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Issues
TAXES
CUTTING TAXES – As an Erie County Legislator, I have led the fight to reduce local property taxes and have never voted for a tax increase. As your State Senator, I will continue to fight to reduce taxes. New York’s high taxes results in families and jobs leaving our community.
PROPERTY TAX CAP – My top legislative priority will be to provide homeowners and businesses much needed property tax relief. Rising property taxes are causing people to sell their homes and move to states with lower taxes. My plan is to cap your local property taxes, double the STAR exemption to provide immediate relief and repeal state mandates that are driving up costs for local governments.
CUTTING SPENDING
STATE MANDATES - During my service as County Legislator, I have seen firsthand the impact of Albany mandates on local governments and taxpayers. I will work to ban unfunded mandates which drive up the costs of doing business.
STATE SPENDING – Runaway spending is plaguing state government. It is time to make the hard spending cuts and operate Albany using business principles. As an Erie County Legislator, I have a proven record of cutting government spending. In the State Senate, I will lead the effort to cut excessive and wasteful spending that is devastating our local economy and hurting working families.
BURDENSOME REGULATIONS – I will serve taxpayers of our community and not the special interests who have placed burdensome regulations on New York State. I will work to reform Albany just like I am working with Erie County Executive Chris Collins to reform Erie County. We must make wise fiscal decisions, pay off state debt and provide basic services at a fair cost for the residents of Western New York.
HEALTHCARE REFORM
MEDICAID REFORM – New Yorkers have the most costly Medicaid program in the nation. In fact, New York spends more on Medicaid than any other state. I am committed to overhauling the Medicaid system by eliminating the fraud that exists in the system, improving the quality of care and bringing costs in line with other states. I also support co-pays for services, like everyone else has to pay, and using savings to reduce the local share counties must pay which drives up property taxes.
EDUCATION
EDUCATION – Simply throwing more money at education is not the answer and has not resulted in better educated high school graduates. I pledge to bring to Albany an agenda for upgrading our methods for attracting high-caliber educators and increasing the education options available to parents. It is critically important to ensure that financial support addresses the needs of students and prepares them for the rigors of a global economy.
JOBS
BRINGING JOBS TO WNY – Reforming state government is the only way we can create private sector jobs and new opportunities to keep our children here at home. I will fight to cut taxes, end wasteful spending and stop unnecessary regulations that drive businesses out and hinders businesses from locating here. We need to keep the young talent that we have in New York right here.
AGRIBUSINESS – The agriculture industry remains a primary economic and employment engine in New York State. In addition, it provides beautiful landscapes, wildlife habitats and a fresh food supply for all New Yorkers. As State Senator, I will work to reform the state’s Empire Zone program to provide much needed programs and services to our hard working farm families and rural industries. I will also work to provide property tax relief for our family farms.
