“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
One of the most humble and generous people in show business (and a great actor) talks modestly about his Gary Sinise Foundation .org. This isn’t an advertisement for money, just an interview with Neil Cavuto last week, one that is uplifting and wishful that more people would emulate Gary Sinise.
The Legislature is planning on returning soon to vote themselves a more then 18% pay raise
bringing their salaries to $130,000 a year for a part-time job. The Conservative Party remains
opposed to any pay increase for its part-time Legislature.
Our opposition is based on both an objective and subjective view of the Assembly and Senate.
Subjectively, they do an awful job. Frankly, the party does not want to pay them more for giving
us unsafe streets, a sour economy, depopulation of entire regions, infringements on second
amendment rights, suppression of individual rights through mandates just to make a few points.
Objectively, the job is part-time despite efforts to eliminate outside income which will result in a
Legislature devoid of members who are part of the actual work force. This loss to the Legislature
of individuals who work at regular jobs or own businesses will do significant harm to a body that
strives to be representative of the government. The planned salary increases to $130,000 annually is
better than double the average salary of a single New Yorker working full-time.
We should call this what it is, a heist. But instead of ski masks, they’re wearing suits and dresses.
Lame Duck Session
The House of Representatives, controlled by the Democrats for less than two more weeks, is
moving full speed during its final days to pass spending legislation filled with numerous
programs that would go nowhere in the Republican controlled House that was recently elected by the
people of the United States.
It is not certain if the current Republican membership of the House operating in a tight minority
can win the day. What we do know is that the current 50/50 Senate can prevent the House Democrats
and Schumer from moving forward.
Our Conservative Party-endorsed delegation of eleven House members who will be taking office
on January 3rd understand and agree with our position. However, to win and get to next year we
need the US Senate to stand up.
At the moment, it does not look like that will happen. Put one more check mark next to a reason
why Mitch McConnell needs to go.
Executive Director Shaun Marie Levine to Retire
They say all good things must come to an end, in this case good is an understatement.
After more than twenty-seven years of steering the Conservative Party on a day-to-day basis our
Executive Director, Shaun Marie, has informed me that she plans to retire effective December 31st.
Shaun has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Party for Mike Long, for me and most importantly for you.
Frankly, she is irreplaceable.
The good news is that she will remain the Executive Vice Chairman of the State Party and as
such she will continue to play a key leadership role.
We will have much more to say about Shaun Marie in the weeks to follow as her service is worthy of
being recognized on its own. For now, allow me on your behalf and mine to say THANK YOU!
The Party is now taking on the enormous task of interviewing a successor to Shaun Marie for the position of Executive Director. I hope to have an announcement soon.
We heard throughout the just ended 2022 political cycle that democracy is in danger. The following FEE article is an appropriate inclusion in today’s blog as we celebrate the 231st anniversary of the signing of the Bill of Rights that confirms the fundamental rights of American citizens. Celebrate the genius of our Founding Fathers and all those who have sacrificed so much for the greatest nation ever created by man. We have struggled and continue to struggle to keep this young nation what our Founding Fathers envisioned; it is up to us as we approach another crossroads in America’s journey.
Eric Adams seeks $1B from Biden as NYC migrant crush swells to 30K. “Mayor Eric Adams has asked the federal government for $1 billion to handle the crush of migrants who’ve surged into the Big Apple this year — but the cost was calculated when the population was far less than it is now and before a judge decided to open the floodgates at the southern border, The Post has learned.” We all understand the cost that NYC is hammered with by the crush of migrants; however, does anyone consider the cost that has been placed on the southern border towns…ever since Biden took office? Do they care?? Certainly, the Biden Administration doesn’t care…unless they are bussed to Martha’s Vineyard. President Joe Biden has made a mockery of our immigration laws; it is his legacy and a very discouraging one at that. The fact that the President of the United States of America does not respect the law, is disgraceful, especially knowing how many lives have been sacrificed to keep America the greatest nation ever created. The financial burden being placed on our citizens is appalling.
James E. Hanley, reports in Empire Center: The Market Can Drive Electric Vehicle Sales. It’s summary: it appears that the market will work in meeting the state’s long-term climate goals, insofar as light-duty vehicles are concerned, and will do so without imposing costly mandates on individuals who cannot afford them. That’s why it should be allowed to work without interference and the state should repeal its 2035 zero-emission vehicle mandate.
Saving Lives or Ruining the Neighborhood? East Harlem Locals at Odds as America’s First Safe Injection Site Turns One. (I sincerely believe giving drugs, in the name of saving lives, only sends the wrong message to America’s youth.)
