“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it”-Ronald Reagan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
Bill@NovemberTeam.com
May 22, 2023
CONSERVATIVE PARTY: ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL ‘SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT MUST NOT BE BREACHED’
Brooklyn-NY…“The so-called Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.2445) would let New York doctors prescribe fatal chemicals to terminally ill patients for self-administration, providing that the patients are mentally competent.
“This legislation represents the slipperiest of slopes, and it must not be made law. Who can truly determine one’s mental competence at such a time? How would patients be protected from subtle coercion from health providers, insurance companies, and distraught family members? Who can assess whether a patent is making a decision based on clear thinking and not situational depression?
“Canada allowed eligible Canadian adults to request medical assistance in dying starting in 2016. In just seven years, Canada’s MAiD law degenerated into euthanasia for the sick and poor. Indeed, every state and nation that has adopted pro-suicide legislation has loosened its original requirements.
“Some may think this bill makes perfect sense. We ask that they think more deeply. This is not the path for a society that values life.” –
CONSERVATIVE PARTY of NEW YORK STATE
486 78th Street, BROOKLYN, NY 11209
(718) 921-2158 Voice * (718) 921-5268 Fax
2023 Legislative Memo…IN OPPOSITION TO… Medical Aid in Dying Act
S. 2445 Hoylman-SigalA. 995 Paulin
Bill Purpose: To provide that a mentally competent, terminally ill patient may request medication to be self-administered for the purpose of hastening the patient’s death provided the requirements set forth in the act are met; provides certain protections and immunities to health care providers and other persons, including a physician who prescribes medication in compliance with the provisions of the article to the terminally ill patient to be self-administered by the patient.
Party Position: Nothing is more heart wrenching than knowing your loved one will suffer unbearable pain when they are diagnosed with a disease that medical experts cannot cure. Your loved one does not want to reach the point where the debilitating effects leave them with little dignity.
The Medical Aid in Dying Act seeks to change New York’s law to allow health care providers to prescribe medication for your loved one to self-administer said drugs if they are terminally ill and mentally competent. Who decides if the patient is mentally competent? It is a crucial component of the proposed bill.
When any one is given a diagnosis that implies death is imminent, it is natural to be terrified of the future. It is also natural for one to want to control as much of what is left of their lives as possible. However, some people become so depressed at the thought of dying they are not mentally competent to decide. The proposed bill does not ensure that the health care providers provide the best care to their patients to keep them comfortable, with as little pain as possible, rather it allows health care providers to provide medicine to die.
Medicine has changed. The Hippocratic Oath is obsolete. While most health care providers enter the medical field to help patients, there are far too many who have an agenda, Jack Kevorkian, the infamous euthanasia proponent, has many followers.
The Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) Act is today’s Pandora’s Box. Canada’s Supreme Court gave the government until June 6, 2016, to create a new law. In June 2016, the Parliament of Canada passed federal legislation that allows eligible Canadian adults to request medical assistance in dying.
Life is precious, and every effort must be made to protect patients from choosing to end it on their terms. The choice to refuse treatment is always theirs and with palliative care, one will be as comfortable as possible.
CPNYS strongly opposes the Medical Aid in Dying Act’ and urges a NO vote on the pending legislation.
New York City Democrats have successfully created an environment where looking over your shoulder in the city is not just smart, it is required.
Everyday residents and guests do not want to play “what if”, they want a city that will protect and prioritize law abiding citizens. Instead, we’re plagued with D A’s and a Democratic City Council Majority who bend to the ultra-woke crowd and put our safety in jeopardy.
Daniel Penny could have been any one of us and now DA Bragg is looking to make an example out of him sending a clear message—you do not have the right to defend yourself.
So, what do we have the right to do?
Daniel Penny did not get on the train looking for trouble or confrontation. Instead, he is the victim of a city which has failed to uphold the rule of law and provide the most basic of services—keeping its residents and guests safe.
Please read a release from the New York City Conservative Party county organizations here which includes statements from all of our New York City organizations.
To support Marine Corp veteran Daniel Penny, please click the link here.
NYS Communist Party Led by Former Ocasio-Cortez Campaign Staffer
I do believe Americans who value our way of life should be concerned when Congressional campaign staff members move on in their careers to become senior members of the Communist Party.
