April 21, 2025
FROM ASSEMBLYMAN SEMPOLINSKI’S OFFICE: Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski said he’s hoping to hold a long-scheduled town hall meeting this Thursday in Wellsville if a state budget is adopted in time.
The Town Hall is scheduled to be held this Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Wellsville American Legion, Morrison Hayes Post 702, 23 Jefferson Street, Wellsville. The budget was due April 1 and is now four weeks late. Talks derailed over disagreements between the Democrat majorities in the legislature and the governor. Essential services have been paid for through budget “extenders.”
“Hopefully we get a budget we can vote on before then, but we just don’t know at this point,” Assemblyman Sempolinski said. “If I’m not in Albany voting on the budget, I will be there. If I cannot be there, we will reschedule the town hall for a date as soon as possible in Wellsville. The last time we had an on-time budget was 2018, the last year Republicans held a majority in the Senate.”
The Legislature is returning to Albany Tuesday to either vote on the budget or another budget extender to keep the state funded while the governor and legislative leaders try to reach agreement.
“Budget talks are at a standstill. Unfortunately, they’re not holding up the budget to try and figure out how to save taxpayers’ money,” Assemblyman Sempolinski said. “Both the governor and the Democrats in the Legislature want to spend more than a quarter trillion dollars. It’s irresponsible. I wish the hold-up was over finding ways to cut the budget, but it’s not.”
Assemblyman Sempolinski said he wants to meet with constituents to discuss issues face-to-face.
“This is an opportunity for folks to tell me their thoughts and concerns and ask me about what’s going on in Albany. I also want to share the initiatives and legislation I’m working on,” Assemblyman Sempolinski said.
Voters sent Assemblyman Sempolinski to Albany in January. While he’s new to the Assembly, he’s not new to the district. A lifelong resident of the Southern Tier, Assemblyman Sempolinski was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 23rd Congressional District and served as chief of staff to his predecessor, former Assemblyman Joseph Giglio. Assemblyman Sempolinski was also district director for former U.S. Rep. Tom Reed and was development director for Archbishop Walsh Academy in Olean.
“As their voice in the Assembly, getting feedback from everyone in the district is incredibly important to me. The cost of necessities like heating our homes and electricity are going up and it’s the policies of the governor and the Democrat majority in the Assembly and state Senate that are driving those costs,” Assemblyman Sempolinski said.
