Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) today held a press conference to unveil his legislation creating the “NY First-Shop Local” program. This bill would repurpose existing funds allocated to the Department of Economic Development to create...

“My colleagues and I returned to Albany to take action on some important legislation. Among the bipartisan bills passed included providing administrative flexibility to our local governments, securing new grant funding for small businesses to purchase...

With all of the neatly-manicured PowerPoint slides populated with very official looking charts and graphs illustrating neat, tidy trendlines, it seems like the state’s reopening process is being handled with a disciplined, dispassionate focus on...

Yesterday, the Senate and Assembly conducted its first virtual hearings to examine the federal response to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York state. Representatives from many industries testified regarding their experiences seeking...

Gov. Cuomo has assumed expansive emergency powers as the state continues to battle the impact of COVID-19, and he hasn’t been shy in using them. He’s spent over $3 billion in taxpayer dollars. He’s chosen which businesses are shuttered...

“The parole board is continuing its outrageous run of horrible decisions that insult victims’ rights and compromise public safety. Bruce Haims broke into the home of Pamela Sharon, his girlfriend’s best friend. When Pamela refused his advances,...

“This is not the first time Bill Gates has tried to leverage his wealth and fame into a position as a high profile-government education consultant. His track record is terrible. He championed Race to the Top and Common Core, which promoted untested...

The efforts of our essential workers during the last several weeks have been nothing short of heroic. Grocery clerks and pharmacy employees, law enforcement officials and first responders, and especially our doctors, nurses and healthcare workers have...

“Heading into the last budget bill last night, millions of dollars in proposed cuts to important veterans counseling and legal services programs had yet to be restored. My colleagues and I didn’t give up. We repeatedly raised the issue during...

“At a time when our state and nation are battling an escalating public health emergency and a deepening economic crisis, it’s shameful that Senate and Assembly Majority codified the governor’s outrageous power grabs, settled his political...

By their nature, emergencies are unusual circumstances. Responding to an emergency using everyday tactics isn’t just ineffective- it ultimately makes you look like an insane person. If your house is burning down, you don’t start brainstorming...

“This week, the country has watched partisan divisions prevent congressional leaders from delivering for the American people. In Albany, we’re going to have to do a lot better than that when we reconvene to pass the budget. I’m urging legislative...

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski) and the Assembly Minority Conference today proposed the “Small Business Emergency Recovery Act to 2020”, which would provide immediate assistance to small businesses and employees as...

“Today, we took decisive, bipartisan action to protect the economic security of patients fighting the coronavirus. They’re doing the right thing by quarantining, and we need to do right by them while they’re out of work. It’s as simple...

“New Yorkers are weathering an unprecedented public health crisis. We should agree to a temporary budget extender that keeps our government running and includes a robust response to the coronavirus. Doing this quickly, while adhering to appropriate...

“Almost exactly one year ago today, a small group of progressive Majority politicians showed why our state is struggling to create jobs and share in the economic prosperity that’s sweeping the rest of the country. Today, I’m hoping to hear...

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) is joining with his fellow members of the Conference of Italian-American State Legislators to announce the availability of applications for their annual scholarship program. Four scholarships will be awarded, each...

Yesterday, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) grilled New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio during an important, bipartisan budget hearing on local governments. During the questioning, de Blasio admitted that Majority politicians should restore judicial...

Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) recently celebrated the accomplishments of three area scouts during the Sea Cliff Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony. They each were designated as Eagle Scouts, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America....

Today, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) joined with Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski), Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan, law enforcement leaders, prosecutors and hundreds of dedicated police officers at a rally to fight...