Author: Shaun Marie

Conservative Party to State Officials: Don’t Tax E-Cigarettes!

Brooklyn, NY — The New York State Conservative Party issued the following legislative memo in opposition to Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal to tax electronic cigarettes.

S.2009 Budget                                 A.3009-Budget

Purpose: Enacts into law major components of legislation necessary to implement the state fiscal plan for the 2017-2018 state fiscal year.

Party Position: Electronic cigarettes may well prove to be a significant tool as a harm reduction alternative for individuals who are currently using tobacco products. Unlike traditional tobacco products, these devices do not contain tobacco or emit smoke, rather they heat up liquid nicotine and flavorings while emitting water vapor. There are none of the second hand smoke concerns that are associated with  combustible tobacco products.

Many individuals who are attempting to stop smoking use e-cigarettes.

The most extensive study of e-cigarettes to date, Public Health England in 2015 found that these products are 95% less harmful than smoking and they can help smokers quit. In fact, Public Health England encourages smokers to immediately switch to e-cigarettes to reduce the health consequences of smoking.

If electronic cigarettes have the potential to reduce the addiction to combustible tobacco products then it would be contrary to sound public policy to tax these products. A tax on these products – regardless of the rate – will only serve to discourage the use of a potentially promising product for public health.

Electronic cigarettes offer all New Yorkers a cost effective way to potentially quit smoking. A regressive tax on these products will most adversely impact those lower income New Yorkers who might see these products as their best opportunity to quit.

The NYS Conservative Party does not condone or condemn the vaping of electronic cigarettes, and we believe that more information is becoming available daily for adults to make their own informed decisions.

E-cigarettes are not tobacco products. They are, quite the opposite. With a potential for a public health benefit, e-cigarettes need to be treated differently than combustible tobacco products and not subject to sin taxes.

LM 2017-04

Daily Update

If you read the papers about Obamacare, you would think that everyone who has signed up for Obamacare wants to keep it.  According to a survey by Black Book Market Research, only 22% of those on Obamacare rate the coverage as good or excellent.  Maybe they were the people who received  $21.8 million in Obamacare tax credits who were not eligible to receive them. and still get them due to the ACA’s “good faith” provision.  

Mercedes Schlapp writes in the Washington Times how the democrats in Sessions obsessions break out ugly playbook.  

Robert Knight goes even further opining how the Democratic Party and ‘progressives’ of all types are mounting a dangerous ‘resistance.’  

Mark Levin appeared on Fox and Friends and broke down President Trump’s wiretapping claims. If you missed it, here is the video clip — well worth watching.  

Also worth watching is James Rosen explaining how the Obama Administration investigated him.

And this from Townhall.com — there may well be a paper trail to follow re wiretapping.  

Not unexpectedly, the Supreme Court returns case on transgender bathroom access to lower court.  Although the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals is considered to be conservative, the final decision may not be one that conservatives will support due to the fact that The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond sided with Grimm in April, saying the federal judge who previously dismissed Grimm’s Title IX discrimination claim ignored the Education Department’s guidance on bathroom use.

3 Different Ways State GOP Lawmakers Are Fighting Sanctuary Cities.  

Revised executive order by President Trump regarding travel ban becomes effective on March 16.   Here is what you need to know about it

George J. Marlin says N.Y. public schools pay more, get less.  

Did you miss this over the weekend?  Or this?  Or Michael Goodwin’s column?  We tweeted or posted on our mobile App. Get our App or follow us on Facebook and Twitter and we will keep you informed of all the hot topics over the weekend.  

 

 

Daily Update

Cruz Defends Sessions Over Russia Report: It’s a ‘Nothing Burger’,  while, Sen. Schumer is going off the rails with his rants that Attorney General Sessions should resign. Where was he when AG Holder created havoc with our US Constitution?   And apparently, neither he nor former President Obama, are ready to give up the limelight — aka, the ability to raise money to use against the Trump administration who is determined to return America to We the People. 

Here is what Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi says: No, Sessions Scandal Is Not Like Loretta Lynch’s Meeting With Bill Clinton.  

