Press Releases

The New York State Senate today passed a series school bus bills that will ensure child safety and enhanced communication. A bill was passed, sponsored by Senator John Bonacic, that increases the penalties for passing a stopped school bus (S.3099A).  The legislation would impose a sixty day suspension of a driver’s license if convicted of passing a stopped school bus two or more times.

Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced an agreement on a joint legislative budget schedule that, for the first time, sets deadlines that lead to an early adoption of a state budget.   “This schedule sets out a plan to adopt a new budget more than a week before the April 1st deadline,” Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said. “This is another example of how the Senate, Assembly and Governor are working together to make state government function and planning for another early budget.”  

In an effort to keep drugs out of the hands of New York State’s youth, the New York State Senate today passed legislation, sponsored by Senator John Flanagan (R-C-I, East Northport), to ban the sale of the legal hallucinogen salvia divinorum.  

The New York State Senate today passed legislation, sponsored by Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick), to create felony charges for wrong-way and other reckless drivers. “Wrong-way drivers have caused tragedies and endangered lives on our roadways; it has to stop.  Creating felony charges for wrong-way and reckless drivers will give law enforcement another tool to prosecute these individuals and get them off the roads,” said Senator Fuschillo, Chairman of the Senate’s Transportation Committee.

I am very encouraged that the Governor has again proposed a budget that closes the deficit by reducing spending and without increasing taxes or fees, and includes plans for job creation, property tax relief and other reforms to make sure tax dollars are spent wisely. These are long held priorities of the Senate Republican conference.   The Governor has advanced a number of innovative reforms and made it clear that we need to reform Medicaid and the pension system to ease these costly burdens on local governments and property taxpayers. 

Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos today announced that the Senate is expected to pass the Iran Divestment Act of 2012 during the Senate session on Monday, January 9th. “When I introduced this bill last fall, I said the Senate would take it up very early in the 2012 session and we are keeping that commitment,” Senator Skelos said.  “The Senate’s swift action shows how important it is that we stand together to condemn tyrannical governments like Iran which sponsor terrorism, have attempted to acquire nuclear weapons and threaten U.S. allies like Israel, as Iran has repeatedly done.  I applaud Speaker Silver for taking the lead on this effort and moving it forward in the Assembly.”

I want to thank Governor Cuomo for the invitation to speak to you today.

Governor, you have been a leader, an innovator, and a friend.  Thank you for that.

It is a pleasure to again share this stage with Lieutenant Governor Duffy,  Speaker Silver,  Comptroller DiNapoli and Attorney General Schneiderman.

And it’s nice to see Chief Judge Lippman and the members of the Court of Appeals.

Happy New Year to you and to all my colleagues and to members of the public from across the state.

And a special thank you to Archbishop Demetrios and Rabbi Romm for being with us today.

"Today's creation of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics is another step forward in restoring the public's trust in state government. While the vast majority of people enter public service for all the right reasons, this bipartisan commission will ensure that every legislator continues to be accountable to the people they work for. I am confident that former Senator Rath, Justice Covello and George Weismann will do outstanding work alongside Chairwoman DiFiore and the other representatives of this commission."

The New York State Senate today passed the Middle Class Tax Cut and Job Creation Plan that will reduce taxes for millions of hardworking, middle-class taxpayers to their lowest levels in more than half a century.  In addition, the comprehensive plan will help strengthen our economy and create new jobs by eliminating the job-killing MTA payroll tax for more than 78 percent of the small employers that pay the tax.  The plan will provide a total of more than $3.3 billion in tax relief to individuals and businesses.