Opinion

As we progress through this new year at the start of a new decade, the looming $6 billion New York State budget shortfall is a harsh reminder that some things just never change in Albany. Uncontrolled state spending, unfunded mandates, and an anti-business regulatory climate continue to plague our state.  Tax hikes on families and […]

You know these words, but how often do you stop to think about them? “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…” They

Because we have access to a wide selection of food year-round at local grocery stores, it is sometimes easy to forget where our food comes from, but New York’s farmers are agriculture leaders. They produce an array of commodities including milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, and maple syrup. Not only is the variety impressive but Upstate’s

This country has a debt crisis. Yawn. Who the hell cares? Certainly not our Congress. It keeps juicing up what it spends — beyond the income that comes into the Washington, D.C. coffers. Our Congressional reps remind me of a couple who came to me years ago for financial counseling. They had gone bankrupt twice. And

On Dec. 16, the law allowing undocumented immigrants the ability to obtain a New York State driver’s license went into effect. The fact that this is now the law is a stunning reversal from 12 years ago when then- Gov. Elliot Spitzer proposed the measure. Some may recall, Spitzer dropped the proposal due to overwhelming opposition

Not long ago, I was in a meeting to talk about a public-policy issue. It was complex, and as we considered the various angles I thought about what it would take to translate talk into change on the ground. I wasn’t analyzing the politics of it — I was focused on the types of people

For the last 10 years, there has been a national effort to collectively support local businesses with Small Business Saturday. Since 2010, this initiative has served as a reminder that gifts and services purchased locally for the holidays supports businesses and jobs in our backyards. In fact, it is estimated that 67 cents of every

Support your friends and neighbors Christmas is nearly here, and for those of you who love to wait until the last minute to check off all the names on your shopping list, there are some great local options to help you find that perfect present.  The Finger Lakes region is packed full of shops, artisans,

The New York Division of Budget recently released its mid-year financial plan update, which shows that the state is facing its largest budget gap since the recession in 2010. This time, however, the economy is not to blame. It is largely Medicaid that is causing the gap. The report shows the $78 billion Medicaid program —

To me, it was a thunderclap. Years ago, when I was in Congress, we were in the midst of a tense, contentious debate. Members had become irritated, levying charges back and forth, and tempers were rising. It was starting to look like we might just go off the rails. Then one member stood up, asked