Justine Medina was hired by Ocasio-Cortez as a campaign organizer despite proudly proclaiming her affiliation. Today she is the Chairwoman of the New York State Communist Party.
Medina likes to brag about her close association with AOC, and AOC, for her part, only has the nicest things to say about Medina. Imagine the head of the State Communist Party being able to use a member of the United States Congress as a reference.
Queens Conservative Party-endorsed NYC Councilman Bob Holden commented, “It’s frightening. They’re coming out of the woodwork. Communism has failed in so many places that it is mind-boggling that AOC’s constituents keep electing her. This is kind of like a smoking gun that these elected officials and congress people are out-and-out communists.”
Read my statement on AOC building her handpicked communist party here.
House GOP Stands its Ground
Speaker McCarthy and his Majority are standing their ground against Biden threats that the nation will default on its debt if the debt ceiling is not raised.
The Biden Administration, if not forced by the GOP in the House with concurrence of Republicans and a few Democrats in the Senate, would once again simply be raising the debt limit without the spending side being addressed. Just more of the same with new threats of default two or three years away and our nation’s future, which is already mortgaged many times over, being mortgaged again.
Speaker McCarthy’s line in the sand is simple—spending cuts that amount to hundreds of billions of dollars resulting from new work requirements makes sense to most Americans.
New York’s Congressional delegation, responsible for securing the House majority, are doing their part in ensuring a secure financial future for the next generation.
CONSERVATIVE PARTY NEWS RELEASE
Issued Jointly by the County Organizations in the City of New York
17 May 2023 / For Immediate Release
Contact: Frances T. Vella-Marrone, Tel. (347) 866-4945
CONSERVATIVE PARTY STANDS FOR PRINCIPLE THAT “SELF-DEFENSE IS NOT A CRIME” IN OPPOSING THE MALICIOUS PROSECUTION OF DANIEL PENNY
The county organizations of the Conservative Party in the City of New York jointly and unequivocally oppose the malicious prosecution of Daniel Penny, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who is being charged with manslaughter by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office for his heroic act of bravery in defending himself and fellow subway riders from a mentally-ill person causing mayhem.
“Self defense and coming to the aid of others should never be a crime,” stated Kings County Chairwoman Frances T. Vella-Marrone. “Riding the subway and walking the streets of New York City have become dangerous activities. Daniel Penny took the risk to intervene and should not be punished. He along with his fellow New Yorkers are victims of failed soft on crime policies.”
“While D.A. Bragg’s soft on crime policies increase the likelihood that New Yorkers will be forced to defend themselves, he seems to actively be seeking to criminalize the right of each of us to do so,” stated Bronx County Chairman Patrick McManus. “Daniel Penny should never have been put in a position where he had to take action, whereas jail may not have been the right place to put Jacob Neely, repeatedly unleashing this violent mentally ill individual back into society only served to endanger him as well as all of us. When our government fails to protect us we have the RIGHT to defend ourselves.”
“New York City residents and visitors should never have to fear if their safety is at risk,” stated New York County Chairman John M. Seravalli. “Unfortunately, pro-criminal policies perpetrated by rogue prosecutor D.A. Bragg and the New York City Council democratic majority leave far too many wondering if taking action into their own hands is the only way. The City of New York failed Jordan Neely and now looks to punish Daniel Penny in a disgraceful attempt to cover their tracks. It is not Marine Corp veterans like Mr. Penny that subway riders fear, it is the bad policies and total disregard of personal accountability that place us all at risk.”
“Daniel Penny is a good Samaritan who placed his own personal safety at risk to defend himself and his fellow New Yorkers with courageous action,” stated Richmond County Chairman David Mario Curcio. “He deserves better than to be maliciously prosecuted by a hack politician who routinely endangers the public safety in his jurisdiction with complete and total incompetence.”
