The Heroes Among Us
Nov 8, 2013
This Veterans Day, I challenge each of us to show our gratitude every day for the brave men and women who have served our country in the armed services. Let’s remember our hero veterans who live among us quietly going about their daily lives. They sacrificed...
Cure-All For New York’s Economic Ailments
Oct 25, 2013
What if I told you that there is something that could truly revive the upstate economy, grow jobs and support hardworking families? You’d probably give me an incredulous look and wonder what kind of snake oil I’m selling.
The truth is that it really...
Mohawk Valley Flood Victims Left In The Dark
Aug 23, 2013
Recently, I wrote to the governor about serious concerns Mohawk Valley flood victims are facing. I wanted to share with you what I wrote:
Dear Gov. Cuomo:
It is utterly heartbreaking to see what my constituents in the Oneida County flood zone have...
Budget Must Meet Upstate’s Needs
Mar 15, 2013
With little over a week remaining for budget negotiations, I am concerned that this year’s enacted state budget will lack the provisions necessary to help revitalize our economy and grow jobs. All across the state, families and communities are struggling...
Gov’s Budget A Mixed Bag Missing Keys To Upstate Renewal
Mar 1, 2013
Now that we’ve had some time to review the governor’s 2013-14 Executive Budget Proposal, I can’t help but feel a lack of overwhelming excitement over its contents. Sure, there are a number of things that I can get behind like controlled spending...
Governor, You’re Sending Mixed Messages To Sportsmen
Feb 22, 2013
It has been an interesting year for our sportsmen. Earlier this year, the governor forced through a poorly-written and ill-conceived gun control law that arbitrarily bans modern rifles, limits law enforcement’s ability to protect us and will significantly...
Nanny State New York Has Bigger Things To Worry About: Economic Recovery, Regulation And Unfunded Mandate Relief
Feb 15, 2013
What do youth football, bicycles, packaging materials and beverages have in common? Little, except this: downstate legislators have tried to either overregulate or ban what we do, consume or use in our personal lives. Most recently, we’ve seen them...
New York Must Invest In Upstate’s Most Effective Economic Recovery Tool - Agriculture
Feb 8, 2013
New York has had a tough time over the last few years. We’ve been hit the hardest by the economic recession and its effects have been felt longer in our state than any other in the nation. It’s been difficult for everyone, especially here in upstate...
Cuomo’s Pension Smoothing Plan A Poor Substitute For Real Mandate Relief
Feb 1, 2013
Gov. Cuomo has touted his 2013-14 Executive Budget as sensitive to the needs of Upstate New York; but as I have been reviewing his budget, I’ve found a glaring hole in his plan – meaningful unfunded mandate relief. Unfunded mandates are one of the...
Why The Rushed NY SAFE Act Will Fail To Keep New Yorkers Safe
Jan 25, 2013
During my tenure in the Assembly, we have worked to end the dysfunction that has plagued Albany for decades. We accomplished some great things like the lowest income tax rate for middle-income families in nearly 60 years, among other things. Cooperation...
Where Was The Team Effort At The Beginning Of The 2013 Legislative Session?
Jan 18, 2013
After a hurried start to the 2013 Legislative Session, one thing has become quite clear to me. This year will not be like 2011 or 2012. Those years were marked by consistent cooperation between the Legislature and the governor, who worked together as...