Assemblymembers Angelo Santabarbara (D-Rotterdam) and Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced school funding that will help Schenectady City School District fill a projected $10.3 million budget deficit. The announcement came at Schenectady High School where...

Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced that he helped pass a 2014-15 state budget that increases aid to schools by $1.1 billion (A.8556-D). The final numbers include an additional $251 million increase in Foundation Aid, which had not been increased...

“Today I helped pass legislation to allow New York to join a multi-state compact to award its electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. The United States should directly elect its executive, and it is the only...

Local governments have been dealing with skyrocketing health insurance costs for years. Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) has introduced a bill (A.8362-A) to allow municipalities such as towns, villages, and school districts to join county self-insured...

With education in the forefront, Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced the passage of the Assembly’s budget proposal that would provide for an increase in aid to schools by nearly $1.1 billion for SFY 2014-15, the largest increase in six years...

The Capital Region received good news when JetBlue Airways announced it will be coming to Albany International Airport by the end of next year. Assemblymember Steck (D-Colonie) joined in their excitement as the airline will make more flights and destinations...

Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced he is co-sponsoring legislation that would eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) as well as enact the School Funding Equity Act (A.8720, A.4609). Both pieces of legislation aim to reform the way...

“My Assembly colleagues and I passed legislation today that calls for a two year delay in aspects of the Common Core and testing. Parents, students, teachers, and countless interested parties have spoken out on this issue, and the Assembly has listened....

“Middle class families have been devastated by the skyrocketing costs of college. These high costs have forced families and students to burden themselves with massive student loan debt just to pay tuition. New York’s priority should not be funding...

“Last week I called for a two year delay of the implementation of the Common Core. Today the Board of Regents responded to the concerns voiced by parents and educators and announced their recommended changes. It is important to note that the Board acknowledged,...

“The state is bestowed with the enormous responsibility of educating our children. We share the same goals, to see that our children are prepared to be successful in college or in the workforce. While I believe we should challenge our students and push...

Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced that he was appointed to the Health Committee for the 2014 legislative session. Along with this new appointment, Steck has kept his previous year’s assignments on the Children and Families, Insurance,...

Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced that the Assembly, for a second straight year, passed the ten point Women’s Equality Act (A.8070). The act represents ten distinct reforms that would end sexist and discriminatory practices, ensure reproductive...

“In today’s address the governor outlined his plan for education spending for 2014. It is imperative that we do not forget that while increases in education aid are needed, it is the distribution that is most important. We need to take into account...

With the governor set to deliver his 2014 budget address on Tuesday, Assemblymember Steck (D-Colonie) will be paying close attention to what increases in education aid are proposed. “I believe public schools can offer a high quality of education...

Changing the primary election date to June has the potential to save New York taxpayers $50 million. Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced the Assembly passed legislation to move the state one step closer to this cost saving reality. “Holding...

“Today the governor unveiled an ambitious plan for the future of New York and outlined how we can continue to progress forward. The governor’s pledges to reduce property taxes and consolidate local governments have been top priorities of mine since...

“Property tax relief is the highlight of Governor Cuomo’s recently unveiled tax plan. The shift toward tying property taxes to a homeowner’s income level and ability to pay or a ‘circuit breaker’ is the right idea at the right time. We need...

Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced that Governor Cuomo signed a bill he authored (Ch. 415) into law, which will prevent the foreclosures on a number of Schenectady churches and temples. Previously, the Legislature passed a measure allowing...

“It was an outrage when the forums to discuss the Common Core were canceled. The future of our children’s education is not the proper arena to play political games. All of us in public life occasionally have to take the heat from our constituents....