[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. 

If the months since the November elections have shown us anything, it’s that the U.S. is more deeply divided than we have experienced in a very long time. It’s reached the point where, rather than take pleasure in the success of a politician elected to the presidency, you have to keep your fingers crossed on his behalf.

 There are, of course, the partisan differences on the complex challenges that beset this country. Political groups with opinions on these and other issues have become more sophisticated and more aggressive in trying to shape the public dialogue than ever before. And each side tends to be suspicious of the other, viewing their adversaries as attacking the national security interests of the country.

 Now in the mix, though, we also have the divisions stoked by former President Trump, whose desperation to hold onto power led him and his followers to traffic in conspiracy theories and to reject the norms, principles, and institutions we’ve relied on for centuries to build this nation. This is exacerbated by our splintered media and social-media universe, our rural/urban/suburban divide, and our regional and racial differences. You get the impression that many Republicans and Democrats — Americans all — live in different worlds today.

 These are not entirely new issues, but they have become sharply more painful. The greater the polarization, the tougher it is to build consensus and solve our problems, even though ordinary Americans tend to prefer cooperation and bipartisan solutions — though even that has been fraying in recent years. 

 Every indication is that President Biden identifies himself as a moderate and plans to govern from the center or a bit to its left. His cabinet choices so far have been from the deep pool of centrist Democrats, people with expertise and experience. He believes that he can advance his goals through bipartisanship and cooperation, and Democrats’ tenuous hold on both the House and the Senate may help him on this front, giving strength to moderates in both parties who are willing to sit down together in the interests of governing the country effectively.

 With Congress’s divisions mirroring the country’s, maybe there’s room for hope. If a core of legislators of both parties are willing to work with the Biden administration, find common ground, and pass legislation that makes the country better, then perhaps Washington, D.C. can actually set an example that helps a reeling nation heal.

Lee Hamilton, 89, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south central Indiana.

Our nation [recently] watched as new leadership came to power at the federal level, marking the first time both the President and Senate Majority Leader share a connection to Central New York. Their knowledge and ties to this community, and their ability to collaborate with state and local leaders, position our region to seize opportunities and address the significant challenges before us.

In the context of this new environment, CenterState CEO’s 2021 Legislative Agenda focuses on a series of state and federal legislative and policy priorities aimed at advancing our region. It is developed with input from our Government Relations Committee and issues identified by our members, taking into account key initiatives under consideration in Albany and Washington, D.C. that will have direct impacts on Central New York. This year’s top five priorities include:

Angel Investment Tax Credit: CenterState CEO supports the establishment of a NYS Angel Investment Tax Credit for investments of up to $500,000 for early-stage investments in companies with high growth potential.

COVID-19 Relief: [We] support assistance for impacted state and local governments, liability protection, and continuation of effective regulatory relief.

Economic Development: CenterState CEO supports the Endless Frontiers Act, which creates opportunities to develop new global tech centers of excellence by targeting mid-sized metropolitan regions, like Central New York, for investment in research, creation of new companies, manufacturing, and high-tech jobs.

Transportation + Infrastructure: [We] supports advancing the redevelopment of I-81, and advocates for a Community Grid Plus solution and community-focused workforce initiatives as part of the project. This project represents a $2 billion investment that will provide economic stimulus for the region. A Record of Decision is expected in 2021, and the initial phase of construction could begin in 2022.

NYS Income Tax: CenterState CEO rejects proposals to raise New York State income taxes, including those that introduce a new “millionaires’ tax” or a potential “wealth tax.” New York is already a high-tax state and further tax increases create competitiveness issues for talent attraction and business operations.

As we welcome new leadership, we are hopeful that Central New York will finally receive the kind of federal support needed to drive progress for our region through these initiatives. To learn more about our policy priorities, contact Kevin Schwab, VP of public policy and government relations, at (315) 470-1944 or email: kschwab@centerstateceo.com.

Robert M. Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO, the primary economic-development organization for Central New York. This article is drawn and edited from the “CEO Focus” email newsletter that the organization sent to members on Jan. 21.