Press Releases

Assembly Minority Conference Continues Calls For Drastic Overhaul Of Criminal Justice Laws

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski), law enforcement professionals, victims and members of the Assembly Minority Conference continue to call on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders to walk back misguided changes to bail reform...

Smullen: Pricing out Property Owners Will Not Fix NYS Medicaid or Budget Problems

“Gov. Cuomo is proposing that the state further shift its financial responsibility for Medicaid onto Counties. Although the Governor and Majority politicians in the Legislature are desperate to fill the $6 billion hole in the state budget, they should...

Massive Budget Deficit Will Dominate 2020 Session

As we enter the New Year and a new decade, the looming $6 billion budget shortfall is a harsh reminder that some things just never change in Albany. Uncontrolled state spending, unfunded mandates and an anti-business regulatory climate continue to plague...

Smullen Calls for Massive Reforms after Gov. Cuomo’s State of the State Address

Editor’s note: Click here https://youtu.be/uEB88vcP_oY of Assemblyman Smullen’s State of State ResponseEditor’s note: Click here https://youtu.be/2Hu-kPbXSfY of Assemblyman Smullen’s Bail Reform Response New York enters the new decade...

Smullen Named To Farm Bureau ‘Circle Of Friends’

Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) is honored to have been named to the NY Farm Bureau’s Circle of Friends. The Farm Bureau made the announcement based on Smullen’s voting record and other legislative support on agricultural issues in...

Smullen Congratulates Barclay on Leadership

I am pleased that Will Barclay has become the leader of the Minority Conference in the Assembly. Leader Barclay has long been a champion for reforming Albany, fighting for lower taxes and more accountability in our government. As we enter into the new...

Smullen Urges FEMA To Reverse Decision Denying Homeowners Assistance After Halloween Flooding

Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) is urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reverse its decision to deny federal disaster relief directly to homeowners after devastating flooding in his district. “This is a setback...

Smullen Announces $30 Million in New Grant Funding For 118th District

Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) is proud to announce that over $30 million has been awarded to organizations and localities within the 118th Assembly District. These funds will be received through Round 9 of the Regional Economic Development...

Smullen Announces Dec Smart Growth Grant Recipients in 118th Assembly District

Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) is announcing that over $300,000 has been awarded to localities in the 118th Assembly District from the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Smart Growth Grant program. “I want to congratulate...

Smullen Voices Strong Opposition to Publicly-Financed Campaigns

On Wednesday, September 18, the Public Campaign Financing Commission held a public hearing in Albany to discuss the possibility of implementing a controversial and potentially unconstitutional practice of public financing for campaigns in New York. Assemblyman...

Smullen Joins Commission on Rural Resources to Make Progress on Access to Rural Broadband

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Continuing his commitment to focus on important economic development issues, Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) today participated in a joint Senate and Assembly Hearing on the status of rural broadband service in New York state. Smullen issued...

A Statement from Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco)

“The decriminalization of marijuana in New York is just the latest example of the newly-minted legislature’s penchant for ignoring federal law in the name of criminal justice reform. By taking half-steps to legalizing marijuana, we put local...

Smullen Announces Construction Grants For Public Libraries

Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref –Meco) today announced that five libraries in Fulton, Herkimer, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties have been allocated $231,598 in state aid for library construction funds. The funds were allocated from a $34 million...

Farm Labor Bill Sponsors Don’t Understand the Impacts of Their Legislation

“This legislation is devastating to farmers across our state. New York City politicians who have no farms in their districts are pushing this bill without holding any hearings upstate or in any communities reliant on farms. Without any input from...

Local Officials Echo Concerns about Green Light Bill

Local county clerks from Fulton and Herkimer counties today joined Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) in raising serious concerns about the New York State Assembly’s approval of a bill that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain official...

Undocumented Immigrants Can Sidestep the Law, Obtain Legal U.S. Documents

On Wednesday, June 5, the Assembly Transportation Committee voted in favor of a bill that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain official driver’s licenses in New York. The bill, A.3675a, allows the DMV to issue standard driver’s licenses...

Smullen Joins Colleagues in Introducing ‘Ramona’s Law’

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Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) joined his colleagues on Tuesday, May 21, to introduce legislation that would extend the parole period from two to five years, known as “Ramona’s Law.” Ramona Bante-Fahy, for whom the legislation...

Smullen Joins Colleagues to Stand Up For Volunteer Firefighters

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Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) joined his colleagues on Monday, May 20, to announce a bill that ensures our volunteer firefighters are treated properly. The bill, A.7655, would provide a state income tax exemption for active volunteer firefighters...

Smullen Applauds Century Linen & Uniform Grant

Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) today praised the Public Authorities Control Board’s approval of a $1.2 million capital project for Century Linen & Uniform in Fulton County that is a critical component of the company’s plans to purchase...

Another Cloudy Economic Forecast for New York

Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R,C,Ref-Meco) today pointed to the American Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC) Rich States, Poor States report as further evidence of the need to control taxes and spending in New York. The report ranks New York's economic...