Why couldn’t Sen. Schumer even listen to the “olive branches” offered to the democrats by President Trump on Tuesday?

Larry Kudlow opines on President Trump’s speech to the joint session of Congress. 

Is this surprising?  Press coverage of Trump in first month of office: 88 percent ‘hostile,’ says new study

A man from India, initially denied a visa to come to a snowshoe competition in upstate New York, has been arrested for sexual abuse.  He was denied a visa due to President Trump’s ban, but NY Senators Gillibrand and Schumer apparently helped the local mayor get him the visa.  

Just Because Liberals Call Something ‘Discrimination’ Doesn’t Mean It Actually Is.  

Rick Perry and Dr. Ben Carson are confirmed, finally.

Can President Trump slay the regulatory beast?  

This is not good:  NY Teamsters’ Pension Fund Goes Belly Up.  

De Blasio dodges questions about federal probe.   Meanwhile, De Blasio cronies are still making record amounts of cash.  

 

 

 

 

Daily Update

One may expect the NY Post editorial to state that President Donald J. Trump hit a grand slam last night when he addressed the joint session of Congress, but when Van Jones says Trump became president tonight and democrats should be worried, you know that President Trump’s sincere speech is one for the record books.  The Hill is reporting that media left and right give Trump’s speech thumbs up.  Charles Hurt opines in the Washington Times that Trump’s speech leaves democrats befuddled, in ruins, with question marks.  

Sen. Charles Schumer, the Senate’s Minority Leader, apparently wants to remain MINORITY leader as he expressed that he didn’t hear anything he could support.  Leave it to Chuck, a fellow New Yorker, so biased that he cannot think straight; I wonder how the Dreamers will react to Sen. Schumer’s not hearing anything he could support.  

The Daily Signal points out what President Trump got right in the speech.  

The full speech is here, but grab your Kleenex for this tribute to Navel Seal Team member Ryan Owen, recently killed in Yemen.  President Trump was also able to make Carryn Owens smile — a true sign of a person who understands the emotion that transpired.   Not everyone was touched by the tribute, another indication that democrats will remain in the minority because We the People are tired of the empty political words they use to buy votes.  

This is a problem:  Pelosi: I’m ‘Proud’ of Democrats’ Decorum Last Night and another reason to enact TERM LIMITS.  This is another problem:  Democrats would not give Jamiel Shaw respect for the loss of his son when introduced by President Trump.  

Gov. John Kasich should just switch parties.   Hundreds Of Non-Citizens Registered To Vote In Ohio, Investigation Finds. 

Wednesday’s with Walter E. Williams.  

 

 

 

Daily Update

Deportation agency ignored 1.6 million visa overstays under Obama.  Overstays pose an increasingly prominent problem in illegal immigration, with estimates saying that as the border has become more secure, migrants are attempting to enter by getting legal passes and refusing to leave when their time is up.

One County saw a 27% drop in assaults after it helped enforce immigration law. The Daily Signal has the rest of the story.

Trump to propose military buildup, cuts in foreign aid in first address to Congress.  President Trump  hasn’t addressed the nation yet, but that hasn’t stopped some democrats from criticizing his expected remarks.  

Rich Lowry opines on the hidden heart of unaccountable big government..  

The Empire Center for Public Policy looks at the possibility of a softer Medicaid block grant.  

McAuliffe Vetoes Bill to Investigate Virginia Voter Rolls With More Registered Than Eligible Voters.  Gov. McAuliffe proves he is blind to voter fraud as it clearly exists in Virginia.  Meanwhile, in Texas, the Justice Department rescinds a key part of a Texas law seeking to enhance the integrity of votes cast.  Seriously, how is showing a photo ID discriminatory?  If it is so discriminatory, why is it required for so many other things, like getting on an airplane.  

Mayor de Blasio, you have so many problems.  But, don’t worry Mr. Mayor,  here are ten good reasons to re-elect you.    

Remember the idiom “Be careful of what you wish for, lest it come true?”  Well those who wanted a $15 minimum wage may want to rethink their demand after reading this.  

