“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it”-Ronald Reagan
For Immediate Release
April 15, 2021
Contact: Shaun Marie
518-356-7882
www.cpnys.org @cpnys
Statement by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar
Brooklyn, – NY – “The New York State Conservative Party condemns in the strongest possible terms efforts to expand the U.S. Supreme Court from 9 to 13 members.
“In attempting to pack the court — a political impulse 75 consecutive Congresses have resisted — progressive Democrats are fiddling with the lock of a Pandora’s Box. If the Democrats succeed, what’s to stop Republicans from further expanding the court to 17 members when they next regain power? What’s to then stop Democrats from going to 21?
“The Supreme Court was never intended to be the plaything of temporary partisan passions, and it should not be now for the benefit of either party. Its role is to interpret the constitutionality of our laws, not advance shortsighted political agendas. We urge level-headed members of Congress from all political backgrounds to stop this ill-conceived bill dead in its tracks. It’s bad for America.
Democrats are redefining ‘infrastructure’ to justify Biden’s slush fund. When you read some of what Sen. Gillibrand describes as infrastructure, you ask yourself, does she really think we are that ignorant to believe her, or is she that uneducated that she believes it herself? Either way, the fact that Ms. Gillibrand is New York’s US Senator – writing and voting on laws that have the ability to change our lives – is a problem. A review of her time in Congress (Since 2007 in the House, then appointed to the Senate in 2009) Sen. Gillibrand has only had one bill signed into law. In 14 years, one bill signed into law and that was designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4558 Broadway in New York, New York, as the “Stanley Michels Post Office Building”. Her overall rating by the American Conservative Union is 4.44 %; while the Americans for Democrat Action gave her a 95% for 2019. More information from Americans for Democrat Action can be found here. After reviewing her record, I believe Senator Gillibrand actually believes what she tweeted. New Yorkers deserve better, unfortunately she is not up for re-election until November, 2024.
The New York Times magazine shows the Emperor’s warts while giving all a peek at what made him the person he has become…a man who believes he is above the law, or as he once noted “I am the government.”
The Chesterton Option: America Is Worth a Crusade. “There lies in conservative populism a great opportunity, not just to turn the tide sooner rather than later, but to restore that foundational element that America cannot do without.” Excellent essay by Joseph Mackinnon.
How many different scandals must unfold before Governor Andrew Cuomo resigns or is impeached by his colleagues…or will his colleagues keep moving the goal posts to give themselves leverage for what they want as they did in the bloated, unsustainable NYS Budget? Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s government staff did work on ‘super PAC’s’ poll.
From the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) CEOs Plan New Push on Voting Legislation Companies from PayPal to AMC have signaled they will support joining effort for voter access, people say. Since this article seems to indicate that they are all calling for greater voter access, they must want handouts from the government, why else would they become involved in a state’s right to be certain that those who vote are citizens of these United States. It doesn’t make sense to me why they would take an active role in voting rights. Are they looking for cheap labor as well as tax incentives? Is it a way to pressure the US Senate to pass HR-1, the federal takeover of voting in the United States while the US Constitution specifically leaves it up to individual states? Is it about appeasing employees? What they should realize is that they really do not want to anger those who purchase their goods, especially when many CEOs are not fully aware of what any pending legislation will do. After all the Bill passed in Georgia, that began this upheaval was completely misrepresented. Even the ultra-liberal Washington Post gave President Joe Biden 4 Pinocchio’s for his take on the bill – yet, he continues to distort it.
New York State Budget tops $212 Billion; Comes with Massive Tax Hikes
Late, expensive, and using taxpayers to bail New York out of another mismanaged state budget. I wouldn’t expect anything less from this Governor and State Legislature.
The state budget is a liberal’s dream and taxpayers’ nightmare; it throws all fiscal responsibility right out window while it continues to set a dangerous precedence going forward. A balanced budget does not matter to the Governor, as long as he has taxpayers to place the burden on, he will continue to recklessly spend.
For years, far before the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been spiraling out of control, writing checks and spending money we do not have. After a federal bailout to the tune of $12.6 billion, Governor Cuomo and the Democrat controlled State Legislature raised taxes by an additional $4 billion, making New York perhaps the most taxed state in the nation and further providing more reasons for residents and businesses to explore other options in friendlier states.
To add insult to injury, $2.1 billion of the state budget was allocated for illegal immigrants while less than half that amount was allocated to help small businesses survive.
The priorities of Democrats are beyond misplaced. They have, once again, prioritized those most willing to break laws over the hardworking taxpayers who wish to live in New York State, operate a small business, or simply provide for their family.
