Assemblyman Gary Finch (R,C,I-Springport) today expressed his opposition to legislation that would offer illegal immigrants financial aid to attend college in New York. The cost of funding the measure is projected at over $30 million. Finch indicated that this bill would misappropriate funds at a time when American students and families desperately need them.

“There are countless students born and raised in the United States, as well as hardworking immigrant families who are here legally, that currently struggle to pay for college,” said Finch. “At a time of fiscal turmoil when education funding is scarce, these Americans must be our priority. To take taxpayer resources away from American citizens to give to illegal aliens is just plain wrong.”

The measure is particularly disturbing in light of recent cuts to higher education. In 2010, the legislature cut aid to SUNY and CUNY by $143 million. The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) saw a reduction of $49.7 million, while community college base aid to students was cut by $56.7 million and monetary awards given to needy students were also reduced. Additionally, TAP funding for graduate students was completely eliminated. Tuition for out-of-state undergraduates is set to increase by 10 percent over the next five years. Student debt has grown larger than both auto loan and credit card debt in the United States, with the average New York College student carrying $26,000 in debt.

Taxpayer-funded programs that would be made available to illegal immigrants under this legislation include:

• Tuition Assistance Program (TAP);
• Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP);
• Educational Opportunity Program (EOP);
• Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (C-STEP); and
• Opportunity programs available at community colleges.

Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I-Springport) noted that while the budget is imperfect and will require improvement in the future, the restoration and increase of funding for the school aid package is key to keeping our schools out of jeopardy.

“While our state faces many economic challenges, preparing our young people for the future is always of paramount importance,” said Finch. “In addressing the concerns of today, we must always keep in the mind the next generation and lay the groundwork for them. I believe that the restoration and increase to school aid is a step in the right direction. However, more work is needed and the reality is that school districts will still have to go the local property taxpayers to provide the necessary funds for our children.

“I am also greatly concerned for the developmentally disabled who have been wholly short-changed by this budget; $90 million in cuts is unacceptable. Historically, our citizens with developmental disabilities seem to be the last in line when funds run low and we must take action to address this. The effort to amend this budget and restore full funding failed today, but it is my hope that the governor will take action on this very important issue.”

In the governor’s executive budget proposal, he proposed $120 million in cuts to the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). During the budget negotiations, the majorities in the Senate and Assembly agreed with the governor to restore $30 million of the proposed $120 million in cuts. Finch and his colleagues in the Assembly Minority called for a complete restoration of funding for the $90 million not included. The amendment to restore the $90 million was struck down on the Assembly floor.

The school aid package for 2013-2014 provides $20.8 billion in total aid to districts. The year-to-year increase is $936.6 million or 4.5 percent, which is $386.3 million more than the governor proposed in his executive budget. The two-year school aid increase is $1.7 billion and the package includes increases to the gap elimination adjustment and foundation aid, as well as full restoration of high tax aid. Notably, upstate and the Hudson Valley will be receiving $451.2 million, or 48 percent, of the aid increase.

In the 126^th Assembly District, Cayuga County School Districts will see a total increase of $7,558,278, Chenango County School Districts will receive an increase of $4,341,251, Cortland County School Districts will receive an overall increase of $2,437,780 and Onondaga County School Districts are set to be given a total increase of $18,672,038.

Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I-Springport) welcomed students from the West Genesee High School Advanced Public Affairs Class, a part of the Syracuse University Project, to the Assembly yesterday. During their visit, the students took part in various activities around the Capitol, including a visit to the Assembly Chamber and a tour of the Capitol Building. The students also spoke with several elected officials.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to meet with this group of strongly motivated and determined young people,” said Finch. “These students represent an excellent outlook for the future of our state and country. I hope they continue the great strides they’ve taken to advance their education so far and I expect great things to come from each of them.”

I do not wish to jeopardize the fragile economic recovery in New York State by implementing a 24 percent minimum wage increase from $7.25 to $9.00 per hour. Skyrocketing fuel prices are increasing the cost of doing business, and the compression factor in the minimum wage increase historically leads other employees to seek wage increases as well. Farmers and small business owners throughout the 126^th Assembly District clearly state that increasing the minimum wage at this time will result in layoffs and fewer part-time hires, particularly during the summer. The evidence displayed by the well known 2008 Cornell study, clearly showed that when the state last increased the minimum wage, nearly 30,000 jobs were lost, I fear the same fallout this time as well.

While increasing the minimum wage is an issue we must deal with, we should address it once our economic recovery is in full force, rather than just beginning to gather steam. The passage of Assembly Bill A.38A was clearly a case of bad timing, which is why I voted against it.

Another matter of great concern to our economy is Assembly Bill A.5424-A, which I voted against because of the traumatic harm it would do to our state’s natural gas industry. This bill, which has only been voted on in the Assembly and is not being taken up by the Senate, establishes a suspension on the issuance of permits for the drilling of any type of natural gas wells in the state until May 15, 2015. It is important to note that lateral fracking and drilling of high-volume natural gas wells is currently under a moratorium and will remain under that moratorium until the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) completes its study. The Department of Health is also conducting a health effects examination as part of the DEC study that must be completed before any permits can be considered for issuance.

I believe we must wait for the results of the DEC and Health Department study and determine the fate of lateral fracking and high-volume wells at that time. Ensuring the safety of our drinking water is a matter of great concern to me, and I certainly do not want any unsafe techniques to be used and harm our families. Water is our most important natural resource that is essential to our quality of life and impacts everything from our health to the economy; protecting it and our environment should be not be taken lightly.

