New York State’s “Move Over Law” has recently expanded to better protect volunteer emergency responders attending to distressed or disabled vehicles along roads and highways. I was pleased to vote in support of the expansion which was signed into law last month and will become effective in 2017.

The expanded law requires drivers to exercise “due care” and, where possible, to move over when approaching a parked or stopped vehicle displaying blue or green lights. Previously, the law applied to ambulances, police cars, and fire vehicles displaying red or white lights and to hazard vehicles displaying amber lights, but did not encompass volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance-worker vehicles. If drivers are not able to move over, they are required to reduce speed as appropriate. Violators of the Move Over Law can face a maximum fine of $150 and/or imprisonment of up to 15 days for a first- time offense.

The original law, the Ambrose-Searles “Move Over Act,” was named in honor of two law-enforcement officers, State Trooper Robert W. Ambrose and Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy Glenn Searles, who were both killed while assisting during roadside emergencies. Deputy Searles was trying to help a woman whose vehicle had slid off the side of the road during wintery conditions on Route 481 in the town of DeWitt in 2003. A passing vehicle failed to recognize the lights and hazardous conditions and struck Deputy Searles and his vehicle. Sadly, he died as a result of his injuries. Last year, the bridge near where Deputy Searles was killed was named in his honor.

Trooper Ambrose was killed when his car was struck from behind by a vehicle on the New York State Thruway in the City of Yonkers in 2002. Trooper Ambrose was investigating an accident when a speeding vehicle, operated by a 20-year old intoxicated driver, lost control and struck his car. The impact caused his police car to catch fire and the driver and a person from the original accident were also killed in the crash.

Unfortunately, these types of accidents happen far too often. Law-enforcement officials say that attending to roadside emergencies is still one of the most hazardous calls they undertake on duty. As it is, our first responders risk their lives for the safety of others. Providing safeguards in the law is the least our state can do for the many dedicated volunteers assisting in roadside accidents. Hopefully, with this law change and raising public awareness about the dangers of emergency respondents’ jobs along the roads, more lives can be spared.

William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.

By now, millions are lusting for the debates. My guess is that the first one will break records for viewership.

Another guess is that Hillary Clinton is already practicing how to handle insults. She probably has aides flinging every insult they can think of at her. She is rehearsing her replies.

Given Donald Trump’s history, this makes sense. He may well call her a crook and a liar. He may well demand that she answers nasty questions about corruption. No matter what questions the moderators pose, he might snap, “Instead of answering this, let us get to the real issue here. Mrs. Clinton lies constantly. The American people want to know why,” or “The Clinton Foundation is nothing more than a political slush fund. You use it to sell favors. You say it is a charity. You lie.”

She has had months to prepare. A good question is whether The Donald will come up with something outrageous she has overlooked and not prepared for fully. Meanwhile, she will attack him just as viciously. We are told he never preps for debates. If true this time, he may regret that.

The campaign coverage from the big networks has been biased as usual. The Media Research Center has staff watch and evaluate networks for bias. They have had their hands full.

Their findings on convention coverage were typical of what they have found for decades.

Each party produces videos they show at their conventions. Networks can choose to let their viewers see them. CNN allowed three Republican videos to be screened. They ignored a dozen more. They switched to chatter from the network’s commentators. The videos they skipped included ones covering the Benghazi mess and the Fast and Furious scandal.

When the Democratic convention arrived, CNN showed 18 of that party’s videos. They allowed 62 minutes of Democrat videos versus 14 minutes of Republican videos.

In 63 instances, their commentators scolded Republicans for negative statements. They did the same for Democrats only five times.

Countless monitors have presented evidence of media bias toward Democrats over the years.

Political mouthpieces move back and forth. From networks to jobs within the Democrat machine and to jobs in Democrat administrations. It shows in the coverage they present to us. The words objectivity and balance don’t belong in the same sentence with ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, and CNN. (Note I refer to news coverage, not opinion programs.) The American public deserves better than this.

A final thought is about tax cuts. Hillary promises a number of tax increases. I don’t take them seriously. For a few reasons.

First, the economy is slowing. We have already had a dismal recovery from our bad recession. The president can spin this 50 ways from Sunday. It doesn’t wash. The economy has never come close to hitting full stride in eight years.

Jobs figures are lousy. Nowhere near enough new jobs. New-business numbers are horrible. New businesses and small businesses produce most of our new jobs. Meanwhile, new investment by big business is also sluggish. And profits are shrinking for many big businesses. There are innumerable signs we may be headed toward a recession. There are precious few signs the economy is going to catch fire any time soon.

The economy desperately needs some thoughtful tax cuts.

Back to Hillary as president. She could easily face a recession. If she then pushed for tax increases, the new House — likely to still be Republican — will fight her big time. It may push for tax cuts instead.

She might create a do-si-do with them. She might cave to tax cuts for some piece of legislation in return. She could say the nasty Republicans forced her to accept tax cuts. And that a deteriorating economy forced her to abandon her tax-raising promises.

Whatever happens, I cannot imagine politicians whacking this fragile economy with more tax increases. Yes, I know they often act foolishly, but…

From Tom…as in Morgan.

Tom Morgan writes about political, financial and other subjects from his home near Oneonta. Several upstate radio stations carry his daily commentary, Tom Morgan’s Money Talk. Contact him at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com