Opinion

I feel obliged to address some of the concerns raised in the opinion piece about the Climate Plan published on January 4th. In 2020 I was appointed to the NY Agriculture & Forestry Advisory panel. Our panel and six others (in energy, waste, transportation, etc.) were tasked with making recommendations to the state agencies required by law to create the state’s first economy- wide climate plan. While there are plenty of things that we can criticize in the plan, the fact that a transparent, participatory process was conducted to try to help millions of NYers prepare for and address climate change – which will harm all of us if left unchecked - should be commended.

WATKINS GLEN — State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C-Big Flats) recently joined Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella and other regional law enforcement leaders to call on Governor Kathy Hochul and the Democrat leaders of the State Legislature to approve legislation and crack down on the proliferation of businesses, commonly known as “sticker shops,” illegally dispensing and selling marijuana throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and statewide. O’Mara, Palmesano, and Friend currently sponsor legislation that, if enacted, would strengthen existing law, outlaw sticker stores, and establish criminal and civil penalties for violators.

At the start of the 2023 legislative session, I have been appointed to several key Senate committees that impact the direction of state fiscal policies as well as criminal justice and law enforcement, energy and broadband development, regulatory reform, and government investigations and oversight.

Governor Hochul delivered her State of the State message to the Legislature last week. Now we wait and see how she plans to pay for it. Those answers start to arrive later this month when she unveils her proposed 2023-2024 state budget.

Dear Representative Tenney: Congratulations on being elected to represent the newly formed Congressional District 24 in New York State. I hope your experience and skills will benefit our area and our residents, and I look forward to seeing how you become familiar with all of your constituents.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a video press conference last week, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced she had secured over $130 million in federal funding to help assist and revitalize N.Y.’s overburdened health care system. The spread of the COVID-19 XBB.1.5 sub-variant has fueled new challenges as public health workers continue building back from the pandemic and a difficult flu and RSV season. “New York is currently facing a significant health care worker shortage and strain on our public health infrastructure that is burdening workers and patients alike. The $130 million I fought for will play a fundamental role in easing this burden and building the capacity of our health care workforce across the state,” said Gillibrand. “This significant funding also invests in key medical priorities, like research for Lyme and tick-borne diseases and the addressing the rising rate of maternal deaths in the United States. These programs will help ensure all New York patients receive the care they deserve and will promote positive health outcomes for populations in medically underserved communities. New York’s health care system and our health care providers have been under historic levels of stress and these federal dollars will help get us back on track and build a more resilient future.” $42.3 million for maternal health - This funding will support maternal health care services and address the maternal mortality and postpartum depression (PPD) crises facing the nation.

We will hear more from Governor Kathy Hochul this week when she delivers her State of the State message to the Legislature. It’s traditionally a broad outline of a governor’s priorities and vision for the future. Let’s hope it offers some specifics. Most importantly, it begins setting the stage for what comes next: the adoption of a new state budget. On that last note, I was recently reappointed as the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, a post I have held since 2021. It’s been a front row seat to what has been nothing short of a breathtaking Albany Democrat spending spree.