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About this blog

Senator Tom O'Mara's ( R- NY 58th ) weekly column. 

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State Government Needs To Renew Its Committment To New York

State Government Needs To Renew Its Committment To New York

While this state – more specifically, while citizens, communities, families, taxpayers, workers, and others, in every corner of New York – remains under one-party, all-Democrat control, we can never allow that to mean there’s no room for other voices, other ideas, or, most importantly, other commitments to a way of legislating and policymaking that can head this state in a better, stronger, more effective and successful direction. It's a role and a responsibility that I, together with all m
What Are We Waiting For?

What Are We Waiting For?

Over the past few months in New York State government, we’ve witnessed constant reminders why this state is headed in the wrong direction under one-party, all-Democrat control, with no turnaround in sight. Exhibit A: Energy mandates. Serious doubts have been expressed, from many quarters, on the affordability, feasibility, and reliability of New York’s current clean energy strategy. A July report from the Hochul administration itself admitted that their timeline to achieve 70 percent renewa
Senator Tom O'Mara

Senator Tom O'Mara

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The Foundation Of America Will Again Stand Strong

The Foundation Of America Will Again Stand Strong

A plaque on display at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial shares the following post-9/11 words from then President George W. Bush: “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings. But they cannot touch the foundation of America.” At this week’s 9/11 observances here at home and across our state and nation, the foundation of America will again stand strong.   The years keep passing, twenty-three now, yet Americans never forget. More than two decades later, never f
Will Energy Summit Move NY Toward A Better Future?

Will Energy Summit Move NY Toward A Better Future?

Governor Kathy Hochul this week convenes a two-day “Future Energy Economy Summit” in Syracuse to begin what many of us hope will be a long-overdue, sincere, and transparent rethinking of New York State’s energy future. This rethinking is badly needed. Over the past few months doubts have exploded over the Albany Democrats’ current approach -- an approach that has been built on rapidly imposing radical and sweeping clean energy mandates on all New Yorkers following the enactment of the Clima
Restoring Affordability Must Be A Priority

Restoring Affordability Must Be A Priority

The straightforward fact remains that every time New Yorkers go the grocery store, or the gas station, or to buy back-to-school supplies for their children, or to the mailbox to retrieve their next property tax or utility bill, it’s a reminder that New York State is one of the least affordable states in America. One recent ranking of the least and most expensive states in the nation, the 2024 Cost of Bills Index compiled by Doxo, an online bill payment service, delivered more bad news. The
We Are All In It Together In Times Of Crisis

We Are All In It Together In Times Of Crisis

These are the times and the crises when communities across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions always have – and always will – show what we’re made of. Throughout the years that I grew up here and for the decades that I have spent representing the area in the State Legislature, we have never been strangers to devastating storms and flooding. And it happened again recently with the remnants of Hurricane Debby slamming the region with heavy rains and devastating flash flooding, especia
A Failure To Address Accountability, Justice, And Preparedness

A Failure To Address Accountability, Justice, And Preparedness

Several weeks ago, I highlighted in this column that a long-awaited report on New York State’s COVID-19 pandemic response, first commissioned by Governor Hochul more than two years ago, was finally released. It’s a report that cost state taxpayers more than four million dollars and it hasn’t exactly drawn rave reviews. Far from it, in fact. Remember that the governor released the report at the beginning of July with very little fanfare, to say the least. No press conference. No reassur
Moving Forward On The Future Of New York State

Moving Forward On The Future Of New York State

State government spending has continued to spin wildly out of control over the past several years while, at the same time, it has failed to address many key priorities for all New Yorkers. One of the top priorities, in my view, is the future of local roads and bridges. A recent state comptroller’s report found that one out of every 10 locally owned bridges in New York State is rated in poor condition. “Ensuring safe and reliable public infrastructure is an ongoing concern for local gov
Doubts Continue To Grow Over New York's Climate Mandates

