NY GOP/CONSERVATIVE Congressional Delegation Supports “Limit, Save, Grow Act”

Our delegation has taken a responsible position on reducing federal spending while keeping the government from defaulting by voting for the “Limit, Save, Grow Act,” a proposal spanning more than 300 pages that would lift the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion. The bill also cuts federal spending by $4.5 trillion.

With the United States having hit its borrowing authority, the country is staring down the barrel of defaulting on its bills without this action from Congress driven by the Republican caucus. 

Biden who has refused to come to the table to work out an agreement with a united GOP is running out of time. He needs to act like a leader and lead or find the country in an ominous position where it can’t pay its bills, further leading us down a dangerous path as the world watches.

Assemblyman Matt Slater Announces Bill to Protect New Yorkers from Foreign Enemies at Home

The New York State Conservative Party is calling for immediate passage of legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-C, Putnam/Westchester) that would prohibit China, Russia, and other nations of concern from purchasing real property throughout the Empire State.

The bill, A. 5301, follows the alarming arrests of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intelligence officers who have been operating spy centers in New York City and across the nation. (These are CCP spy centers, not Chinese “police stations,” as they’ve been carelessly described.)

“Whether its spy balloons, cyber-attacks or the recent arrest of Chinese Communist Party agents in New York City, America is constantly under attack by foreign enemies,” Assemblyman Slater said. “This legislation will prohibit China, Russia, and any other nation of concern from owning property in the Empire State. New York must take action to protect its citizens and safeguard our property and natural resources from foreign influence.”                    Read my statement here.

Bad Idea: Automatic COLA Increases Attached to Minimum Wage

Many business owners have been clear that raising the minimum wage will result in them hiring fewer workers, giving out fewer raises, or a combination of both. Some are threatening to leave the state, something New Yorkers cannot afford as they have already seen far too many jobs leave to friendlier business climates.

Now the state is planning to attach cost of living increases to the minimum wage through the state budget. That eliminates a true minimum wage and creates a low wage that will become a permanent cap for many workers. The governor and legislature agreed to raise the state’s minimum wage incrementally over three years to $16 per hour upstate by 2026. After that, annual wage increases will be indexed to inflation, which at this rate under this administration, is crippling.

It usually is better to look before you leap.

Communist Chinese Outpost Discovered in NYC

Several arrests this week were made by the FBI in NYC resulting in an outpost of the Communist Chinese security police being discovered and ultimately closed. Among those being harassed by the Chinese agents was Yan Xiong a onetime candidate for Congress.

I have met and enjoyed conversing with Mr. Xiong. He was a student protestor in 1989 at Tiananmen Square. In fact, he is the young man in the famous photo standing in front of the tank in hopes of keeping it from moving forward. He eventually escaped China coming to the United States where he joined the Army and became a citizen. He rose to the rank of Major and along the way became a minister.

It appears the communists could not tolerate the possibility of Mr. Xiong going to Congress. As more and more details become public, there are many Americans and/or Chinese refugees who have experienced the wrath of Beijing while living in the United States.

This is intolerable. I have been in touch with members of our Congressional delegation concerning this disturbing story. To a person they are all speaking up demanding answers and pushing for definitive actions.

Inside City Hall

Political journalist Errol Lewis asked me to join him on NYC Spectrum’s nightly political show “Inside City Hall” to discuss the Party’s declaration that George Santos will not be considered for re-election and our often repeated desire that he resign. The story is being revisited because Santos this past week announced that he would be seeking reelection.

Lewis also inquired about the Party’s view of standout problems in the State Budget from our perspective. You will find our release on Santos here, our release on Cashless Bail here and a link to the interview here.

Honoring Shaun Marie Levine

Save the date on Thursday June 15th from 6pm to 8pm as the State Conservative Party will be honoring our recently retired longtime Executive Director Shaun Marie at a reception being held at the New York Athletic Club.

Shaun will be receiving a new award named in honor of Mike Long. I can hardly think of any award more appropriate for Shaun Marie. You will certainly be hearing more about what I believe will be a festive as well as an emotional evening. 

More details to follow in the coming weeks.

Tax Day Burden

As Tax Day approaches, the New York State Conservative Party would like to remind hardworking taxpayers across the state of the burden they face under the current tax system. Despite promises of fiscal responsibility, the size of the federal budget continues to grow, and we keep giving the government more of our hard-earned money. This is unacceptable.

