Ithaca, NY — Assemblymember Anna Kelles was sworn-in on January 6, 2021 to the New York State Assembly, where she and her newly elected colleagues took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of New York.

“I am excited and honored to be representing you in the New York Assembly. My staff and I have already been hard at work analyzing policy, meeting with constituents, and building coalitions with other policymakers. In the Assembly, I will strive to deliver fairness, justice, opportunity, and resources to our communities.” — Anna Kelles.

Dr. Kelles hit the ground running in her first week as an Assemblymember, sponsoring a major revenue bill, and speaking out in two statewide press conferences, one to introduce comprehensive measures to address our state budget deficit, and another in support of halting the current extensive use of solitary confinement.

Assemblymember Kelles Sponsors Measure To Offset Recent Corporate Tax Give-aways

In 2017, the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reduced corporate taxes from 35% to 21%, resulting in what economists describe as a federal under-taxation of corporate income. The Corporate Tax Offset bill will reestablish the pre-2017 corporate tax rate in New York, and as part of a six bill package entitled Invest in Our New York Act, generate approximately $8 billion over the next year, and more than $50 billion over 10 years. That money can be used to build back the economy in the aftermath of COVID-19, and preserve jobs, social services, access to healthcare, and educational programs.

“I am proud to be co-leading the Corporate Tax Offset bill, to correct Congress’s misguided decision to give corporations a 14% tax give-away. New York corporations were prospering before 2017, and they will continue to prosper after we restore corporate tax rates to the fair reasonable levels that previously existed.” — Anna Kelles.

Assemblymember Anna Kelles On Hand to Launch “Invest In Our New York Act”

On January 6, Assemblymember Anna Kelles joined dozens of elected officials, advocates, and grassroots organizations, to launch the Invest In Our New York Act — a historic package of measures aimed at rebuilding the economy, ending corporate tax give-aways, and promoting fair and equitable revenue policies.

The Act’s major provisions propose to remedy the current under-taxation of corporate income, certain stock transactions, and investment gains of the super-wealthy.

“New York’s 120 billionaires have not just grown richer since the start of COVID-19, many have grown richer because of COVID-19. While every-day working families struggle to pay rent and put food on the table, the fortunes of the super-wealthy have increased by $77 billion, the majority of which is protected by the under-taxation of corporate profits, and other tax shields. The Invest In Our New York Act would narrow New York’s inequality gap, reverse years of austerity budgets, and return much needed revenue to public schools, affordable housing, healthcare, and municipalities.” --- Anna Kelles.

Assemblymember Anna Kelles Marks First Day of Session Calling for an

End to Solitary Confinement.

On the first day of the 2021 Legislative session, Assemblymember Anna Kelles spoke alongside other lawmakers and members of the HALT Solitary Campaign, at a virtual press conference urging support for the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Solitary Confinement Act, otherwise known as the HALT Act.

The HALT Act would limit the number of days a person can be ordered into solitary confinement, while mandating that certain rehabilitative programs and therapies be made available outside of confinement. It would outright prohibit solitary confinement for pregnant women, new mothers, people with disabilities, elders, and persons under 21. The Act would also restrict the criteria that can result in solitary confinement, improve conditions of confinement, and create more humane and effective alternatives to confinement.

“Solitary confinement must end. It causes long term physical and psychological consequences for both individuals and families, drives many to self-harm, and can increase the risk of suicide by nearly 130%, even after release. United Nations experts have said that solitary confinement can amount to torture, and urge countries across the globe to abandon the practice. I support the HALT Act because solitary confinement is inhumane, and has no rational justification.”— Anna Kelles.