Issues: Water

Governor Cuomo released the following announcement on March 27, 2012:

The Budget continues the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while creating jobs and strengthening communities across the state. It closes a multi-billion dollar deficit with no new taxes, fees or gimmicks, limits spending growth to two percent or below for the second year in a row, and launches the New York Works Task Force to invest billions of dollars to rebuild the state's roads, bridges, parks, and other infrastructure and create tens of thousands of jobs.

With the abuse of illegally-obtained prescription narcotics growing rapidly, the New York State Senate today passed several bills to curb the black market in prescription painkillers said New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle (R,C,I – Port Jefferson)

LaValle said the Senate approval of the bills followed a roundtable discussion on the issue of abuse of prescription painkillers held today by Senator Hannon and Senator Jeff Klein, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Alcohol and Substance Abuse.  This was a second in a series of public meetings discussing legislation to combat prescription drug abuse and to examine improving New York’s prescription reporting system.

Senator Cosponsored Bill S.8129B Calling for Hydrofracking Moratorium in Upstate Watershed

PRATTSVILLE, 08/31/11 – State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I-Oneonta) today joined Governor Andrew Cuomo, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for a tour of flood ravaged portions of upstate New York.

“The devastation is utterly astonishing,” said Senator Seward. “My heart goes out to the families and individuals who are demonstrating such amazing courage and fortitude in the face of this tragedy.

“I also want to commend the first responders, National Guard members and local elected officials who have worked tirelessly around the clock to protect life and property before, during and after the storm.”

State Senator Adriano Espaillat (D – Manhattan/Bronx) called for an end to the disturbing practice of dumping untreated sewage waste, even in extenuating circumstances. Sen. Espaillat, joined by environmental activists following a major accident at the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant and the ensuing dumping of millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the Hudson River, also called for better notification systems to alert the public in emergency cases where the quality of New York waterways has been compromised.