Statement on End of Legislative Session

ALBANY, 06/11/21 -- State Senator Peter Oberacker (R/C – Schenevus) commented on the end of the 2021 legislative session.

“The 2021 legislative session just concluded, my first representing the 51st Senate District. 

“I successfully pushed for a number of key items to help bounce back from the COVID pandemic, but one major letdown is what didn’t happen – the governor’s overreaching emergency executive powers were NOT revoked.

“While we did pass legislation on the final day that would clear the way for the governor’s impeachment, a measure advanced nearly fifty times by Senate Republicans to restore legislative checks and balances never received one positive vote by Democrats. 

“Additional measures that I sponsored to fully audit the state’s failing IT systems, address the spike in violent crimes, and aid our small businesses were also blocked from coming to the senate floor for an up or down vote.

“Moving forward, I will continue to meet with those who live and work in the 51st Senate District to develop policies that will improve our state and ensure a viable future here at home – and there is a great deal of work ahead.”

Several bills sponsored by Senator Oberacker were adopted by both the senate and assembly in the closing days of the legislative session and will next be sent to the governor for final approval.

S.396 – corrects a clerical error and will assist the Oneonta City School District by preserving $400,000 in state transportation aid due to the school district.

S.5363 – designating baseball as New York’s official state sport.

S.6240 - authorizes the town of Danby in Tompkins County to adopt a local law to provide that real property acquired for the preservation of open space may be partially tax exempt.

S.6799 - renaming a portion of State Route 51 in the Town of Butternuts in honor of SP-4 Richard Walton, Jr.  Army Specialist-4 Walton served valiantly during the Vietnam War and was killed in action on February 6, 1970 when a rescue helicopter he was a passenger in crashed.  Walton served as a medic and was just 19 years old at the time of his death.

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