Senate Republicans Unveil 'Take Back New York' Legislative Agenda

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Senate Republican Conference today officially released its “Take Back New York” 2022 legislative agenda. A response to the neglect and decline of our state created by Democrat One-Party Rule, Take Back New York would restore balance and common sense to government while vigorously rejecting the extreme policies of the past three years.

“Democrat One-Party Rule has been nothing short of a disaster for New York State. From escalating taxes to blatant pro-criminal policies and extreme government overreach, it’s become harder than ever to live in our communities — something reflected in the growing exodus of our fellow New Yorkers. It’s more vital than ever, for them, that we take back our state from out-of-touch politicians and restore some sanity and common sense to our government. Take Back New York 2022 is the first step in accomplishing that and restoring our reputation as the Empire State,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.

“Between skyrocketing costs, degrading public safety, and government overreach impacting every area of our lives, I hear daily from residents who are fed up with the results of one-party control in New York. And it is not just talk, as we have seen thousands of New Yorkers fleeing the state just last year. Now, more than ever, we have to hit the ground running this session to get our state back on track and that starts by putting politics aside to advance this commonsense agenda,” said Senator Sue Serino. 

“For New York to truly reemerge as the Empire State we need to protect our greatest asset – our people.  Individuals and families are moving out an alarming rate because we lack opportunities thanks to policies that have stunted our economic growth.  Regulatory changes that will help our small businesses grow, universal broadband, investments in our family farms, and new training initiatives to help unite employees with employers are among the initiatives we need to focus on in 2022,” said Senator Peter Oberacker.  

Take Back New York 2022 is a comprehensive agenda that helps grow our local and state economies, provides financial breathing room for middle-class families and small business owners and makes public safety an urgent priority. If enacted, Take Back New York 2022 would:

• Offer a better quality of life for all New Yorkers by repealing bail reform and supporting law enforcement and crime victims, as well as expanding and ensuring access to a quality education for all our children;

• Make New York more affordable for every resident by cutting our highest-in-the-nation tax burden and enacting a series of measures that lower childcare and the day-to-day cost of living in our state;

• Develop a strong workforce for a strong economy through substantive training and development programs, and a major commitment to our family farms;

• Improve our business climate and expand economic opportunity by cutting burdensome regulations, investing in physical infrastructure and broadband statewide, and moving toward a cleaner energy future;

• Ensure security for our vulnerable populations by securing funding for our veterans, providing needed resources to our seniors and their caregivers, combating the opioid crisis and better treating mental wellness; and

• Restore accountability to the state government in the aftermath of disgraced ex-Gov. Cuomo’s rampant abuses of power.

For more details on the New York State Senate Republicans’ Take Back New York 2022 agenda click here. 

“New York's families and small businesses have been suffering for years under single-party leadership with the wrong priorities, long before the pandemic made things even worse. Every year, our state has continued to lose hundreds of thousands of good people looking for opportunities elsewhere, when we should be creating those opportunities right here at home. We'll never be able to compete with other states when the cost of living and the cost of surviving as a small business remains unmanageably high for far too many New Yorkers,” said Senator Fred Akshar.

“I am proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and my Republican colleagues as we fight to Take Back New York. New Yorkers should ask themselves, ‘Am I better off now than I was three years ago?’  That’s when Democrat one-party rule took over Albany and our state.  Clearly that answer is ‘No.’  In that short time, the Democrat majority passed criminal-coddling ‘reforms’ that have made New York far more dangerous while dumping higher taxes and more regulations on already overtaxed and over-burdened working people.  The radical policies of the majority Democrats are driving businesses and families out of  New York in record numbers. We need to Take Back New York!  Our future depends on it,” said Senator George Borrello. 

“There has never been a more pressing time to push forward a legislative agenda that finally puts New Yorkers first. I look forward to working with Senate colleagues this legislative session to ensure that we revitalize New York after so much turmoil due to one-party rule,” said Senator Phil Boyle.

“As a new legislative session gets underway, our top priorities must include fixing the dangerous changes made to the state’s criminal justice system.  Many of these new policies favor offenders over law-abiding citizens and lead to a sense of lawlessness because those perpetrating violent crimes have no fear of being held accountable for their actions.  We must also restore our system of checks and balances in state government as outlined in our Constitution.  Finally, we need to ensure adequate funding for education, health care, senior services, agriculture and other vital programs, while at the same time maintaining fiscal stability and making our state more affordable and business friendly,” said Senator Patrick Gallivan.

“As a result of burdensome and unwelcome policies that have been put in place by the legislative majorities, New York has continued to witness an exodus of residents, families and businesses from the state who are fleeing for better opportunities elsewhere. We can stop this concerning outmigration of the state’s population by implementing substantive, comprehensive and common-sense legislation and initiatives that focus on reducing taxes, regulations and energy costs, creating jobs and economic opportunities, enhancing public safety, investing in broadband and other infrastructure and making the state more affordable. The ‘Take Back New York’ legislative agenda will help us to improve the lives and livelihoods of New Yorkers and make their futures brighter,” said Senator Joseph Griffo.  

