Statement By Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan

I am humbled and gratified that my colleagues in the Senate Republican conference have unanimously reelected me as their leader.  After a campaign in which we faced extraordinary challenges and yet still managed to grow our majority in a Presidential year, I couldn't be more proud to lead this outstanding group of lawmakers.

Working together, our accomplishments are many - - a game-changing property tax cap, record support for schools and elimination of the GEA, a 20-percent middle class income tax cut, six straight budgets that have held the line on spending, targeted investments that will create jobs and revitalize our economy, and critical road and bridge funds for every region of the state. 

Despite these achievements, there is more to be done. Our state is still not affordable for many working and middle class people, and we need to give them the help and hope they deserve. There still aren't enough opportunities for young people and older New Yorkers to live, work, and raise their families here. We continue to grapple with questions over how to best educate our children and how to continue to fully fund their schools. And, we have hard work ahead of us on heroin addiction, Lyme disease, and other important quality-of-life issues. 

I welcome Chris Jacobs, Pam Helming, Jim Tedisco, and Elaine Phillips to our conference and look forward to working with them and all of our members to protect, strengthen, and grow New York.