Press Releases

Regional Lawmakers Urge Governor to Allow Full Reopening of Local DMV Offices

Elmira, N.Y. —State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia), Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Joe Giglio (R,C-Olean), and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today sent a letter...

Regional Lawmakers Urge Governor to Allow Full Reopening of Local DMV Offices - Letter

Palmesano Speaks on Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness in Conjunction with ‘National Donate Life Month’

Editor’s Note: See attached Assembly floor speech (https://youtu.be/2KD91dVLbMY) Last week, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) gave an impassioned speech on the Assembly floor to explain the importance of ‘National Donate Life Month’. During...

O’Mara, Palmesano: Increased Funding for Local Roads and Bridges in State Budget Long Overdue

Elmira, N.Y., April 16—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today said that the newly enacted 2021-2022 New York State budget provides significantly increased state support for local roads, bridges,...

Area State Legislators Renew Call to Reopen Schools

Elmira — State lawmakers from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions today renewed their call for Governor Andrew Cuomo to give the go-ahead to allow all schools to return to full-time, in-person classroom instruction. The move has also...

Palmesano April ‘Grants Action News’ Update

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is sending his “April Grants Action News Update” to residents, organizations and local governments about a series of grants available from the state, federal government and private entities. Each month,...

Palmesano Once Again Joins Colleagues to Criticize Governor for Extending Arbitrary Mandates on Bars and Restaurants

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) once again joined his Minority Conference colleagues to push back on the governor extending mandates and curfews on bars and restaurants. Every member of the Minority Conference wrote to Majority member leadership...

Palmesano Blasts Gov. Cuomo For Approving Bill Limiting Use of Special Housing Units to Segregate Violent and Dangerous Inmates

With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Cuomo made an already dangerous, ‘powder keg’ environment inside our correctional facilities even more volatile for staff and inmates. Gov. Cuomo, Wednesday, signed into law Assembly Bill 2277, which will limit the use...

Palmesano Blasts Gov. Cuomo For Approving Bill Limiting Use of Special Housing Units to Segregate Violent and Dangerous Inmates - Letter

End the Arbitrary Mandates on Our Restaurants and Bars

“Today, I joined my Minority Conference colleagues in the Assembly and Senate to call for an end to the arbitrary mandates that continue to crush our small businesses, particularly our local restaurants and bars. Last week, the governor lifted the 11...

Palmesano March ‘Grants Action News’ Update

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is sending his “March Grants Action News Update” to residents, organizations and local governments about a series of grants available from the state, federal government and private entities. Each month,...

Palmesano Again Urging Gov. Cuomo’s Emergency Powers Be Removed

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) joined his colleagues in the Senate and Assembly Minority Conferences to call, once again, for the governor’s emergency powers to be revoked. “After numerous pleas and attempts to remove the governor’s...

Southern Tier and Finger Lakes State Representatives Urge State to Update Guidelines on Performing Arts Education Based on New Scientific Recommendations

Sen. Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Sen. Fred Akshar (R,C,I,Rfm) and Assembly members Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning), Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flatts), Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia) and Joseph Angelino (R,C,I-Norwich) issued a letter to Gov....

Southern Tier and Finger Lakes State Representatives Urge State to Update Guidelines on Performing Arts Education Based on New Scientific Recommendations - Letter

Palmesano Rips Governor’s Fast-Track Prison Closures

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) participated in the Legislature’s Public Protection Budget hearing last week and once again expressed his strong opposition to Gov. Cuomo’s proposed prison closures and utilization of a 90-day fast-track...

What the New Rental Laws Mean for Southern Tier and Finger Lakes

The pandemic response made profound changes to our economy and the earnings of families. Along with our colleagues at the federal and state level, we have been looking at a number of ways to provide relief or remove stumbling blocks to our recovery. Together,...

Southern Tier Legislators: Start Up High School Sports

State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Assemblymen Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to give the go-ahead to high school sports seasons. In a joint statement, O’Mara, Friend...

Palmesano Responds to Governor’s State of State Address

“The governor presented an ambitious agenda today; however, we really need to see more details on how he plans to pay for his agenda and address our state’s projected $15 billion budget deficit. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of discussion by...

Palmesano January ‘Grants Action News’ Update

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is sending his “January Grants Action News Update” to residents, organizations and local governments about a series of grants available from the state, federal government and private entities. Each month,...

Palmesano Decries Violence in Washington

"The destruction and violence that took place at our nation’s Capitol was so very sad, wrong and completely unacceptable. We witnessed an unprecedented attack on our democracy and the dedicated law enforcement officials sworn to protect it. Citizens...