New Laws Created to Protect Victims of Domestic and Sexual Abuse
Mar 30, 2015
Domestic violence, harassment, and sexual assault continue to be issues I am concerned about. Studies reveal that this occurs more than many realize. A few new laws were recently chaptered and aim to improve victims’ rights and protections. I supported...
NY FarmNet Reaches Local Farmers
Mar 23, 2015
National Ag week was celebrated last week. It’s a week in which we recognize the abundant crops harvested by farmers all over the nation and the contributions they make to the economy. In New York alone, the agriculture industry recorded $5.68 billion...
Recent Findings Still Rank NY Among Highest in Tax Collections
Mar 16, 2015
Recent findings by the Tax Foundation, a Washington-based research organization, should serve as a reminder to the State Legislature and the Governor during this year's budget negotiations that New York needs to decrease spending, reduce state mandates,...
Tougher Penalties For Human Traffickers Pass Assembly
Mar 16, 2015
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) announced today he was pleased the Assembly finally passed tougher laws against human traffickers. The Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act will create felonies and more offenses, giving law enforcement...
Upstate Priorities Absent From Majority Budget Resolution
Mar 12, 2015
The Assembly Majority’s one-house budget proposal doesn’t create enough opportunities for middle-class families in Central and Northern New York.
Absent from the majority’s proposal is meaningful tax relief that would help families struggling...
Barclay Signs On To Legislation To Keep Registered Sex Offenders From Living Near Schools
Mar 10, 2015
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) today announced that he is a sponsor of legislation that would prevent all registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school.
Last month, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that localities...
Email Deletions And New 90-Day Policy Raises Questions
Mar 9, 2015
The Governor's office announced in 2013 that it would use Microsoft Office365--an email and software management system to consolidate 27 agency email systems, improve access to applications, share calendars in a cloud-based system, and save taxpayer dollars....
Barclay Calls For Rules Reform
Mar 4, 2015
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) joined his legislative colleagues at a press conference outside of the Assembly Chamber this afternoon to call for sweeping rules reform.
The proposed reforms would redefine the chamber’s parliamentary operations...
New York’s Organ Donation Rate Still Low
Mar 2, 2015
The Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network recently launched an ad campaign called Pass Life On. There are a series of videos which talk about the importance of organ donation titled “The Greatest Person Never Known” which feature a grateful organ recipient....
Local College Students Invited To Enter Business Plan Competition
Feb 25, 2015
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I—Pulaski) today encouraged Central and Northern New York college students to participate in the New York Business Plan Competition. The Central New York deadline to apply is March 6. The Northern New York deadline is...
Let Full Legislature Decide on Education Proposals Outside of Budget
Feb 23, 2015
The second biggest budget item in the state budget is education, which is right behind healthcare. Last year, the state spent $22.3 billion on education. In 2012, combined with the local and federal share of education, New Yorkers spent $58.4 billion...
Vaccines Important to Public Health
Feb 17, 2015
There have been a number of national and local news stories reporting on the increased cases of measles. The cases have primarily been located in California. However, nationally, the number of cases of measles in the U.S. grew to 635 in 2014—more...
New Health Tax Included In Budget; Debate Over Ethics Needs To Be Had
Feb 9, 2015
We have heard a lot from the Governor’s office about the success of New York’s Health Exchange. The exchange was set up pursuant to ObamaCare which mandates that all Americans obtain health insurance. The exchanges, which are either set up by individual...
New Speaker Elected; Reforms Still Need to be a Priority
Feb 3, 2015
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I--Pulaski) released the following statement today after a new Speaker, Carl Heastie, a Bronx lawmaker, was elected to the position by the Assembly Majority today at 11 a.m. This is the first time a new Speaker has been elected...
With New Speaker Comes Opportunity for Meaningful Reform
Feb 2, 2015
It is a tumultuous time in the New York State Assembly. Long-time serving Speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver, has been arrested for public corruption. After initially standing by Silver, claiming, amazingly, that his arrest will not be a distraction,...
Barclay Calls on New Speaker to Support Reform in the Assembly
Jan 28, 2015
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I--Pulaski) said today that whoever the new Speaker will be must embrace reforming the Assembly rules and help pass meaningful ethics reform. Barclay said the time is now for change in light of last night's announcement that...
Feb. 6 Tuition Aid Deadline for Students, Members of Volunteer Fire Departments Fast Approaching
Jan 27, 2015
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) announced today that there is still time for volunteer firefighters to receive tuition reimbursement through the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY).
FASNY has developed the Higher Education...
Governor's Budget Provides Starting Point for Negotiations; Overshadowed by Albany Controversy
Jan 26, 2015
Last week, the Governor presented his State of the State address. This annual tradition, much like the President's State of the Union address, is an opportunity for the Governor to set forth his priorities for the upcoming state legislative session....
Barclay Calls for Silver to Resign as Speaker
Jan 22, 2015
Assemblyman Will Barclay released the following statement today following news that Speaker Silver was arrested on bribery and public corruption:
“Speaker Silver’s recent federal corruption charges are a distraction to our work in the chamber....
Barclay: Upstate Investments Good, Property Tax Proposal Needs More Review
Jan 21, 2015
The Governor's proposals were hardly revolutionary, but give us a starting point in the budget process. I was pleased to see overall spending kept in line--less than a 2% increase over last year.
I'm pleased he wants to invest more in Upstate New...