April 27, 2016                                         __                                                _

HAWLEY CALLS ON CONSTITUENTS TO WRITE ASSEMBLYMAN PRETLOW IN SUPPORT OF NEW FUNDRAISING LEGISLATION          

            Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I- Batavia) today encouraged groups that hold raffles for fundraising and charity to write letters of support to Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mt. Vernon), Chair of the Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee, encouraging him to introduce legislation that would help groups like the Stafford Fire Department legally operate their raffles.

            “It is gravely important to our end goal of bringing back the Stafford car raffle that local groups write letters to Assemblyman Pretlow urging him to introduce the legislation that I have written,” Hawley said. “This is the first step in getting legislation passed. We have to show Assembly leadership that there is intense grassroots support for this legislation and that thousands of non-profits and charitable organizations will be gravely impacted if this injustice isn’t corrected.”

            Current gaming regulations do not allow charitable groups and non-profits to collect raffle fees using check or credit cards and do not allow the sale of tickets outside of the county which the event will be taking place. The Stafford Fire Dept. previously sold tickets nation-wide for its annual car raffle and used the proceeds for charitable donations and to fund the department.

            Letters to Assemblyman Pretlow should include information about the group’s previous raffles and what profits were used for. A copy should be sent as soon as possible to Pretlow’s Albany office, his district office and Hawley’s district office. If you have any questions please call Hawley’s office at 585-589-5780. Pretlow’s office addresses are below.

Assemblyman Gary Pretlow
LOB 845
Albany, NY 12248

Assemblyman Gary Pretlow
District Office
6 Gramatan Ave.
Mt. Vernon, NY 10550

HAWLEY HONORS LOCAL SPORTS TEAMS

 WITH ASSEMBLY PROCLAMATIONS

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) [front center] honors the Batavia Notre Dame Hockey Team for their Section V Class B Championship

            Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) honored four local high school sports teams this past week for winning championships in their respective conferences. Hawley presented Assembly proclamations, the house’s highest honor, to the Batavia Notre Dame Hockey Team, Batavia Girls Basketball Team, Batavia Boys Basketball Team and Batavia Girls’ Indoor Track and Field Team. Hawley spoke to the teams about the value of teamwork, perseverance and strength and offered his advice and good fortune to the teams for next year.

            “Batavia is my hometown and I appreciate the strong tradition in athletics that is perpetuated by these gifted athletes,” Hawley said. “Non-professional athletics is one of the purest forms of sport out there because athletes do not have hidden agendas or are distracted by salary requirements. Lessons learned in high school sports such as leadership, the strength to fight through adversity and mental fortitude will have profound impacts on these young men and women and help them succeed after high school. I wish these teams the best of luck for next season.”

April 22, 2016                                         __                                                _

HAWLEY TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO AID COUNTIES AND TAXPAYERS

Today, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I- Batavia) said he will introduce legislation to immediately lift a mandate on counties and provide relief for local taxpayers. In 2015, the New York State Commission on Legislative, Judicial & Executive Compensation recommended increases in all county district attorneys’ salaries in 2016, and again in 2018. As a result, counties are mandated to pick up the cost, a burden placed directly on taxpayers.

“Our hard-working district attorneys deserve this recognition, the invaluable work that they provide make our communities safer and better places to live,” said Hawley. “Mandating that counties pick up this cost however is a direct burden on our middle-class families and I’m glad my bill will provide the proper compensation for our public servants while also protecting the hard-earned money of our taxpayers.”  

Hawley’s legislation will require that counties be reimbursed by the state for the entire cost of these increases, including any future increases to district attorney salaries.

“The estimated cost of these salary increases is $1.6 million statewide for 2016. Another increase in 2018 could result in an even greater burden on taxpayers,” said Hawley. “That’s why this legislation is so important. It provides proper compensation for our district attorneys and protects counties and taxpayers from bearing any further burdens in the already tough economic climate of New York.”

April 20, 2016                                         __                                                _

HAWLEY SENDS LETTER TO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CALLING FOR TWO NEW YORKS LEGISLATION

          Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) said today that he is tired of the Legislature providing a disproportionate amount of aid to New York City, and showing a blatant disregard for the needs of upstate New Yorkers. Hawley wrote to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie asking him to bring the Two New Yorks legislation to the floor and allow a vote to gauge public opinion on the issue. The bipartisan, non-binding measure would be an important step toward understanding whether New Yorkers feel that the amount of aid allocated upstate and the amount sent downstate is equitable.