Dennis Prager’s words of wisdom

 

 

Daily Update

Orange County legislator James O’Donnell is supporting a resolution to name the new Tappan Zee Bridge named in memory of the three men killed by the Brinks robbers on October 20, 1981, that, if adopted, would be a memorialization for the three murdered men.  To learn more about renaming the Tappan Zee Bridge and to join our efforts to do the same you can sign our online petition here.  

Keep Keith Doyle in prison.  On August 24, 1984 Keith Doyle, murdered Janice Amirante one week before her 19th birthday in a motel after an argument.  He then plunged her head in a sink of water to make sure there were no bubbles, removed the mattress from the bed, pried boards off the wooden platform and put her body inside and then replaced the boards and the mattress.  He kept the motel room key and 2 days later, when it was vacant he removed the body and dumped it in a drainage area where she was discovered a few days later.  Doyle was convicted of second-degree murder with extreme indifference to human life and was sentenced to 25 years to life. Download the petition to keep him in jail here and please send it to the NYS Board of Parole (address is on petition) or you can go online to the Board of Parole here.  

If we had this tool, police would be able to solve more cases.  

Fortunately for us, Mayor de Blasio has trouble picking winners, then again, the DNC didn’t do that great when they chose an Obama appointee Tom Perez, who will sue to get what he wants.  Did you know that under the Obama Administration the Economic Freedom Index plummeted from 6th to 17th?   

The Daily Signal wraps up national CPAC..  At CPAC, Panelists Discuss Role Vetting, Assimilation Play in National Security.  

Nicole Gelinas opines on the Port Authority’s highway robbery.  

Robert Knight opines on fake justice and the rise of a new religion.   

Preterition and the Press.   

Sometimes even “perfect” people make mistakes or should we say deliver “fake” winners instead of the real ones.  (sometimes you just have to laugh albeit everyone involved with La La Land was not laughing…)

 

Daily Update

NYPD Commissioner is no Frank Reagan as he defies president’s immigration orders.  When the NYPD Commissioner defies established law — who is allowed into our country — how does he justify making any other arrests?  The law is the law and NO ONE is above the law., least of all the NYPD Commissioner.  His job is to keep New Yorkers safe; not protect those who have broken the law.  

Bob McManus praises ICE who did their job last week despite Commissioner O’Neill and Mayor de Blasio.  

New York City is not the only city in NYS that disregards the law; Rochester is also a sanctuary city.  here is Bob Lonsberry’s take on Rochester.  

The Torch’s Bill Hammond checks Governor Cuomo’s facts on the ACA — Obamacare.  

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Chief John Kelly are heading to Mexico to meet with Enrique Peña Nieto, the president of Mexico.  I hope they have a copy of Mexico’s immigration policy with them to point out that 1)  Mexico welcomes only foreigners who will be useful to Mexican society, 2) Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country,  3)  Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be imprisoned and 4)  Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons:.  Under Mexican Law,  illegal immigration is a felony and  Mexicans who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law.   What say you now, President Enrique Peña Nieto?

This Saturday, the DNC will choose its new chairman.  Is it possible that Cong. Keith Ellison, who suggests that President Trump should be impeached, will be the new DNC Chair?   Whomever is chosen, it doesn’t seem as if much will change with the Democratic Party–the ultra-left will continue to steer it to its demise.  

The Daily Signal visits a townhall meeting:  Watch How One Congressman Handles a Rowdy Town Hall Meeting.  The outspoken participants are following what Indivisible has prepared for them.  Here is the handbook being used by those seeking to make the news by disrupting townhall meetings being held by republicans.  

One of the most reproduced photograph in history was taken by Joe Rosenthal  atop Suribachi and won him a Pulitzer Prize, thanks to the bravery of the US Marines —  true American heroes who fought the bloody Battle for Iwo Jima…when men protected America…a lesson lost on so many today.  

