Delivering the Changes
Western New York Deserves
Delivering the
Changes Western
New York Deserves
Join Steve Hawley’s Fight for a Better Western NY
- Yes! I support Steve’s fight to rescind the 2 percent utility tax
- Yes! I support Steve’s call to remove the $50 fee on businesses to collect sales tax for the state
- Yes! I want to join Steve in opposing the new burn ban regulations
Please print, fill out and send this card to:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley, 121 North Main Street, Suite 100, Albion, NY 14411
or just e-mail him at hawleys@assembly.state.ny.us
Steve Hawley Stands Up for Farmers
This year, New York State farmers felt the pinch of the tough economy perhaps more than anyone. This was due, in part, to devastatingly low dairy prices and Albany’s downstate legislators’ attempt to add more mandates and significantly raise labor costs for farmers through legislation which came to be known as the “Farm Death Bill.”
Our Assemblyman led the fight, bringing local farmers and the Farm Bureau to rally at the State
Capitol. Steve also debated the bill on the floor, asking the downstate legislator who sponsored
the bill: how many farms were in her district; to name three products grown on NY farms; and to
name three pieces of farm equipment. Of course, she couldn’t answer any because she lives in Queens
where there are no farms.
Fortunately, this bill was not enacted into law. However, Albany failed to act on another vital
issue: saving dairy farms.
Steve Hawley, who serves as a member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, was among the first
legislators to call on the Governor to use the remaining $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars
to assist dairy farmers. In fact, Steve hosted the first “Dairy Rally” in the state right here in
the 139th Assembly District, which helped bring more attention to the plight of dairy farmers across
the state.
Hawley Appointed Minority Ranker of Veterans’ Affairs Committee
This year, our Assemblyman was appointed to serve as the Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly
Veterans’ Affairs Committee in addition to new appointments serving on the Insurance and
Tourism committees. Additionally, the Assemblyman accepted the invitation to join the Assembly
Minority Leadership, serving as the Vice Chair of Program Committee for the conference.
Assemblyman Hawley also maintained his membership on the committees of Agriculture, Racing and
Wagering, and Rules – the committee through which all legislation passes before coming to a vote.
$50 Fee for Mandated Collection of Sales Taxes?
In 2008-09, Albany passed another out-of-touch measure: to charge businesses
a $50 fee for the mandated collection of sales taxes when doing business. Steve believes it is
outrageous to further hurt economic growth by charging businesses to collect sales taxes. This
measure simply tells businesses that NYS is a hostile environment to locate and further
encourages existing businesses to move on to greener pastures. To resolve this, Steve has
authored new legislation to rescind the entire fee. Call Steve’s office to learn more: (585)
589-5780 or e-mail him at
hawleys@assembly.state.ny.us.
UPDATE: Hawley’s Bill to Repeal New Utility Tax Gains Steam in Albany
Learn how you can join Steve’s fight to repeal this excessive new tax
The tax increase was made as part of the enacted 2009-10 State Budget, which Steve opposed. The
newly increased tax went into effect on July 1, 2009 and will cost average homeowners an increase
of $40 to over $200 annually.
Steve’s bill, A.9098 has been introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Corporations,
Authorities and Commissions for its review. With support growing, Steve is hopeful that the bill
will be addressed when the Assembly is called back into session.
Members of the public who would like to see the 2 percent utility tax repealed should contact
Assemblyman Hawley’s office to sign his petition, which will be delivered to the Governor.
Help Ensure New License Plate Mandate is Rescinded!
When the public and their representatives come together, positive changes can happen. Thanks to
the support of thousands of residents, Steve Hawley was able to pressure the Governor to agree
to rescind the DMV new license plate mandate, which was slated to take effect in April 2010.
Help make sure the Governor keeps his word. Call Steve’s office at 589-5780 to learn how.
DEC Summer Camp Essay Contest Winner Announced!
This year’s annual state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Summer Camp Essay
Contest winner was Monroe County resident Christine Zulkosky. Previous winners included
students from Orleans and Genesee counties.
Each year, every member of the State Legislature chooses one student from their district,
between the ages of 12 and 17, to attend a DEC summer camp. To help select a student from the
139th Assembly District, Assemblyman Hawley holds an annual essay contest on the topic “Why the
Environment is Important to You.”