America was founded on the principles of individual liberty, limited government, and economic freedom, not on taxes. Our forefathers fought for the right to govern themselves and to have control over their own lives. They did not envision a country where the government would take more and more of our money to fund endless bureaucracy and wasteful programs.

Unfortunately, the current Democratic Party seems to have forgotten these principles. They believe that the government is the solution to all our problems, and they are constantly seeking to increase taxes to fund their big-government programs. They do not understand that raising taxes only hurts hard working Americans and stifles economic growth.

The size of the federal budget continues to grow and there seems to be no end in sight. The government spends this money on countless programs, many of which are wasteful and ineffective. Taxpayers are left with the bill, while politicians continue to promise more and more handouts to win votes.

Furthermore, Democrats are looking to lift the debt cap, which would only mean more taxes for hard working Americans. We cannot continue to let our government spend money it does not have and then turn to taxpayers to bail them out.

The New York State Conservative Party believes in the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and economic freedom. We believe that our citizens should be allowed to keep more of their hard-earned money and that our government should focus on cutting spending, not increasing taxes.

Tax Day should be a reminder to all Americans that we need to demand more accountability from our elected officials. We cannot continue to let our government grow larger and more wasteful, while taxpayers foot the bill. The New York State Conservative Party is committed to fighting for the principles of limited government and economic freedom, and we will continue to push for real change in our government.

The Changing Political Landscape in Our State

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in voting patterns away from the left in our state, as demonstrated by the results of the 2022 election. Research and numerous articles have pointed to a shift towards Conservative/Republican candidates within the Asian and Hispanic communities. Blocks of Orthodox Jewish voters and Eastern European immigrants have also been incrementally moving away from the Democrats.

This shift can largely be attributed to the failure of the Democratic Party to address issues that are vitally important to most New Yorkers, such as crime, education, and the economy. Recent polls conducted by Siena as well as McLaughlin and Associates confirm that the majority of New Yorkers agree with what the Conservative Party considers simple common sense.

During this year’s state budget process, we asked the legislature to focus on several key issues (Press Release). First, we believe that there should be no new taxes or fees imposed on the hardworking people of our state. Second, we advocate for meaningful bail reform that ensures the safety of our communities while treating all individuals fairly. Third, we support the reform of disclosure laws which are currently handcuffing DA’s.

In addition, we believe in keeping local control of zoning, as well as the continued use of clean natural gas stoves. We also advocate for lifting the cap on charter schools and repealing the Raise the Age laws for murderers and other violent criminals.

Even polling in Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s district shows that he is out of touch with his constituents’ views. It is clear that our state is experiencing a political shift, and it is important for our leaders to listen to the concerns of their constituents and address the issues that matter most to them.

GOP HOUSE KEEPING ITS PROMISES

The Conservative Party has every reason to take pride in their role in flipping the House of Representatives Republican. The new House undoubtedly leans right in its philosophy, which is reflected in their “Commitment to America.”

Since January, Speaker McCarthy and his majority have been working hard to keep their commitments. They have created committees to investigate COVID, the events of January 6th, and the weaponization of the federal government. They are meeting, taking testimony, and learning truths that have been kept bottled up by the Democrats and Biden administration.

The House Republicans have passed important legislation, such as the Parental Rights Bill, HR 1 to lower energy costs, the Born Alive Act, the Strategic Production Response Act, and denouncing the horrors of socialism.

They are now negotiating a budget that looks to control spending, respect the debt cap, and avoid new taxes. It is refreshing to see promises made and promises kept.

With their clear focus on core conservative values such as small government, individual rights, and fiscal responsibility, the House Republicans are staying true to their word. This commitment to their principles will help them continue to move the country forward in a positive direction.

Please Consider Helping Support the Conservative Party

As we approach the end of March, I would like to once again ask for your support in making a contribution to the Conservative Party. The days of operating on an event-to-event basis are long gone, and we need to continually replenish our state and federal campaign accounts, pay for rent, conferences, salaries, and utilities. This requires us to closely monitor our cash flow, which is why online donations have become crucial to the success of our party.

By making a one time donation, or joining our monthly recurring program, you can help ensure that the Conservative Party runs smoothly throughout the year. Your support is critical to our ability to promote conservative values and policies, elect candidates who will fight for those values, and hold those in power accountable.

We appreciate all that you do for us, and we hope that you will consider making a contribution to support our cause. Thank you for your continued support of the Conservative Party!