Assembly Will Barclay

United States Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously wrote, “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” What Justice Brandeis wrote 100 years ago still rings true in government today.

The New York State Comptroller estimates there will be $89 billion in unmet local infrastructure needs over the next 20 years with as much as $27.4 billion needed for bridges alone. The responsibility to take care of these major infrastructure costs, however, lies on the backs of local taxpayers with 87% of the state’s roads and half of the state’s bridges up to localities to maintain.

Our local ambulance companies and volunteer organizations provide a critical service to residents in need of medical transport.Many of us take for granted that calling 911 will result in the safe and fast transport of patients in an emergency.

There is a little less than a month before the 2019-20 New York State budget is due. Last week, I joined some of my Assembly colleagues in Albany to push for priorities we would like to see in the budget. These priorities include keeping the middle class income tax cut, restoring funding for libraries and helping families, localities, and small businesses.

There are thousands of direct service professionals across the state who work to provide quality care to the elderly, developmentally disabled, and to those struggling with addiction. Yet with all the responsibility they are given, their wages continue to be historically low.

New York has a reputation for enacting policies that are punishing to businesses. Over the past three years, business owners have had to absorb onerous mandates such as new fast food wage orders, higher minimum wages, and a paid family leave policy. These policies come on top of other regulatory burdens and high tax rates that make our state less competitive than other states.

February is National Heart Month and a time each year that people “Go Red For Women.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease was the number one killer in our state in 2015.

After more than a decade, and much discussion, the State Legislature reached a general consensus and passed the Child Victims Act. The legislation significantly extends the time a child abuse victim can pursue a criminal or civil claim.

In an attempt to get ahead of the legislature, on January 15 the Governor gave his annual budget address. In the address, the Governor laid out what most would consider a very liberal agenda. Sadly, there was nothing in his address that offers relief to the overtaxed citizens of Upstate New York or to stem the continued outward migration of people from New York state.