We deserve better. We should be in Albany, as I write this column today, trying to hammer out a budget, but the reality is this past week at the State Capitol was an abomination. Because of the lack of respect our leaders have for the law—passing...

Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. An estimated 700,000 to 750,000 new or recurrent strokes occur each year in the United States. According to the New York State Department of Health,...

As many of you are aware, the Governor has proposed cutting $1.3 billion to education in the 2010-11 budget as the state struggles to close what’s approaching a $10 billion budget gap. After the news of the proposal hit in January, Upstate districts...

The budget gap is large. Somehow, the state has to close what’s approaching a $10 billion budget gap. Unfortunately, the budget proposals out there contain new job-killing taxes and fees to try and close that gap. Indeed, $1.2 billion in new taxes....

The recent passage of Obamacare will provide 32 million uninsured individuals with health insurance coverage but it is also expected to cost $938 billion over the next 10 years. Despite the widespread opposition, controversy surrounding this bill, and...

In 2008, New York State began to compile statewide statistics involving “intimate partner violence.” New York State Domestic Violence Dashboard Project cultivates reports from 550 police departments, 99 domestic violence hotlines, more than 200 hospital...

Statewide sales of existing single-family homes in New York State rebounded to finish only 3.2-percent behind the 2008 total. According to single-family sales data compiled by the New York State Association of REALTORS, 77,176 homes were sold statewide...

This year proved to have its many challenges and disappointments. Perhaps the year’s greatest disappointment, however, was the budget that passed in the spring of 2009. It contained $8.2 billion in taxes and fee increases and increased government...

June 22 marked the end of this year’s legislative session. Though there were disappointments, such as the three-men-in-a-room budget negotiations when we were promised more transparency, there was also legislation passed that will assist businesses,...

Many agencies and organizations across the world observed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. It’s a day in which community activists raise awareness about abuse of the elderly and try to teach community residents what they can do to help someone...

When constituents take the time to write or call, I’m always appreciative. Your calls help me to be a better lawmaker and, often, when people call on any given topic, your calls collectively influence the outcome of important decisions. One recent...

As we approach the end of session, I wanted to share with you a few priorities my colleagues and I have set forth and presented to the Governor. We hope to pass legislation before June 22 that protects and creates jobs; preserves Empire Zone benefits...

As we pause on Memorial Day to honor those who gave their lives to their country, we are mindful of the many sacrifices they made for us and our country. In this time of honoring, we also remember those who are still fighting to protect our great country...

For weeks, I have been talking about how Albany pushed through a budget that was negotiated behind closed doors and increased state spending by nearly 10%. I have also mentioned that this year’s budget will increase taxes and fees and eliminate important...