Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C – Batavia) recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Virginia), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (Michigan) and other members of Congress to discuss a variety of priority issues including veterans’ issues, small businesses, Medicaid, repealing the unemployment-insurance interest assessment surcharge on business owners and the recent flooding that occurred throughout New York State as a result of hurricanes Irene and Lee.

“This was a great opportunity to meet with Speaker Boehner, the congressional leadership and our congressional delegation from New York, to foster a good working relationship on how to help our constituents together,” said Hawley. “We certainly covered a lot of ground and came up with some good feedback on the major issues facing our state.”

Assemblyman Hawley also had meetings with United States Representatives Tom Reed, Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (Illinois), Pete Sessions (Texas), Dr. Tom Price (Georgia), Rules Committee Chair David Dreier (California) and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (California).

“Everyone is focused on job creation and how to get this economy working again,” said Hawley. “I used part of my trip to Washington to stress the need for economic certainty for job creators, which includes lowering taxes and limiting the regulations placed on our businesses here in New York.”

Assemblyman Hawley also was in attendance for President Barack Obama’s job creation address to a joint session of Congress. “Several of the President’s ideas for lessening government regulation and lowering taxes were heartening news,” said Hawley.

“In addition, the back-to-back flooding from hurricanes Irene and Lee was especially devastating to New York,” said Hawley. “We must work to make sure that everyone who suffered damage from these two disasters is taken care of, because many did not get the chance to recover from the first.”

Assemblyman Hawley also was recently named Deputy Whip of the New York State Assembly Minority Conference, moving on from his post as Chairman of the Steering Committee.