Opinion

They deserve our praise These last few months have been challenging for most everyone. Our normal routines and activities that previously provided structure have been turned upside down. The state’s educational system has faced sweeping changes and has been forced to dramatically adjust the ways in which teachers connect to their students. New York’s educators […]

During a recent press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he is enlisting the help of Bill and Melinda Gates in an effort to “reimagine” the state’s education system. The governor seems to be considering some radical proposals. He dismissively referred to the idea of students sitting in a classroom and learning from a teacher

We are beginning to be able to quantify the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus health crisis, and although the numbers may seem scary, there is much we can do to ensure New York endures and, eventually, thrives.  New York State is facing a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit over the next several years, with some estimates

We are living in a difficult time. Our country and its communities are deeply polarized; many Americans distrust one another as well as the government and other institutions. The novel coronavirus has deepened our problems in a way none of us imagined. The number of Americans who have contracted the virus has surpassed 1 million.

Over the years, our Assembly Republican conference has consistently warned against one-size-fits-all solutions for New York state, one of the most regionally diverse in the union. What works for the residents in Manhattan does not necessarily work for us. It has been true of countless economic issues before, and I believe that it’s true when it

If you feel like Congress has become less productive, less functional, and more partisan — you’re right. I have been thinking a lot lately about how it’s changed over the years since I served there in the 1960s to the 1990s, and several issues help explain why it often struggles to get things done.  Heightened partisanship may

Though the COVID-19 virus has taken a horrific toll on our state, our disciplined adoption of social-distancing practices has prevented even worse outcomes. Public-health experts were hopeful that a rigorous commitment to social distancing could prevent an onslaught of cases from completely overwhelming the emergency capacity of our health system. They were right. While we

The toughest issue in foreign policy is when, where and how to intervene in the affairs of other countries — and when to walk away. Given America’s role as a global leader, the question arises for U.S. leaders again and again.  We tend to think first of military intervention, but there are multiple ways to

This year’s budget process was one unlike any of us have ever seen, with face-to-face interaction nearly impossible, late-night debates taking place in an empty chamber, and negotiations being shaped by an overwhelming public-health crisis. During these unprecedented and unpredictable times, everyone in government has done their best to adjust to significant challenges and provide

One of the intriguing features of the coronavirus pandemic is how sharply it has illuminated the importance of effective political leadership. Wherever we stand on the political spectrum, we’re looking to elected officials to help steer us through this crisis.  While I don’t want to talk about specific politicians, a lifetime in politics has given