Setting 2019 Legislative Priorities

On Jan. 9, the New York State Legislature gaveled in for the first time this year marking the start to the 2019 legislative session. I always look forward to this day. It brings a renewed sense of hope and change for the upcoming year and allows for the opportunity to set priorities for this session with my colleagues. I want to share some of those priorities this week. These common-sense reforms, if enacted, would help restore public trust, bolster the economy, and overall, improve New York.

Reform the state’s approach to economic development:

• Provide tax and regulatory relief to small businesses.

• Provide oversight of lump-sum appropriations so that the state comptroller and attorney general are part of this process.

• Conduct independent audits of state economic development programs.

Restore public trust and crack down on pay-to-play politics:

• Increase transparency and break up the consolidation of power that has led to corruption and poor public policy.

• Reform legislative grants to prevent conflicts of interest.

• Enact term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs.

• Create a new crime for failure to report corruption.

Invest in infrastructure:

• Increase state support for CHIPs (Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program).

• Use additional settlement dollars to improve roads, bridges, culverts, and other critical infrastructure.

• Eliminate the 25 percent local match requirement under the Harmful Algae Blooms Program so more communities can qualify for assistance.

Have the state take over cost of Medicaid and reduce property taxes:

• Provide for the full takeover of Medicaid over a 10-year phase-in period.

• In tandem with the Medicaid takeover, freeze property taxes then assume the property tax growth of local governments or school districts that stay within the 2 percent tax cap.

• Create a real property tax redesign team to reduce mandates and to find at least $500 million in annual recurring savings.

Keep education a priority in the budget:

• Target school aid to low-wealth and high-needs districts.

• Continue to support and expand career-ready programs for high-school students

• Ensure libraries are adequately funded to provide vital social and career connections for families and individuals.

Support low-income families by:

• Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit

• Doubling the New York State Child and Dependent Care Credit

• Creating incentives for New Yorkers on unemployment to work part time

Protect those with Developmental Disabilities by:

• Increasing funding for housing, respite, transportation, and employment opportunities.

• Ensure direct-care workers receive a living wage.

We need to pass legislation that will move our state forward and help our upstate New York economies to flourish. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get these changes enacted. In addition to these reforms, I plan to push back on some of my downstate colleagues’ agendas that will harm Upstate and hurt small businesses.       

William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us or (315) 598-5185.