Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R-C-I-Corning) has been named vice chairman of the Assembly Minority Program Committee, according to an announcement by Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb. In addition, the leader appointed Palmesano as a new member of the Assembly's Local Governments Committee.

The Minority Conference Program Committee advocates and promotes crucial components of the Assembly Minority Conference’s agenda across the state and through all media platforms, including newspaper editorial boards.

Palmesano is eager to begin this important service to the conference.

“I am honored and humbled to be asked by Leader Kolb to join our conference’s leadership team and serve on this important committee. Working with my colleagues on the Program Committee will be an excellent opportunity to help raise statewide awareness of important issues, challenges and opportunities facing hardworking families and employers throughout our state,” said Palmesano.

Palmesano is equally eager to serve on the Committee on Local Governments. The primary focus of this committee is to assess the legislative needs of New York State's municipalities, including counties, towns, villages, school districts, fire districts and special districts. Committee members monitor the concerns of local governments, develop legislative remedies to address them, and research new proposals to enable local governments to better serve their constituents.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Assembly Local Governments Committee and will continue to be an outspoken advocate of the urgent need to address the crippling burden unfunded mandates continue to place upon the budgets of our local municipalities and school districts, and, therefore, local property taxes for our families, seniors and businesses, “ concluded Palmesano.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Assemblyman Phil Palmesano as Vice-chair of the Assembly Minority Program Committee and member of the Committee on Local Governments,” said Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua). “The Assembly Minority is committed to dramatically lowering the cost of living and working in New York State. As part of his work with the Program Committee, Phil will be instrumental in getting the word out about issues important to families across our state and legislation that would make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family. Phil, a former Steuben County legislator, will also serve as a strong voice for the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes communities struggling under the burden of unfunded state government mandates in his work on the Committee on Local Governments.”

Palmesano will continue to serve in his role as the Ranking Minority Member on the Assembly Energy Committee. He also sits on the following committees: Corporations, Authorities and Commissions; Libraries and Education Technology; Oversight, Analysis and Investigation; and Real Property Taxation. He also serves on the bi-partisan Legislative Commission on Rural Resources.