Assembly Will Barclay

College orientations are under way this time of year. Many of you may have children, grandchildren or relatives who are embarking on higher education in the coming weeks, or even in the coming years. In April the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 66% of 2012 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities. Paying for tuition and college costs is on the minds of many students and parents of all ages.

Typically, a lot of bills pass the state legislature at the end of session.  Once the legislature adjourns for the year, the Governor reviews the bills and determines which ones he wants to sign into law.  In this column, I highlight a few bills of interest that I was pleased to see signed into law.

Earlier this summer, the Governor, using power granted to him pursuant to the Moreland Act, empaneled a commission to investigate public corruption. The Moreland Act grants the governor broad powers to investigate the affairs of a government agency. The act was initially enacted in the early 1900s at the behest of then Governor Charles Evans Hughes who sought the power to investigate the State Insurance Department.

The latest State Department of Labor newsletter for CNY states the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in four years. Signs do point to economic growth, especially in the area of food processing for our local region. According to the Department of Labor, the yogurt industry continues to be a source for many jobs throughout the Upstate region, with the latest yogurt expansion announced by Byrne Dairy.

With summer in full bloom, it is the opportune time for residents and visitors alike to take part in the wealth of activities our communities have to offer. I’m proud to represent a district where tourism represents a growing sector of the local economy. In this week’s column, I would like to highlight why tourism is so important to our economy and take a look at some of the many tourist destinations and events that make our region so unique.

The 2013 legislative session has ended.  In this week’s column, I want to share my thoughts on some positive steps the Legislature took to enact change and also highlight a few matters that will, unfortunately, remain status quo for now.

At the end of session both the Assembly and Senate unanimously voted to enact the Lt. Col. Todd Clark Memorial Flag Presentment Program. Lt. Col. Clark was recently killed on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. A 17-year veteran of the United States Army, Clark was a Purple Heart recipient and sadly, was killed after confronting a terrorist threat to his unit.

Utica police have been searching for a toddler since he was reported missing on June 11. Sadly, the 9-month-old child was reported missing two weeks after his disappearance by his father. Police have involved some members of the public to help search for the child and asking anyone with information to call. This case is an example of why New York needs to pass Caylee’s Law.

Understanding that his success as governor greatly depends on whether he can provide the leadership to help turn around New York’s languishing economy, Cuomo is pushing the legislature to pass what he calls “a game-changing initiative.”  I disagree with the Governor and think that this program, while it may provide some economic stimulus, it is really more of the same of what has been proposed in New York in the past and fails to accomplish what our state really needs – which is, broad-based tax relief.