Press Releases

Statement From Assemblyman Phil Palmesano Following a Tour with Assembly Minority Colleagues of Correctional Facilities on Rikers Island

"After touring Rikers Island yesterday with my Assembly colleagues and speaking with members of the New York City (NYC) Department of Corrections and NYC Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA), it is clear we must sound the alarm and have an...

Palmesano Announces Scholarship Opportunity

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) and his fellow members of the Conference of Italian-American State Legislators are announcing that applications are now being accepted online for their annual scholarship program. Four scholarships will be awarded,...

Local Roads Are Essential’ Coalition: Local Roads and Bridges Across NY Deserve Stronger State Commitment

Albany, N.Y., March 8—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning), and more than 70 state Senators and members of the Assembly today joined county and town highway superintendents and other local leaders...

Palmesano Named American Red Cross ‘Legislator of The Year’

Photo as described in caption
The American Red Cross recently honored Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) as a 2023 New York state ‘Legislator of the Year.’ Nick Bond, CEO of the Western New York Region for the Red Cross, highlighted that Palmesano helped promote 256 blood...

Palmesano Rips Price Tag on Gov. Hochul’s State Budget Proposal

“Gov. Hochul said her budget would provide a safer, more affordable, more livable New York in the upcoming year. While this is a nice slogan, the details of her budget couldn’t be anything farther from that. The governor’s budget proposal sets a...

Palmesano Once Again Calls for Repeal of Halt Act

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) is once again renewing his urgent call for Gov. Hochul to repeal the HALT Act on the heels of a new report detailing the record-high increase of inmate-on-inmate and inmate-on-staff assaults in state prisons. At...

Palmesano Joins Colleagues, Crime Victims & Law Enforcement in Renewed Call for Increased Public Safety

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) joined his Assembly and Senate Minority colleagues, family members of crime victims, victims’ rights advocates and members of law enforcement for a press conference on Monday to call for increased public safety...

Palmesano Reappointed as Assistant Minority Leader; Announces Committee Assignments For 2023-24

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) was reappointed as Assistant Minority Leader of the Assembly Minority Conference for the 2023-24 Legislative Session. In addition to this role in leadership, Palmesano will serve as ranking Minority member on the...

Palmesano Reacts to Gov. Hochul’s State of the State Address

“Gov. Hochul delivered the annual State of the State address outlining her priorities for the upcoming session. I hope for, and expect, more specific details about her agenda when she presents her Executive Budget Proposal later this month. One thing...

Palmesano Co-Sponsored Legislation ‘New York State Living Donor Support Act’ Signed into Law

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) applauds Gov. Hochul for recently signing the ‘New York State Living Donor Support Act’ (S.1594/A.146A of 2021-22) into law. Palmesano is a co-sponsor of the bill that passed the state Assembly and Senate...

Palmesano Reacts to Climate Action Council’ ‘Final Scoping Plan’

“With the release of their final scoping plan, the Climate Action Council (CAC) today has made it crystal clear that they had no intention of listening to, nor addressing, the concerns of thousands of New Yorkers and businesses. Since the CAC was tasked...

Palmesano, Assembly Minority Renew Call for Climate Action Council (CAC) To Address Significant Cost/Affordability and Reliability Concerns Of Draft Scoping Plan Ahead Of Final Report

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) is renewing his call for the Climate Action Council (CAC) to address significant cost/affordability and reliability issues in their Draft Scoping Plan ahead of its final report set to come out on Monday, Dec. 19....

Palmesano Rips Labor Dept. Following Comptroller’s Audit

“In an audit completed by Comptroller DiNapoli it was revealed that the state Labor Department paid out $11 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims during COVID. For months, I joined my legislative colleagues in calling out the Labor Department for...

Hochul Administration Destroying The Family Farm By Lowering Farm OT Threshold

I continue to join my Minority colleagues, members of the Farm Bureau, farm workers and farmers in calling on Gov. Hochul to keep the farm overtime threshold at 60 hours. Last month, the unelected wage board recommended that the governor lower the overtime...

“Governor Hochul has shamefully forgotten us in a time of need”

As this region’s representatives in the State Legislature, we have a responsibility to stand up when New York government falls down on its responsibility to the citizens and communities we serve. If state government fails to respond to even one of our...

Regional Lawmakers: Governor Hochul Has ‘Turned Her Back’ On Steuben County Flood Victims

Woodhull, N.Y., September 29—It’s been over a year since Tropical Storm Fred struck Steuben County last August, causing devastating flash flooding in many area communities, and today State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano...

Palmesano Rips Out of Touch, Tone-Deaf Farm Laborer Wage Board Decision

“Today, the unelected Farm Laborers Wage Board delivered a tone-deaf and financially devastating final recommendation for the family farms in New York state by recommending to lower the overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours. This comes at a time...

Area State Lawmakers Join Regional, Statewide Correctional Officers To Renew Call To Repeal “Halt Act”

Elmira, N.Y., August 17—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C-Big Flats), and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) today joined New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) President...

Palmesano Renews Call to Keep Farm Overtime Threshold at 60 Hours

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is joining his Minority colleagues, members of the Farm Bureau, farm workers and farmers in calling on Gov. Hochul to keep the farm overtime threshold at 60 hours. Members of the Farm Laborers Wage Board are...

Area Legislators Pay Tribute to Avoca/Prattsburgh State Champions

Avoca, N.Y., June 16--State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia) attended this week’s Avoca/Prattsburgh High School Athletics Ceremony to pay tribute to...