Opinion

After spending some time poring over Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal, it leaves me with the same sense of disappointment, as it is filled with downstate-heavy spending, costly programs, and hidden tax increases. The governor has spent his early weeks of the year setting his gaze on higher office and touting a lofty progressive agenda, […]

Unfortunately, New York State has a habit of creating policies that punish businesses. In the past two years, business owners in New York have had to ingest several onerous mandates such as new wage orders, higher minimum wages, and a new paid family leave policy.  Now the Department of Labor is considering another mandate, known

All hail the rise of the schlubs. Along with the fat biscuit-faced folks. And the hinters of our hinterland. And the frumps of Frumptown. That is my reaction to the recent nasty attacks by celebrities on Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary whose job requires her to spend a lot of time on

For many New Yorkers, high student-loan debt and the cost of living can make it difficult to achieve the dream of owning a home. As a result, fewer people may be able to invest in homes in our local communities. Legislation I sponsor, known as the New York State (NYS) Diplomas to Homeownership Program, would

Have you ever wondered whether we should have a warning label on college courses? “Warning: this course is taught by a professor who has proven he is a dunce.” Your child can sign up for a course at Princeton with Professor Paul Krugman. He won a Nobel Prize in economics. He writes for the New

In his recent State of the State address, Gov. Cuomo called the recently passed federal tax reform bill “economic civil war” that will raise New Yorkers’ property taxes and income taxes. Unfortunately, no explanation for this statement was provided. Because of this type of overheated rhetoric coming from Cuomo and others, confusion continues to reign

Maybe you have seen some of the many reports indicating that a lot of our college students love socialism. They love even Marxism, the seedbed for socialism. Many hate filthy capitalism.  This is understandable. Many university profs love the two. They preach-teach accordingly. Carnegie Mellon Institute is openly celebrating Karl Marx’s 200th birthday. Various profs

Anyone who has turned on a television set in recent years has likely seen state-driven advertising, highlighting various outdoor recreational opportunities, attractions and business incentives. And taxpayers paid a hefty price for those commercials.  Between 2011 and 2017, New York spent $354 million on tourism and economic development advertisements. The upstate economy has continued to

During Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State speech, he spoke at length of his lofty and highly politicized ideals, but offered little in terms of details. The governor spoke about progressive changes and focused little on the needs of upstate New Yorkers like you or me. Here’s a clear picture of what’s going on

Both political parties are gambling on the recently passed GOP federal tax reform bill. The term in poker is “all in.” They are all in. Republicans, of course, gamble that the lower rates will spur investment — and will fire-up consumer spending. They bet the economy will experience a rising tide. And this rising tide