News from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Office:
933 Legislative Office Building • Albany, NY 12248 • (518) 455-3751
District Offices:
607 West Washington Street • Suite 2 • Geneva, NY 14456 • (315) 781-2030
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For Release: IMMEDIATELY, December 28, 2012
Contact: Doug Finch (315) 781-2030
2012: The Legislative Year in Review
Weekly column from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua)

First and foremost, it has been an honor to represent the people of the 129th Assembly District by serving as their legislator in the New York State Assembly. I look forward to standing up for the folks in the new 131st Assembly District that includes all of Ontario and part of Seneca counties in 2013. As one of only four legislative leaders in the state, I have the privilege of serving families and small businesses across the state and bringing the values of opportunity, prosperity, community and respect to my work in Albany. My door is always open to you!

The past two Legislative Sessions have been among the most successful and productive in New York's history. As we prepare to start a new year, it is a good opportunity to reflect back upon the Session months of January through June.

January: Launch of "Citizen's Committee for an Effective Constitution"

January began with Governor Andrew Cuomo's second State of the State address, where he sought to build on the accomplishments of 2011, which included many of the priorities that my Assembly Minority colleagues and I have long championed. These issues include rebuilding New York's economy, delivering tax relief and reinforcing a new culture in Albany of transparency, openness and accountability.

To achieve these goals, I led the charge for Constitutional reform, by helping launch a groundbreaking, bi-partisan reform coalition, "Citizens' Committee for an Effective Constitution." The other co-founders are Bill Samuels, Chairman of New Roosevelt and the New Roosevelt Foundation and Dr. Gerald Benjamin, Associate Vice President for Regional Engagement and Director of the Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach (CRREO) at SUNY New Paltz.

The "Citizens' Committee for an Effective Constitution," also known as EffectiveNY, seeks to deliver true reform by bringing together recognized leaders and experts from the worlds of nonprofit/good government advocacy, private sector leadership and public service, academia and scholarly research to advance serious public discussion of issues pertaining to New York's State Constitution, state government, the economy and public policy.

February: "New York needs to make time for mandate relief"

While the State Legislature began the State Budget negotiations, I called for mandate relief to be a major part of the discussions. Unfunded mandates are created when Albany tells local governments to do something, like start a program, provide a service, or build a school, but does not provide any funding. Localities and school districts are often forced to raise property taxes to make up the shortfall. Comprehensive program reforms and cost-containment measures were needed, specifically reforming the State Medicaid system, which was by far the largest burden facing our local governments.

March: Redistricting reform, pension reform, expansion of the DNA databank, important steps toward Medicaid relief and an early budget

March was a productive month in terms of legislative accomplishments. In the middle of the month, we enacted redistricting reform, pension reform and expansion of the DNA Databank. These were all issues strongly championed by the Assembly Minority Conference.

History was made - the budget was adopted early for the first time since 1983! It also included many priorities I was fighting for, including important steps toward Medicaid relief by enacting an eventual state takeover of the Medicaid program, long-term investments in education and no new taxes and fees.

April: 'EffectiveNY' and 'GrowNY' key to a more prosperous New York

With the budget passed, it was time to turn the attention to reforming the State Constitution ('EffectiveNY') and building a better economy ('GrowNY'). We held three EffectiveNY Town Hall Meetings in Upstate New York to keep the conversation going about creating a more effective state government and State Constitution.

In late March, I introduced the GrowNY legislation and spent the month of April getting the word out about this revolutionary program that could help New York's "second-stage" businesses create quality jobs without asking overburdened taxpayers to foot the bill. GrowNY was only the first piece of my comprehensive pro-jobs agenda that I will carry into the 2013 Legislative Session.

May: Building New York's "Innovation Economy" begins with focusing on education and career skills development and fighting against the Thruway toll hike

Fostering innovation, teaching children the basics, instructing them in applying their education, promoting lifetime learning and skills development - these educational cornerstones are the foundations for building New York's innovation economy. Removing job-killing regulatory and bureaucratic barriers, leveraging private investment to support emerging start-ups to ensure they have access to capital and credit, helping second-stage small businesses with guidance and expert assistance, these are common sense ways we can strengthen New York's entrepreneurial sector.

When the New York State Thruway Authority proposed a budget-breaking 45 percent toll hike on commercial trucks with three or more axles, I was the first Legislative Leader in Albany to raise the warning flag, calling it, "a road to fewer jobs and a less competitive economy."

June: Another successful session!

The last month of session this year was notable both for what did and what did not happen in Albany. We worked together to pass legislation which prohibits bullying and cyber-bullying in public schools and enacted the "Protection of People with Special Needs Act" to create uniform safeguards in residential facilities and day programs. What did NOT happen was the usual end-of-session dysfunction - abnormally late nights and an environment that forces legislators to vote on hastily written bills distributed at the Eleventh hour. That was the unfortunate status quo around Albany for far too many years.

By working together, we were able to build upon the many achievements from last year and once again produce real results for a better, more affordable New York. This year's successful Session marks the second consecutive year we have delivered the positive change New Yorkers have been demanding.

July Through December - A busy time back home in my district

This summer and fall, I spent a lot of my time meeting face-to-face with the families and small business owners I represent and celebrating what makes life in the Finger Lakes so rewarding. Highlights included helping the folks at the Walmart in Geneva present a $20,000 contribution to the Sampson Veterans Cemetery in Seneca County, supporting the Vienna Gardens Senior Living Center's Summer Olympic Games in Phelps, throwing out the first pitch at the Geneva Twins baseball game at "NYS Assemblyman Brian Kolb Nite" (we won!), participating in the Sauerkraut Parade and Festival in Phelps and touring CY Plastics Works, Inc. in Honeoye.

There was one pressing issue that kept me hard at work in my district office through the summer months - the proposed Thruway toll hike. I am proud to report that just last week, after months of protest from farmers, small business-people, taxpayers, business groups and folks just like you from around the state, the Thruway Authority hit the brakes and decided to not to raise tolls after all.

I look forward to building upon these successes again in 2013. As the new year approaches I look forward to another productive and successful year, both in Albany and back here in my district. I hope you all have a very prosperous new year!

What do you think? I want to hear from YOU! Send me your feedback, suggestions and ideas regarding this or any other issue facing New York State. You can always contact my district office at (315) 781-2030 or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us.