Senate Poised to Vote on Whether to Protect Charter Schools. “Although the Biden administration may not like them, charter schools are welcomed in blue states and cities because they serve students, including minority students, so well.” Let’s see if the Senate will do right for our children, or cave to those opposed to Charter Schools.
Leor Sapir writes in City Journal, about The Placebo Is the Point/A new paper highlights the fundamental bias in the world of “gender-affirming” research.
Richard K. Vedder, writes in American Spectator about The Most Selfish Generation/ Americans today can’t match the achievements of the Greatest Generation.
Book Review in Washington Free Beacon: Coming to America (Unfortunately, this happens when people move within America, they flee big cities and bring their voting habits – what caused them to flee—with them.)
On November 8th, Lester Chang was duly elected on the Republican and Conservative lines by the people of New York’s 49th Assembly District defeating longtime incumbent Peter Abbate by a clear and undisputable margin. He is the first Asian-American elected to the Assembly from Brooklyn and is part of three flips in the Assembly from Democrat to Republican/Conservative in Brooklyn.
Now, Speaker Heastie and the Democrats do not want to seat him due to a residency question stemming from a section of the State Constitution that has never once been argued since the current version of the State Constitution went into effect in the late 1930s.
Lester was born and raised in Brooklyn, pays taxes in Brooklyn, owns property in Brooklyn and returns to the house he grew up in on a nightly basis except for the time he spent in recent years on active military duty. While he did for many years live in Manhattan and vote in Manhattan, Lester returned to his Brooklyn roots.
His nominating petitions that contained the address of his place of residence in Brooklyn were gathered and filed without objection from Peter Abbate or the litigious Brooklyn Democratic Party. They took the 49th district for granted—then the unthinkable happened.
The red wave drowned the Brooklyn Democratic Party in Southern Brooklyn.
Having egg on their face, Abbate and the Brooklyn Democrats are throwing a fit and refusing to seat Lester, all at the expense of the voters who gave him a clear majority. Furthermore, they are actively working to disenfranchise the Asian American community who elected Lester and are excited by his win.
They are planning to run the question of residency through a Kangaroo Court consisting of the Democratically controlled Assembly Judiciary Committee. If that was not bad enough, the Heastie crew are using the old committee which is going out of office to make a recommendation about seating a newly elected member.
Lester won the election and should be seated. The Daily News and NY Post have said so in editorials. Locally there have been press conferences and rallies.
Not surprisingly the Brooklyn Democrats have been silent on their colleagues attempt to overturn the results of an election, the Conservative Party will not be.
Capitol Connection
Every four or five weeks I have an opportunity to do the Capitol Connection NPR show with Alan Chartock. My most recent interview took place yesterday. Click here to listen to me discuss the 2022 midterms in New York and what led to our success.
Lame Duck House Session
Efforts by outgoing House Democrats to use the final days of the Nancy Pelosi-run 117th session of Congress to pass Democratic agenda items need to be opposed.
Any new policy including year-long spending deals and the passage of marquee bills should wait until the new Congress is sworn in. Departing members of Congress should not disenfranchise newly elected members of Congress by denying them the ability to vote on and otherwise impact major policy items in the first months of the new session.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 212-396-9117
Bill@NovemberTeam.com
December 8, 2022
Brooklyn, NY – “How Attorney General Letitia James thought she had the right to cover up sexual harassment allegations within in her office until after the November 8 election is beyond the comprehension of anyone who wants clean and accountable government in New York.
“Of all the public officials in New York State, Attorney General James should know best that self-monitoring a scandal within her own office is unacceptable.
“Governor Hochul’s refusal to act on this matter is equally unacceptable. She must immediately appoint an independent investigator to determine what went on under the Attorney General’s nose.”
We have shown in many earlier articles how today’s medical students are being inundated with equality and diversity in how sick people should be treated; more proof is in this article, which can certainly harm our children. Pediatric group says kids should talk to their parents about tattoos — but not puberty blockers. “There was clearly no fact-checking,” one longtime AAP member said. “The AAP thought trans was the next civil-rights crusade and got boondoggled by enthusiastic young doctors (emphasis added).”
This is also disturbing: Elementary School Teacher Says It’s ‘Enjoyable’ to Confuse Children About Gender Identity. Enjoyable? I am falling into the teacher’s labyrinth of getting attention…anyone who enjoys confusing children who appear, by their remarks, to be young, is obviously just pretending to be transgender, non-binary or trying out for a remake of “Some Like It Hot.” Every teacher I have ever met wants to teach, not confuse, their students.
New York States three largest authorities: Thruway Authority, Port Authority and the MTA are all planning to raise tolls and fares in 2023. In the case of the MTA, they are looking at significant fare increases above the increases that were already scheduled.