Zeldin, Schmitt Announcements
Congressman Lee Zeldin and Assemblyman Colin Schmitt announced their intentions to run for Governor and Congress respectively in 2022 this week.
Their entry into the Governors race and what is now New York’s 18th Congressional District is welcome news as both have been excellent representatives to their districts.
Congressman Zeldin, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, served in the New York State Senate from 2011-2014 before defeating incumbent Democratic Congressman Tim Bishop in 2014. Lee is currently serving in his 4th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, a Corporal in the Army National Guard, was elected to the State Assembly in 2018. Colin easily won re-election in 2020. The seat was previously held by the Democrats until Colin flipped the open blue seat red.
We welcome them both and look forward to working with their teams.
Disorder at the Border
President Joe Biden wasted no time creating chaos at the border as illegal crossings are on pace to reach the highest levels in 20 years.
Shockingly 172,000 immigrants were apprehended in March alone under the Biden Administration. That represents an increase of 71% from March 2020 under the Trump Administration.
In addition to the humanitarian and public health crisis at our Southern Border, grave national security threats are a growing concern as two men on a terrorism watch list, and no fly list, were arrested after illegally crossing the border from Mexico into California, officials from the U.S. Border Patrol announced Monday. The men were apprehended in separate incidents, one on January 29th and the other March 30, signaling the utter disregard for our immigration laws and weakness portrayed by the Biden Administration.
Many members of the New York Congressional delegation have visited the border, or will shortly, to see firsthand the disorder President Biden has caused through the undoing of Trump era policies by executive order.
Today, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis posted this video taken in McAllen, Texas last night as she toured the border with Whip Steve Scalise and other members of Congress.
Congressman Chris Jacobs was also touring the border last night. His initial observations can be heard here.
In March, House Homeland Security Ranking Member, Congressman John Katko, with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy led a delegation to the Southern Border for a tour and discussion with Border Patrol Agents to assess the dire situation on the ground. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney was also among those who visited; you can watch some of that here.
“As a federal organized crime prosecutor back in the 90s, I was charged with going after the drug cartels. I had a fundamental understanding then, and I do now, that the cartels know when to exploit the southern border, and they’re doing it now masterfully. They’re doing it because President Biden rolled back a lot of the orders of the previous administration that were working” said Congressman Katko.
Looking Beyond Headlines to Outsmart the Propagandists. (As we have noted many times in this blog, headlines are written to grab your attention, but one must read the article to hopefully gain the truth. However, we must take ever article with a grain of salt as far too many reporters have become opinion writers instead of reporters; Intellectual Takeout strives, and for the most part succeeds, to provide the truth.)
The Heritage Foundation also strives and succeeds in providing truth in their articles and website reporting. When the Daily Signal produces articles, you can rest assured it is as accurate and truthful as possible and only has the interest of Americans committed to the beliefs this great country were founded on. Green Bay Official Warned Boss She Wouldn’t Break Law in Election.
Why did Biden put Harris in charge of the border crisis? While the article will not come out and say why, we all know it is because President Biden wants an “Open Border” and VP Harris will give him what he wants. But he is wearing sheep’s clothing again.
For Immediate Release
April 6, 2021
Contact: Shaun Marie
518-356-7882 www.cpnys.org @cpnys
Statement by State Chairman Gerard Kassar on the NYS Budget
Brooklyn, NY – The democratic-controlled NYS Legislature, along with Governor Andrew Cuomo, are on the verge of passing an historically high spending document that increases spending and taxes to the highest levels ever in New York State. These significant increases will impact all New Yorker’s, especially New York’s working families.
New York’s proposed budget has gone from bad to unsustainable, while the progressive-left cheers and says it will help working families in New York State. Nothing could be further from reality.
New York’s working families need jobs to be able to keep working; by adopting new increased taxes on those who are wealthy and on corporations, NYS Government is encouraging an even greater exodus from New York by those who can leave and forcing corporations to escape to states that are tax-friendly, thereby taking New York jobs with them.
New York’s poor fiscal management, by the supermajority of democratic elected officials, is a flawed and erroneous way to uphold their oath to those who put them in office. Shame on them.
Democrats in the NYS Legislature need a crash course in basic economics, but alas, it is probably too late for them to understand that all this will do is create an even greater exodus of our wealthy and job-producers from New York State. NY budget will likely hike taxes on state’s top earners to highest in the country. Seriously, why would they want to stay in a state who punishes them for being successful? Many New Yorkers may believe this massive tax increase will not affect them; nothing could be farther from the reality of massive tax increases. When the exodus takes place (it has and will continue) who is left to pay the bills? You are; and most likely you will not be able to flee the high rates. Senior citizens, young working couples, parents with children who depend on grandparents to help watch children, most in these groups will be tethered to New York because to get up and move is not within their financial means. The democrats refuse to acknowledge economic facts; and those left in New York will continue to watch the once Empire State become the Exodus state. On the bright side and being an eternal optimist, the average New Yorker understands New Yorkers cannot and will not sustain these massive taxes and will change the political outlook in 2022 to save our state.
