Opinion

[U.S. Representative John Katko (R–Camillus) released the following statement Jan. 22 after the new Biden Administration announced a series of executive actions in its first days in office] On the campaign trail and in the weeks leading up to the Inauguration, President Joe Biden pledged to unify our country and advance effective policies built on consensus. […]

If the months since the November elections have shown us anything, it’s that the U.S. is more deeply divided than we have experienced in a very long time. It’s reached the point where, rather than take pleasure in the success of a politician elected to the presidency, you have to keep your fingers crossed on his behalf.

Our nation [recently] watched as new leadership came to power at the federal level, marking the first time both the President and Senate Majority Leader share a connection to Central New York. Their knowledge and ties to this community, and their ability to collaborate with state and local leaders, position our region to seize opportunities and address

In the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns, New York’s economic-development and reopening plan has been confusing, inconsistent, and has disregarded objective data and legislative cooperation. In every corner of the state, business owners have been forced to wade through complicated and constantly-changing guidance. The most recent iteration of this is based on a zone-colored scheme that

With Social Security’s finances in the spotlight these days, especially since COVID-19 devastated the U.S. economy, there is no shortage of ideas for how to reform the Social Security System (SS) to restore it to financial solvency. Some proposals have originated in Congress (Social Security 2100 Act) and others have been floated by various “think tanks.” In

The New York Assembly recently reconvened to begin the 2021 legislative session. While the halls of the Capitol were dramatically different due to COVID restrictions, we begin our work with a sense of optimism and purpose. After a great deal of tumult in 2020, here in New York we must set an example for the rest of

President-elect Joe Biden will take office vowing to bridge partisan differences and unite Americans. It will not be easy.  Biden will have to work with a Congress that is deeply divided, reflecting divisions among the American people that have grown stronger and more intense.  Beginning in the 1990s, we entered a period of protracted polarization.

The [New York State] proposal to reduce the 60-hour overtime-threshold [on farms to 40 hours] threatened to over-regulate New York’s family farms out of existence. Fortunately, the [state Department of Labor’s] Wage Board acted prudently in its decision to preserve the current threshold for the time being. This is welcome news for farmers across New

Joe Biden won’t become President of the United States [until Jan. 20], but it’s fair to say he’s already feeling the pressures of the office. I think being president-elect may be the second-hardest job in the world.   For one thing, as president-elect he’s encircled by people who want something from him: appointments, jobs, and internal

Vaccines for COVID-19 recently began being distributed and administered. The Wall Street Journal states it will take until sometime in March to vaccinate the first 100 million individuals with the highest priority of getting the vaccine. That would leave well over 200 million Americans still in need of the vaccine as we head into spring.   The