Newly minted Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos is traveling New York recently visiting Buffalo and Rochester.
Skelos made the following comments in various venues;
“We work together as a unified body, understanding that each region of the state has their unique needs and that each region of the state has to be treated fairly. And I think that has been the success over the years of our conference.”
“When you start in Buffalo and go to Montauk, the No. 1 issue in this state is property taxes”
When asked why residents here should believe that upstate will be a priority, he had the numbers ready to emphasize upstate’s importance to him and his 32-member Republican conference: “There are 20 members from upstate New York”
He wants to work with Paterson on his plan to cap the growth of property taxes and
welcomes a special session so lawmakers can act this summer.
Erie County Executive Chris Collins;
“We have some important elections coming up,” Collins said in introducing Skelos at a news conference after their meeting. “We are all going to work very hard to make sure that Western New York is well represented in the Senate, and that our issues, which in many cases are different from other parts of the state, are heard and supported.”
The north country would welcome a visit from Skelos just as much as any other dignitary and he should be warmly welcomed in the same way Paterson was received on his first visit. The north country benefits with visits of people such as Paterson or Skelos who have much to say about the direction of New York State, they should always be welcomed regardless of party affiliation.
The question remains; where is Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver or Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, to recent memory neither have ever been here, how can they claim they understand Northern New York?
The upcoming elections are about:
- Checks and balances in New York State Government, making sure all perspective views are represented fairly in debates on issues.
- What leadership has a better understanding of north country issues, the leaders drive the conference agenda and allow legislation to be voted on or not
- Where is the balance or concentration of power within the Senate or Assembly Republican or Democratic conference
- What representative can best help constituents navigate New York State government and its agencies to their benefit