Over the last several weeks, I have outlined important areas where the state could invest public funds through the State Budget. I have mentioned education, economic and agricultural development, tax relief for the middle class, and infrastructure as...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is urging New York State to change its rules regarding professional licensing of already-qualified military spouses with out-of-state accreditation. The process for licensing is particularly long and arduous...

New York is home to some of the highest property taxes in the nation, a legacy created by years of unfunded mandates from a spendthrift government that passed the buck and the bill on to our local municipalities and schools. Unfunded mandates are the...

At the foundation of our state and federal governments is the separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. The checks and balances are important to ensure that the rights and interests of the people are protected. The...

“Today, Mr. Heastie took over as speaker, and I am pleased that he wishes to pursue real reforms to restore integrity and trust in the Assembly. While I am sure there will be times he and I will disagree about what is best for the people of New York,...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is calling on the governor and State Education Department to release school aid runs so districts across the state can plan for the coming fiscal year. It is customary for school aid runs to be released...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is calling on the next speaker to adhere to meaningful legislative ethics reforms. Currently, there is a contest for the office of speaker. Blankenbush urges each candidate to seriously commit to enacting...

Ever since the governor issued his budget proposal, I have been reviewing it, picking it apart, and seeing how it would impact the state, especially here in the North Country and the Mohawk Valley. For the next several weeks, I will be discussing components...

Here is a troubling fact: there are 30 closed local bridges within my Assembly District, with one county having at least 11 bridges closed. These closures have not only created hardships for residents, but they have also hindered economic development...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is calling on Sheldon Silver to resign his post as Speaker of the Assembly immediately. The New York City politician was arrested this morning by the FBI for public corruption. “There is a lot of serious...

“Today, we heard the governor outline his priorities for the state, and disappointingly, they are primarily focused on the needs of downstate. There is need across this entire state – families, small-business owners and farmers are looking for relief,...

The governor recently announced a nearly $1.7 billion property tax credit for New Yorkers paying property taxes that equaled more than six percent of their income. On the surface, this proposal sounds exciting. However, the governor qualified that only...

“I think it is a wise choice to use some of the windfall excess funds to help spur broadband internet infrastructure throughout Upstate New York. As with everything, I will be looking at how the New NY Broadband Program will be implemented and push...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) and his Minority colleagues today called on the Speaker to allow individual women’s equality bills to be brought to the floor for a vote. In light of the Senate’s passage of eight bills separately, Blankenbush...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) has been re-appointed as the Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture. Blankenbush has advocated for family farmers on that committee since taking office. The position allows him...

The New Year is often a time when we reflect on the past year, offering ourselves a fresh perspective and the opportunity to set goals and make important changes in our lives. I look at the beginning of the new legislative year in a similar way. Now is...

Recently, State Education Department (SED) Commissioner John King announced his resignation to take a federal post. This means New York has a real opportunity to set the course right again in our education system and that all starts with the right appointment...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is pleased to announce that today the North Country and Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Councils were awarded $123 million to be invested throughout the region. “I am so pleased by the...

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) was recently named to the New York State Farm Bureau’s Circle of Friends. This is the fourth time the assemblyman, who is the ranking minority member of the Assembly Agricultural Committee, has received...

Where we’re from, we’re no strangers to extreme winter weather. We’ve also seen the toll it and traffic can take on our roads, bridges and culverts. Here in the North Country and the Mohawk Valley, there are thousands of miles of rural roads and...