Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, I, C – Batavia) joined New York Farm Bureau President and Batavia dairy farmer Dean Norton, bipartisan state legislators, farmers and agriculturalists from across the state at a press conference today opposing Assembly Bill 1867, the Farmworkers Omnibus Labor Standards Bill.

As a former hog and crop farmer and Genesee County Farm Bureau President and as a current member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, Hawley joined the group in calling on the three legislative leaders to halt action on the bill, stating, “Albany has a real opportunity to help businesses, yet, here we go again. Albany seems to do all it can to discourage business: whether it be raising property taxes, imposing expensive and unnecessary mandates, or raising the cost of business. As a third-generation family farmer, I have seen first-hand that our children are leaving the state. This impact is felt greatest on our farms. This legislation adds to that burden for farmers and agri-business owners. Albany needs to learn how to say to businesses ‘we want you here’ and pass meaningful legislation to attract and retain businesses for our future.”

Pictured above, Assemblyman Hawley discusses the legislation with Mr. Norton, Oscar Vizcarra of Becker Farms and Vizcarra Vineyards, and Assemblyman Pete Lopez.