“As the budget deadline looms, I am concerned by the hints from the governor that controversial and unnecessary policy may find its way into the state budget. Our state is facing one of its most pressing challenges, the magnitude of which we still...

Assemblyman Christopher Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling on the governor to suspend or greatly restrict visitation to state prisons to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Throughout the state many counties have taken measures to limit visitation to protect...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) today voted in favor of legislation that will provide employment protections and sick leave for those who are being quarantined for COVID-19. He additionally pressed his colleagues to take the next step...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling for a $150 million increase to the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) for a total investment of $588 million. He is additionally calling for the restoration...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling out the state’s blatant effort to impose powerful union interests over what would work best for family farmers and their workers as a whole. The so-called Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is calling for transparency from the governor and Empire State Development (ESD) over the floundering Buffalo Billions project, which faces yet another blow as Panasonic Corp. has announced that it will...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) joined veterans and his Assembly Minority colleagues in calling for the restoration of $6 million in funds for veteran programs. The funding supports a number of programs including the Joseph P. Dwyer...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) joined Congressman Tom Reed his Assembly and Senate Republican colleagues to call on the governor to reinstate Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) access for federal agents. Since the enactment of the...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) met with students and counselors from the Binghamton University Liberty Partnership Program. Staff work with 360 high school and middle school students from Binghamton, Susquehanna Valley, Owego Apalachin...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) welcomes constituents and staff from ACHIEVE, a chapter of the Arc of New York. The organization works to support and enhance the lives of those with developmental and other disabilities living in Broome,...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) at a Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Economic Development this week pointed to overregulation as the key hindrance in job growth throughout the state. The governor, however, continues to spend hundreds...

Since the so-called bail reforms have been enacted in New York state, nearly 100 cases have been reported where serial criminals and violent individuals have been released after committing heinous crimes, or have committed a serious crime after being...

Following a Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Public Safety, Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is again calling on his legislative colleagues to provide additional funding to the corrections system and law enforcement following challenges...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is again calling out the Majority for providing illegal immigrants with driver’s licenses. The state has additionally prohibited information about these illegal immigrant drivers to be shared with...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia) welcomed Southern Tier students from Reality Check, an anti-smoking action and education program, while they were visiting the state Capitol. “Empowering...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), law enforcement and his legislative colleagues held a rally in the State Capitol to continue calls for the repeal of bail reform. Last month, Friend and his Assembly colleagues unveiled A.8855, a bill...

“It’s clear that one-party rule hasn’t improved the state’s financial position one bit. New York is facing a $6.1 billion budget deficit and it must work carefully to reduce its spending rather than further burden residents with tax...

Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) and his colleagues today at a press conference unveiled legislation, A.8855, to repeal the bail and pre-trial reform laws which were passed in a partisan manner by Assembly and Senate Majority last year. Joining...

“Here’s the real State of New York: under complete Senate and Assembly Majority control radical leftists enacted reckless bail reforms which have left our communities vulnerable to violent criminals who face no immediate consequences for breaking...

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is troubled by the recent report from the Division of Budget which indicates that the state is facing a $6.1 billion deficit in next year’s budget, with about half is due to Medicaid spending. There...