OPINION: Syracuse–area Congressman comments on Biden’s early executive actions

[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. With our nation still responding to and recovering from the ongoing pandemic, I wholeheartedly agreed with this approach, and applauded his commitment to working in a bipartisan manner to move our nation forward.

But, President Biden’s actions have not reflected his unifying tone. In his first days in office, President Biden has issued numerous Executive Orders that codify far-left priorities which run counter to Central New York’s interests. This included a knee-jerk rollback of commonsense national security and immigration measures to secure our borders and policies that pave the way for a national $15 minimum wage, a move that would cripple our economy and the many local small businesses already struggling to survive during the pandemic.

I strongly encourage President Biden to reject demands from the far-left, refocus his agenda, and make good on his promise to unify.  

Congressman John Katko, 58, represents the 24th Congressional District of New York, which includes all of Onondaga, Cayuga, and Wayne counties and a portion of Oswego County.