Senators May, Mannion talk legislative priorities

Onondaga County's two state senators help make up what is now a supermajority of Democrats in the chamber and they hope to use that support, and their positions as chairs of Senate committees, to enact a shared agenda that touches on everything from climate change to election reforms.

In a recent 'State of the District' online forum, Sen. Rachel May and Sen. John Mannion outlined their priorities for this session of the New York State Legislature. Recovery from the pandemic will be a major focus for both, which Mannion said will necessitate finding new sources of revenue to close a $15 billion budget gap. Among them, he has signaled support for increasing taxes on the state's wealthiest residents, legalizing and taxing recreational marijuana, and legalizing mobile sports betting.

Mannion, who was made chair of the newly created Senate Committee on Developmental Disabilities, has introduced legislation that would require legislative approval for the closure of any facility or institution relating to mental health, developmental disabilities, or office of children and family services facilities and institutions. And Mannion, a former teacher, also plans to fight for adequate spending on schools. 

"There can be major implications if we don't restore that funding and place public education at our highest priority," Mannion said. 

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