Educators and students interested in Steve Hawley’s 2010 Essay Contest, to be held this spring,
should e-mail his office at
hawleys@assembly.state.ny.us.
Hawley Calls to Fill Vacancies with Open Elections
With four of the State’s leaders appointed, Steve Hawley is working to ensure “participatory
government” and restore New Yorkers’ voice in who represents them.
“One of the greatest freedoms our nation has, and one of the greatest actions our citizenry has, is
a voice in choosing who represents them. For the last three years, however, high-level state and
federal leaders from our state have been ‘specially’ appointed rather than elected into office. This
severely undermines the public’s ability to exercise their right to vote and their voice in
government, and further diminishes an already damaged sense of trust in government,” said Hawley.
Originally drafted and introduced by Steve in March 2008, A.1140 and
A.1141 would provide a process
of open, public election for filling high-level state positions, such as Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Comptroller and Attorney General. Specifically, the legislation would change current law
by automatically calling for an open election for any vacated top elected offices in the next
scheduled general election, saving taxpayer dollars by not holding a special election. This would
prevent appointments for 3- or 4-year terms without the public having had the opportunity to voice
their opinion.
Steve’s Bills to Support Emergency Responders Become Law!
- Assembly Bill 2733-A: Establishes the volunteer firefighter and volunteer emergency services
recruitment and retention fund.
- Assembly Bill 6051-A: Allows firefighters to operate a fire truck without possessing a
commercial driver’s license, saving fire districts endless amounts of time, which can be better
spent training, as well as thousands of dollars annually.
Steve Leads Opposition to New Burn Ban Regulations
On October 14, 2009 the state Department of Environmental Conservation put into effect new “burn
ban” regulations, which prohibit open fires in towns with populations of less than 20,000.
Having been a vocal opponent of this initiative during its public comment period and having
expressed his opposition at the DEC’s public hearings, Steve Hawley is not giving up on
reversing these cumbersome new regulations.
“While the DEC claims that there will be no additional mandates for local governments, that is
clearly untrue. In fact, the DEC admits that, as a result of the new burn ban, local government
waste managements will have to expand at an average increased cost of $50 per ton of waste.
How much more ‘big government’ can our rural communities take?” asked Steve, who voted against
a similar piece of legislation,
A.5457 of 2007, when it came before the Assembly (the bill was
held in committee in 2008).
Hawley has signed onto and supports
A.7414, bipartisan legislation to
prohibit the DEC from restricting the burning of garbage, refuse or rubbish in an open fire on
land possessed by a single family or any part of a farm under certain circumstances.
Patriot Trip II
Steve hosted his second annual Patriot Trip for veterans this September and is proud that the
trip was such a success. In addition to visiting the monuments in Washington, D.C., this year’s
trip was also marked by a special visit from former U.S. Senator Bob Dole!
LEARN MORE ABOUT STEVE’S 2009 ACCOMPLISHMENTS BELOW
Hawley Passes 16 Bills For Western New York
In 2009, over a dozen pieces of Steve’s legislation passed, despite a banner year for Albany’s
notorious dysfunction. Nine of Steve’s bills were chaptered into law!
“Despite all the chaos, changes in leadership and gridlock, I was able to get some common-sense and
important pieces of legislation passed that will greatly help the communities in Western New York,
as well as the rest of the state,” said Hawley.
Of the 16 pieces of legislation that Steve sponsored, which passed the Assembly, five bills
specifically helped local communities in Western New York. These bills include measures to help
town court proceedings in the towns of Elba, Oakfield and Batavia, and the city of Batavia.
Steve’s statewide legislation also includes a number of initiatives to help those with disabilities.
Assembly Bill 7848 requires access aisles of handicapped parking spaces to be marked with a sign and
stripes, and Assembly Bill 7849 requires that handicapped parking spaces be at least 8 feet wide.
Steve also led the charge for other important measures such as property tax relief. During and after
budget negotiations, our Assemblyman stood on the Assembly floor to demand relief for overburdened
homeowners and businesses, specifically calling on both houses and the Governor to reinstate the
STAR Rebate Program and restore cuts made to the traditional STAR program.
