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Tom O’Mara
Senator warns New York energy plan risks blackouts
Senator Tom O’Mara is calling for a sweeping reassessment of New York’s climate agenda, warning that the state’s aggressive push for zero-emissions energy is threatening both grid reliability and economic stability. In his weekly column, ... more
Senator blasts Albany for ignoring affordability crisis
New York State lawmakers closed their legislative session last week, but State Senator Tom O’Mara says they left behind a growing crisis that continues to drive families and businesses out of the Empire State. In ... more
O’Mara urges reflection and resolve this Memorial Day
In his latest column, State Senator Tom O'Mara calls on New Yorkers to honor Memorial Day by remembering the sacrifices of American soldiers and renewing the nation’s commitment to freedom and service. O'Mara’s message, released ... more
O’Mara slams New York budget as ‘bloated’ and ‘unaffordable’
State Senator Tom O’Mara sharply criticized the newly enacted 2025-2026 New York State budget on May 7, calling it “another late, bloated and unaffordable spending spree” under Governor Kathy Hochul and the Legislature’s Democrat majorities ... more
O’Mara slams secretive state budget process in Albany
New Yorkers remain in the dark as Governor Hochul and the Democrat-led Legislature inch toward finalizing a long-overdue state budget, according to State Senator Tom O’Mara. O’Mara, the Senate Finance Committee’s ranking member, criticized the ... more
O’Mara criticizes Senate Democrat budget as ‘unsustainable’ spending plan
State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) is warning that the Senate Democrat majority’s newly approved “one-house” budget resolution for 2025-2026 proposes billions in additional state spending that he calls “unaffordable and unsustainable.” O’Mara, the ranking ... more
Albany policies blamed for escalating crisis in New York prisons
New York’s correctional system is on the brink of collapse, according to critics of state policies that have restricted the ability of prison officials to discipline violent inmates. The ongoing strike by correctional officers has ... more
High costs, infrastructure challenges embedded in NY’s electric school bus mandate
State Senator Tom O’Mara is renewing his call for New York to delay its electric school bus mandate, warning that the plan is financially and logistically unworkable under its current timeline. In a recent guest ... more
NYS senator critiques budget, spending in new legislative session
State Senator Tom O’Mara issued a sharp critique of New York’s Democrat-led government this week, arguing that years of unchecked spending have exacerbated the state’s affordability crisis. Writing in a column marking the opening of ... more
O’Mara criticizes New York’s new climate law, warns of rising costs for consumers
State Senator Tom O’Mara has sharply criticized New York’s recently signed Climate Change Superfund Act, arguing that the measure will impose significant financial burdens on residents and businesses without offering viable alternatives to meet the ... more
Local lawmakers react to Hochul’s 2024 agenda (video)
In her 2024 State of the State Address, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has introduced an extensive plan, named “Our New York, Our Future.” This plan includes 204 initiatives aimed at improving affordability, livability, ... more
Finger Lakes lawmakers say electric school bus transition will cost $20B, while state has committed $500M
A new wrinkle has been added to the debate around electric school buses in Upstate New York. Earlier this month we told you about the debate around New York’s expected rollout of electric school buses ... more
Sen. O’Mara calls on Upstate leaders to resist mass migrant relocations
State Senator Tom O'Mara (R,C-Big Flats) pressed counties, cities, towns, and villages in the Upstate New York region to issue emergency orders, aiming to counter Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Eric Adams' plans to ... more
Gov. Cuomo declares gun violence a disaster: Launches state office, other initiatives to combat it
On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a first-in-the-nation gun violence disaster emergency, as part of a new effort to stop the rising gun violence in cities across the state. This new strategy treats gun violence ... more
Man convicted in Cayuga County burglary among those facing discipline after violent month at Elmira Correctional Facility
A string of violent incidents at one of the region's prisons has prompted state and union leaders to speak out. It happened at Elmira Correctional Facility, according to NYSCOPBA. There were a number of other ... more
INVESTIGATION: What role did lobbying play in preventing critical nursing home bills from getting through legislature?
“In today's regulatory environment, health care providers are forced to navigate within a labyrinth of complex governmental regulations, and one wrong can carry drastic consequences.” The coronavirus pandemic clamped down on Albany last summer, bringing ... more
Ranking lawmaker calls for fairer spending on Upstate roads and bridges
New York State Senator Tom O'Mara used his recent appointment as ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee to express the need for more funding of local roads and bridges. In particular, Upstate-Downstate spending parity ... more
DEBRIEF: Leslie Danks Burke says there are enough votes to cut deficit in 58th District (podcast)
On Wednesday, Leslie Danks Burke said that she was not conceding in the State Senate race shaping up in the 58th District. It includes a chunk of the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. After Election ... more
DEBRIEF: Tom O’Mara focuses on being voice for Southern Tier in Albany (podcast)
Senator Tom O'Mara has represented the 58th District of New York since 2010. A decade later he's still energetic about the community he serves. Earlier this week we caught up with Democrat Leslie Danks Burke, ... more
