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Tom O’Mara
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
DEBRIEF: Leslie Danks Burke focuses campaign on rural schools & small biz support (podcast)
Leslie Danks Burke is running for New York State Senate in the 58th District again. It's not the first time, but she says challenging incumbent Republican Tom O'Mara was necessary. "We need our elected leaders ... more
