Politics

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

To a Healthier New Year

December 20, 2009 Contributor
New York was recently named as one of the most prepared states in the nation in the event of a health emergency. We were one of eight states to achieve this distinction, according to national organizations that annually compare state public health policies and performance. We have people in the public and private health sectors collaborating effectively to provide a safe state and establish our state as an example for others. It takes many hours of planning and hard work to earn this type of designation.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Ethics Reform Bill Would Establish More Guidelines for Public Officials

December 17, 2009 Contributor
This spring the Assembly passed stronger ethics legislation that would improve oversight for public officials and create a more open government. As the ranking member of the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Guidance as well as a member of the Legislative Ethics Committee, I strongly support this legislation and sponsor the bill. Though the Assembly passed this bill, it has since stalled in the Senate. Former Senate leader Joe Bruno’s conviction should provide the Senate with the catalyst to pass this bill.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Budget Plan Stops Short of Real Change

December 7, 2009 Contributor
A four-week special session came to a frustrating close this week after Albany failed to pass a Deficit Reduction Plan that structurally solved any of the state’s financial troubles. It’s true that the legislature, after majority-party political infighting that wasted time and taxpayer dollars, managed to close a substantial portion of the budget gap. However, this deficit reduction plan fell well short of any meaningful reform. Therefore, the majorities ensured that problems we’re facing today will continue to carryover next year and into the future.

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Aubertine

End of Extraordinary Session Yields Positive Results, 2010-11 Will Require More Tough Choices

December 7, 2009 Contributor
After four weeks of negotiations, last week we passed a package of deficit reduction measures that close the gap in our 2009-10 Enacted State Budget by close to $3 billion. We reached this goal with a plan that protects jobs, rejects tax and fee increases, and shields property taxpayers and our school children from the impact of mid-year cuts.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Deficit Looms as Inaction Presides

November 16, 2009 Contributor
I can summarize last week’s trip to Albany in one word: frustrating. It’s not easy to bring both the State Senate and Assembly together on relatively short notice for a special session like the one called by the Governor on Nov. 10. If results were the outcome, it would have been well worth the time. However, our efforts were mostly in vain last week.

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Aubertine

Buying Local Will Help New York’s Economy

November 16, 2009 Contributor

<p>State Sen. Darrel Aubertine (D-Cape Vincent)</p>

A recurring theme in our discussions over the last few months with farmers and others in the agricultural industry is the need to educate consumers, label foods properly to empower consumers, and teach our children about the value of our farms and how food gets to the grocery store. This came up frequently in the most recent roundtable I hosted in Granby.

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Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Veterans Day Reminds Us Importance of Right to Vote

November 15, 2009 Contributor
Last week we cast our vote. In a non-presidential election, voter turnout is historically lower, however, no less important. It’s here that we decide who will represent us to decide how taxpayer dollars are spent and determine public policy. To be able to vote in an election is a right our forefathers fought for and is just one more reason we should be mindful and appreciative of our veterans this week.

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