 

 

Daily Update

We have said it before and will continue to stress the fact that elected officials take an oath to uphold the US Constitution and protect its citizens.  Mayor de Blasio and his Administration are more concerned about keeping New York City as a sanctuary city than they are about the safety of those who were born here or came here legallyAdvocates want to make it easier for non-violent criminals to stay in NYC, but the rest of us have this message for Bill de Blasio:   your time as Mayor — and your ultra left ideals — are coming to a close.   By the way, Mr. Mayor, how are you going to pay your legal fees.  

Venezuelans Now On A Forced Starvation Diet — Thanks, Socialism!  

Terrorism Isn’t The Only Reason To Curb Refugee Admissions.  

Call me old fashioned, but I remember when businesses used to succeed or fail on their own.  

This article helps explain why we see Governor Cuomo helping stranded motorist, will we see him cleaning yards in the spring, acting as a lifeguard in the summer and raking leaves in the fall?  When you do see those photos, remember that Governor Cuomo wants state agencies to pump out good news.  If Governor Cuomo only wants state agencies to promote “good news” why does Gov. Cuomo keep pushing the millionaires tax?  Pushing more New Yorkers out of New York hardly denotes good news.  

NY Senator admits that Neil Gorsuch will probably  be confirmed as US Supreme Court Justice, The Washington Times has more information on some of his past decisions.

No Excuse for Congress Not to Pass Criminal Code Reforms So Innocent Americans Don’t Get Punished.    

Wednesdays with Walter E. Williams.  

Daily Update

There is high praise in this article by Brian Simka for President Trump’s choice of Lt. Gen. H. M. McMaster  to be his national security adviser.  The Washington Times also has praise for one of the top 100 most influential people in the world according to Time Magazine’s 2014 list.   Want to more about McMaster, read or Google “73 Easting

Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.) is right….in this instance. 

Trump Versus Obama: Whose Cabinet Nominees Faced More Obstruction?   Will you see this chart in the mainstream media…it is no wonder why President Trump slams the msm.  Micheal Goodwin expresses in his column, that the President is the one who calls the shots, not the media.  The question then becomes — will the press just report the news (as the Washington Free Beacon did) or will the continue to opine in what should be the news.  No one has a problem with opinions — we all have them — but they do not belong in the news portion of the mainstream media.  Or will the mainstream media continue to be purblind to the accomplishments of Donald J. Trump and his administration as they deliver to the voters who didn’t fall for the written deceits portrayed by “journalists.”

Good news from the Trump Administration.   And more good news here.  

And then there is this:  DHS secretary orders immigration agent hiring surge, end to ‘catch-and-release’  Townhall.com spells it out more here.  

The bogus case for boosting school aid.  

De Blasio turned a blind eye to ACS disaster.  

This Syracuse Post Standard article spells out some of the problems when government grants are involved with private enterprise —  government always has the last word and does what it planned all along to do..

  

Daily Update

President Trump nominates R. Alexander Acosta as Labor Secretary.  On a quick view  of his background, Acosta seems like an excellent choice..  Acosta is a  former law clerk for Justice Alito when Alito was on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals  and has also served as a member of the NLRB, he is a Harvard Law School graduate and specializes in employment and labor issues. From  1998 to 2000 Acosta was a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. and in 2008 he was named to the list of 100 most influential individuals in business ethics.  

The Detroit News editorial will make progressives’ heads spin:  Puzder was right on minimum wage.  There was another article in the Detroit News that caught my eye, Greg McNeilly, the head of Michigan’s Freedom Fund indicated that Dems risk becoming a permanent minority in Michigan but if you read his article, it isn’t all that different than New York.  

The NY Post editorial offers this:  Offing Andy Puzder will likely only feed Democrats’ blood lust. However, President Trump just out-maneuvered them with the Acosta nomination … the Chess Game continues.   Conrad Black opines on President Trump’s first month in the NY Sun.  

Lawmakers Are Using Congressional Review Act to Dismantle Obama Regulations.  

Conservatives Coalesce Around New Obamacare Replacement Plan.  

More legislative vacancies: Nothing special for Cuomo.  

City spending on homeless to hit $2.3B this fiscal year…  with little hope of reducing the cost taxpayers are forced to absorb while paying their own home costs.  

