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OPINION: Make America Great Again is more than a slogan
It is necessary For the first time since the reign of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which put the full-throated administrative state in place, America has aligned the executive, legislative, and judicial branches to restore power to the people and rip it out of the hands of their taxpayer-funded overlords in the federal bureaucracy. This is the […]
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For the first time since the reign of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which put the full-throated administrative state in place, America has aligned the executive, legislative, and judicial branches to restore power to the people and rip it out of the hands of their taxpayer-funded overlords in the federal bureaucracy.
This is the time, purpose, and vision behind the founding of Americans for Limited Government more than 20 years ago.
In the past three years, the U.S. Supreme Court has opened the door for the first time in decades to roll back federal regulatory overreach. The court declared that regulations that go beyond the law passed by the elected Congress are unconstitutional in West Virginia v. EPA.
And just this past year, the Supreme Court overturned a 40-year-old decision that instructed courts to give deference to the wisdom and knowledge of the federal bureaucracy over those who were suing to prevent the expansion of the regulatory state. By ending so-called Chevron deference, the federal courts can listen to arguments and dismiss absurd or disputed claims by regulators when confronted with conflicting and credible testimony.
These two cases, along with a few others that have the same effect, open the doors not only in the courts, but also for Congress to act to shut down this unconstitutional expansion of government.
To make matters even more hopeful, President Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a non-governmental Department of Government Efficiency (or DOGE). The goal of DOGE is streamlining government and providing the President and Congress a pathway to not only wring waste, fraud, and abuse out of the system, but also to provide a blueprint on government reorganization.
These are hopeful times, but here is the secret that we all know. If changes are simply made using Donald Trump’s formidable [executive order] pen and paper, they can be rescinded as early as 2029.
This is why Congressional action is essential. Narrow majorities in both the House and Senate will dictate some of the scope of changes that can be made. But Congress can help write overreaching regulations out of the law by refusing to reauthorize legislation unless the regulatory changes are made. It can strip funding for the implementation of regulations through the appropriations process. And Congress can affirm executive branch-recommended rescissions reflecting cuts in spending that have been deemed wasteful or unnecessary by the White House.
The great news is Speaker Mike Johnson (R–La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R–La.) have already started the ball rolling by directing their committee chairs to identify these overreaching regulations so that the House can hit the ground running on day one.
The even better news is that with the bully pulpit of President Trump, media disruptors like Truth Social, talk radio, [podcasts], and X.com, and groups like Americans for Limited Government, the administrative state will face powerful grassroots pushback directly into Congress urging change.
The great restoration of America is possible. There are many challenges ahead, and it will likely take 12 years of GOP presidential leadership to clean up the mess created on a bipartisan basis over the past century.
But for the first time in generations, there is hope that the administrative-state dragon can be slayed, spending can be refocused upon constitutional priorities, and the great American economic engine will be unleashed to create a future that the baby boomer generation cannot imagine.
Freedom is contagious and freeing the minds and talents of our nation’s entrepreneurs, inventors, and dreamers has been the key to our nation’s wealth, historically creating a prosperous middle class where parents can achieve their dream that if their children apply themselves, they will achieve greater things than their parents.
Make America Great Again is not a slogan, it is a determination to fix what is broken in America including restoring individual freedom and today it is necessary and that is why there is hope unseen for generations.
Rick Manning is president of Americans for Limited Government.
Rome Health names medical director of robotics program
ROME — Rome Health recently announced it has appointed Po Lam, M.D., as medical director of the health system’s robotics program. In this role, Lam, a nationally recognized urologist, will provide oversight of the overall care and clinical services for robotic services, according to an Oct. 16 Rome Health announcement. The emphasis will be on
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ROME — Rome Health recently announced it has appointed Po Lam, M.D., as medical director of the health system’s robotics program.
In this role, Lam, a nationally recognized urologist, will provide oversight of the overall care and clinical services for robotic services, according to an Oct. 16 Rome Health announcement. The emphasis will be on maintaining high standards of quality and safety through ongoing education and continuous quality-improvement initiatives.
With support from the Rome Health Foundation, the hospital purchased the da Vinci Xi Surgical System and began offering robotic procedures in June 2024.
“The technology complements our surgeons’ expertise by extending the capabilities of the surgeon’s eyes and hands,” Rome Health Chief Medical Officer Cristian Andrade said in the announcement. “For patients, it means smaller incisions, faster recovery time, minimal scarring and pain, less trauma on the body and shorter hospital stays.”
Bariatric, general surgery, gynecologic surgery and urological procedures can be performed using the robot. Dr. Lam specializes in advanced robotic surgery in the areas of prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and difficult kidney stones. He will soon be performing robotic procedures at Rome Health.
