Press Releases

Friend Slams the Assembly Majority for Killing His Public Officers Accountability Act

Assemblyman Christopher Friend’s (R,C,I-Big Flats) Public Officers Accountability Act (A.3945) was recently shot down by the Assembly Majority in the Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations. The legislation, if enacted, would impose some of...

Budget Gets An “F” For Failing To Serve Upstate And Southern Tier

At the close of the passage of the state budget, Speaker Carl Heastie remarked that he thought that 2019-20 state spending plan was like a student getting a 97 percent on a math test. This may be true for what the budget does for New York City; however,...

Friend Fights for Better Business Climate in Budget Negotiations

Today, Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) during the Budget Conference Committee Meeting on Economic Development fought for creating a healthier economic climate in New York State. The governor has relied heavily on his pet economic development...

Friend, Akshar Celebrate Music In Our Schools Month With The Newark Valley Women’s Choir

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Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Sen. Fred Akshar welcomed the Newark Valley High School (NVHS) Women’s Choir to the State Capitol to help celebrate the Music in Our Schools Month. The New York State School Music Association...

O’Mara, Palmesano and Friend Welcome STTAC Advocates to Albany

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Sen. Tom O’Mara, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano and Assemblyman Chris Friend recently welcomed advocates from The Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition (STTAC) to Albany. “It’s always great to see our students in Albany, especially when...

Friend Votes No On Taxes and Spending Increases In Assembly Majority’s Budget

“The Assembly Majority proposed budget would astronomically increase taxes by $5.7 billion on New York taxpayers who cannot afford another burden placed on them by the state. The Governor has admitted that high taxes are driving New Yorkers out of...

Palmesano, Friend Welcome Advocates from the Southern Tier Library System to Albany

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Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) recently welcomed representatives from the Southern Tier Library System to Albany. The delegation is fighting for full state funding of local libraries, a measure...

Palmesano, Friend Welcome Area Families to the Capitol

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Recently in Albany, Assemblymen Phil Palmesano and Chris Friend were pleased to welcome area students and parents from Loving Education at Home (LEAH), an organization which supports Christian families who provide their children with education opportunities...

Cuomo Flying Over Southern Tier Yet Again

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I,Ref-Big Flats) is gravely concerned with Gov. Cuomo’s desire to court big businesses outside of the state for the right media headline or the biggest donation to his war chest. The governor’s courting of Delta...

Palmesano, Friend Meet With Representatives From The Southern Tier Library Association

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This week, Assemblymen Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) were pleased to meet with officials from the Southern Tier Library Association. They discussed their shared priorities, including increasing public library...

A Tip for the Governor: Let Us Speak

Assemblyman Christopher Friend (R,C,I,Ref-Big Flats) is concerned by the governor’s proposal to eliminate tipped wages throughout the state. There have been 7 total hearings scheduled and not one is in the Southern Tier. This is just another issue highlighting...

Friend, Palmesano Welcome Area Families to the Capitol

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Assemblymen Chris Friend and Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) were pleased to welcome the Pawlak and Orcutt families to the Capitol. The families were visiting Albany on behalf of Loving Education At Home (LEAH), an organization that supports Christian...

Friend Honors Vietnam Veterans

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I,Ref-Big Flats) sponsored a resolution on the Assembly Floor to honor our nation’s Vietnam veterans for Vietnam Veterans Day. “The heroes of the Vietnam War often didn’t receive the level of respect...

Friend Applauds Gov. Cuomo’s Commitment To Direct Care Workers

“At today’s #bFair2DirectCare rally, Governor Cuomo committed an additional $10 million toward raising the wages of direct care workers, and a 6.5 percent increase over the next two years. Our direct care workers, and all the staff at these facilities,...

Palmesano, Friend Welcome Corning Community College Students to Capitol

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Assemblymen Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) were pleased to welcome local students from Corning Community College (CCC) to the Capitol last week. They met with the students to hear more about their priorities and experiences...

Friend: Assembly Finally Fixes STAR Program

Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I,Ref-Big Flats) saw legislation he cosponsored to revert the STAR program back to a reimbursement that unanimously passed the state Assembly yesterday. “It’s great to see that the Assembly has seen the...

Area Legislators Meet With Young Advocates for a Tobacco-Free New York

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This week, Assemblymen Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning), Joe Errigo (R,C,I,Ref-Conesus) Joe Giglio (R,C,I-Gowanda) and Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) met with local young people from the advocacy group Reality Check, an organization dedicated to promoting...

Area State Legislators Help Honor Local Senior Volunteers At State Capitol Tribute To Service

Albany, N.Y. - New York State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) will help welcome senior citizen volunteers from Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties to...

O’Mara, Palmesano, Friend Issue Statement In Support Of Correction Officers At ECF

Elmira, N.Y., May 9—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) threw their support behind the correction officers at the Elmira Correctional Facility (ECF)...

Assemblymen Palmesano, Friend Join Local Families, Mental Health Experts To Discuss Protecting The Rights Of People With Developmental Disabilities At Task Force Forum

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) hosted a forum this evening in Corning focused on supporting the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities. Invitees included people with developmental...