George Winner

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Is Your Word Good New York?

State leaders at the Capitol have not done enough to promote statewide economic growth.

The just-completed 2010-2011 New York State budget puts a few finishing touches on what has become a disturbing and disheartening habit of New York government in the past few years: devaluing not just a strong, but in these toughest of times what should be an unshakable commitment to economic development.

August 10, 2010
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Column from the Capitol: "Many Studies, Less Action"

New York government has produced plenty of studies, but far less action on legislative initiatives.

Reading the just-released “2010 Annual Report on Local Governments” from the office of the New York State Comptroller, what’s not surprising is the message it conveys of hard times for local communities statewide. 

August 2, 2010
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Keep shining reform spotlight on Medicaid

Senator Winner serves on the Senate Republican Task Force on Medicaid Fraud. See full report below.

Upon taking office in the New York State Senate in January 2005, one of the first pieces of legislation I proposed would have initiated a full state takeover of local Medicaid costs and eliminated the property tax as a source of Medicaid funding.

July 21, 2010
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Economic Development Road Map

A little-noticed report released in June by the New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC), Leadership for Jobs, reviews New York’s economic decline, discusses some of the key reasons for it, and offers a series of recommendations for turning it around.

We know all too well that New York is currently viewed as a business unfriendly state, whose reputation for overregulation and high taxation is off the charts.  We understand the nuts-and-bolts agenda that’s required – an agenda that must include lower business taxes, fewer job-killing regulations, and financial incentives that will lead to a better business climate.

July 12, 2010
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Winner says Empire Zone replacement doesn't cut it for upstate economy

Albany, N.Y.–State Senator George Winner (R-C-I, Elmira) voted in opposition to legislation being enacted by Governor David Paterson and the Democratic leaders of the Legislature to replace upstate New York’s No. 1 economic development tool, the Empire Zone program, with a new, significantly scaled-back initiative that will provide far fewer resources and incentives to attract and retain businesses and industries across the upstate region.

The legislation creating the new program, known as Excelsior Jobs, was approved by the Senate and Assembly and signed into law by Paterson in June.

June 21, 2010
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Winners Renews Call for More Medicaid Reform

Albany, N.Y., June 15 – As talks continue between Governor David Paterson and state leaders to reach final agreement on the 2010-2011 state budget, State Senator George Winner (R-C-I) renewed his call today for this year’s state budget to immediately reinstate locally administered eligibility tests for Medicaid applicants and to begin to enact additional oversight mechanisms that many local and statewide officials believe can begin to provide billions of dollars in long-term cost savings in the state’s most expensive program.

June 15, 2010
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Winner Still Pushing New Upstate Jobs Plan

Albany, N.Y. –During debate on the floor of the New York State Senate not long ago, one prominent Senate Democratic leader said that three-way negotiations between the Democratic leaders of the Legislature and Governor David Paterson had reached a “critical stage,” but Republicans have been left out of those talks and Senator George Winner (R-C-I, Elmira) is wondering if state leaders are giving any consideration at all to a new jobs plan for upstate New York.

April 27, 2010
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Spending Cap

It seems like common sense to many of us in New York government:  The first step toward fundamentally changing the way Albany does business is to limit state government's ability to spend taxpayer money.

But we've known for a long time that New York State has a spending problem.  It's nothing new.  Government critics have been saying it for years and, believe me, there's plenty of credit to go around for who's responsible.

January 13, 2010
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Winner Will Continue Local Offices in Elmira, Bath in 2010

Elmira, N.Y.– State Senator George Winner (R-C-I, Elmira) reminded area residents  that he will continue to operate district offices in Elmira and Bath throughout the new year. Winner encouraged local residents to utilize his offices as the first place to turn for assistance with concerns and questions involving New York government.  

January 7, 2010
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Recruiting Volunteers

It’s an issue that’s simply not going to go away, and so we just need to keep working at it.

I’m talking about an issue that I’ve been trying to keep alive in the Legislature since my election to the New York State Senate four years ago: the future of our local volunteer fire departments.  Each and every one of us recognizes that government, at every level, has its hands full dealing with economic and fiscal challenges as deep-rooted and as difficult as we’ve ever had to face.

September 28, 2009
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New Law Extends Rifle Hunting to Schuyler County

Elmira, N.Y., September 18–Schuyler has joined the list of area counties where rifle hunting is allowed under legislation sponsored by State Senator George Winner (R-C-I, Elmira) and signed into law by Governor David Paterson.

The new law (S.4127/A.7509, Chapter 441 of the Laws of 2009) was sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblyman Tom O’Mara (R-C, Horseheads).

September 18, 2009
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Winner Offers Amendment to Reform State Budget Adoption Process

Albany, N.Y.–In the wake of a 2009-2010 state budget adoption process that continues to draw criticism from government reform advocates for its unprecedented secrecy and lack of public scrutiny, State Senator George Winner (R-C-I, Elmira) has offered a legislative amendment to require that every state budget adoption include the use of joint, bipartisan conference committees.

April 24, 2009
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