Dr. Lam has performed more urologic robotic surgeries in the Central New York area than any other surgeon, Andrade said. Certified in da Vinci robotic surgery, Lam serves as a proctor for Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
Lam is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. He completed his surgical training from the University of Louisville Health Sciences Center. Lam went on to receive his urologic training at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He was also trained at Roswell Park Cancer Center around urologic oncology. Roswell Park is the first NCi (National Cancer Institute)-designated cancer centers in the U.S. Lam finished his fellowship training in endourology, laparoscopy, and minimally invasive surgery at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Lam is part of the Associated Medical Professionals multi-specialty group, along with New Hartford urologists Jeffrey Sekula, M.D., Daniel Welchons, M.D., Jonathan Block, M.D., and Ronald Kaye, M.D., who perform surgical procedures at Rome Health.
Rome Health is a nonprofit health-care system based in Rome, providing services to patients throughout Central New York. It is an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Health and an affiliated clinical site of New York Medical College.
Ask Rusty: About Disability Benefits While Still Working
Dear Rusty: I retired at my full retirement age, am now 79, and will be 80 in December. I have been working consistently since. I get a meager Social Security (SS) benefit, only about $800 [per month] due to my federal retirement offset. Most jobs I have held since filing and collecting SS have involved
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Dear Rusty: I retired at my full retirement age, am now 79, and will be 80 in December. I have been working consistently since. I get a meager Social Security (SS) benefit, only about $800 [per month] due to my federal retirement offset. Most jobs I have held since filing and collecting SS have involved labor-intensive work, to include my current position. This has taken a toll.
My question: is there any provision in Social Security that permits re-evaluation of Social Security benefits for disability after one has collected and paid into the system for some 15 years? I suspect not but thought I would ask, since at my not so tender age, I am faced with having to cease employment that generates needed income.
Signed: Still Working at 79
Dear Still Working: I’m afraid that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are no longer available once you reach your SS full retirement age (FRA), which for you was age 66. Indeed, anyone collecting SSDI at full retirement age is automatically converted to their regular SS retirement benefits at the same amount they were previously receiving on SSDI. That’s because SSDI benefits are intended to sustain workers up to their SS full retirement age, but SSDI goes away once FRA is attained.
Thus, the provision to apply for SS disability allows only those who have not yet reached their full retirement age to seek disability benefits. Once FRA is reached, SSDI benefits are no longer available. Simply for your awareness, there would be no financial advantage for you to receive SS disability benefits anyway, because the most you can get on SSDI is your full retirement age amount. Thus, since you retired and claimed SS at your full retirement age, no additional disability amount would be available anyway.
FYI, I admire, at your “tender age,” that you are still actively working, but I’m afraid you cannot claim more now on Social Security disability because you’ve already reached your FRA. However, from what you’ve written, your SS retirement benefit has been affected by the so-called Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) which affects those with a separate pension earned without contributing to Social Security.
If you’ve been separately working (and contributing to Social Security) since you left government service, and you now have more than 20 years contributing to SS from other non-government “substantial earnings,” it’s possible that you can request a reevaluation of your WEP penalty. WEP provides relief for those who have more than 20 years contributing to Social Security. So, if you have more than that over your lifetime, you could ask that your WEP reduction be reevaluated to consider your additional years contributing to Social Security. If that is the case, your monthly amount would be increased to consider those additional years contributing to SS since you first claimed.
I suggest, if you now have more than 20 years of contributions to Social Security from your non-government work over your lifetime, that you call the Social Security Administration (SSA) to request reevaluation of your WEP retirement amount. FYI, you can see exactly how many years of SS-covered work you have by requesting an “Earnings Statement” from the SSA. You can get this statement by calling (800) 772-1213, or at your personal “my Social Security” online account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. In any case, I wish you good fortune, and hope that reevaluating the WEP reduction to your SS benefit may offer some small financial relief as you go forward.
Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.
Small Business Development Center at OCC is changing its name
ONONDAGA, N.Y. — The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Onondaga Community College (OCC) plans to change its name to one that “encompasses the region
ANDRO and Frankfort launch pilot program to improve community safety
ROME, N.Y. — The PRISM Lab at ANDRO Computational Solutions LLC has launched a new pilot program, featuring the Team Awareness Kit (TAK), with the Village of Frankfort as part of an initiative to provide municipalities with technology to improve community safety. TAK, developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in cooperation with companies including
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ROME, N.Y. — The PRISM Lab at ANDRO Computational Solutions LLC has launched a new pilot program, featuring the Team Awareness Kit (TAK), with the Village of Frankfort as part of an initiative to provide municipalities with technology to improve community safety.
TAK, developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in cooperation with companies including ANDRO, is a software suite that bridges the gap between defense and civilian applications. The tool can improve team communication across smartphones, radios, and computers. Features include georeferenced imagery and communication tools, a unified situational-awareness system, and life-safety networking when communication infrastructure may fail.
The pilot program introduces ANDRO’s PRISMTAK, a peer-to-peer networking protocol that allows users to manage data using mesh-networking hardware to ensure communication in any situation.