It is no accident that these authorities operate outside of direct taxpayer control. Years ago, the Legislature and Governor designed their creation to insulate elected officials from criticism that would certainly result from the increases that have become as regular as he change of seasons.
It is also clear that the tolls and fares we all pay are the equivalent of a gigantic tax that disguises itself as revenue to cover necessary operation, but as a bottom line comes out of your pocket. Transparency is an alien word to these authorities and public hearings no more than a short detour from their objective to raise tolls and fees.
Inflation hits all of us in bad ways. These fare and toll increases will be blamed on inflation as an excuse to be even more egregious, though we know these increases will not go away even when inflation comes under control. When our local and state government make a mistake, their fix is to always throw your money at it.
Jeffries Elected New Democratic House Leader
The senior Democratic House leadership might have moved from the West Coast to the East Coast, but do not expect any difference in political stewardship. As San Francisco’s Nancy Pelosi leaves the stage and Brooklyn’s Hakeem Jeffries ascends to Minority Leader, expect many of the same failed Democratic ideas to emerge from their conference. The main difference will be that, as the Minority Party, the likelihood that we will see a repeat of the gigantic spending and tax increases of the past two years repeat themselves is zero.
Terrible public safety policies which Pelosi put on the floor for a vote, which Congressman Jeffries supports, will not see the light of day. And environmental advocacy which focuses more on unrealistic goals than job retention and creation will find itself relegated to academic discussions.
I respect all those who enter the arena of public service. Hakeem Jeffries has worked hard and honorably to become the Democratic Leader. In fact, the national center of Democratic legislative power is in Brooklyn with both Schumer and Jeffries residing in the borough.
Having said that, we should all be especially thankful that Hakeem Jeffries is leading the Minority Party which should deter him from being an extension of the tax and spend Pelosi era.
Save The Date
Our annual Conservative Political Action Conference will be on a new date and at a new location. We think you will like the change.
The venue will be the Albany Hilton directly across the street from the NYS Capitol in downtown Albany. The dates are Sunday, February 5th through Monday, February 6th. There will even be some official activities on Saturday night for those who arrive early.
A lot is coming together right now, but expect more on how to organize, run political organizations, advocate, get candidates on the ballot and run campaigns. Of course, we will be having a Sunday night reception, Monday lunch, and Monday evening Legislative Reception along with a dinner where we thank our 100% legislatively rated representatives. We will also release our 2023 platform.
Expect to see both new and returning Congressmembers, as well as our State Legislative leaders.
Speakers will present on both national and state issues, and we are looking at breakout sessions and a more interactive event in general.
We just concluded one of the most successful election cycles in Conservative Party history with many victories and a record-breaking number of votes. This will be a great way to start the new year. More details to be released in the coming weeks.
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoes bill to fight deadly fentanyl scourge. Hochul, in a series of veto messages last week, said the fentanyl fighting bill was one of 39 measures that would have created task forces and commissions costing about $40 million that was not accounted for in the state budget. This gives you an honest look at Governor Hochul’s commitment to help end the crime in New York. The Governor could have signed this bill, and vetoed the other 38, thereby keeping some of the costs down. However, common sense was lacking, and fentanyl will still cross the border and reach New Yorkers. A commission may have helped, but we will not know, and deaths will continue, even innocent children who never had a chance to live: Syracuse baby who died had 23 times the amount of fentanyl that would kill an adult, report says.
‘Last thing we need’: Pols want NYers to pay $300M so illegal migrants can stay. “We have a moral obligation to make sure that new Americans have legal representation. Otherwise, the odds are without a lawyer they’ll be sent back to their country of origin and could face dire circumstances, including death,” state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) said of legislation he is sponsoring alongside Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (D-Queens). So, Sen. Hoylman (and Assemblymember Cruz), your statement leads us to believe that, if a thief breaks into your Manhattan (or Queens) home, you will embrace them because they may have no place to live and most likely don’t speak English because they are a “new” American, you will then pay for their lawyer, despite the fact they won’t have to pay bail and lawyers are available if you can’t afford one, and you will forgive their lack of the moral obligation not to break into your home. Will both of you gladly do this? Yet, you expect hard working New Yorkers to foot the bill for your misguided compassion. New Yorkers are compassionate, and more than willing to help, however, compassion is a two-way street and that means coming into America legally.
From the City Journal: “Statistical Murder”? By depriving communities of wealth, ill-conceived climate-change proposals will lead to worse health outcomes.
Mr. Hanson has always made it clear how to save America from the enemy within; he does not disappoint in his latest column. Victor Davis Hanson: If You Really Wanted to Destroy the U.S., Then…
