to lead in times of great difficulty, not run from it. My Minority colleagues and I have been trying to hold the governor accountable for his actions. Last week, they would not debate...

“The allegations outlined by the governor’s former aide, Lindsey Boyland, are highly detailed and must be thoroughly investigated. While there is always a presumption of innocence, it is in the best interest of the state that Gov. Cuomo resigns immediately....