With January upon us, it’s time to look forward to 2015. The beginning of a new year brings with it optimism for what I hope is an active, productive, and effective legislative session. Lawmakers will once again convene in Albany, signaling the start of the session and new opportunities to develop and implement measures that improve New York state. This state has no shortage of issues that demand our immediate attention.
Hit the ground running
During the 2015 legislative session, a number of critical areas need to be addressed. I hope that we will do the following.
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Put a greater focus on the upstate economy — The state’s recent ban on fracking hurt the Southern Tier and necessitates that upstate New York is provided meaningful programs to generate jobs, grow businesses, and get a struggling economy back on track. Casinos are not the answer, and New York’s “Tax, Fine, Harass” mentality has driven businesses, jobs, and families out of the state. It’s time for initiatives that invest in emerging businesses, lower costs and regulations on companies, and provide greater training opportunities to a 21st century workforce.
Get our infrastructure house in order – The state Thruway Authority just adopted a budget with a $25 million shortfall. The administration has yet to disclose a spending plan for the $4 billion Tappan Zee Bridge project. These are unacceptable practices that will almost certainly lead to toll hikes and more money coming out of our pockets. With New York’s aging infrastructure, we need greater transparency and accountability from the Thruway Authority and on all major capital projects. The state has a $5 billion windfall generated by legal settlements with banks — money that should be directed to improving our deteriorating roads, bridges, dams, and other infrastructure needs.
Find a cure for Common Core — The state’s education system has been in disarray since the disastrous implementation of Common Core testing standards. With the departure of the state education commissioner, and the governor’s recent veto of his own teacher-evaluation bill, more confusion exists than ever. My colleagues and I have proposed sweeping education reforms, and are the only conference to call for a delay to Common Core tests so the program can be fixed.
Finally enact women’s equality reforms — Assembly Democrats played politics with critical women’s equality legislation, and as a result, New York still waits for new laws that would curtail workplace discrimination, enable pay equity, strengthen human trafficking laws, protect women from discrimination, and adopt a host of other reforms. By not introducing individual bills on women’s equality, as was done in the Senate, Assembly Majority members hijacked meaningful reform. Let’s hope in 2015 they have learned from their mistake.
Enact ethics reform — The endless string of arrests, investigations, and allegations of corruption in Albany has not resulted in meaningful ethics reform. I am proud that the Assembly Minority has led the charge and offered the most stringent proposals to curtail the abuse of public office that has eroded trust in government. Had the Public Officers Accountability Act passed in 2013, we would have new laws and a new culture in Albany. But inaction by Assembly Democrats and the governor’s abbreviated Moreland Commission has taken ethics reform in the wrong direction. The public deserves better, and it’s our responsibility to provide them with that in the new year.
Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C–Canandaigua) is the New York Assembly Minority Leader and represents the 131st Assembly District, which encompasses all of Ontario County and parts of Seneca County. Contact him at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us