From Assemblyman Steve Hawley:
“A plan to expand broadband Internet access will be beneficial to the more rural parts of my district, and I look forward to hearing more about the proposal. I am concerned that Gov. Cuomo’s small-business tax cut plan is not structured in a manner that allows business owners to expand and hire more employees. The proposed cut is less than one-10th of what the legislature gave to Hollywood film executives to entice them to produce movies in New York State. We need to get our priorities straight and protect family-owned businesses that have been in New York for generations. Furthermore, I am concerned that the governor’s plan does not properly fund agriculture in a way that will protect our farmers and allow their businesses to stay in New York and be passed down from generation to generation.”
From State Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer:
State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has issued the following statement in response to Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address and Executive budget proposal:
“In the coming days and weeks, I will be going over the Executive budget proposal with a fine-tooth comb. I am pleased that the Governor has proposed major investments in infrastructure, a new property tax relief program and expanding broadband access in rural communities.”
“For four years, State budgets have passed on time that closed billions of dollars in deficits by controlling spending and reduced taxes for small businesses and middle-class families. Our priorities should be to build on this progress, including strengthening our economy, ensuring our children receive a first-rate education and repealing burdensome regulations.”
“The 2015-16 Legislative Session presents us with an unprecedented opportunity to keep New York State moving forward. We cannot afford to allow it to be squandered.”
If you missed the speech, here's coverage from The New York Times.
Legislator Hawley, first off
Legislator Hawley, first off why in hell is government involved in expanding the Internet? Let the private sector [which is reaping humongous profits] do it. Secondly, why does government subsidize farmers? Let them operate efficiently and profitably, or shut down or move out of state... just like most other private sector businesses [Remington Arms]. You say "I am concerned that the governor’s plan does not properly fund agriculture in a way that will protect our farmers and allow their businesses to stay in New York and be passed down from generation to generation”... are you as concerned that conservative, pro-life, gun owners are Not Welcome in Andrew Cuomo's NYS?
Legislator Ranzenhofer, while you are "going over the Executive budget proposal with a fine-tooth comb", keep in your first thoughts that you are now part of a Republican majority in the NYS Senate [largely due to the fact that 5 Senators were replaced mainly because of their pro-SAFE Act position]. So instead of focusing on passing the Budget on time again, you had better be preparing to vote NO for any Budget that includes the SAFE Act funding until the SAFE Act is nullified or significantly repealed. Further, as I already cited to Legislator Hawley, why in hell should government [using tax payers money] be expanding the Internet access? Let the IP companies do it... they are getting filthy rich. You say "“For four years, State budgets have... reduced taxes for small businesses and middle-class families." Can you show proof of that? I'd really like to see it... and I bet I'm not alone.
As Assemblyman Hawley said "We need to get our priorities straight". It's too bad you guys don't follow your own advice. That means, shrinking the size and control of government, reduce spending which would allow lower taxes and removal of mandates. And stop creating new laws one after another, maybe then stupid BS legislation like the SAFE Act wouldn't have happened!
I'll be watching closely... in fact our best friend in Albany, Republican Assemblyman Bill Nojay is watching too and helps keep us informed who's doing their job. He even has a radio broadcast that airs in 3 or 4 markets state-wide to keep the voters informed. I listen daily... everyone should.
Listen online: http://www.wysl1040.com/podcasts.php
Shrinking the size of
Shrinking the size of government, pros and cons. http://www.thewire.com/politics/2010/04/can-a-town-survive-with-nearly-…
"(W)hy in (heck)is government
"(W)hy in (heck)is government involved in expanding the Internet?"
For the same reason the government gets involved in road building - in the current world, those "pipes and tubes" are part of our infrastructure.
Here's a letter I wrote in
Here's a letter I wrote in 2009 when the last rumors of rural broadband floated around the interwebs. BTW, I got no response from anyone at all:
from: Doug Yeomans <ADDRESS@gmail.com>
to: winner@senate.state.ny.us
bcc: bill.napier@mail.house.gov
date: Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 9:55 AM
subject: Broadband to farmland
Dear Senator Winner, My name is Doug Yeomans and I'm writing to you
about an article that was written three years ago by Nick Reisman and
published in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. The article
mentioned you and Assembly woman Barbara Lifton stating that broadband
in rural areas was a "must have" issue. I couldn't agree more!
At the time, I was elated that at some point in the near future I
would either be able to have cable or DSL broadband access. I pay the
same tax rate as everyone else in East Bethany, NY yet I don't have
access to either public utility. Both services are terminated on a
utility pole 4/10ths of a mile from my home and 2 of my immediate
neighbors. The 11 pole spans it would take to bring me cable or DSL
are all on field edges. There are no trees or obstructions to deal
with. It's a clear, easy shot to string the lines.
I've spoken directly with the construction supervisor that works for
Time Warner in Batavia, NY and he told me that I'd have to bear half
the cost of stringing the cable the 11 pole spans to my house if I
wanted cable. The out of pocket cost that I would've had to pay 4
years ago was just shy $5000. Repeated attempts to contact Verison for
information about future plans to upgrade telephone lines or fiber
optic cable on my road have been futile. The PSC has also been of no
help. I've contacted them several times to no avail.
I'm curious as to why I pay the same tax rate per $1000 of assessed
value of my property yet I am not able to have access to the same
public utilities. Are there any plans to make broadband available to
everyone (within reason)? I just don't think that four tenths of a
mile is too much trouble to bring 3 homes up to speed (all pun
intended). I have a need for broadband that satellite service just
can't deliver. My future plans are to start up a rural computer repair
business and I need a solid wire service to be able to do that. Remote
access and VPN can't be done with satellite. The cost of satellite
service, which I now have, is double the cost of DSL and cable and has
prohibitive bandwidth restrictions.
I purchased my house on the corner of East road and Jericho road in
East Bethany, NY during the summer of 2003 and I've yet to see the
town push for broadband service to everyone in the Bethany township. I
think the contract that the town made with Verizon and Time Warner
should have stated that they provide all services to everyone in the
township to begin with.
If there's anything you can do to make broadband in my area possible,
I would greatly appreciate it.
Sincerely
Douglas R. Yeomans
*address and phone number included*