New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar has issued the following statement: “A basic American principle is that ‘self-defense is not a crime’. New Yorkers who ride the subways or walk the streets anytime after dark clearly know that New York City has become a place in which you need to regularly look over your shoulder. Trapped on a subway car with a highly erratic individual aggressively approaching ‘strap hangers’ requires men and women like Daniel Penny willing to intervene. Now the second guessing begins from a liberal establishment ‘hell bent’ on changing the way New Yorkers work to protect each other. Daniel Penny did not commit a crime. He committed self defense and New Yorkers should be thankful.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
Bill@NovemberTeam.com
May 15, 2023
STATEMENT ON OCASIO-CORTEZ STAFFER BECOMING NEW YORK STATE COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER BY STATE CONSERVATIVE PARTY CHAIRMAN GERARD KASSAR
Brooklyn-NY…“An aide to radical New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has graduated from her indoctrination training to become co-chairman of The New York Communist League. What’s perhaps most shocking is that this isn’t shocking at all. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, who calls herself a Democratic Socialist, has long flirted with Marxist ideology, ignoring the horrors of totalitarianism and the tens of millions of deaths that Communists have caused around the world in the perverted name of equality.
“Did Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and her minions not study history in high school? Are they really not aware of what happened in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Kampuchea, Ethiopia, Cuba, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Nicaragua, etc?
CONSERVATIVE PARTY of NEW YORK STATE
486 78th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11209
(718) 921-2158 Voice * (718) 921-5268 Fax
2023 Legislative Memo… In Support of
A.6444 -Santabarbara
Purpose: Relates to prohibiting the acquisition or transfer of agricultural land by foreign adversaries after January 1, 2024; provides that such prohibition will not apply to any interest in agricultural land held by a foreign adversary prior to such date or any federally recognized Indian tribe or its government units and enterprises; defines terms.
Party Position: The New York State Conservative Party will always stand by the rights of the Constitution and protect American land from foreign adversaries as defined by the Department of Commerce. Ensuring United States and New York land goes to Americans and not foreign adversaries should not be a partisan issue. This bill aims to prohibit the acquisition or transfer of agricultural land by foreign adversaries after January 1, 2024. As conservatives, we believe that this bill is crucial to protecting the interests of American farmers and safeguarding our national security.
Agriculture is a vital industry in the United States, and it is essential that we protect our nation’s agricultural resources from foreign adversaries who may seek to exploit them. By preventing these adversaries from acquiring or transferring agricultural land, we can ensure that our nation’s farmers have the resources they need to continue producing food for our citizens.
Furthermore, as conservatives, we believe in protecting our national security. Allowing foreign adversaries to acquire agricultural land in the United States could pose a significant threat to our nation’s security. By preventing these acquisitions, we can prevent potential espionage and other security risks that may arise.
President Trump implemented Title 42 to add additional strength in securing our borders during the COVID pandemic. The President’s secure the border policies, including building the border wall, were successful in stemming illegal immigration.
Of course, you need a President who understands that a federal priority, since our nation was Founded, is secure borders.
Title 42, as an emergency border measure during COVID, was going to expire at some point despite efforts to keep it in place. What comes next is what matters and once again Biden is letting the American people and, in particular, residents of Southern Border states down.
The 1,500 Federal troops he has sent to Texas are not there to work with Border Patrol to control the borders. They are there to assist in maintaining some degree of order once they cross with their often-spurious claim of asylum.
His announced implementation of a requirement that individuals first apply for asylum in a country they are traveling through on their way to the United States, has no effect on residents of Mexico attempting to enter America. Additionally, it will be very difficult to document as gigantic loopholes are expected.
Regardless, the Biden Administration continues to use a band aid approach to an illegal immigration problem that is fueled by the cartels, terrorist organizations, and other criminal efforts to circumvent our laws.
I can think of a hundred reasons why Biden needs to be defeated. I would consider his failed border and immigration policies in the top five.
Assembly GOP Gets Important Win
Assembly Bill A2192 would end the ability of a landlord or property owner to check payment or credit history before signing a lease or going into a month-by-month tenancy. Another dopey idea from the progressive Democrats who truly see property ownership as something the Bolsheviks eliminated a century ago.
They have even more radical ideas awaiting. Legislative review, such as the “good cause eviction” proposal that would, for all practical purposes, take away control of rental property decisions from the owner is just one more example.
Assembly Bill A2192 simply went too far. The Republicans, led by Republican Leader Will Barclay, intensely debated the bill. In a rare moment of common-sense in Albany over twenty Democrats agreed.
The end result was the Speaker pulled the bill from a vote before it was defeated. In essence the bill was killed in a very unusual way. Good work Leader Barclay, your members, and common-sense Democrats.