            “In the eyes of the Legislature, NYC and its welfare policies take precedence over upstate businesses and taxpayers,” said Hawley. “I have introduced legislation that will simply gauge the interest of New Yorkers in a non-binding way. For instance, the battle over minimum wage and the implications it would have on farmers and upstate small businesses was completely overlooked by our downstate counterparts. Such disconnect has been present for many years, which is why this legislation is long overdue.”

April 13, 2016                                         __                                                _

 A STATEMENT FROM ASSEMBLYMAN HAWLEY

“Counter to the inaccurate Daily News article published yesterday, I am working very closely with members of the Majority to convince them to make a hard push for legislation that would help our local fire departments advertise their raffles legally. I’ve met with the Chairman of NYS Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee, Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, on four separate occasions. I believe having bipartisan support and cooperation, especially from the Committee Chair, is the best way to achieve success. Believe me when I say I am doing everything in my power to get legislation passed that would bridge the gap between technology and outdated statutes for our local fire departments, service clubs and church’s,” said Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia).

April 12, 2016                                         __                                                _

NEW YORK CITY LIBERALS VOTE TO KEEP ENERGY BILLS HIGH FOR NEW YORKERS

            Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today denounced downstate members of the Assembly’s Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions who blocked legislation Hawley authored to eliminate an expensive surcharge on electricity bills in New York State. Hawley has championed an initiative to eliminate the 18-A energy surcharge placed on utility companies and passed down to consumers since 2010.

            “It is very troubling that downstate politicians once again blocked an initiative that would have saved New Yorkers millions of dollars on their electricity bills,” Hawley said. “In a state where property and income taxes are through the roof and upstate jobs are disappearing, the middle class deserves a break. This is another example of the ongoing war to oppressively tax successful businesses, seniors and all New Yorkers.”

April 5, 2016                                         ___                                                _

HAWLEY TO HOST FREE ELECTRONIC RECYCLING EVENT IN BATAVIA

            Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) will host a free electronic recycling event on Saturday, April 9 in the parking lot of 5130 E. Main Street in Batavia. Residents are encouraged to do the right thing for the environment with their old e-waste and properly recycle it with Hawley’s help.

            “Going green has become more popular in recent years, and this event offers residents the opportunity to properly dispose of their old electronic waste in a way that doesn’t damage our environment,” Hawley said. “Things like old desktop computers and fax machines are steadily being phased out in favor of  more compact technology, so this event can also serve as early spring cleaning and a way to get rid of old, bulky junk. I encourage all of my constituents to bring their old cell phones, computers, monitors, printers and any other electronic waste on Saturday and do the right thing by recycling.”

            WHO:             Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia)

            WHAT:          Free Electronic Recycling Event

                                 (cell phones, computers, monitors, printers, audio/video, undamaged oldstyle TVs all accepted)

            WHERE:       Parking Lot of 5130 E. Main Street, Batavia (Next to National Grid)

            WHEN:          Saturday, April 9

                                    9 a.m. – 2. p.m.

**Contact 585-589-5780 for more information**

April 1, 2016                                         ___                                                _

DISASTROUS BUDGET FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FARMERS 

A Statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) on the 2016-17 State Budget

            “Barring the extreme disregard for transparency, integrity and inclusiveness in this year’s budget process, the legislation we passed over the last two days in Albany will wreak havoc on our small businesses and agriculture industry.

            “The budget includes virtually no tax and regulatory reform for small-businesses, and a minimum wage increase to $12.50 per hour upstate with an escalation to $15 in the future, which will destroy New York’s already-ailing business community. Upstate cannot afford such a drastic increase, and the burden will fall on the middle-class in the form of higher prices and vanishing job opportunities.

            “Further damaging to our small business community will be the 12 week paid-family leave program, entirely funded by already over-burdened taxpayers. This is another example of New York City liberals expanding government and reaching into the pockets of our business owners and residents. While paid-family leave has good intentions, it will be ripe with abuse and cause labor costs to skyrocket. We cannot afford another expensive Albany mandate.

            “As the former owner and operator of our family-owned farm, I know what it takes to grow New York’s agriculture industry. Unfortunately, this budget cuts agriculture local assistance by over $160,000 and offers little relief for farms transitioning to a higher minimum wage. Agriculture is one of New York’s premiere industries, and I will do what I can to rectify these abhorrent policies.”