“At ANDRO, we are deeply committed to advancing technologies that serve both defense and civilian needs,” ANDRO Chief Information Engineer Tim Woods said in a statement. “The TAK pilot in Frankfort represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide innovative solutions for community safety and operational excellence. We are excited to see the impact of PRISMTAK and its potential to transform communication and safety protocols.”
ANDRO says it develops technology solutions in wireless communications and artificial intelligence that serve defense and civilian applications.
Former fire department treasurer in Oneida County charged with stealing $92,000
DURHAMVILLE, N.Y. — A former treasurer of the Durhamville Fire Department in Oneida County has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $92,000 from the
CenterState CEO recognizes regional businesses during Economic Champions event
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CenterState CEO on Tuesday recognized the efforts of more than 300 regional businesses during its annual Economic Champions Celebration at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Cener at Oncenter. The event recognized 306 companies and organizations for “driving the region’s economy forward” through job creation; business expansions; investments in operations; new business openings;
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CenterState CEO on Tuesday recognized the efforts of more than 300 regional businesses during its annual Economic Champions Celebration at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Cener at Oncenter.
The event recognized 306 companies and organizations for “driving the region’s economy forward” through job creation; business expansions; investments in operations; new business openings; and commitments to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).
Together, recipients were recognized for their aggregate creation of more than 4,725 jobs; over 890,000 square-feet of expansions; and nearly $1 billion in capital investments, CenterState CEO said in its announcement.
“In a sign of positive economic momentum,” 118 businesses opened new storefronts, offices and facilities; 51 celebrated a milestone anniversary; 159 were received significant awards and achievements and 43 participated in efforts that advance DEI in their workplaces and community, per the news release.
Companies are nominated as Economic Champions by CenterState CEO and the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce; the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance; the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc.; peers, employees and staff; as well as self-nominations.
“The annual Economic Champions Celebration is a reminder of the power of gratitude and of the importance of celebrating our individual and collective accomplishments,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO said. “This event is our opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the hard work of our business community. Thank you to those who choose to invest their hard-earned capital in buildings, in facilities, in their employees and in making our community a better place to live and work. My hope is that all those we celebrate through this event know they are appreciated for the role they play in the region’s growth and in Central New York’s continued transformation.”
CenterState CEO also presented its Community Visionary Award, sponsored by Wegmans Food Markets, to Novelis, which has a plant in Oswego. The award is presented to an organization that “embodies a vision of economic opportunity and is creating a significant impact on community prosperity,” CenterState CEO said.
On its website, Novelis describes itself as a “leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider and a world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling.”
Novelis is a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited, which specializes in aluminum, copper and metals; and a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group based in Mumbai, India, the website says.
Oneida County website address to change on Nov. 21
UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County announced it will transition its government website and email domains to .gov on Wednesday, Nov. 21 to comply with a
Herkimer launches Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan
HERKIMER, N.Y. — The Village of Herkimer announced it has formally launched its Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Plan and will host a series of engagement
Finger Lakes Land Trust purchased land along Black Diamond Trail
ULYSSES, N.Y. — The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) announced it purchased 23 acres in the town of Ulysses in Tompkins County from the Cayuga Nature Center. The property, which is a mix of meadows and woodlands, is located along the Black Diamond Trail at the Houghton Road crossing. The FLLT intends to transfer the
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ULYSSES, N.Y. — The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) announced it purchased 23 acres in the town of Ulysses in Tompkins County from the Cayuga Nature Center. The property, which is a mix of meadows and woodlands, is located along the Black Diamond Trail at the Houghton Road crossing.
The FLLT intends to transfer the parcel to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), which owns and manages the Black Diamond Trail. The property provides a buffer to the trail and the state office is interested in creating a mid-way access point on the property with parking, restroom facilities, and a water fountain.
“Again, the Finger Lakes Land Trust has stepped up to support state parks,” Fred Bonn, regional director of Finger Lakes State Parks, said in a press release. “In this instance, their efforts will enable us to address a critical need for the Black Diamond Trail, namely a midpoint parking lot and bathroom facility like the one currently being constructed at Taughannock Falls. Parks looks forward to acquiring this parcel from the FLLT and then moving into design and construction in the next few years.”
The Black Diamond Trail is an 8.4 mile multi-use trail network that connects Taughannock Falls State Park in Trumansburg and Cass Park in Ithaca. The FLLT previously transferred 12 acres in the town of Ulysses to the OPRHP.
“This is a terrific addition to the Black Diamond,” Andrew Zepp, president of FLLT, said in the announcement. “With each passing year, more and more people are getting out to enjoy this multi-use trail. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with our partners at state parks to continue to enhance this outstanding resource.”
The Finger Lakes Land Trust — which focuses on critical habitat for fish and wildlife, conserving lands important for water quality, connecting existing conservation lands, and keeping farmland in agriculture — has protected more than 33,000 acres of the region’s undeveloped land. It owns and manages a network of over 45 nature preserves open to the public and holds perpetual conservation easements on 200 properties that remain in private ownership.
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