SENATOR OBERACKER JOINS CALL FOR ‘A NEW HOPE FOR THE EMPIRE STATE’

ALBANY – 01/17/24 – Senator Peter Oberacker (R/C-Schenevus) today joined with members of the Senate Republican Conference to unveil key priorities for the upcoming legislative session.  “A New Hope for the Empire State” legislative agenda prioritizes the issues that affect everyday New Yorkers, but have been neglected by the radical left politicians who control Albany. 

“Every day I hear from constituents who tell me they are packing their bags and leaving New York, it is a trend that we must halt,” said Senator Peter Oberacker.  “The time is now to reverse the damage done over the last several years thanks to one-party rule in Albany and deliver crucial changes that people deserve.  Government needs to be accountable to real concerns and our 2024 agenda meets that fundamental demand.” 

The Senate Republican plan would restore balance and common sense to government while vigorously rejecting the extreme policies of the past three years.

Increasing Affordability 

• Reigning in out of control spending: enact a spending cap, rejecting tax increases and unfunded mandates, and providing tax relief for all New Yorkers;

   

• Taking action to help all New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet by rejecting extreme climate proposals, incentivizing new housing construction to deal with the housing shortage, and making child care more accessible and affordable; and

   

• Improving the state’s business climate by protecting small businesses and farms by reducing regulations and unfair costs.

   

Improving Public Safety

• Protecting New Yorkers from antisemitism and other hateful violence by making any antisemitic behavior a hate crime, making all hate crimes bail eligible, protecting hate crime victims and houses of worship, and implementing financial penalties on both college universities and students who condone or engage in antisemitic behavior while receiving state aid;

   

• Rejecting efforts to continue New York a sanctuary state status;

   

• Reversing failed criminal justice policies that have made our communities less safe, including bail reform, discovery reform, and others; 

   

• Rejecting policies that put criminals above victims and law-abiding New Yorkers; and

   

• Providing more services and funding to address mental health crisis and substance abuse disorders.

   

Building a Greater New York

• Closing the pandemic learning gap,  expanding school choice, and further investing in vocational education and workforce development;

   

• Providing support to our veterans to reacclimate and find educational and career opportunities; and

   

• Investing in and strengthening our infrastructure to encourage growth.

   

-30-