Press Releases

Solar Farm Blast Exposes Startling Safety Gaps in Rush Towards Electric Paradise

As you may have heard, there was an explosion at a solar farm in Jefferson County earlier this month. This incident left the village of Chaumont air plagued with residue of lithium battery chemicals for 24 hours. The infected air lingered for over five...

Pumped Up Prices: New York’s Inflated Gas Cost

Gas prices are edging closer to the $4 mark in New York, and it is not a sudden phenomenon. This price surge has been building up over the past months as the cost of living continues its relentless climb. The soaring gas prices are not just accidental;...

Statement From Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush and Scott Gray on Monday’s Ef-3 Tornado in Lewis and Jefferson County

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On Monday, Aug. 7, the National Weather Service issued four warnings for Lewis and Jefferson counties after a tornado hit the area in the evening. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado’s classification as EF-3 tornado, the third most severe...

A Not So Bright Idea

The Biden Administration has continuously let themselves into your homes and has restricted or taken things that you have relied on for years. After attacking gas stoves and washing machines, it has a new target now: incandescent light bulbs. As of Tuesday,...

Should New York be a Safe Haven for Sex Worker?

Earlier this week, the Governor made headlines by announcing a new initiative to finance $1 million in taxpayer dollars toward free health care for “sex workers.” This means an industry that is built on the backs of the abused and trafficked is given...

Improvements Coming to Fort Drum

This year, we have experienced a slew of complex and unprecedented national defense challenges, from high-altitude Chinese balloons entering U.S. airspace to an immigration crisis at a level never before seen in New York. Some of our greatest adversaries,...

Summer Heat A Reminder to Prepare Your Fire Safety Plan

National Pet Fire Safety Day is coming up on July 15. With the hot weather that’s been sweeping in this week, it’s crucial to be aware of the hazards that may arise with dry weather. Be sure to adhere to established safety protocols and conduct regular...

Suicide Prevention Council for Rural New Yorkers

As a lifelong resident of Black River and the representative for the North Country, I understand the hardships that come with living in a rural community. Rural suicide rates continue to be a pressing concern, highlighting the need for increased awareness,...

The Assembly One-House Budget & Where We Go from Here

This week, the budget process in Albany continued as both the state Senate and Assembly released their ‘One-House’ proposals. Think of these proposals as counter offers to the governor’s budget proposal that she rolled out last month. Now that the...

DEC Has Pedal to The Metal on Zero-Emission Car Plan; Why We Must Slow Down

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is full speed ahead on the ‘Advanced Clean Car II’ regulations that would require all passenger cars and trucks sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2035. I have expressed serious concerns with...

Local Roads Don’t Just Matter, They Are Essential

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“I was proud to once again join my colleagues and highway superintendents from around the state to call for increased funding for our local roads, bridges and culverts. Our North Country and Mohawk Valley roadways take a beating from the harsh winter...

Local Roads Need Same Attention as MTA in the Final Budget

With under a month to go before the final state budget is due, it is important to remind the governor and my colleagues in the Majority about the importance of funding our local roads. Since the governor rolled out her budget proposal a little over a...

Hochul’s Medicaid Funding in Proposed Budget Misses the Mark

The topic of Medicaid funding has been relatively alarming lately, as it is crucial for many families throughout the state. Medicaid is an important health care option for pregnant women, single individuals, low-income families or individuals who are...

New Efforts Underway to Save Biomass Facility at Fort Drum

In past columns, I spoke about the importance of including ‘biomass’ under the renewable energy umbrella. Albany Majority lawmakers who continue to push their radical climate agenda have failed to recognize the need for bioenergy and biomass, especially...

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of Gov. Hochul’s Budget Proposal

Earlier this week, Gov. Hochul delivered her annual budget address laying out her priorities for the upcoming year and how she plans to fund them. While not shocking, but still disappointing, the total price tag of her plan set another record high, coming...

Blankenbush Calls Out Gov. Hochul’s Massive Budget Proposal

“Gov. Hochul’s budget proposal is another bloated, unmitigated disaster for New York taxpayers that yet again totals well over $200 billion. This budget does not accurately reflect the financial struggles New Yorkers are facing as they continue under...

Renewing The Call for Increased Public Safety Measures

Earlier this week, our Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences hosted a press conference at the Capitol renewing our call for increased public safety measures and a repeal of previously-passed bail laws. We were joined by family members of crime victims,...

Gov. Hochul Once Again Wants to Take Over Local Zoning

The governor delivered her annual State of the State address earlier this week and spoke about the issues of crime, affordability and the continued exodus of residents, but she gave little to no detail on how we will make substantive changes. While we...

The State of Our State is in Peril

“Today, Gov. Hochul delivered a State of the State address that wasn’t rooted in reality. Unfortunately, single-party rule is failing New York residents. Look no further than a recent Times Union report detailing another 180,000 people leaving our...

A 2023 Christmas Wish List

Christmas is right around the corner, and I hope that you and your families are taking advantage of all the great holiday events happening in the North Country and Mohawk Valley. With Christmas comes a new year, and with a new year comes a new legislative...