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Elected officials react to Cuomo's state of state speech

By Howard B. Owens

Press release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:

“Although I am glad that the governor did not continue his game of political hide-and-seek with the legislature as we saw last year, wasting large sums of taxpayer money to present over 20 ideas with unsubstantiated legislative backing or confirmed funding sources amounts to little more than an expensive taxpayer-funded speech.

“I am glad to be back in Albany continuing to work hard for the residents of Genesee, Orleans and Monroe counties with my focus on lowing our families’ tax burden, making New York more business-friendly, fully funding our infrastructure and continuing to reform our charitable gaming laws.”

Press release from State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer:

“This year, the state of New York is facing a deficit in the billions. The budget must be balanced by restraining spending and not by more taxes for a state that has one of the highest burdens in the nation. It’s time to remove the barriers that inhibit growth in our Upstate economy and enact policies that stem the consistent loss of population of past decades, such as enacting comprehensive regulatory reforms and cutting energy taxes. 

“We should also seriously consider eliminating expenditures for the state’s economic development programs that are not creating jobs, including Start-Up NY and the tens of millions of dollars being spent on television advertising by the Executive.

“By getting our fiscal house in order, we can continue investments in improvements to our community’s transportation infrastructure and water quality, combating the heroin and opioid crisis and ensuring Western New York gets its fair share of state funding for our schools.”

Press release from Congressman Chris Collins:

"The Governor's speech was a pathetic attempt to rile his base, although even they have realized that his political empire is crumbling judging from the fact that the loudest round of applause came when he mentioned the Buffalo Bills. Republicans under President Trump have lowered taxes, rolled back regulations, and are seeing explosive economic growth. In comparison, under Andrew Cuomo, New York is facing a $4 billion deficit, the New York City subway is crumbling, and the FBI has opened an investigation into his hiring practices. New Yorkers deserve better."

Brian Graz

Two years ago Cuomo said this... has NYS's mandate madness decreased?

"At the same time, we will continue to reduce the mandates and their cost to the locality. The largest mandate is the Medicaid program. Three years ago we capped the increase in cost to the locality. Localities are now held harmless. Since then, the state has assumed approximately $3 billion in costs from the counties. I believe the state should continue to cap the growth and assume the cost as long as the local government adheres to our 2-percent cap.

Remember, my friends, the property tax is the killer tax in this state and it has been for a long time. It’s nothing new. List to what FDR said, and I quote, “The public is at last coming to realize that the increase in real estate taxes is due wholly to the increase in the cost of local and not State Government. These taxes on real estate are too high… Local government has in most communities been guilty of great waste and duplication.”

The cost, the waste, the inefficiency of our 10,500 local governments is still this state’s financial albatross and that is what is driving up the cost."

Jan 4, 2018, 12:59am Permalink
Randy Sliker

NYS is hemorrhaging Population at a record pace ,,Only Immigration is keeping the Population stable ,, and To Note the people leaving are the good People a state should bend over to keep !!

Jan 4, 2018, 9:51am Permalink
Scott Chismar

"Elected Officials react...." The responses are from Collins, Hawley and Ranzenhofer. All three Republicans. Does not seem all that fair and/or balanced to me.

Jan 4, 2018, 11:17am Permalink
Brian Graz

The good people aren't wanted in NYS... Lest we forget.
"The Republican Party candidates are running against the SAFE Act — it was voted for by moderate (progressive RINO) Republicans who run the Senate. Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that’s who they are and they’re the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York,"

Jan 4, 2018, 11:28am Permalink
Adam Tabelski

Yes they happen to be Republicans, but more importantly Hawley, Ranzenhofer, and Collins are Genesee County's elected state and congressional representatives. Thus they are the natural ones to get reactions from.

The only others are Senators Schumer and Clinton, Democrats, but I don't think they issued statements.

Jan 4, 2018, 12:06pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Mistyped, Adam?
I think "mistyping" would be like typing Gollibrand, or, Hillabrand - or something along those lines.
Typing Clinton doesn't qualify as a mistype.

Jan 4, 2018, 2:27pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

I'll give Adam the benefit of the doubt. Everyone is entitled to a mistake, including a misspelled or misplaced name, and Hillary was a New York Senator.

Jan 4, 2018, 2:55pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

We all are subject to neurons misfiring.

To Adam's point ... Our direct elected representatives at state and national levels are Collins, Ranzenhofer, Hawley. I have no control over the fact that they're all Republicans. Sure, I can, and do vote, but regardless of who I vote for, I only get one vote just like everybody else.

True, Schumer and Gillibrand are Democrats, but we've never treated press releases from them the same as our direct representatives since they hold statewide offices. Even if we had gotten press releases from them on the topic, which we didn't, we wouldn't have used them. We only use press releases from Schumer and Gillibrand when the topics are directly relevant to Genesee County (such as new grants for local agencies or governments).

