Winner Named Chairman Of Senate Investigations Committee

Albany, N.Y.— New York State Senator George H. Winner, Jr. (R-C, Elmira), beginning his second term in the Senate, has been appointed chairman of one of the Senate’s senior committees, the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations.

The Committee on Investigations and Government Operations serves as the Senate’s primary legislative and governmental oversight committee and, among other responsibilities, is specifically charged with reviewing New York’s tax and regulatory policies, economic development strategies, and many government reform initiatives.

"My overriding motivation is to do everything I possibly can to make positive contributions to better government locally, and statewide. So I’m grateful for this opportunity to more directly address the important and timely work of government oversight, tax and regulatory reform and job creation," said Winner.

Winner will also serve as a member on the following Senate committees: Crime Victims, Crime & Correction; Elections; Energy & Telecommunications; Health; Higher Education; and Judiciary. He will also continue to serve as chairman of the joint, bipartisan Legislative Commission on Rural Resources. Throughout the past year, the Commission has partnered with Cornell University to develop a comprehensive blueprint to address the key short- and long-term challenges facing rural communities.

Winner stressed that his committee assignments provide opportunities to focus on job creation and to help ensure that the Southern Tier-Finger Lakes region is not forgotten as the state discusses revamping its economic development strategies with a specific focus on the upstate New York economy.

"Protecting and creating jobs remains our greatest challenge. State government policies should encourage an economy that produces steady, meaningful employment for our workers and their families," Winner said.