Press Releases

NYS Assembly Minority Conference Will Continue to Advocate for The Disability Community

The needs of every single New Yorker must be accounted for as we continue to transition out of lockdown and into more regular activities. The disability community, which was hit particularly hard by both the physical and emotional impacts of COVID-19,...

New Guidance Allowing for Graduation Ceremonies A Positive Sign of Progress

The gradual reopening of New York’s businesses and movement toward normalcy in daily activities has provided a lot of optimism and hope for our small business owners, consumers, employees and residents of New York. To that end, my colleagues in the...

Tax-And-Spend Budget Will Have Relocation Ramifications

Earlier this week, the Majority Conferences passed a back-room budget deal that completely disregarded every rule of fiscal responsibility. The 2021-2022 Enacted Budget is $18.7 billion more than last year’s spending plan. New York state is now planning...

Barclay: Cuomo & The Majority Co-Conspirators Continue To Injure NY’s Bars & Restaurants

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) issued the following statement after Gov. Cuomo extended his executive order which requires bars and restaurants to close by 11 p.m. As of April 5, the 11 p.m. curfew was lifted for pool halls, casinos,...

As New York Slips Further into Unrest, the Majority Does Nothing to Make Streets Safer

New York’s criminal justice system has deteriorated to dangerous levels. At the direction of the Majority in the state Legislature and New York City, we have seen drastic changes to parole and bail policies that have undermined police officers and put...

Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay on Legalization of Recreational Marijuana

“Many are going to celebrate the passage of the ‘Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act.’ But we didn’t solve any problems today, we only created new ones.Majority members will claim victory, but they ignore the inherent dangers associated with...

Budget Priorities That Will Break the Bank

The process of developing the annual State Budget officially begins when the governor presents his spending proposal in late January. But the terms of negotiations become clearer once legislative majority conferences offer their financial plans, which...

Despite Federal Bailout, State’s Long-Term Growth Requires Drastic Change Of Course

New York state is set to receive $12.7 billion in federal funding as part of the recently negotiated American Rescue Plan. These funds are much needed as the state was facing a major budget gap created by prolonged lockdowns and disruptions to businesses...

Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

“While I welcome the decision to launch an impeachment investigation to look into alleged misconduct by Gov. Cuomo, the Assembly Committee on Judiciary must proceed with urgency. Minority members have called for impeachment investigations for weeks....

Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

“In the wake of mounting sexual harassment allegations and a potentially criminal nursing home cover-up, Andrew Cuomo has offered excuses, explanations and half-hearted apologies.He must now offer his immediate resignation.Assembly Minority members...

Cuomo Administration’s Continued Interference with Nursing Home Data Shows Proactive Malfeasance

The more information that comes out regarding the true nature of Gov. Cuomo’s pandemic response, the more obvious it is that he has always valued his reputation over providing New Yorkers with the truth. Recently published articles in the New York...

Assembly Minority Conference Rejects Majority’s Weak Attempt To ‘Repeal’ Governor’s Emergency Powers

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay today called out Assembly Majority for their inadequate agreement billed as a repeal of Gov. Cuomo’s expanded emergency powers. The bill, A.5967, removes the original April 30, 2021 expiration date of the governor’s...

Assembly Minority Expand Scope of Impeachment Commission to Incorporate Sexual Harassment Allegations

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay today announced that the Conference will expand its Impeachment Commission resolution to include recent sexual harassment allegations made against Gov. Cuomo by two former staff members. The resolution can be viewed...

Minority Leaders Will Barclay And Rob Ortt: Majority’s ‘Repeal’ Of Gov. Cuomo’s Emergency Powers A Bogus Bill

Today, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay and Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt blasted the proposal advanced by the Majorities in the Legislature to supposedly revoke Gov. Cuomo’s emergency powers. The leaders, joined by members of their respective...

Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay on Majority Members Canceling Monday's Legislative Session

"Assembly Majority members were elected to do a job, and they're running from it.There is a crisis going on. When has it been more important for us to act, to legislate or to lead?I thought last week was embarrassing, when the Assembly was in session...

Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

"With additional allegations against Gov. Cuomo coming to light, the response must be clear and decisive. A thorough investigation, conducted by an entity completely outside the governor's reach, must begin immediately."

Health Budget Hearing Offers No Closure in Nursing Home Cover-Up

Yesterday, Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker was questioned regarding the health department’s budget and response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The budget hearing was designed to review the public health portion of the executive’s budget proposal....

Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay on Today’s Health Budget Hearing

“After an unexplained three-week delay, today’s budget hearing might provide a better picture of what happened in state nursing homes during the COVID-19 outbreak. But it is only the beginning of what the Legislature should require from Health Commissioner...

Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

“After spending last week away from legislative business in Albany, the state Assembly reconvened this week on Monday to resume its legislative activity.Apparently, someone forgot to tell Assembly Majority.Over the course of the past three days, the...

Statement from Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

“For the second straight day, the Assembly Majority avoided taking any action to end Gov. Cuomo’s emergency powers. Despite a Majority-led effort last week encouraging support for repealing the executive’s authority, the Majority now appears to...