(Upper West Side, NY) – Senator Serrano delivered a NYS budget and legislative update in a community  forum at Goddard Riverside Community Center. As part of the forum, Senator Serrano discussed the current budget process and the progressive priorities that he is fighting for, followed by a Q&A session. Also at the forum addressing concerns was State Senator Bill Perkins.

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I - Schenectady) announced the New York State Senate acted on legislation that would crack down on the growing black market in non-controlled prescription drugs which puts patients at risk and rips off taxpayers through Medicaid fraud.  Legislation makes it a crime to fraudulently prescribe, buy, and sell these types of medications.

These expensive medications are most often paid for by Medicaid and sold on the street for a fraction of their actual value. The criminals who buy the medications often bring them to a stash house where they are collected and resold to unscrupulous pharmacies or shipped to other countries. 

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I - Schenectady) and his Republican colleagues in the Senate announced a job creation plan to improve New York's business climate. Among other things, the "Senate Republican Blueprint for Jobs: ReThink. ReVitalize. ReBuild." would cut taxes for one million small businesses and reduce energy costs for every business and residential ratepayer in New York, saving them $2.5 billion.

The "Senate Republican Blueprint for Jobs" plan would provide:

• A Tax Cut for One Million Small Businesses

• Tax Relief for Manufacturers

• Lower Energy Bills for Every New Yorker and Every Business

• Sweeping Reforms to Cut Red Tape and Bureaucracy

• Job Training to Help New Yorkers Secure Good, High-Paying Jobs

(New York, NY) – Senator José M. Serrano served as a panelist for an important discussion at NYU entitled: “Triggering the Debate: Race, Gun Control, and Mental Illness.” The panel addressed the national debate regarding gun laws and considered the complicated history that race and mental illness has historically played in the debate. “Recent acts of gun violence are alarming. My colleagues and I must do everything possible to pass legislation that will protect the people of New York," said Senator Serrano. “As an elected official, it is also very important to me that we urge our legislators on a national level for tougher measures that will ensure that guns do not end up in the wrong hands,” concluded Serrano.

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I - Schenectady) was proud to sponsor his annual resolution on March 7th recognizing "Blue Friday" in New York State.

"In 2005, I worked with radio station WGNA in creating this official State day to salute fallen law enforcement officers, and to support the families of fallen officers," Senator Farley said.

"Each year, countless individuals are victims of senseless and avoidable gun violence. My colleagues and I in the Senate Democratic Conference have continuously pushed for tougher measures on a state level that will ensure that our gun violence is curbed. However, more must be done on a national level. Today I sent a letter urging United States Senators to increase gun control measures by requiring background checks and record-keeping on all U.S. gun sales. As legislators, we must do all that we can to ensure that our constituents, the people of New York and the people of this Nation, are kept safe."

Read the full letter below.