Opinion

A big question about Donald Trump is how did they get it so wrong? That is the pundits, the party elite, consultants, editorial writers, and the other candidates. How come they were so totally wrong about the rise of Trump? The answer is Joe the Plumber. He’s the guy who dared to question Barrack Obama […]

With the deadline for the state budget approaching, one of the most contentious issues remaining is whether the state’s minimum wage should be increased to $15 an hour. This issue does not have to be included in this year’s budget, but rather could be accomplished in a standalone bill. However, the governor and Assembly majority,

If you remember the movie “Animal House,” you remember Bluto — John Belushi’s character. In one scene, he exhorts his glum fraternity pals.  He gives an emotional and rousing pep talk — ordering them to follow him. He flings his fist in the air, rends the air with a banshee rallying cry, and charges out

On a regular basis, residents of the Mohawk Valley and North Country carefully craft responsible budgets for their families. Lawmakers in Albany, however, aren’t nearly as vigilant when it comes to spending the hard-earned dollars of working-class New Yorkers.  The middle class was hit hardest by the recession, which still impacts lives today. Dollars just

Some politicians cannot understand why so many folks hate politicians. To help them understand, I suggest they simply listen to themselves. Let’s take the battle over the vacancy on the Supreme Court following Justice Antonin Scalia’s death. President Obama has declared he will nominate someone to replace Scalia (He may even have already done so

Every now and then, I’m asked if I miss Congress. My stock answer is that no, I don’t really miss it, but there are definitely times when I’d like to jump into a policy debate or call congressional hearings. This is one of those times. Over the last few weeks, several media outlets have reported

New York State has established itself over time as a nationally recognized leader for red tape, overregulation, and its stifling business climate. So why is Gov. Andrew Cuomo aiming to create yet another unnecessary layer of government? The governor’s executive budget proposal looks to form a new agency, the New York State Design and Construction

New York state is facing one of its greatest challenges yet — our drinking and waste-water infrastructure is in critical need of updates and repairs. Concerns are growing over drinking-water systems throughout the state, some that include possible carcinogens. These serve as sobering reminders of how important safe drinking and waste- water systems are to

If you were a peasant, you could be forgiven if you said that Pope Francis confuses you.  Yes, he seems like a nice man. He seems down to earth. But he sends mixed messages. Not long ago, the pope traveled to Cuba. Recently, he visited Mexico. He spoke at a big rally at the border

Providing our youth with the opportunity for a strong education is one of the most important jobs of our government. Unfortunately, the education system has had its fair share of challenges recently, both in terms of funding and from policies stemming from federal and state laws. First among the challenges was the implementation of the