Jan 4, 2018, 3:38pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Howard I have to take issue with the excuse you give in #10. Schumer and Gillibrand are our "direct" elected representatives to the US Senate, just as Collins is our "direct" elected representative to the US House of Representatives. Whether you, I, or anyone else voted for one, or all, or none of them, matters not. What they [Schumer & Gillibrand] do in their capacity involves all New Yorkers. We all pay Federal taxes and Schumer and Gillibrand are part of the Congress that determines how and where that money gets used. Schumer and Gillibrand support government funding for abortion, and are staunch gun control freaks. Do you think that their efforts in DC in these agendas are not relevant to us??? ​To say, ​"Even if we had gotten press releases from them on the topic... we wouldn't have used them." Really? I would hazard a guess that that comment will do a great deal in turning local Democrats away from reading the Batavian.

As for only reporting on matters from our Federal government that have local relevance... how do these stories fit? "Should Rex Tillerson remain Secretary of State?", "Should President Trump stop using Twitter?". "Should Congress investigate sexual misconduct complaints against Donald Trump?"

Did Councilman Tabelski make an unforgivable misstatement? Of course not. But I will say that someone who is a player in the world of politics shouldn't make such an obvious mistake, when it pertains to one of his own US Senators... Hillary has been gone for 9 years.

Jan 4, 2018, 9:32pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Brian, there's a big difference in trying to find a poll question and providing space for news releases that have almost no relevance to Genesee County. Collins, Ranzenhofer, and Hawley are all far more local to us than any U.S. Senator. If I ran every one of Gillibrand's press releases, you would start to think this is The Gillibrandian. Do you really want two or three press releases from her a day? Often about things have zero local relevance?

To me, it's not worth my time. If you want to start a website and publish them all, have at it.

As for Adam's mistake ... really? It's an absolutely meaningless mistake. It's of zero relevance to anything. I can't believe you brought it up again.

Jan 4, 2018, 10:52pm Permalink
Brian Graz

OK Howard, I concede on your first point... but not the second one. It's not absolutely meaningless and of zero relevance. Maybe if Hillary just was replaced last month... or even last year... BUT she's NOT been our Senator for 9 YEARS.
Have you been divorced? Have you ever called your current significant one by the name of your ex? How long, how many times do you think you will be given a pass because "it's absolutely meaningless mistake. It's of zero relevance"?

Jan 4, 2018, 11:21pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Adam and Kirsten are not married. There's no similar comparison.

It would be more like if I ran into you on the street and I called you Mark instead of Brian. Stupid mental error but it no way negates the fact that in a real sense I know who you are in contrast to Mark.

A great book on how the human mind works, or doesn't sometimes, is Behave by Robert Sapolsky.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/311787/behave-by-robert-m-sapo…

Jan 5, 2018, 9:26am Permalink
Adam Tabelski

I hate to belabor this, but apparently I have to:

Which is more likely: 1) that I, who has served in various governmental capacities for 15 years, who follows the news, and who votes, really does not know the names of our US senators, or 2) while doing 18 other things, including attending to my day job, I jotted a quick comment and inadvertently typed the former senators name.

Hint: It was the latter. Good day.

Jan 5, 2018, 10:50am Permalink
Scott Chismar

I am totally with Brian Graz on this. It is not as if Mr. Tabelski is a some random guy at the bar or out on the street. As an elected official, I would hope that he would know the name of our two Senators in NY, especially since the one he referred to has been gone for 8 years. To throw her name out there just shows more of the same mentality you now see on Fox News or in our White House. Again, as an elected representative you need to know what the heck is going on. Typos and mistakes will be made by all. But this was totally out of whack for a sitting elected offical. It makes me question their abilities in office.

Jan 5, 2018, 12:20pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

There is nothing to suggest in what Adam wrote is evidence that he didn't/doesn't know.

Apparently, some of the people commenting on this thread aren't human and never get a brain cramp. Being perfect must be a heck of a burden.

Jan 5, 2018, 1:06pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Here we go again... more of that exalted ego... "I, who has served in various governmental capacities for 15 years"

Howard, for your next Poll, ask the Batavian's "do you think arrogance and conceit are a desirable trait for city council members".

Jan 5, 2018, 1:18pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Since I see no evidence of arrogance or conceit I see no need for such a poll question. Perhaps I should do one about people more interested in making mountains from molehills to score political points?

Jan 5, 2018, 1:24pm Permalink
Brian Graz

I'd love a poll about people more interested in making mountains from molehills to score political points? DO IT!!!
Have to keep in mind how few people actually read these Batavian polls, and/or GAS.

Jan 5, 2018, 8:37pm Permalink

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