Press Releases

Upstate New York Needs Fair Share Of Infrastructure Investment

There are many competing infrastructure needs in our state, and we must carefully examine and plan how public dollars will be invested. The most pressing needs are often overlooked because they aren’t the flashy attention-getting projects. Let’s face...

Prevention And Treatment Resources Will Combat Crushing Heroin Epidemic

It’s time to have an open dialogue about the very daunting but extremely real issue plaguing our communities: the heroin epidemic. It’s difficult to believe that heroin has snuck its way into our quiet neighborhoods, but the unfortunate reality is...

Blankenbush, Colleagues Shed Light On Heroin Epidemic, Provide Solutions

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**Editor’s note – click here for a .mp4 file of Assemblyman Blankenbush speaking after today’s press conference** Today, at a press conference in Albany, Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) and his colleagues in the Assembly Minority...

Time To Put Our Children First; Close The Gap In 2016

After hearing Gov. Cuomo’s Budget Address and digesting his proposals over the last week, one thing became clear: he has lost sight of what’s most important to our state. Our children’s education should be the top priority this year and every year;...

Contract With Greenskies To Reduce Energy Costs For Lewis County

The agreement between Lewis County and Greenskies Renewable Energy is beneficial in more ways than one; Lewis County now will be able to rely on a greener source of energy while also drastically reducing electric expenses. Cutting costs where we can and...

Blankenbush Eager To Ease The Burden On Small Businesses In 2016

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) today expressed support for Gov. Cuomo’s fourth 2016 agenda proposal to raise the Personal Income Tax exemption for small businesses. Blankenbush emphasized that lowering taxes on small businesses is critical...

Time To Put A Stop To Executive Overreach

The 2016 Legislative Session is now underway, and it’s safe to say, there is no shortage of issues we have to tackle this year. Many constituents have contacted me with their questions, concerns, and issues they want resolved in 2016. An issue that...

Blankenbush Outlines 2016 Session Priorities

*** EDITOR’S NOTE: To view Assemblyman Blankenbush’s comments on the start of the 2016 Legislative Session click here or visit https://youtu.be/GryYrDCjqaM*** “I’m very excited to be back in Albany and get this year’s legislative session...

Blankenbush Staff to Hold January Mobile Office Hours

The staff of Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) will hold mobile office hours on Wednesday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lowville Town Office; Tuesday, January 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Camden Village Office; and Thursday, January...

Legislative Resolutions For 2016: A Safer, Prosperous, Ethical New York

With the New Year upon us, now is a great opportunity to reflect on what we have accomplished in the last 12 months, and where we can make improvements for the year ahead. In the legislature, 2015 held some significant accomplishments along with a number...

Agriculture: Established Industry, New Directions For 2016

As one of New York State’s oldest industries, agriculture continues to grow and change while remaining a critical component of our economy today. There’s no denying that family farms are an integral part of our region, and agriculture plays a fundamental...

Education Solutions From The Public

New York state has been learning hard lessons about creating education policy in a vacuum. I find that the most successful and reasonable education solutions come from educators, school administrators and parents directly. A few years ago, my colleagues...

Education Task Force Pushes For Common Core Overhaul

“The Education Task Force’s recommendations to overhaul Common Core are certainly a step in the right direction, but they are far from groundbreaking ideas. My colleagues and I in the Assembly Minority Conference have been pushing for these education...

The Wake-Up Call To Act On Ethics Reform

I hope the guilty verdict in former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s trial will serve as a sobering wake-up call to state elected officials that “business-as-usual” misdeeds and behavior are no longer acceptable. New York’s government has been...

Blankenbush Pleased to Announce Over $185 Million in Funding For the North Country, Mohawk Valley

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is pleased to announce that today the North Country and Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) were awarded over $185 million in funding to be invested throughout the regions. The North...

Upstate New York Roads And Bridges Deserve Fair Investment

The disparity in investment between upstate and downstate infrastructure is glaring. Announcement after announcement from the governor about the rebuild of the Tappan Zee Bridge, the redesign of LaGuardia Airport, and the most recent announcement about...

Blankenbush, Locals Ask Governor To Provide Fair Share For Local Roads, Bridges

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Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) held a rally today at the Town of Watertown Highway Department with highway superintendents, workers, local officials and county Chamber of Commerce representatives to call on the governor to provide upstate...

Assistance For Those Who Need Help With Heating Bills

As the temperatures drop, many of us wince at the expense of turning up our thermostats, but for others, making decisions about home heating are far more difficult. Many seniors on fixed incomes and families hit by hard times are making tough choices...

Celebrate Big Impact Of Small Businesses On Small Business Saturday

While many of you are planning for the holiday season, I wanted to remind everyone that Small Business Saturday is coming up on November 28. The impact of our dollars supporting small businesses is significant. According to a 2014 report from Empire...

Albany Must Prioritize Mandate Relief

Throughout the state, local municipalities are preparing and finalizing their budgets. As communities figure out how they are going to pay for services and keep property taxes from increasing, I hope our elected state officials remember that we must take...