Senate Democratic Leader Stewart-Cousins Announces Democratic Policy Group And Names Senator Squadron Chair

Will Focus on Affordability Across the State Job Creation Meaningful Tax and Mandate Relief, and Closing the Upstate/Downstate Economic Divide

Goal is to Support New York’s Working and Middle Class Families That Are Too Often Left Behind

Albany, NY - Senate Democratic leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins today unveiled a policy committee that brings together a diverse group of Senators to develop initiatives to better serve all New Yorkers, especially those who have continued to suffer following the economic downturn. The Democratic Policy Group is headed by Senator Daniel Squadron and is made of up Senator George Latimer, Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Senator Jose Serrano. This policy group has the full support of the entire Democratic Conference. Members of the group have already begun meeting with Democratic Conference Members to begin identifying legislative policy and initiatives to further explore and advance.

Over the next several months, members of the Democratic Policy Group will conduct hearings, produce research, and will unveil detailed initiatives and legislative packages. These include ways to improve the overall economy and close the economic divide that too often excludes suburban and upstate communities from the benefit of new jobs. The policy group’s focus is to make New York a more affordable state to live, work and raise a family though providing meaningful tax reform, increasing child care options, supplying mandate relief for local governments, reforming the criminal justice system, protecting the environment, increasing the number of green jobs, and many more proposals aimed at supporting New York’s struggling working and middle class families.

“The Senate Democrats are committed to improving the lives of all New Yorkers and providing common sense, progressive leadership, and that is exactly what the Democratic Policy Group is intended to do,” Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “I commend Senator Squadron for his leadership on this effort and thank Senators Latimer, Montgomery and Serrano for their participation in the policy group. The innovative policies, bold initiatives and common sense solutions that will be offered by the Democratic Policy Group in the next few months will help our state prosper and better serve the needs of our constituents.”

Senator Daniel Squadron, Democratic Policy Group Chair, said, “For too long, Albany has failed to make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most -- working and middle-class New Yorkers across the state. The Policy Group will propose innovative solutions to expand opportunity, create jobs and make government more efficient and effective in every corner of the state. I thank Leader Stewart-Cousins for her vision and the entire Democratic Conference, especially Senators Latimer, Montgomery, and Serrano, for their great work on this initiative.”

Senate Democratic Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, “For our state to prosper we need all regions of our state to succeed. We must help New Yorkers find good jobs and provide them with real tax relief so they can ensure a good future for their families. This is the Senate Democratic Policy Group’s focus and I applaud Leader Stewart-Cousins for establishing this group and Senator Squadron for chairing it.”

The core mission of the Democratic Policy Group is to improve the quality of life for all state residents through common sense proposals that respond to the needs of New York’s diverse communities. By taking regional needs into account, the Democratic Policy Group will ensure that the diverse communities throughout the state all benefit from the initiatives that will be unveiled in the months ahead.

Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Democratic Policy Group Member, said, “I am looking forward to developing opportunities for young people across the state.”

Senator Jose Serrano, Democratic Policy Group Member, said, “The Senate Democratic Policy Group is a common sense way to ensure that representatives from New York’s diverse communities are able to discuss issues impacting their constituents and generate proposals to address those concerns. For our entire state to move forward, we need to provide real leadership in Albany and implement bold initiatives to grow the economy, better utilize our natural resources and ensure that the next generation of New Yorkers have a stronger, safer and more prosperous state to call home.”

Senator George Latimer, Democratic Policy Group Member, said, “Our constituents and all the people of our state deserve a well thought out plan from their government. By working together to establish policy goals and set a direction for our efforts, we will give New Yorkers a more transparent, more effective government.”