Doubts Continue To Grow Over New York's Climate Mandates

The drumbeats of doubt have continued to grow louder throughout the past few weeks as reality sets in over the ongoing, utopian plan by Albany Democrats to impose sweeping clean energy mandates on all New Yorkers. Since the enactment several years ago of a far-reaching climate agenda known as the “Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act” (CLCPA), as well as the approval of other mandated actions since then, the governor, her energy czars, and a Democrat-led state Legislature have be
 

Affordability Still An Unsettled Concern For New Yorkers

Not that we needed another poll to tell us that New York State is getting increasingly more unaffordable, but recent statewide polling from the Siena Research Institute offers a telling look at the state of affordability in New York. It’s a concern, of course, that many of my legislative colleagues and I have steadfastly pinpointed throughout the past few years as New Yorkers have consistently let it be known that the prohibitive cost of living in this state is driving them away. The t
New York's All Electric School Bus Mandate Needs An Overhaul Too

New York's All Electric School Bus Mandate Needs An Overhaul Too

Now that Governor Hochul and Albany’s band of Green New Dealers appear ready to finally begin rethinking their strategy to impose far-reaching energy mandates on all New Yorkers, it will be important for the rest of us to keep highlighting exactly what needs to go back to the drawing board. At the top of any list, in my view, is a concern we spotlighted earlier this year that could very well be the most costly unfunded state mandate ever imposed on New York’s local school districts and scho
NYS Acknowledges Too Far, Too Fast On Energy Mandates

NYS Acknowledges Too Far, Too Fast On Energy Mandates

You’ve heard it and read it time and again over the past several years since the enactment of New York’s far-reaching climate agenda known as the “Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act” (CLCPA): Governor Hochul and her energy czars are moving too far, too fast to impose sweeping clean energy mandates on every state citizen. Since the CLCPA’s approval in 2019, we’ve watched Albany Democrats move at world record speed to pile one unaffordable mandate on top of another unworkable man
Four Million Dollars Later And Still No Answers

Four Million Dollars Later And Still No Answers

In case you missed it – which would be no surprise since its release was largely kept quiet by Governor Hochul -- a long-awaited report on New York State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has finally gone public. It arrives two years and more than four million taxpayer dollars later after the governor first announced its undertaking. Here’s the verdict from the Empire Center for Public Policy: “Hochul had commissioned a $4.3 million after-action review of the crisis, saying she wante
Help Make This Summer A Page Turner

Help Make This Summer A Page Turner

Former First Lady Laura Bush once said, “I have found the most valuable thing in my wallet is my library card." Or recall the words of former President Harry Truman, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Once again this summer, I am happy to be joining my colleagues in the State Senate, in partnership with the New York State Library – and together with so many local libraries across our region and statewide -- to help promote summer reading. This year’s theme
The Great Outdoors Helps Grow The Economy

The Great Outdoors Helps Grow The Economy

Among other designations, the month of June is recognized as National Great Outdoors Month. That designation is certainly worth some attention here in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, especially at a time like now when we need to keep growing and strengthening every sector of economic opportunity for local communities. According to the latest report released earlier this month from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a leading coalition of outdoor recreation association
One Party Rule Of New York Keeps Producing Decline

One Party Rule Of New York Keeps Producing Decline

To kick off the just concluded 2024 regular session of the State Legislature – one that we believed represented a pivotal session with New York at a crossroads in so many areas – the Senate Republican Conference put forth a comprehensive set of goals to help rebuild and strengthen local and state economies, focus on the financial challenges facing many middle-class families and small business owners, and make public safety a top priority. At that time back in early January, I said, “We face
Nickel And Diming New Yorkers To The Breaking Point

Nickel And Diming New Yorkers To The Breaking Point

State government’s spending habit has become so addictive that, eventually, every move that everyday citizens make in New York will come attached with another tax or a new fee or a higher cost. Already we find out, directly from Governor Hochul’s own Division of the Budget (DOB), that the cost of the recently enacted, 2024-25 state budget has already increased by at least $2 billion. When legislators voted on the budget in late April, we were told that the new state spending plan would tota
For As Long As We Remember...

