Press Releases

After Bombshell Wall Street Journal Report, Ra Says Majority Should Put National Politics Aside, Focus on State Response to Covid-19

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) believes the Assembly Majority should refocus the purpose and scope of upcoming hearings on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “When the Majority repeatedly wants to use state...

Miller, Walsh, Ra: Fighting for All

Assemblywoman Melissa “Missy” Miller (R,C,I-Atlantic Beach), Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I-Ballston) and Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) are teaming up to advocate for the safe and responsible reopening of group home visitation...

Ra Honors Local Winner of His Annual Civics Contest

Center: Winner Kaitlyn Goldman is pictured with her parents. Back Row, from Left to Right: Her teacher, Ms. Jenna Cavuto, Assistant Principal Amy Trojanowski, Principal Andrew Casale, Dean of Students Mr. Steve Benner, District Superintendent Dr. Michael
This week, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) honored Kaitlyn Goldman, the winner of his annual “There Ought to Be a Law” contest. The contest tasks local students with devising a legislative solution to a problem facing our society. Over...

Ra Unveils 'NY First' Bill to Support Small Business Recovery

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) today held a press conference to unveil his legislation creating the “NY First-Shop Local” program. This bill would repurpose existing funds allocated to the Department of Economic Development to create...

Assemblyman Ra on Two Busy Days of Session Addressing Covid-19 Health, Economic Crisis

“My colleagues and I returned to Albany to take action on some important legislation. Among the bipartisan bills passed included providing administrative flexibility to our local governments, securing new grant funding for small businesses to purchase...

State Reopening Process Needs an Infusion of Common Sense and Consistency

With all of the neatly-manicured PowerPoint slides populated with very official looking charts and graphs illustrating neat, tidy trendlines, it seems like the state’s reopening process is being handled with a disciplined, dispassionate focus on...

Ra Participates in Virtual Assembly Hearing

Yesterday, the Senate and Assembly conducted its first virtual hearings to examine the federal response to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York state. Representatives from many industries testified regarding their experiences seeking...

It's Time for the Legislature to Get Back to Work

Gov. Cuomo has assumed expansive emergency powers as the state continues to battle the impact of COVID-19, and he hasn’t been shy in using them. He’s spent over $3 billion in taxpayer dollars. He’s chosen which businesses are shuttered...

Ra Outraged by Parole Board’s Decision to Spring Murderer Who Raped His Victim from Prison

“The parole board is continuing its outrageous run of horrible decisions that insult victims’ rights and compromise public safety. Bruce Haims broke into the home of Pamela Sharon, his girlfriend’s best friend. When Pamela refused his advances,...

Ra Wants Bill Gates to Stay Away From New York’s Education System

“This is not the first time Bill Gates has tried to leverage his wealth and fame into a position as a high profile-government education consultant. His track record is terrible. He championed Race to the Top and Common Core, which promoted untested...

Let's Help Our Small Businesses and Their Workers So They're Ready When the Time is Right

The efforts of our essential workers during the last several weeks have been nothing short of heroic. Grocery clerks and pharmacy employees, law enforcement officials and first responders, and especially our doctors, nurses and healthcare workers have...

Ra, Colleagues Beat the State Budget Buzzer to Restore Critical Funding for Veterans

“Heading into the last budget bill last night, millions of dollars in proposed cuts to important veterans counseling and legal services programs had yet to be restored. My colleagues and I didn’t give up. We repeatedly raised the issue during...

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) Statement on the Final Enacted Budget

“At a time when our state and nation are battling an escalating public health emergency and a deepening economic crisis, it’s shameful that Senate and Assembly Majority codified the governor’s outrageous power grabs, settled his political...

State Budget Requires Decisive, Bipartisan Action

By their nature, emergencies are unusual circumstances. Responding to an emergency using everyday tactics isn’t just ineffective- it ultimately makes you look like an insane person. If your house is burning down, you don’t start brainstorming...

Budget Presents Us with a Chance to be Better than Washington

“This week, the country has watched partisan divisions prevent congressional leaders from delivering for the American people. In Albany, we’re going to have to do a lot better than that when we reconvene to pass the budget. I’m urging legislative...

Amid Devastating Impacts of Covid-19 Outbreak Assembly Minority Conference Proposes Small Business Emergency Recovery Act of 2020

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski) and the Assembly Minority Conference today proposed the “Small Business Emergency Recovery Act to 2020”, which would provide immediate assistance to small businesses and employees as...

Ra Helps Pass Bill Guaranteeing Paid Leave, Job Security for New Yorkers Suffering From Coronavirus

“Today, we took decisive, bipartisan action to protect the economic security of patients fighting the coronavirus. They’re doing the right thing by quarantining, and we need to do right by them while they’re out of work. It’s as simple...

Expedited Budget Must Not Include Controversial Policy Proposals

“New Yorkers are weathering an unprecedented public health crisis. We should agree to a temporary budget extender that keeps our government running and includes a robust response to the coronavirus. Doing this quickly, while adhering to appropriate...

On Anniversary of Amazon Departure, Ra Hopes To Hear About New Direction at Economic Development and Taxes Budget Hearings

“Almost exactly one year ago today, a small group of progressive Majority politicians showed why our state is struggling to create jobs and share in the economic prosperity that’s sweeping the rest of the country. Today, I’m hoping to hear...

Ra Announces Availability of Applications for Annual Scholarships Sponsored By New York Conference of Italian-American Legislators

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) is joining with his fellow members of the Conference of Italian-American State Legislators to announce the availability of applications for their annual scholarship program. Four scholarships will be awarded, each...