Blankenbush Urges Passage Of “21st Century Education Initiative” Mar 5, 2014 Today, Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) joined several Assembly members and Senators in a bipartisan effort to encourage passage of the “21st Century Education Initiative” during this legislative session. Blankenbush is one of the...
Blankenbush, Highway Superintendents Push For More Funding To Repair Local Roads Mar 5, 2014 Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) today met with highway superintendents to push for more funding to repair local roads. Blankenbush is calling for an additional $50 million to be added to the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs). “New...
Blankenbush District Office On The Move Mar 3, 2014 Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is moving his district office to 40 Franklin Street, Suite 2 in Carthage on Monday, March 10. The office can be reached by phone at 493-3909 or by fax at 493-4045. “To better accommodate my constituents,...
Cuomo: Put Our Kids Before Cons Feb 28, 2014 Recently, the governor announced his plans to give imprisoned criminals a free college education paid by law-abiding taxpayers like you and me. This policy is out of touch with hardworking New Yorkers. The governor says his plan will save taxpayer...
Mandate Relief Nowhere In Sight Feb 21, 2014 It seems that folks in Albany really don’t get it. Communities large and small are struggling under the crushing burden of state unfunded mandates. Unfunded mandates are those programs and policies the state imposes on our local governments and schools,...
Blankenbush Says No To Taxpayer-Funded College For Criminals Feb 19, 2014 “The governor’s recent proposal to give taxpayer-funded college educations to incarcerated criminals is a slap in the face to hardworking, law-abiding New Yorkers. This push demonstrates that our governor has forgotten the many families who are scrimping...
Special Session Must Be Called To Pass Public Assistance Integrity Act Before Federal Deadline Feb 14, 2014 The Assembly Majority leadership has failed New Yorkers by letting important welfare fraud reform legislation, known as the Public Assistance Integrity Act, fall by the wayside. The federal government made it very clear: New York and other states are...
Upstate Agricultural Programs Take A Hit In Governor’s Budget Feb 7, 2014 While the governor may claim he is prioritizing upstate New York’s needs, we’re seeing quite the opposite as he is, yet again, making large cuts to the state’s agricultural development and support programs to the tune of nearly $2.7 million. Of...
We Can Support Teachers, Students While Fixing Common Core Jan 31, 2014 Recently, my Assembly Minority colleagues and I unveiled the Achieving Pupil Preparedness and Launching Excellence (APPLE) Plan, which is aimed at reforming the implementation of Common Core in New York State. The plan was developed using testimony and...
Statement from Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) on the Carthage Area Hospital Job Cuts Jan 30, 2014 "I am disappointed to hear the news that the Carthage Area Hospital will be cutting jobs. Just as we secured state funding to help the hospital implement cost- and job-saving measures, it was dealt another blow by the reductions in reimbursement...
Budget Must Make Good On Promises And Basic Obligations Jan 24, 2014 Upon first review of the governor’s executive budget proposal, I believe it doesn’t do enough to meet basic obligations and promises made to the public. On the surface, the document doesn’t seem particularly controversial; it even stays within the...
Blankenbush Unveils Plan To Reform Common Core Jan 23, 2014 Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) and his Assembly Minority colleagues today unveiled the Achieving Pupil Preparedness and Launching Excellence (APPLE) Plan, which is aimed at reforming the implementation of Common Core in New York State....
Statement from Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) on the Governor’s Executive Budget Proposal Jan 21, 2014 “As a legislator, I’m more concerned about the details of the governor’s budget, rather than buying into the image he paints during his budget address. As we have seen in the past, there are times he’s on point and others where he misses the mark...
Lasting Property Tax Relief Needed Jan 17, 2014 The state budget proposal must be a tool for change here in upstate New York. We have many job creators and community leaders making every effort to spur economic growth and change our communities for the better. It’s through the budget that we can...
Blankenbush Calls For Full Repeal Of Gun Control Law On Anniversary Of Its Passage Jan 15, 2014 Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) is marking the anniversary of the NY SAFE Act by calling for a full repeal of the gun control law. Recently, a court ruling struck down part of the SAFE Act, but Blankenbush wants a full repeal, citing the...
Upstate New York Communities Deserve Holistic Solutions Jan 10, 2014 Some of New York’s biggest problems – crippling taxes, a slow upstate economic recovery, and devastated communities – are interconnected and cannot be resolved with the band-aid-type solution that Albany continually resorts to. Upstate New Yorkers...
Blankenbush’s Priority - Unleashing Upstate New York’s Potential Jan 8, 2014 “It is time for our government to support and unleash upstate New York’s potential. There are many wonderful attributes in the North Country and Mohawk Valley that need to be harnessed to spur our economic recovery. We have great potential for agri-business,...
Blankenbush District Office Closed Due To Snow Emergency Jan 8, 2014 Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) will be closing his district office today, January 8 due to a snow emergency in the Village of West Carthage. Constituents may call Blankenbush’s Albany office at (518) 455-5797. Blankenbush encourages...
Blankenbush Reappointed As Ranking Minority Member On The Assembly Agriculture Committee Jan 6, 2014 Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) today announced that he was reappointed as ranking minority member on the Assembly Committee on Agriculture. Blankenbush has held the position since taking office, which allows him to advocate for the small...
Blankenbush Joins Gov. Cuomo In Announcing $4.5 Million Winter Tourism Marketing Plan Dec 30, 2013 Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) joined Gov. Cuomo at the Ridgeview Inn in Lowville today in announcing a $4.5 million marketing plan to boost winter tourism. With the North Country Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) emphasizing...