The governor delivered her annual State of the State address earlier this week and spoke about the issues of crime, affordability and the continued exodus of residents, but she gave little to no detail on how we will make substantive changes. While we...

“Today, Gov. Hochul delivered a State of the State address that wasn’t rooted in reality. Unfortunately, single-party rule is failing New York residents. Look no further than a recent Times Union report detailing another 180,000 people leaving our...

Christmas is right around the corner, and I hope that you and your families are taking advantage of all the great holiday events happening in the North Country and Mohawk Valley. With Christmas comes a new year, and with a new year comes a new legislative...

Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation (S.8726A/A10024-A) that will rename State Route 283 in Jefferson County after Col. (Ret.) Michael Plummer. The legislation was sponsored by state Sen. Patty Ritchie and Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush. Before...

Recently in the news, we have seen there is a kerosene shortage effecting both retailers and customers. This news comes on the heels of National Grid telling its customers to brace for substantial rate hikes on their energy bills this winter, up to 39%...

In past columns, I have warned of the dangers of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and its ambitious goals at making New York a zero-emissions state. Many deadlines within the plan are not too far in the future, so not only is...

I want to thank and show my support for members of the Jefferson County Legislature who passed a resolution protesting New York’s latest round of restrictive gun laws. Back in June, Gov. Hochul rushed lawmakers back to Albany to push her latest round...

The Farm Laborer Wage Board is set to make a final recommendation on the overtime threshold for farm workers on Sept. 6. I want to begin by thanking all the North Country and Mohawk Valley residents who have called into the wage board, the governor and...

When Gov. Hochul took office following the resignation of former Gov. Cuomo, she pledged to clean up the culture in Albany and commit her administration to transparency. As we approach a year under the Hochul administration, we see that these words have...

As we enter the ‘dog days’ of summer, I encourage everyone in the North Country and Mohawk Valley to support their local fairs. Every summer, these fairs pop up in our communities and provide countless services and activities for residents. For two...

“Yesterday, Gov. Hochul announced the launch of the ‘Prison Redevelopment Commission’ which is tasked with finding innovative ways to redevelop and repurpose closed facilities. The commission is consisted of a 15-member panel, with one big problem....

To begin, I want to send the Buffalo community my heartfelt condolences as they continue to recover from the insidious shooting that left 10 of their community members dead this past weekend. The individual responsible was fueled by hate and intolerance,...

I am happy to join my colleague, Assemblyman Chris Tague, in supporting his bill (A.9990) that would allow schools to once again purchase whole and 2% milk produced within the state. Unfortunately, since the Obama administration, students have not had...

Every year, the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) hosts their Recruit NY weekend at firehouses across the state to add volunteers to their ranks. This weekend, April 23 and 24, is your chance to visit your local firehouse and see...

“This morning we learned that the lieutenant governor of New York, Brian Benjamin, was arrested by federal authorities in a campaign fraud case. This is Gov. Kathy Hochul’s handpicked second in command who is now in federal custody. “On the heels...

Recently, a bill (A.9563) was referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee aimed at adding an excise tax on all sales of ammunition. It is possible that the bill never makes it through the committee process, but I want to make my opposition to the...

“There are three things certain in this life: death, taxes and Albany lawmakers going on an out-of-control spending spree on the taxpayer dime. In their One-House Budget proposal, Albany Majority lawmakers proposed $10 billion in new spending. This...

“The governor came out earlier today and announced a sweeping statewide mask mandate for all indoor spaces beginning on Monday, Dec. 13. This announcement came as a surprise as the governor did not consult with the Legislature and issued it at a press...

In a few short weeks we will return to Albany for the 2022 Legislative Session. Among my big issues are pushing back against vaccine mandates, advocating for our farmers against a decrease in the overtime threshold and making sure we re-energize our small...

The Farm Labor Wage Board will be meeting within the next few weeks to discuss the current 60-hour overtime threshold that is currently in place for farmers. I urge the board to keep the current threshold rather than reduce it. I join in this bipartisan...