Memorial Day
It’s still a few weeks away but never too early to begin thinking of doing something to honor those who made the greatest possible sacrifice for our nation.
I plan to speak at a ceremony organized by the American Legion at Cypress Hills National Cemetery on Sunday, May 28th. On Monday I will participate in the Brooklyn Conservative Party’s 41st annual POW/MIA ceremony followed by marching with the Party in one of the nation’s oldest Memorial Day Parades which is held in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. My Wife and I will then gather with friends at a barbeque as we continue to celebrate Memorial Day.
As I believe all supporters of the Conservative Party know, Memorial Day is about those who died in service to our nation. Make a plan to celebrate Memorial Day that rings true to your belief in the greatness of America. As part of that plan bring along your children and/or grandchildren. We often complain, correctly, that the school system does not teach them enough about our nation and its history. This is a chance for you to share your love of our nation and those who have protected our way of life with them.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly,212-396-9117
Bill@NovemberTeam.com
May 10, 2023
STATEMENT ON INDICTMENT OF REP. GEORGE SANTOS BY NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATIVE PARTYCHAIRMAN GERARD KASSAR
Brooklyn-NY…“If George Santos has a shred of decency left he will immediately resign from Congress. The Conservative Party believes in the principle of innocence until proven guilty, but Mr. Santos’s serial lying alone, as reflected in today’s multi-count indictment, makes him ineligible to hold public office. Mr. Santos’s resignation is the one public service he can render.”
Give the Democratic progressives some credit when it comes to consistency in Government on both a state and city level. Democratic-elected officials have put forward budgets that contain billions in new spending to be filled with new debt, new taxes and likely shortfalls due to non-existent federal money that the state government has factored into its $229 billion budget. It is worth noting NYC intends to withhold hundreds of millions in Medicaid reimbursements to help with the state budget but at the same time, significantly impacting local governments.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a few days ago, submitted an almost $107 billion budget to the city council. In it he has a number of cuts but still claims to be $3 billion short due to migrant asylum seekers. The mayor is quick to blame the federal government for its poor border policies and New York State for not stepping up to the plate. What he fails to mention is the expressed intent of the city council to restore cuts further bloating the city’s fiscal plan.
On both the city and state level progressive Democrats are aligned with fiscally irresponsible mechanisms to drive up spending without a true balance that is not matched with the manageable debt, taxes, and fees.
The Conservative Party asked our over seventy elected officials in the Assembly and Senate to vote no on the key budget bills including the “big ugly.” Almost all of them did. The few others who didn’t will show up in our legislative ratings.
Say It Ain’t So
Talk about having your cake and eating it too. The New York State budget contains $25 million to keep the public financing program for statewide candidates, State Senate and Assembly races alive. However, it is hundreds of millions of dollars short of having the funds to actually do just that—fund the many campaigns.
If you are confused, I suspect my cynical answer will help clear the smoke screen of New York State government. The Democrats did not actually want to have primary opponents who were funded with taxpayer dollars. It simply takes away the incumbents advantage. Being good left-wing cronies, they did, however, want to continue to show support for taxpayer funded elections. There were dozens of political hires who were pulling down big dollars in setting up the guidelines and regulations for the big giveaway.
Even though they have very little to do currently, they will continue to get paid. The $25 million goes to pay for the patronage without Democrats risking funded primaries.
Make no mistake about it, the Conservative Party has, does, and will in the future continue to oppose taxpayer funded elections.
Save the Date
The New York State Conservative Party will be presenting Shaun Marie Levine, who served with distinction during her 28-year career as the Executive Director, with a new award named in honor of our great Chairman, Mike Long, at a reception Thursday, June 15th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the New York Athletic Club located in Manhattan.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
Bill@NovemberTeam.com
May 1, 2023
CONSERVATIVE PARTY CALLS FOR ‘NO’ VOTE ON EXORBITANT AND IRRESPONSIBLE $229 BILLION STATE BUDGET “Budget Has No Consideration Whatsoever for Economic Reality.”
Brooklyn-NY…The New York State Conservative Party is urging responsible lawmakers in Albany to reject the massive $229 billion state budget proposal, which is billions of dollars more than the ill-advised budget Governor Kathy Hochul initially put forward.