In the United States and Canada, a sanctuary city is a municipality that has adopted a policy of protecting unauthorized immigrants by not prosecuting them for violating federal immigration laws and by ensuring that all residents have access to city services, regardless of immigration status. Illegal immigration is the migration of people across national borders in a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country.  What part of these two definitions does Senator Jesse Hamilton not understand?    When he accepted the position of State Senator he had to sign this, attesting to upholding the US and State Constitutions.  So please explain, Senator Hamilton,  how you are upholding the US Constitution, abiding by the rule of law, when you declare that your Senate District is a “Sanctuary Senate District?”

Daily Update

Charles Hurt said this on Fox News “Targeting of Flynn ‘should be alarming to everyone'” and we agree with him.  The Washington Free Beacon lays the issue of Flynn’s discredit at the feet of former Obama officials.  The Washington Times continues the back story in DC.  Charles Hurt has more to say in his column and John Podhoretz also has concerns as to how and why the leaks came about.  Michael Goodwin sums up the “crisis” in his Wednesday column in the NY Post. 

Meanwhile. a Russian spy ship is off the  eastern coast of the US and its destination is unknown, but it appears to have come within 30 miles of a major nuclear submarine base in Groton, Connecticut on Wednesday morning.

BREAKING News:  Puzder, Trump’s choice for Labor Secretary, to withdraw name.  

The NY Times appears to be determined to bring the Trump Administration down.  

Physicians’s assisted suicide could become law in Washington, DC on Saturday — if Congress does not act.  

Betsy McCaughey, the leading authority on Obamacare, states its replacement will also boost jobs.  Obamacare may implode before being repealed.  

$1,084,840,000,000 collected in taxes from October 1, 2016 through January 31, 2017 and we still have a deficit

Maddog” Mattis says what every American wants to hear.  Will someone tell the UN the same exact thing?

Trump’s Progress So Far on 2016 Promises.  

Governor Cuomo did the right thing when he vetoed the five cent fee on NYC’s plastic bags. 

Wednesday’s with Walter E. Williams.  

 

 

Daily Update

The US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine says it will be acceptable to modify human embryos destined for implantation in the womb.  What a Pandora’s Box!!  Every woman who carries a child wants their baby to be healthy, every husband and wife have the expectation that their child will be able to have a healthy, normal life.  But some parents know there is the possibility of genetics disrupting their expectations and will grasp at anything that will eliminate the cause of a baby being born with a genetic abnormality.  If we open this Pandora’s Box, we create a slippery slope that elitists will use to create designer babies.  We rang the clarion bell when abortion was normalized, but people said we were overreacting.  We were not wrong then, nor are we wrong now.  The Us National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine must not be allowed to pursue this course…every child is perfect even when born with imperfect genes for they are the ones who love us unconditionally and teach us so much. No matter how many safeguards may be put in place, once the method of genetic engineering is perfected, nefarious opportunists will abound.  

There are other ways to help end genetic abnormalities…cord blood research is promising.  Read about it here.   A special thank you to Sen. John DeFrancisco for all he has done to advance the saving of cord blood.  

NY medical pot company prospecting for new customers in nursing homes.  New York’s medical pot program has struggled to attract patients…so the CEO of Etain is looking for patients in nursing homes.  Read more here.  

Ben Shapiro has some thoughts on General Flynn’s resignation.  

This is interesting, the IBEW Local 58 (in Michigan) wanted their union membership to show a photo ID if they wanted to resign from their membership.  (It has been struck down by the NLRB).  I find it interesting that a big labor union would require a photo ID to resign, yet a photo ID to vote is considered burdensome.  

Reclaim New York is reporting on a bombshell report in the Times Union that may reveal a quid pro quo.  Here is the Times Union article.  

Senate Leader John Flanagan believes that Governor Cuomo’s  plan to force consolidation of local governments goes too far.  

Cal Thomas writes a beautiful love story on Valentine’s Day…and has some good advice for married couples.  

The Daily Signal pays tribute to Frederick Douglass.