Oswego County TodayPoliticsFREE Independent News for Oswego County

Working to End Budget Stalemate

June 14, 2010 Contributor

As I write this column in advance of legislative session on Monday, when we will have to consider another budget extender, it is still uncertain what the final outcome will be. Some are pushing to shut down state government as a means to force a budget agreement.

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Summer Reading Gives Children Academic Advantages

June 7, 2010 Contributor

The New York State Assembly Summer reading challenges will begin appearing throughout local schools and libraries for parents and children this month. This brochure, which features a calendar and a space to keep track of reading time throughout the summer, challenges kids to read for at least 15 minutes a day for 40 days throughout the summer months with an adult or on their own.

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Dairy Farmers Are Vital to Economic, Food Security

June 7, 2010 Contributor

Every year we celebrate June as dairy month. Milk is an important part of a healthy diet and a healthy dairy industry goes a long way toward fostering a strong state economy.

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Remembering Those Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice

May 31, 2010 Contributor

Memorial Day is an important holiday with a nearly 150 year history here in New York State. It is a time to pause and reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by so many brave men and women in defense of our way of life. This loss of life should never be forgotten and our thoughts and prayers for our Soldiers should not be limited to just one day.

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Motorists Reminded to Use Caution Near Buggies, Slow-Moving Vehicles

May 31, 2010 Contributor

State and local police officers, particularly in the northern portions of Oswego County, are urging motorists to be aware of horse-drawn buggies. In recent years, more Amish families have moved to our region and are on the roadways.

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We Deserve Better; Letâ€™s Pass a Budget Already

May 17, 2010 Contributor

Because of the lack of respect our leaders have for the lawâ€”passing a budget on timeâ€”and the lack of true leadership, our communities lost parks, state workers were forced into furloughs, and the Democratic majority staged a â€œsit-inâ€ at the Governorâ€™s office and played â€˜he said, she saidâ€™ in the media. As I said, we deserve better.

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Amid Albany Frustrations, Agriculture Is Getting Renewed Attention

May 17, 2010 Contributor

With all that is frustrating in Albany right nowâ€”the budget deadlock, the lack of an Assembly companion to Power for Jobs legislation, the reintroduction of the farm labor billâ€”there has been good news. The Senate has passed more legislation to benefit agriculture than any year in recent memory.

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Letâ€™s Maintain Our Constitutional Right to Bear Arms

May 10, 2010 Contributor

It is well known that New York state already has some of the toughest gun laws in the country. Nevertheless, each year the Assembly Democratic majority puts forth a legislative gun package which contains bills that would place additional burdens on legal New York gun owners.

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Power for Jobs Moving Forward, Budget Frustration Continues

May 10, 2010 Contributor

For more than a decade now, the stateâ€™s Power for Jobs program and other similar programs have helped to preserve hundreds of thousands of jobs statewide by providing low-cost power to businesses and not-for-profit employers.

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Once-Rare Events Show Progress of Reform

May 3, 2010 Contributor

Last week, in this column, I discussed the previous weekâ€™s action by the Senate Agriculture Committee in support of farm workers, farmers and consumers through a bipartisan vote to kill the bill in committee. This is one sign that changes I pushed for and helped enact last year have begun to restore the peopleâ€™s voice in state government.

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