Ortt looks ahead to legislative session, with focus to ‘Rescue New York’
Editor:
As we take some much-needed time to celebrate the holidays with our family and friends, it’s also just about time for a new legislative session to begin. I head back to Albany at the beginning of January and the moment the session begins, so does the fight to Rescue New York.
As you may be aware, a super majority of Democrats and progressive socialists exists within the New York State Assembly and Senate, which makes my job as Minority Leader and your representative at times exceptionally difficult and more important than ever.
I will continue to try and make the necessary changes our state, and our community desperately needs. As the New York State Senate Minority Leader, I am proud to represent you and stand up for common sense legislation – fighting for our farmers, protecting your Second Amendment rights, working to keep criminals behind bars, and illegal immigrants out of our backyard.
It is clear, the legislative majority conference want the opposite – they remain obsessed with the rights of criminals instead of your rights. They refuse to amend the senseless cash bail reforms, and what’s worse, they’d like to take away their criminal history with bills like the Clean Slate Act (Senate Bill S.7551), which would automatically erase the records of convicted felons after a period of time. I will continue to advocate for common sense laws that keep criminals behind bars.
At the same time that Democrats are letting more and more dangerous individuals out of prison, they are also attacking your right to protect yourself, with unconstitutional laws and regulations affecting your second amendment rights. You have likely experienced this if you’ve gone to purchase ammunition recently.
What was once a quick stop at the gun store has turned into long delays and an infringement of your rights. It’s created an unnecessary strain on our already overburdened State Police as they are now tasked with carrying out these invasive checks each time you wish to buy ammo.
Albany Democrats, some of whom have likely never even seen or held a gun, are incorrectly focused on law abiding gun and ammo purchases instead of illegal guns and those who possess them. I will continue to fight and oppose this latest infringement, along with our lawsuits against the majority’s attacks on lawful concealed carry.
New York State has completely failed as a sanctuary state for asylum seekers and illegal immigrants. The open door policies set in place by the majority and leaders in New York City have completely backfired, causing chaos to shelters and budgets not only in one of the largest cities in the world, but across our great state.
Since the beginning of this crisis I, along with many other representatives in the minority conference have called for the end to these sanctuary policies and a stop to bringing in more individuals and families our state does not have room or money for.
But the majority ignores our pleas and doubles down on policies that aren’t good for New Yorkers. Their solution? Raise taxes and slash budgets already in place designed to offer essential services to tax paying residents.
Our state cannot handle our own homeless population. There are veterans who fought for our freedoms who find themselves on the streets, ignored and forgotten – yet the majority is willing to spend billions to fund programs for illegal immigrants.
I am proud to represent a region that stood up to New York City and State leaders and said no to allowing illegal immigrants to stay in Niagara and Orleans counties. Not too far away in Erie County, they allowed the illegal migrants to come by the busload – and quickly regretted it. The National Guard was called in following several violent crimes and now taxpayers will have to help foot the bill for those legal costs.
Residents also have to pick up the tab for the children of illegals to attend our public schools, regardless of their vaccination status. The hypocrisy of Democrats has never been more apparent – It was just a couple of years ago when Albany mandated all students must be vaccinated, regardless of religious or political ideologies – yet they allow illegal migrants to enter our school systems with no medical records, no immunizations, and no concern of putting other children at risk of catching previously eradicated diseases.
We desperately need a voice for change, common sense, and to Rescue New York – and I am proud to represent that for you in Albany. If you need to reach me, have any questions, comments, or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out at 716-434-0680, via email at Ortt@nysenate.gov, or stop by my office located at 175 Walnut Street in Lockport.
State Senator Rob Ortt
North Tonawanda
(Ortt represents the 62nd district which includes all of Niagara and Orleans counties, and the towns of Sweden and Ogden in Monroe County.)
