O’MARA APPOINTED RANKING MEMBER OF ENERGY COMMITTEE

LEGISLATOR WILL UTILIZE NEW POSITION TO RENEW ARTICLE X

Assemblyman Tom O’Mara (R,C-Horseheads) was recently appointed Ranking Member of the Energy Committee by Assembly Minority Leader James N. Tedisco.  “I am honored to serve as the Ranking Member on this important committee,” remarked O’Mara.  “I look forward to working with my colleagues in addressing New York’s growing energy needs.”

            Assemblyman O’Mara is advocating for his Assembly Republican colleagues to continue their effort to renew Article X, the state’s expired power plant siting law, to help meet New York’s growing energy needs. 

            Article X was designed to speed up the review process for determining the locations of new major power plants, while placing emphasis on community input.  Before it expired on January 1, 2003, it was regarded as the nation’s top siting law.

            “Renewing Article X makes sense,” said O’Mara. “I am encouraged to hear Governor Spitzer comment, in his State of the State address, on the need for renewing this important legislation.  It would improve New York’s current energy production, and allow for better planning to meet our future energy needs.  The high cost of energy in New York is a significant impediment to economic development and job creation.”

            Last year Assembly Democrats passed bill A. 10371-C, sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Tonko, that would renew Article X with several changes.  Assemblyman O’Mara and many of his Assembly Republican colleagues opposed this legislation because it added numerous regulations and cost barriers to Article X, making energy production expensive for private sector producers.  The bill would also diminish any chance of a new power plant being built in New York, especially downstate where additional power is desperately needed. 

            “New York State needs more private sector energy producers to meet our growing energy needs,” added O’Mara.  “Assemblyman Tonko’s legislation would stifle private sector growth and lead to a lack of competition in the energy sector, which will inevitably result in higher energy costs for New Yorkers.  Therefore, I will continue to vote against any legislation proposed by the Majority that increases costs and results in over-regulation.  Instead, I will use my new position on the Energy Committee to foster legislation that promotes lower energy costs and renewable energy.”

“In addition, I look forward to working with both Governor Spitzer and Lieutenant Governor Paterson to increase New York’s renewable energy production so our state can meet its goal of obtaining 25 percent of its energy needs from renewable resources.”

According to O’Mara, meeting the state’s goal of obtaining 25 percent of its energy needs from renewable resources and using alternative fuels would result in a cleaner environment.  It also could lead to an economic boom for the Southern Tier, where one of the nation’s largest natural gas reserves exists.  Tapping this natural resource would help to bring cleaner and cheaper fuel sources to New York while providing the Southern Tier with much needed manufacturing jobs.

Assemblyman O’Mara was also appointed Vice-Chair of the Assembly Republican Program Committee in Albany.  The Program Committee works to present a clear, concise message of what Assembly Republicans generally support statewide.  In his new role, O’Mara will be presenting key programs, proposals and other legislative initiatives to editors, columnists, and other media representatives throughout the state. 

“I look forward to using my new position as Vice-Chair of the Program Committee to push our conference’s agenda,” remarked O’Mara.  “I am pleased that Leader Tedisco and my colleagues are confident in my abilities to be a spokesman for the conference.”  

In addition, Assemblyman O’Mara will serve on the Banks, Judiciary, Insurance and Tourism committees, as well as Chairman of the Assembly Republican Task Force on Medicaid Waste, Fraud and Abuse.  

“I will be very busy with my committee and task force appointments this year,” said O’Mara.  “There is a lot of work to be done to eliminate the billions of dollars in Medicaid fraud and waste and devise an effective way for state and local governments to recoup funds from fraudulent claims.”

O’Mara will also be busy this year on the Judiciary Committee tackling issues like changes to the judicial election process, the structure of New York’s judicial system and judicial salaries. A Federal court ruled that the current system for picking judicial candidates is unconstitutional.

 O’Mara noted, “The current system of selecting Supreme Court judges must be modified to ensure that qualified candidates have a more open opportunity to run for office.  We must further develop a system that provides for judicial candidates to be residents of the geographic area that the court covers.”

“New York State judges have not had a salary increase since 1999,” O’Mara stated. “If we are to attract and retain our best and brightest legal minds to the bench we must reasonably compensate them for their service.  As it stands now, many court law clerks and other court positions earn more than the judges they serve.  Further, assigned counsel representing indigent defendants often earn more than our judges.  Consideration of judicial salary increases must once and for all be disconnected from the issue of legislative pay raises which has held up fair raises for our judges.”

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