January 11, 2024
FROM ASSEMBLYMAN PHIL PALMESANO:
“Gov. Hochul delivered the annual State of the State address outlining her priorities for the upcoming session. I hope for, and expect, more specific details about her agenda when she presents her Executive Budget Proposal next week.
“I agree with the governor that we need to address the mental health problem in our state by improving accessibility and affordability. I also agree that we must empower our local law enforcement agencies with the ability to permanently shut down these illegal “sticker” stores that are a scourge on our local communities.
“However, one thing is for certain, our state is facing an affordability, public safety and quality-of-life crisis. We must address a budget deficit of more than $21 billion over the next three years. We cannot continue on this dangerous and reckless trend of unsustainable and out-of-control spending and debt, costly job-killing taxes and regulations, crippling inflation, a high cost of living and the continuation of violent crime in our local communities, all of which have helped contribute to New York’s nation-leading outmigration problem.
“Gov. Hochul continues to claim she wants to address the affordability crisis facing New Yorkers. However, her actions, coupled with those of my Democrat colleagues in the Legislature, fail to address this issue as they continue full speed ahead with their costly radical energy and climate agenda of full electrification. Their reckless plan continues to prioritize so-called green energy over ensuring our energy supply is both affordable and reliable for New York families, farmers, seniors, small businesses and manufacturers.
“We have a serious outmigration problem with more and more families, farmers and businesses leaving our state. According to the Census Bureau, New York lost more than 100,000 people from July 2022 – July 2023. In fact, New York has led the nation in population loss, with more than 533,000 who have fled our state since 2020. This is an alarming pattern that must be reversed.
“I, along with my Assembly Republican colleagues, will continue to advocate for common-sense policies that prioritize public safety, fiscal responsibility, job creation and economic development, affordable and reliable energy and improving the quality of life for New York families and businesses.
“If Gov. Hochul is truly serious about reversing the affordability, public safety and quality of life crisis facing our state she will present the Legislature with a budget proposal that is fiscally responsible and addresses the concerns and financial struggles New York families and businesses are facing around our state. I urge the governor and legislative leaders to work with us in a bipartisan manner during the upcoming year to address these critical issues.”
FROM STATE SENATOR TOM O’MARA:
“New York State is not stronger, safer, or more affordable under Governor Hochul and the Albany Democrats, and there’s no turnaround in sight. Governor Hochul highlighted the affordability crisis we face in New York State but she’s putting forth a broad agenda that will only keep making New York a more expensive state in which to live, work, do business, raise a family, and pay taxes. There’s no let-up for the middle class under all-Democrat, one-party control of New York government. Albany Democrats ignore the middle class in favor of a politically driven, hard-left roadmap continuing to mandate huge state spending handouts that keep wiping out any realistic hope for a long-term, sustainable, thriving future for upstate, middle-class communities, economies, families, workers, and taxpayers.”
FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JOE GIGLIO:
Concerned for the economy of Western New York, Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C-Gowanda) criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul for ignoring the expired gaming compact between the Seneca Nation of Indians and New York State in her State of the State address.
“Negotiating a new gaming compact with the Seneca Nation is critical to our regional economy. I’m disappointed that Gov. Hochul chose to ignore the biggest issue facing the economic well-being of Western New York in her State of-the-State address,” Giglio said.
The Seneca Nation and Seneca Gaming are one of Western New York’s largest employers. The success of Seneca resorts, casinos and restaurants contributed to a resurgence of development and growth in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Salamanca.
“Seneca Nation casinos contribute $1 billion per year to our regional economy. The Seneca Nation employs 6,000 people in our community, most of them non-native. Local municipalities depend on fees generated by Seneca Resorts and Casinos that the Seneca Nation pays under the compact. Vital community services like police protection and firefighting are supported by fees agreed to under the compact. Native and non-native residents depend on these services,” Giglio said.
Giglio added that restaurant and hospitality suppliers and other non-native companies that do business with the Seneca Nation prospered as Seneca gaming and resorts grew over the last 20 years. The original compact that opened gaming at Seneca-owned casinos was reached between the Seneca Nation and New York State in 2002. On Dec. 1, eight days before that agreement was set to expire, Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Jr. and Gov. Hochul signed an extension of the current deal.
That extension is set to expire on March 31.
“If this were any other business in New York, the governor would be scrambling to get a deal done so she could hold a press conference,” Giglio said. “I don’t know why the governor isn’t paying more attention to this issue. From the beginning of negotiations in November of 2022, the state has not treated the Seneca Nation fairly. After months of delay and requests by myself and others to negotiate in good faith, the governor only met face-to-face with President Armstrong when she needed a compact extension. If this is a bargaining tactic, it’s a bad one. This is not how you negotiate in good faith.
“It’s very frustrating and it does nothing to improve our relationship with the Seneca Nation. This deal should have been finalized last year. Everybody will pay the price for a delay, including the state. It would be catastrophic.”
As chief executive of New York State, Gov. Hochul is the only state official who can approve a gaming compact with the Seneca Nation. Once an agreement is reached, it has to be approved by the federal government, approved in a referendum by members of the Seneca Nation and voted on in both houses of the state legislature.
“The partnership between the Seneca Nation and New York State is essential for the economic well-being of our entire community, native and non-native,” Giglio said. “Gov. Hochul needs to sit down with President Armstrong and Seneca Nation leaders to negotiate a new gaming compact in good faith that protects the interests of both the Seneca Nation and New York State. I urge the governor and my Democrat colleagues in the Legislature to make a new gaming compact with the Seneca Nation a priority going forward.”
FROM ASSEMBLYWOMAN MARJORIE BYRNES:
“New York is the highest taxed state in the nation, and Albany just keeps spending the people’s money as if there’s no end in sight. The reality is the end is here. People aren’t surviving. People in communities all across our state, but particularly in small, rural communities cannot make ends meet. Businesses are closing, and jobs are being lost. People are moving out of state if they can afford to do so. The people who can’t, can’t afford their medication and often even grocery store basics. It’s heartbreaking how little Albany seems to be listening. The spending must stop now.”
