10,400 – that’s how many miles of snowmobiling trails New York State is home to. This expansive network of trails means more than just an enjoyable time for outdoor enthusiasts. Our snowmobile trails also represent a major economic driver for our tourism economy, generating roughly $868 million annually according to a recent study by SUNY Potsdam.
The Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network recently launched an ad campaign called Pass Life On. There are a series of videos which talk about the importance of organ donation titled “The Greatest Person Never Known” which feature a grateful organ recipient. The ad campaign is designed to help improve the state’s organ donation registration rates, which continue to be much lower than other states.
Here in Upstate New York, there are no shortage of days spent inside seeking refuge from the winter weather. If you’re like me, you know that there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book. Luckily, throughout our region there are dozens of spectacular libraries offering bestsellers, classics, children’s books and all sorts of other types of family friendly entertainment perfect for winter days spent indoors, or any other time of the year.
The second biggest budget item in the state budget is education, which is right behind healthcare. Last year, the state spent $22.3 billion on education. In 2012, combined with the local and federal share of education, New Yorkers spent $58.4 billion on public education. This is a 56% increase over what was spent on a combined basis in 2002. This year, the Governor proposes to spend $23.14 billion on education. This represents a $1.1 billion increase over last year.
As state senator, I’ve been working hard to support our region’s students. One of the major things I have been focused on accomplishing is ending the “Gap Elimination Adjustment;” a budget gimmick commonly known as the “GEA,” which has cost schools across New York State upwards of $8 billion since its implementation.
There have been a number of national and local news stories reporting on the increased cases of measles. The cases have primarily been located in California. However, nationally, the number of cases of measles in the U.S. grew to 635 in 2014, more than the past four years combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In New York, there were three confirmed cases of measles this year. Other preventable diseases also made a comeback in recent years.
As State Senator, it’s my job to represent the interests and opinions of the thousands of constituents who reside in the 48th Senate District. As I work to improve our region by creating jobs, boosting the economy, supporting our schools, cutting taxes and more, it’s imperative that I learn about what matters to you. In an effort to do just that, last December I launched my 2015 Legislative Survey.
We have heard a lot from the Governor’s office about the success of New York’s Health Exchange. The exchange was set up pursuant to ObamaCare which mandates that all Americans obtain health insurance. The exchanges, which are either set up by individual states or by the federal government (when a state decides not to opt into the program), are, in theory, supposed to provide a market for people to purchase health insurance. New York, pursuant to an executive order of the Governor, set up its own exchange. Compared to other states and to the federal government’s system, New York’s exchange has had fewer reported problems.
From the food we eat to the beverages we drink, agriculture is at the root of it all. And, as recent numbers have shown, the industry is poised for even greater growth in 2015. According to the USDA, New York State set a sales record in 2013, with cash receipts from livestock, crops and other products totaling nearly $5.7 billion. That’s up from $5.5 billion the year prior. Contributing to this growth are a number of new advancements made in 2014.
Long-time serving Speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver, has been arrested for public corruption. After initially standing by Silver, claiming, amazingly, that his arrest will not be a distraction, members the NYC-dominated Democrat majority in the Assembly finally came to their senses and realized that supporting Silver was a politically tenuous position and that a new Speaker must be elected. In the days that followed, a number of Democratic Assembly members, exclusively from NYC, with the exception of one, announced their candidacy to replace Silver.
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