This legislative session had many ups and downs, creating a situation where important bills were pushed through at the very end. Throughout the last few weeks, many local and school officials were left sitting on the edges of their seats wondering if their “home rule” legislation would make it through the Assembly and Senate.

Home rule legislation is a process where certain local measures passed by municipalities and school districts must be approved by the state Legislature. This is required by the state constitution, but I think it is outdated and causes more headaches than are necessary.

As the delays occurred during the last few weeks of session, my legislative colleagues and I tried to speed up passage of these home rule bills. We all grew equally as frustrated as our local communities, which were waiting for action, knowing how important these bills are to the function of their local governments and schools.

I cut my teeth in local government as the Jefferson County Chairman of the County Board of Legislators. I know it’s your local officials who have a real grasp of what is going on in your communities – far more so than bureaucrats or downstate officials. The centralization of power over municipalities and schools at the State Capitol has not only been hindering our communities, it has been hurting them.

The burdens are great on our communities – overregulation by state agencies, the hundreds of unfunded mandates that dictate the majority of local municipal and school budgets, and the hundreds of inane laws imposed by the Legislature that infringe on home rule. At what point will it stop?

I sponsor multiple bills that would remove unfunded mandates, and I am careful to not vote on legislation that will impact our communities negatively. I am currently seeking ways to streamline the home rule process. I encourage all my local officials to contact me with their ideas on how to limit Albany’s control and influence on our municipalities and schools. I can be contacted by email at blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by phone at 493-3909.