Senator Helming's 2021 Legislative Survey

January 13, 2021

Legislative Questionnaire

As your State Senator, I want to make sure your views are heard as we begin the 2021 Legislative Session.

During these challenging times, it is especially important for me to hear your ideas and feedback regarding the serious issues facing New York and our
communities.

While we continue to work to bring the pandemic under control, I am mindful of our responsibility to support our economic recovery and protect taxpayers. That’s why I’m asking for your help. Your input will inform the legislation I draft and sponsor, and the votes I cast on important issues. It will help me more effectively advocate for the needs of our residents and communities.

Please complete this survey by February 14th.

As always, if I can ever be of assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Senator Pamela A. Helming
54th District

1 Start 2 Complete

Do you believe New York is headed in the right direction? *

Yes

Undecided

Do you think New York State taxpayers should fund political campaigns by adopting a “public financing” system? *

Yes

Undecided

Should the Governor’s COVID-19 “emergency powers’’ granted at the start of the pandemic be rescinded? Currently, these powers allow him to enact spending and regulatory changes and suspend existing laws without the approval of the State Legislature. *

Yes

Undecided

Do you support an additional tax on the wealthiest New Yorkers, sometimes referred to as a “millionaire’s tax”? *

Yes

Undecided

Should a COVID-19 vaccine be mandatory? *

Yes

Undecided

What do you believe should be the State Legislature’s top priority this year? *

	01	02	03	04	05
Making NY more affordable; *	Making NY more affordable; - 01	Making NY more affordable; - 02	Making NY more affordable; - 03	Making NY more affordable; - 04	Making NY more affordable; - 05
Environmental Protection; *	Environmental Protection; - 01	Environmental Protection; - 02	Environmental Protection; - 03	Environmental Protection; - 04	Environmental Protection; - 05
Job Creation; *	Job Creation; - 01	Job Creation; - 02	Job Creation; - 03	Job Creation; - 04	Job Creation; - 05
Additional education funding; *	Additional education funding; - 01	Additional education funding; - 02	Additional education funding; - 03	Additional education funding; - 04	Additional education funding; - 05
Other *	Other - 01	Other - 02	Other - 03	Other - 04	Other - 05

Label in order of importance from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most important.

If other, what other issue?

Do you believe that the “Bail Reforms” enacted in 2019, which eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges, have made your community safer? *

Yes

Undecided

Should State, school and local government employees be offered early retirement incentives if it will result in a cost savings to the state? *

Yes

Undecided

Should recreational marijuana be legalized? *

Yes

Undecided

Should tenants be guaranteed the right to display the American flag? *

Yes

Undecided

Do you support legislation that would allow boards of elections to begin counting absentee ballots on or before Election Day instead of waiting until the canvas (final tallying of votes)? *

Yes

Undecided

This year, the Legislature is expected to consider many proposals to meet the pressing challenges facing our state, including an estimated $60 billion revenue shortfall. *

	01	02	03	04	05	06	07
Reducing costs on hard working families *	Reducing costs on hard working families - 01	Reducing costs on hard working families - 02	Reducing costs on hard working families - 03	Reducing costs on hard working families - 04	Reducing costs on hard working families - 05	Reducing costs on hard working families - 06	Reducing costs on hard working families - 07
Cutting wasteful spending *	Cutting wasteful spending - 01	Cutting wasteful spending - 02	Cutting wasteful spending - 03	Cutting wasteful spending - 04	Cutting wasteful spending - 05	Cutting wasteful spending - 06	Cutting wasteful spending - 07
Creating more jobs *	Creating more jobs - 01	Creating more jobs - 02	Creating more jobs - 03	Creating more jobs - 04	Creating more jobs - 05	Creating more jobs - 06	Creating more jobs - 07
Delivering tax relief *	Delivering tax relief - 01	Delivering tax relief - 02	Delivering tax relief - 03	Delivering tax relief - 04	Delivering tax relief - 05	Delivering tax relief - 06	Delivering tax relief - 07
Increasing school aid *	Increasing school aid - 01	Increasing school aid - 02	Increasing school aid - 03	Increasing school aid - 04	Increasing school aid - 05	Increasing school aid - 06	Increasing school aid - 07
Improving health care *	Improving health care - 01	Improving health care - 02	Improving health care - 03	Improving health care - 04	Improving health care - 05	Improving health care - 06	Improving health care - 07
Making college more affordable *	Making college more affordable - 01	Making college more affordable - 02	Making college more affordable - 03	Making college more affordable - 04	Making college more affordable - 05	Making college more affordable - 06	Making college more affordable - 07

Please number each of the following issues from 1 (most important) to 7 (least important) in terms of its importance to you and your family:

Do you support the legalization of mobile sports betting? *

Yes

Undecided

Which of the following measures would you support to help close New York’s budget deficit? *

Legalize and tax mobile sports betting;

Legalize and tax recreational marijuana;

Across the board spending cuts;

Additional taxes and fees;

Additional taxes on millionaires;

Additional taxes on second homes.

(check all that apply)

Do you support the “New York Health Act,” which would transition New York to a “single payer” health care system? Under this plan, the state government would be responsible for delivering health care for all New Yorkers. *

Yes

Undecided

Do you support Medical Aid in Dying legislation, which would allow terminally-ill patients to make the choice to end their own life? *

Yes

Undecided

Do you believe public schools should be permitted to reopen to full-day, in-person learning, while maintaining COVID safety protocols? *

Yes

Undecided