Oswego County TodayPoliticsFREE Independent News for Oswego County

Raising Wage for One Industry Sets Dangerous Precedence

August 17, 2015 Contributor

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the Governor’s decision to convene a Wage Board for the purposes of considering increasing the minimum wage for fast food workers to $15 an hour. It has been reported that the Governor convened the Wage Board in effort to placate advocates (mainly from NYC) who are pushing for various liberal causes to be enacted in the State such as increasing the overall state minimum wage. When the legislature failed to increase the state’s minimum wage, these advocates accused the Governor of not doing enough.

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Helping The Hungry In Our Communities

August 12, 2015 Contributor

Have you ever had to wonder where your next meal will come from? For more and more Americans, hunger is becoming a reality. Today, it’s estimated that one in six Americans relies on emergency food assistance, including thousands of people in Central and Northern New York. And, it’s not just the impoverished. More and more frequently, working families are finding themselves having to look for assistance when it comes to putting food on the table.

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Why is NYS Protecting Convicted Criminal’s Public Pensions?

August 10, 2015 Contributor

Joyce Mitchell, the woman who confessed to assisting two convicted murderers escape from Clinton Correctional Facility, will still collect a public pension thanks to Albany’s failure to pass a widely supported reform measure. In her retirement years, whether spent in prison or elsewhere, we can rest assured that she’ll be able to cash her pension checks. If you were wondering about the 30 or so lawmakers in the last 10 years that have been convicted of crimes, or sanctioned or resigned from office, essentially admitting their guilt or wrongdoing, they too are eligible to receive their pensions.

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Focusing On Fishing In New York State

August 4, 2015 Contributor

From the mighty muskellunge to the beautiful brook trout, which is also our official state fish, New York is home to a wide variety of fish, 165 different species to be exact. It’s these fish that inhabit the 7,500 lakes and ponds, as well as 50,000 miles of rivers and streams that make the Empire State a world-class destination for anglers of all skill levels. These recreational opportunities not only “hook” anglers on fishing in New York State, they also play a significant role in our economy.

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Legislation Passes to Help Seniors, Vision Impaired

August 3, 2015 Contributor

Two bills in particular which passed the State Legislature could help both seniors and visually-impaired residents if signed into law by the Governor. I supported each in the Assembly and both passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

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Staying Cool In The Heat Of Summer

July 28, 2015 Contributor

In case you had your doubts, summer is here. Recent temperatures hovering near 90 degrees have many people seeking relief from the heat. Although many people welcome the warm weather, especially given this year’s brutal winter, there are steps we all need to take to stay cool and avoid health issues when the temperature rises.

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Farmers’ Markets Provide Locally Grown Nutrition for Local Residents

July 27, 2015 Contributor

Fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, honey, wine, and cheese are all out in abundance this time of year throughout the region and will be for the next few months at local farmers’ markets. Farmers’ markets provide an opportunity to buy local and give farmers a chance to provide home-grown produce straight to the consumer. The markets are located throughout the region and we’re fortunate to have as much fresh and homegrown produce as we do in our area.

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Protecting Yourself From The Pests Of Summer

July 21, 2015 Contributor

From swimming and hiking to gardening and camping, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the outdoors during the summer months. However, what many people don’t consider is that in warmer weather, bugs like ticks and mosquitoes thrive and can make a snack out of you if you’re not careful. The effects of these insects can be as pesky as a small bite and in other, more serious cases can be deadly.

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Continued Controversy Surrounding The Safe Act

July 20, 2015 Contributor

Very often legislative bodies pass ill-advised laws in response to tragedies in hopes that the new laws will work to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future. I used to work for a judge who would say bad facts make bad law. This is true in the legislative process and no truer is the case with the New York Safe Act which passed in January of 2014 shortly following the Newtown, Connecticut tragedy. Since its passage, the law has been panned by law enforcement officials, second amendment advocates, outdoor enthusiast and others.

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Making Summer Memories At New York State Parks

July 14, 2015 Contributor

From waterways where you can land your next big catch and trails for hiking to places perfect for camping and beautiful beaches, the State Parks across New York offer a little something for everyone. This month, across the country we celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month, a time when we make a special point to get outdoors and enjoy all the beautiful nature New York has to offer.

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