Assembly Bill A.5424-A, were it to get a Senate sponsor and become law, would strike a crippling blow to the natural gas industry in our state. Natural gas is an immensely vital industry to our upstate economy that employs thousands and is responsible for 35 percent of New York’s energy production. This bill would prevent companies from getting the permits they require to continue extracting natural gas using methods that have already been proven to be safe. Were that to happen, the industry would effectively die and thousands would be put out of work. I cannot in good conscience support a bill that would kill an entire industry, given the fragile state of our economy.

The unfortunate reality is that natural gas extraction is being lumped together in one frame of thought that makes it all appear to be unsafe, which is simply not the case. This particular bill’s language, I believe unintentionally, destroys the whole of the natural gas industry and all the jobs associated with it, and this is something we cannot allow to happen.

Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I-Springport) stood with a bi-partisan coalition of lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate to call on the governor and Department of Transportation (DOT) to allocate greater funding through the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) directly to municipalities for infrastructure improvement. The lawmakers held a press conference this morning with several officials from the NYS County Highway Superintendents Association (NYSCHSA), NYS Association of Town Superintendents of Highways (NYSAOTSOH), NYS Association of Counties (NYSAC), New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) and the Association of Towns of the State of New York to seek action.

The governor has proposed $363.1 million in CHIPs funding in his 2013-14 State Budget, the same level as last year. The legislators and local highway superintendents are calling for a CHIPs funding increase of $100 million, from $363.1 million to $463.1 million. They note that local roads and bridges account for 87 percent of the roads, 52 percent of the bridges, and 48 percent of the vehicle mileage logged in New York State, yet fewer than 12 percent of road maintenance fees go to local upkeep.

“The state is suffering from major infrastructure problems and our municipalities are suffering the worst of this,” said Finch. “The costs to repair roads, bridges and culverts have skyrocketed, with asphalt costs rising 206 percent and material costs going up 57 percent in the last ten years. However, for the last five years, funding to the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program hasn’t gone up one penny to offset the higher costs. Improved infrastructure will play a huge role in improving our economy. The governor has already allotted $300 million to NY Works in his proposed budget; we’re asking that $100 million dollars of that go to CHIPs for our local roads and bridges. I hope we can provide this much-needed funding to our localities.”

Assemblymen Gary D. Finch (R,C,I-Springport) stood yesterday with legislative colleagues and thousands of Second Amendment advocates, sportsmen and concerned citizens from across New York State to defend the rights of law-abiding citizens.

“I want to thank the thousands of concerned New Yorkers who came out to stand up for the rights of law-abiding citizens today,” said Finch. “The SAFE Act will be very hard to repeal, it will definitely be an uphill battle, but we are ready for that battle. Sometimes the issue is so important, so just, that even to fail is glorious. We will use that resolve to correct the errors of this bill.”

For video of Finch speaking at the event follow the link: watch?v=bucR9yLHbVI&feature=youtu.be

 Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I-Springport) is inviting all Second Amendment advocates, sportsmen, businesses and constituents to join him at #NY2A Day in Albany on Thursday, February 28. The day, which brings people from across the state together, will consist of a legislative day for people to speak with their representatives about provisions of the NY SAFE Act, a salute to veterans and a rally to protect the Second Amendment at 12 p.m.

“In January, the governor signed a bill into law that was hurried through the legislature and provided no opportunity for the public to review its goals and implications,” said Finch. “Due to the haste with which the SAFE Act was passed, so many important aspects involving the underlying causes of violence in our schools and other areas were not addressed. The bill has also caused a number of discrepancies in relation to the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment. The issues with this bill will require several amendments to correct, had more time been afforded to its creation, the public and experts could have provided beneficial and necessary input. Instead, concerned, law-abiding citizens from around the state must come together and call for this legislation to be fixed for the sake of their rights as residents of New York State and citizens of the United States.”

WHO:                       Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I-Springport)

                                NRA President David Keene

                                The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

                                SCOPE          

                                Sportsmen     

                                Sportsmen advocacy groups

                                Elected Officials

WHAT:           #NY2A Day  (Follow on Twitter at #NY2A)

WHEN:           Thursday, February 28, 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

WHERE:         Legislative Office Building, West Capitol Park

(South Swan Street side)

RSVP on Facebook at http://bit.ly/NY2ADay

**ALL PUBLIC AND MEDIA WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND**

The New York State Department of Civil Service will be holding a new examination on April 13, 2013.

FILING DEADLINE FOR THIS EXAMINATION IS: February 25, 2013

A correction officer trainee’s starting salary is currently $39,014 per year. After six months, the salary increases to $41,037. After successful completion of the one-year correction officer traineeship, the salary increases to $46,990 per year.

Interested persons may apply on-line or download examination information and applications at the Department of Civil Service website at New York State Department of Civil Service.

Additional information about the position of correction officer is also available on their web site at NYS Department of Corrections & Community Supervision.

Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I – Springport) today announced his concern over a lack of mandate relief and relief for Central New York families and businesses in the 2013-2014 Executive Budget.

“Creating jobs and making our region a more affordable place to live, work and start a family must be top priorities,” said Finch. “While I applaud Gov. Cuomo for his economic development initiatives, Central New York needs to start seeing the fruits of development projects already in the works. We must also do a better job of making New York State a more affordable place to own a business. By improving the state’s business climate, we can lay the foundation for a stronger economy and create good jobs.

“Finally, this budget lacked the type of transformative mandate relief that is needed to make real changes to the tax-and-spend culture of Albany and provide lasting relief to homeowners, our schools and Central New York’s municipalities.

“I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues from both sides of the aisle, as well as the governor, to provide the relief our homeowners and businesses need in the final state budget later this year.”