“My commitment is to make New York stronger by facilitating the growth of our small businesses and job creators, cutting taxes and red tape, backing law enforcement and first responders, and supporting our children and families, veterans, farmers, seniors, people with disabilities, and the workers who power our economy. Unfortunately, many of the policies enacted by Senate Democrats have moved our state in the wrong direction and people are voting with their feet. It's time to right the ship and Take Back New York. This is our home and we’ll keep fighting for it,” said Senator Pam Helming.  

“From COVID to crime, to Albany’s heavy-handed overreach, crushing taxes, and endless destructive mandates, New Yorkers – especially here in upstate – are fed up, frustrated, and know that our state’s going in the wrong direction, which is why more residents are heading for the exit. We need to take our government back from the criminals, Albany bureaucrats, and New York City special interests driving a destructive cycle of decay and decline. We must end one-party ruinous rule and put law-abiding, hard-working New Yorkers first. Our Take Back New York agenda offers smart solutions to achieve these important goals,” said Senator Daphne Jordan. 

“Left leaning, one party policies have failed New Yorkers at every level.  From the mismanagement of the COVID pandemic to rising crime, New York is less safe, less affordable and less livable than it has been in generations.  Only by reversing these corrosive policies will we make New York better for all,” said Deputy Republican Leader Andrew Lanza.

“Under one-party Democratic rule, New York has become synonymous with one thing more than any other – leading the nation in people fleeing our state. This is a direct result of escalating bad policy that puts taxpayers, businesses, and individual liberties last. The only way to change course is by doing the exact opposite. The Senate Republicans' Take Back New York 2022 agenda is a blueprint for doing just that, and I am eager to get to work on this platform with my colleagues. Together, we will continue serving as a voice of reason to reverse the current state of mismanaged decline,” said Senator Mike Martucci.

“As New York State continues to work to recover from the COVID crisis, it is imperative that we build back stronger than before.  Take Back New York 2022 is a comprehensive package that will do just that and I am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference to support this common sense approach.  Now is the time to work together for all of our residents so that our collective future is brighter than our past,” said Senator Mario R. Mattera.

“From combating crime to job creation to tax relief, one-party control of New York State government has been a disaster for Upstate New York communities, economies, and taxpayers.  The Albany Democrat's direction for New York is producing billions upon billions of dollars of short- and long-term spending commitments requiring billions upon billions of dollars in new taxes, fees, and borrowing for future generations of state and local taxpayers. This relentless pursuit of a far-left, extreme-liberal agenda appears to be the priority over a long-term, sustainable future for Upstate, middle-class communities, families, workers, businesses, industries, and taxpayers.  It’s time to take back Upstate’s rightful place and restore a more responsible and reasonable approach to governing,” said Senator Tom O’Mara.

“Residents continue to flee the state in historic numbers, because of the dangerous and disastrous policies of one-party rule and the demagoguery of its leaders.  No New Yorker should be forced to live in fear of what new mandate or bad idea will be coming from their state government. It's time to end these insane policies and focus on restoring public safety and revitalizing our beleaguered economy,” said Senator Anthony Palumbo.

“As we enter the new legislative session, my commitment and focus to our community remains stronger than ever.  It is critical that we work to restore our workforce, make New York more affordable and ensure that there is a vibrant New York for our children and grandchildren. We must focus on issues that directly impact residents such as public safety, rebuilding our economy and affordable childcare. Unfortunately, the last legislative session saw much of the same out of Albany Democrats: misplaced priorities, increased taxes and spending and an overall neglect of the best interests of everyday New Yorkers,” said Senator Ed Rath.

“Every day, more and more individuals and families are leaving New York State for a better quality of life elsewhere. Our state is filled with good, hardworking people who deserve better from their government than what we have seen over the course of the past several years. This plan will put them first, helping to create a state that’s safer, more affordable and increases opportunities for all,” said Senator Patty Ritchie. 

“For too long, our state has had the wrong priorities and because of that, it’s been heading in the wrong direction. Take Back New York 2022 is an opportunity for state government to reset its priorities and take real action to make our state safer, more affordable and more economically vibrant. I’m proud to join my Senate Republican colleagues in advancing an agenda that would improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers,” said Senator Dan Stec.

“It’s been pointed out that over 319,000 New Yorkers rolled out of the state in the past year. New York has the dubious distinction of being number one in outmigration. Our Senate Republican plan provides the agenda change to incentivize New Yorkers to stay and the opportunity for individuals and families to come and grow New York's population,” said Senator Jim Tedisco.

“The Take Back New York Agenda makes public safety, stimulating our economy, and making New York affordable, top priorities.  After years of out-of-touch policies advanced by Democrats’ one-party control in Albany, the Senate Republican Conference is advancing an agenda that will listen to all New Yorkers and have a voice so we can thrive,” said Senator Alexis Weik. 

###