This is really a wonderful area. We’re surrounded by a beautiful countryside, close to many outdoor sports opportunities, and are a hub of New York’s agricultural industry. People are beginning to take notice of our part of the state, and locals are...

“I am encouraged that the Army is sparing Ft. Drum from major cuts. It highlights how our community banded together with leadership, including Maj. Gen. Bannister, Congresswoman Stefanik, and my state legislative colleagues, to make the case that Ft....

Fighting for better schools in our community isn’t just something we must do for our kids; it’s something we must do for all of us to help keep our communities and economy vibrant. A recent article in the Watertown Daily Times reported that the military...

This legislative session had many ups and downs, creating a situation where important bills were pushed through at the very end. Throughout the last few weeks, many local and school officials were left sitting on the edges of their seats wondering if...

“This year has been difficult, with many transitions and changes, but I have always kept my focus on the people’s priorities – which are keeping our upstate communities affordable for families and providing better employment and business opportunities...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) helped pass the New York Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (A.7767-B). The legislation authorizes New York State to establish savings accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families...

I’ve been saying this for years, but it bears repeating – property tax relief and mandate relief go hand-in-hand. Lasting property tax relief can only be sustainable if it is combined with unfunded mandate relief. The numbers are in; the property...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) voted for a version of pension forfeiture legislation that would strip taxpayer-funded pensions from elected officials convicted of felonies related to their official duties. Blankenbush said that, although...

“There is so much left for the Assembly to accomplish. One of the biggest priorities for the entire state is making the property tax cap, which has saved New York homeowners nearly $8 billion, permanent and delivering significant unfunded mandate relief....

New York State is facing an alarming epidemic of heroin and opiate drug use. Heroin has stealthily invaded our communities and is wreaking havoc in the lives of many. The rise of prescription painkiller use was a gateway to the use of heroin, which is...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is calling on the Assembly Majority to take up the stronger pension forfeiture bill that was previously agreed upon, A.6722. The Assembly Majority’s one-house bill is significantly different from a bill...

June is National Dairy Month, and there is much to celebrate, especially here in upstate New York. My district is one of the most prolific dairy farming regions in the state, and dairy farming has played a large part in shaping our community into what...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) applauds the recent announcement that the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision will be hiring an additional 103 officers. The new officers will be placed in prisons to help...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) was visited by Ft. Drum officials Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, Commander of the base; Col. Gary A. Rosenberg, Garrison Commander; and Capt. Townsend, General’s Aide. They discussed ongoing issues faced...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is calling for an immediate end to the Department of Motor Vehicles’(DMV) practice of selling personal information to third parties. It was discovered that the DMV made more than $60 million selling private...

New Yorkers need property tax relief. Our homeowners pay among the highest property taxes in the nation. This burden is often too much for many residents to bear, so they migrate out of the state to more affordable parts of the country. As your assemblyman,...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is encouraging the public to send testimony to the Fast Food Minimum Wage Board before the public comment period ends on June 26. “Many of my constituents have reached out to my office with concerns...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) voted against the Assembly Majority’s efforts to create a universal single-payer health care system similar to the one abandoned by the State of Vermont. Blankenbush is troubled by how it would negatively...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) recently welcomed Ft. Drum Youth Services’ Youth of the Year Antonio Bell, Jr. to the state Capitol. “Antonio Bell, Jr. is a stand out young man in our Ft. Drum community. He is an exemplary student...

This legislative session has been interesting to say the least. Despite all the headlines, the Assembly and Senate still have work to do on behalf of the people of this state. The last few weeks of the legislative session should be packed with productive...