As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and someone who grew up on a family farm, I know that farming is hard work. That’s why I’m pleased to announce that funding is available for grants through a program I started, known as the New Farmers Grant Fund, which provides those just starting out in the industry with the support they need to be successful.
Not only is this helping our local FitzPatrick plant to remain open but it is helping all Upstate nuclear plants remain operational which will keep thousands of jobs in the state, and carbon free electric generation in New York. Since the Public Service Commission adopted the new Clean Energy Standard, there have been many critics who say nuclear should not be eligible for subsidies.
In an effort to say “thank you” to all who serve their country and let them know we are thinking of them throughout this special time of year, I will again be partnering with Ogdensburg native and radio personality Melody Burns in asking people to send yuletide greetings to soldiers through “Christmas Cards for Our Troops.”
As fall weather settles upon the area and the colors change, for many that means one thing: the opening of hunting season is here. Upstate New York has some of the best hunting, trapping and fishing in the country with thousands of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and millions of acres of forest and open space rich with wildlife.
Individuals with disabilities and their family members will soon have a new way to save and plan for future expenses with the creation of the 529 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program. The ABLE program is similar to the successful 529 College Savings Account program. ABLE accounts are a tax-advantaged savings account that individuals with disabilities can use to pay for qualified expenses.
As someone who has lived in the North Country her entire life, I know there’s nothing like the beauty and sense of community that exists in our region of the state. And while there are positives, we face a number of obstacles too. As co-chair of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, I’m working to address those challenges and identify ways to make this great part of our state even better.
A number of years ago, when asked about an ethics overhaul of the State executive branch, Governor Cuomo responded that such an overhaul wasn’t necessary because the ethical problems were in the state legislature. At the time, one could say that was true.
Last week, the NYS Comptroller released a report that indicates that over the last decade, student loan debt for New Yorkers has grown by more than $10,000 for the average borrower. According to the Brookings Institution, Americans now owe a record $1.3 trillion in student loans and student loans are second only to mortgages as the largest source of household debt. It is not a mystery why student debt is exploding.
It’s hard to believe that the end of summer is upon us and children and teachers are settling back into the classroom. As a mother and grandmother, I know that “back-to-school” isn’t just an exciting time; it’s also a time when we need to take extra steps to ensure children stay safe in the coming months.
One of the biggest legislative challenges in Albany is to make sure that there is parity in state spending between Upstate and Downstate New York. This is particularly challenging when it comes to transportation spending. Downstate New York relies on mass transit for its transportation needs, while in Upstate, we are much more reliant on our cars for our transportation needs. Accordingly, the needs of each region tend to be very different.
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