As proposed, this budget would raise taxes on financially beleaguered New Yorkers, dramatically raise the price of energy and new construction in New York through a ban on new natural gas hookups, chase away existing and future jobs with the highest minimum wage in the nation linked to an automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase, and force New Yorkers to pay for political election campaigns — while doing virtually nothing to reduce New York’s nation-leading Medicaid costs or New York’s dangerously high crime rate caused by the disastrous cashless bail law.
“This budget has no consideration whatsoever for economic reality,” said New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar. “New Yorkers wanted financial relief; what they got was a punch-in-the-gut MTA ‘mobility tax’, higher state spending, mandates on future home heating, the cost of political campaigns, and a job-killing ‘minimal wage’ that will kill countless starting-level jobs around the state for years to come.
“New Yorkers wanted safer streets; Governor Kathy Hochul and her Democratic colleagues chose not to hear them, placing woke ideology ahead of public safety,” Mr. Kassar said. “The only good thing I can say about the Governor’s budget, is that it didn’t include her hare-brained scheme to force state rezoning of New York’s suburban communities.”
The Conservative Party specifically urged legislators to oppose the Revenue Bill, which includes a number of existing taxes as well as new burdensome revenue generators.
“Year after year, Democrats in Albany have been turning a blind eye to needs and wants of everyday New Yorkers,” Mr. Kassar continued. “This budget is the worst example of that to date, and we urge responsible legislators to oppose it. New Yorkers can’t afford never-ending tax and spending increases. They stifle state economic growth and send more and more New Yorkers packing for better run states.”
NY GOP/CONSERVATIVE Congressional Delegation Supports “Limit, Save, Grow Act”
Our delegation has taken a responsible position on reducing federal spending while keeping the government from defaulting by voting for the “Limit, Save, Grow Act,” a proposal spanning more than 300 pages that would lift the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion. The bill also cuts federal spending by $4.5 trillion.
With the United States having hit its borrowing authority, the country is staring down the barrel of defaulting on its bills without this action from Congress driven by the Republican caucus.
Biden who has refused to come to the table to work out an agreement with a united GOP is running out of time. He needs to act like a leader and lead or find the country in an ominous position where it can’t pay its bills, further leading us down a dangerous path as the world watches.
Assemblyman Matt Slater Announces Bill to Protect New Yorkers from Foreign Enemies at Home
The New York State Conservative Party is calling for immediate passage of legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-C, Putnam/Westchester) that would prohibit China, Russia, and other nations of concern from purchasing real property throughout the Empire State.
The bill, A. 5301, follows the alarming arrests of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intelligence officers who have been operating spy centers in New York City and across the nation. (These are CCP spy centers, not Chinese “police stations,” as they’ve been carelessly described.)
“Whether its spy balloons, cyber-attacks or the recent arrest of Chinese Communist Party agents in New York City, America is constantly under attack by foreign enemies,” Assemblyman Slater said. “This legislation will prohibit China, Russia, and any other nation of concern from owning property in the Empire State. New York must take action to protect its citizens and safeguard our property and natural resources from foreign influence.” Read my statement here.
Bad Idea: Automatic COLA Increases Attached to Minimum Wage
Many business owners have been clear that raising the minimum wage will result in them hiring fewer workers, giving out fewer raises, or a combination of both. Some are threatening to leave the state, something New Yorkers cannot afford as they have already seen far too many jobs leave to friendlier business climates.
Now the state is planning to attach cost of living increases to the minimum wage through the state budget. That eliminates a true minimum wage and creates a low wage that will become a permanent cap for many workers. The governor and legislature agreed to raise the state’s minimum wage incrementally over three years to $16 per hour upstate by 2026. After that, annual wage increases will be indexed to inflation, which at this rate under this administration, is crippling.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
Bill@NovemberTeam.com
April 25, 2023
NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATIVE PARTY STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S MUTED REELECTION RUN ANNOUNCEMENT
Brooklyn-NY…“If President Biden was hoping to quell excitement over his planned reelection bid, he has succeeded magnificently. His announcement hardly caused a ripple in the news media, and, even in political circles, it’s being met with lethargy.
“This totally unremarkable President appears to have no agenda — other than to borrow and spend money — and he has no rationale whatsoever for another term.”
“The good news is that crickets sound a lot nicer than gaffes.” – Gerard Kassar, Chairman New York State Conservative Party
