A weekly column from NY State Senator Tom O’Mara,
While this state – more specifically, while citizens, communities, families, taxpayers, workers, and others, in every corner of New York – remains under one-party, all-Democrat control, we can never allow that to mean there’s no room for other voices, other ideas, or, most importantly, other commitments to a way of legislating and policymaking that can head this state in a better, stronger, more effective and successful direction.
It’s a role and a responsibility that I, together with all my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly Republican conferences, continue to take seriously and stand up for.
Toward that end, our Senate Republican Conference recently reaffirmed our obligation to this critical place in New York government through the release of a new working agenda called “Commitment to New York.”
It’s a declaration and a platform for better government. We believe it recognizes that this state is headed in the wrong direction, that we are a state in decline under one-party control, and that New York’s current powers that be are ignoring fundamental priorities.
The Senate Republican “Commitment to New York” is founded on the following 10 cornerstones:
Ø Delivering tax relief for families and small businesses. In short, we have pledged to implement tax cuts to make New York more affordable for working and middle-class families, seniors, businesses, and veterans;
Ø Repealing cashless bail and pro-crime policies. Prioritizing public safety will be one of our top priorities moving forward. That means repealing dangerous policies and confronting the crime crisis head-on. It also means ensuring a fair voice in the justice system for everyone, including police, corrections officers, judges, and the victims of crime;
Ø Implementing a pro-New York jobs plan. Senate Republicans are committed to building a business-friendly economic climate and eliminating the bureaucratic red tape standing in the way of the kind of economic growth and opportunity that all New Yorkers deserve;
Ø Protecting and safeguarding women’s rights and safety;
Ø Energy affordability and freedom. Our conference has put forth a commonsense, long-term energy strategy focusing on diversification balancing clean, safe, and affordable energy supplies;
Ø Standing with law enforcement. We have long been dedicated to being law enforcement’s voice in state government, prioritizing the safety of our officers and enforcing strict laws to better protect them from ever-increasing criminal violence;
Ø Ending New York’s migrant crisis, a crisis that is on its way toward bankrupting this state unless it’s brought under control by ending unlimited sanctuary policies and shutting off the limitless taxpayer-funded handouts and incentives attracting illegal migrants to our border;
Ø Supporting Israel and combatting antisemitism, including ending state funding for institutions, including colleges and universities, enabling, or ignoring antisemitism;
Ø Defending parental rights to make decisions concerning their children’s health and education; and
Ø Enacting statewide voter ID and term limits for state legislators.
Find out more at: https://www.nysenategopcommitment.com.
At the beginning of the 2024 legislative session, Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, outlining our conference’s hope for the future of New York State, said, “New Yorkers are deeply dissatisfied with the direction of our state and our Conference is here to provide an alternative path forward. I have traveled throughout the state and people are tired, frustrated, and angry. They feel forgotten. Over the course of the year, we have seen crimes and costs rise. Antisemitism is infiltrating our schools and communities and has become the norm. The migrant crisis has only gotten worse because New York City politicians continue to push their feel-good policies, but it is these radical policies that are driving New Yorkers out. As the Leader of this conference, I will not take a back seat to the progressive agenda destroying our state. Our Republican Conference will fight to give hope to those New Yorkers who feel they have no alternative but to leave our state. Our commonsense agenda provides solutions to build a greater New York for future generations.”
Those words continue to ring true at this very moment and they continue to express the underpinning of our conference’s “Commitment to New York” platform.