Apparently, it isn’t only the democrats in New York. Democrats in Washington, DC are living in their own world also; The Memo: Biden’s bet on taxes. Do the democrats really think we are that ill-informed and we will believe the malarkey they are trying to sell? “Raising taxes … will not slow the economy at all,” Biden said in response to a question from Kelly O’Donnell of NBC News at a White House news conference Friday. “Asking corporate America to pay their fair share will not slow the economy at all.” Mr. President, perhaps you should rethink the disaster of the Obama Administration which was exactly why Donald J. Trump was elected.
This is our wake-up call; Elections have consequences. We are feeling the consequences of the 2020 elections across the country; 2022 is barreling toward us; be prepared, stay informed and make it your goal that your taxes are not being squandered. America doesn’t punish success; America, has always been a country that celebrates your hard work and financial success. Ask those who escaped from socialist countries; the countries you and your progressive friends are trying to turn America into. Utopia is a myth.
Robert Knight’s writes in the Washington Times: Easter proclaims that Jesus is Lord of all. A beautiful message this Easter Week, especially after the year we just went through that doesn’t even minutely equal the excruciating death Jesus suffered for each of us. Thank you, Robert Knight for writing this column and the Washington Times for printing this column, and for reminding us of the freedom that America stands for…at least for now.
In 1981, Richard Rivera murdered off-duty officer and dad-of-four Robert Walsh. Now, Rivera sits on a panel in Ithaca and Thompkins County trusted to help create police reforms.
The program to “reimagine” police departments was formed at the request of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo and his New York Parole Board have been active in releasing cop killers from prison, demonstrating a clear lack of respect for police, the victim’s families and public safety.
You may have also read about the vicious attack that took place on West 43rd Street in Manhattan or have seen the disturbing video. Based on what we know to be the priority of the far-left liberals in the State Legislature and Governor’s mansion, I am sure it won’t surprise you to hear the attacker, Brandon Elliott, was on parole for the murder of his own mother in 2002.
Rehabilitated he is clearly not, as shown by his disgusting attack on a 65-year-old woman whose only crime was walking down the same sidewalk as him. Video shows Elliott punch her, kick her in the stomach, and then stomp on her head. An abhorrent scene made possible by a misguided parole board hellbent on releasing violent criminals back on to the streets of New York.
Now, another convicted cop killer, Paul Ford, is set to be paroled. Ford was one of three men convicted of the 1980 murder of Police Officer Harry Ryman.
For years I have had a personal interest and have written many letters in support of keeping Paul Ford behind bars.
Another man convicted of killing, Barrington Young, 62, was released last year and deported. The third convicted killer, Cornelius Bucknor, 59, has also been granted a parole hearing.
Unconscionably, 20 cop killers have been released from prison in New York since 2017. An unfathomable, concerning number and dangerous precedence.
NYC Council, Mayor Turn Back on Police Again
An already tough and dangerous job became more tough last week as the New York City Council voted to end qualified immunity for its officers.
Common sense and protections for those who risk their lives to protect us no longer exist in New York City. Mayor de Blasio and the City Council continue to kowtow to the left, bending at the knee to every demand from liberal activists, no matter the consequences and negative affects it will have on law abiding citizens.
“New Yorkers are getting shot, and police officers are on the streets day and night, trying to stop the bloodshed” said PBA President Pat Lynch.
There was a troubling increase in crime in 2020, specifically murders, shooting victims, and shooting incidents. In 2021, we are on pace to far surpass those unacceptable 2020 numbers.
Under no circumstance should we be working to promote criminals and those willing to cause harm and destruction while diminishing the role of the police and putting the men and women who protect our city at further risk.
Marijuana Legalized in New York State
To say New York is going to pot may be the understatement of the decade. Legislation to create the ‘New York Office of Cannabis Management’ sounds like a bad joke. If only it were funny.
Democrats in Albany, led by scandal-scarred Gov. Andrew Cuomo, know that legalizing recreational marijuana will come at significant human cost, but all they seem to care about is more tax revenue. Their indifference to human suffering is unconscionable.
Study after study has shown that marijuana use among teens — make no mistake about it, teen use will go up — can cause significant psychological damage and lead to use of even more dangerous drugs. We also know that traffic injuries and fatalities will increase because of stoned drivers on our roads, and a percentage of first-time marijuana users will become addicts.
