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Hawley blasts Cuomo for veto of gaming acts bill that would have helped local fundraisers

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

 “I’m not sure if the governor is still half asleep on tryptophan from Thanksgiving, but it is unthinkable that he can morally and logically kill legislation that was passed 136 to 8 in the Assembly and 59 to 3 in the Senate. 

“Disrespectful and heartless doesn’t begin to describe Cuomo’s actions toward our tens of thousands of tireless volunteers in charities, churches and fire departments, who donate their time to improving their community and now have their hands tied when it comes to fundraising. Gov. Cuomo’s veto message claims the bill may be unconstitutional but our counsel here at the Assembly already ensured that the legislation was constitutional when it was drafted.”

“The Town of Stafford Fire Department has conducted their car raffle for roughly 70 years and now they are faced with a 300-percent budget increase without their fundraiser. This surely amounts to a tax hike for town residents who are already struggling under the nation’s highest taxes. Upstate fire departments are primarily volunteer and rely on these annual raffles for revenue and to fuel operation costs. Whereas downstate many firefighters are paid so this legislation isn’t as important to them. The veto further exemplifies the Upstate and Downstate divide and why ‘Two New Yorks’ should be put on the ballot.” 

“Actions like this are one of the reasons people are fleeing New York in droves. For a governor who cowardly avoids the Legislature to enact his policy agenda and perpetuates our state’s highest taxes in the nation, you’d think the least he could do was sign a non-controversial bill that helps charities raise money.”

Kevin Ross

So lets see if we got this straight, the VOLUNTEER Fire Department is trying to make some money to fund their department so they don't have to raise TAXES like a certain person in Albany Gov. Cuomo, likes to do to fund his pet projects and friends, and what does our wonderful Gov. do, he veto's a bill to allow them to keep making that money. Maybe the volunteer fire departments need to send all operating bills to our Gov. and let him pay the bills with the money he spends on his pet projects and friends.

Nov 29, 2016, 9:27pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

NYC's Governor sent the provinces another gold plated "F" and "U"? I'm shocked! Shocked, I say!

We need an electoral college for statewide offices in NY based on counties. That way the the statewide politicians might actually have to acknowledge the people who live outside the anthill actually exist.

They might even notice that we don't care about local NYC issues at all. Ever. Not even a little bit. Nope. Let NYC settle its own issues and leave us the heck out of it.

Nov 29, 2016, 11:56pm Permalink
Brian Graz

For starters Andrew Cuomo is an arrogant, condescending, asshole. In this case it's not even partisan [legislation that was passed 136 to 8 in the Assembly and 59 to 3 in the Senate]... WTH!

Having said my piece, I have to reiterate my stated concern from when this legislation was first introduced, that it was too inclusive, and should have just focused on public essential services like volunteer fire departments, and first responders, and not "charities, churches" etc. Do we want to exempt 'go fund me' efforts... or 'radical Islamic religious' organizations? Maybe this was Andy's problem... but I doubt it. If it was he should have said so.

Nov 30, 2016, 12:15am Permalink
Bob Price

Since when does Comrade Cuomo give 2 sh*ts about the Constitution??? What a POS, maybe we should send him our tax bills for the fire dept. now. Tom hit the nail on the head-Andy boy doesn't like competition for "gambling". Why can't his veto be overridden??? Oh yeah,thanks for passing the new item for inspection-tinted windows,too dark and the vehicle will fail. I hope this will apply to ALL vehicles......

Nov 30, 2016, 7:25pm Permalink
Debra Nanni

The inspection/ tinted windows is a good thing in my opinion. It's purpose is to help law enforcement. How would you like to be a cop and not be able to see who you are stopping or what might be pointed at you ? They deserve that consideration.

Nov 30, 2016, 9:33pm Permalink
Randa Williams

If there is an up side to this at all, it is that he comes up for reelection, and maybe if everyone who dislikes him in this area gets out and votes, we could make him disappear. I had some fun with him when he came to Batavia, and would be up for doing it again.

Dec 1, 2016, 10:31am Permalink
Bob Price

The only reason he was re-elected was New York City area and a couple other counties in NY-rest of state voted for Astorino. As far as tint goes, it better apply to ALL vehicles. Why should pickups/vans/station wagons be allowed to have tint and other vehicles can't(as it is now)...Not sure what the new inspection rule entails,hopefully it'll only be the front windows.Really don't feel like scraping all tint off my son's car(we bought it that way,it was a Florida vehicle).....

Dec 1, 2016, 5:03pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Actually, Bob, I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say that I think you'll find that the "tint law" WON'T be for ALL vehicles.

I agree, it should be. But, in many states (even here in FL), there are exemptions (or, as I like to call them, exceptions) for "laws".

You and I can't park in a "No Parking" zone, without being (possibly) in danger of getting a ticket. An LEO can (and, DO). Likewise, the governor's vehicle won't be stopped/ticketed for traffic violations. Same goes for parking within so many feet of a fire hydrant. And, speeding! And, having a headlight/taillight inoperable! And, window tint (and, that includes reflective windows) above a certain percentage! And, the list goes on, and on and on.

And, it's not just for law enforcement. Here in Florida, "private investigators" (not law enforcement, but PRIVATE investigators) can have window tint that exceeds what the rest of us "poor slobs" aren't allowed to have.

So, I highly doubt ALL vehicles will be subject to the "tint" law.

Dec 1, 2016, 11:07pm Permalink

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