For As Long As We Remember...

Throughout generations of Americans on Memorial Day, many words have been shared to honor the memory – and the service and sacrifice – of our fallen heroes. From President Ronald Reagan, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." From President John F. Kennedy, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciati
Pay Attention To Where State's Energy Policies Are Heading

Pay Attention To Where State's Energy Policies Are Heading

We can’t afford to let this one fly under the radar and so it remains worthwhile to warn, once again, as many of us have been warning throughout the past several years, that the Albany Democrat climate agenda currently moving forward across this state is a perfect storm of unaffordability, unfeasibility, and unreliability. It cannot be stressed enough: Since the 2019 enactment of what’s known as the “Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act” (CLCPA), we’ve watched Albany Democrats mo
New Yorkers Keep Losing Hope

New Yorkers Keep Losing Hope

New Yorkers are losing hope and the signs of it are all around us. We lead the nation in population loss thanks in no small part to the fact that we continue to be one of the nation’s highest taxed and most heavily regulated states – in other words, one of America’s most unaffordable places to live, work, and raise a family. The latest statewide polling of registered voters from the Siena College Research Institute showed Governor Hochul having her lowest-ever favorability rating. The
Syracuse Tragedy Continues To Highlight Lawlessness

Syracuse Tragedy Continues To Highlight Lawlessness

In a recent column, I wrote about Chemung County Sheriff’s Investigator Mike Theetge who, while in pursuit of a suspect in a retail theft operation at a Target store in Big Flats, Chemung County, was struck and severely injured by the getaway vehicle being used in the crime. Investigator Theetge is 35 years old. He suffered a skull fracture and brain bleeding. Gratefully -- thanks to his own fortitude and strength, and the incredible care and support he has received -- Investigator Theetge
The Plague Of Lawlessness Keeps Spreading Statewide

The Plague Of Lawlessness Keeps Spreading Statewide

On the evening of Friday, March 30, Chemung County Sheriff’s Investigator Mike Theetge, in pursuit of a suspect in a retail theft operation at a Target store in Big Flats, just two miles from my home, was struck and thrown by the getaway vehicle being used in the crime. Investigator Theetge, 35 years old, suffered a skull fracture and brain bleeding. As of this writing, he remains hospitalized in critical condition. First and foremost, please keep Mike and his family in your prayers. The ou
New York's COVID-19 Response Still Clouded In Secrecy

New York's COVID-19 Response Still Clouded In Secrecy

On the fourth anniversary of ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo’s now infamous March 25, 2020 executive order forcing New York’s nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients back into their facilities — a move that many believe directly contributed to the COVID-related deaths of more than 15,000 seniors in long-term care facilities — I joined legislative colleagues and “Voices for Seniors” advocates at the Capitol last week to remember one of the most terrible chapters in this state’s history. The
Welcome To New York's Climate Crisis

Welcome To New York's Climate Crisis

It was back to the races for Senate Democrats at the Capitol last week – the race, that is, to see who can be first to inflict yet another energy mandate on New Yorkers. In fact, since the 2019 enactment of what’s known as the “Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act,” we’ve watched the one-party control of the Albany Democrats move at world record speed trying to pile one unaffordable mandate on top of another unworkable mandate on top of the next unrealistic mandate in their race
New Budget Must Address Economic, Public Safety, Affordability

New Budget Must Address Economic, Public Safety, Affordability

The April 1 deadline for enacting a new state budget is fast approaching and the Democrat majorities in the Senate and Assembly are adopting their respective “one-house budget resolutions” to highlight the priorities they will bring to the negotiating table. It’s a crucial step in the process. Most importantly, it gives the public a chance to see where state leaders want to take New York. Remember that Governor Hochul kicked off this budget season by proposing an Executive Budget total
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