We also know from other states that black-market drug sales actually increase after legalization, and those illicit drug pipelines often include counterfeit prescription pills and deadly narcotics like heroin and fentanyl. The cost of treating the addictions that will ensue from this legislation will likely cost far more than any revenue it would generate. Indeed, for every $1 of tax revenue in alcohol and tobacco tax revenues, society loses $10 in social costs according to SAM-Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
Mark Twain said the darnedest thing: “It’s easier to keep out of something than to get out of something.” He was, of course, right, and Twain’s advice is our advice to the New York State Legislature.
Keep out of the drug business. It will not end well.
Conservative Party Reception to Return May 26, 2021
We are excited to announce the return of our annual reception this spring which will be held in Tappan, NY, May 26th from 6:00 – 8:00pm at The Old ’76 House.
The ‘76 House, America’s oldest restaurant, is a three-hundred-year-old structure lovingly restored to pristine condition by the Norden Family. It is listed as a National Landmark and holds significant historic value. In fact, the original water painting of Benedict Arnold remains hung upside down. Just as George Washington left it.
We are expecting an exciting list of distinguished guests and honorees. We will be awarding our J. Daniel Mahoney Award, and Legislator of the Year Awards for 2020.
We are very much looking forward to gathering once again to visit with familiar faces and support the party.
Tickets for the event are $500 per person. More details are to follow in the coming week.
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2021
Contact: Shaun Marie
518-356-7882
www.cpnys.org @cpnys
Statement from New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar
“There’s an old admonition about crooked politicians: ‘watch the hands not the mouth.’ It’s exactly what we should be doing with Mr. Cuomo.”
Brooklyn, NY – “It’s not Mr. Cuomo’s greed for power that we’re learning about now, it’s his greed for cold-hard-cash at the expense of the very people who elected him. Last night’s damning New York Times exposé, revealing that Mr. Cuomo sought and likely received up to $4 million for his book, “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic,” confirms what the Conservative Party has long suggested — Gov. Cuomo, using state employees, appears to have buried inconvenient facts about nursing home deaths to publish a book and become a wealthy man. His actions demand additional criminal inquiry.
“There’s an old admonition about crooked politicians: ‘watch the hands not the mouth.’ It’s exactly what we should be doing with Mr. Cuomo.”
President Biden has many “slips of the tongue” however, this was no slip: Biden Calls the Republicans ‘Un-American’. Some advice, Mr. President: Stop lying about wanting to unite America. In the 69 days you have been president, sorry to say, you have not uttered one word that has helped unite our country, unless, of course, you believe that America has abandoned her US Constitution and delved into a progressive movement that will never succeed. Why are you so fearful of states requiring Voter ID, after all, you want everyone vaccinated, and an ID must be provided to get vaccinated.
More proof that the Biden Administration is out of step with Americans: Biden to announce up to $4 trillion infrastructure plan with massive tax hikes. There is no doubt that our infrastructure needs repairs, but something tells me that there are more progressive dreams coming in this proposal and they will get precedence over the needed repairs. Necessary repairs must take priority and be passed as a stand-alone bill. Obama’s shovel ready boondoggle should have taught Biden that lesson. If you think you will escape the proposed new taxes, think again.
For Immediate Release
March 30, 2021
Contact: Shaun Marie
518-356-7882
www.cpnys.org @cpnys
Statement from New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar
Brooklyn, NY – “To say New York is going to pot may be the understatement of the decade. Today’s legislation to create the ‘New York Office of Cannabis Management’ sounds like a bad joke. If only it were funny.
“Democrats in Albany, led by scandal-scarred Gov. Andrew Cuomo, know that legalizing recreational marijuana will come at significant human cost, but all they seem to care about is more tax revenue. Their indifference to human suffering is unconscionable.
“Study after study has shown that marijuana use among teens — make no mistake about it, teen use will go up — can cause significant psychological damage and lead to use of even more dangerous drugs. We also know that traffic injuries and fatalities will increase because of stoned drivers on our roads, and a percentage of first-time marijuana users will become addicts.
“We also know from other states that black-market drug sales actually increase after legalization, and those illicit drug pipelines often include counterfeit prescription pills and deadly narcotics like heroin and fentanyl. The cost of treating the addictions that will ensue from this legislation will likely cost far more than any revenue it would generate. Indeed, for every $1 of tax revenue in alcohol and tobacco tax revenues, society loses $10 in social costs according to SAM-Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
“Mark Twain said the darnedest thing: It’s easier to keep out of something than to get out of something. He was, of course, right, and Twain’s advice is our advice to the New York State Legislature. Keep out of the drug business. It will not end well.”