Assemblyman Greg Ball (R-Carmel) will unveil his “Summer Gas Tax Holiday” petition tomorrow at 11:00 A.M. at a Shell Gas Station in Yorktown.  Ball encourages residents across the state to sign the petition, which calls on the Assembly Majority Democrats to pass legislation eliminating the state sales tax on gasoline and diesel fuel from Memorial Day to Labor Day, providing all New Yorkers with real relief at the pumps.

 

WHO:      Assemblyman Greg Ball Ed Ciffone, President of United Taxpayers of Yorktown. Members of United Taxpayers of Yorktown

 

WHEN:             Thursday, May 15, 2008

                                                11:00 A.M.

PLEASE NOTE REVISED TIME

 

WHERE:           Shell Gas Station
                        2001 Commerce Street in YorktownHeights
                        (on the corner of Route 202/Hanover Street &                      Commerce Street)

CONTACT:        Matt Neuringer (845) 222-9494

 

ALL MEDIA WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

 

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 5/14/2008

Independent Media Center | May 9, 2008

 

                                                  

 

SOUTHEAST, NEW YORK . New York State Assemblyman Greg Ball, an Air Force Captain and former business executive, says he "welcomes the challenge" after acquiring his first challenger for reelection yesterday. John Degnan, former Mayor of the Village of Brewster , New York , received the ceremonial endorsement of a group led by former Assemblyman Willis Stephens Jr., whom Ball ousted in 2006.

      

                         

                    (Pro-Illegal Alien Activist)

 

Degnan is remembered for his failed 2007 sanctuary city initiative to grant ID cards to illegal aliens , when he invited the Guatemalan consulate to come to the village to offer its mobile ID card service to distribute identification cards to illegal aliens. Assemblyman Ball, who opposed the measure, also orchestrated the defeat of a similar plan by ex-Governor Eliot Spitzer to grant driver's licenses illegal immigrants .

     

In his 2006 state of the village address, Degnan promised that the village would construct a hiring site for Brewster's day laborers, which was defeated by a protest led by Assemblyman Ball that included agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement agency and hundreds of residents of the tiny village. Former Mayor Degnan told The Journal News that he had felt "enthusiastic" about playing an "integral role" in the failed sacntuary measure to secure a work shelter site for undocumented residents of Northern Westchester and Putnam Counties .

 

During an unsuccessful 2007 campaign for office, Degnan left the Republican party to run as a Democrat. Hispanic residents of Brewster complained of a decline in their quality of life during Degnan's mayoralty, citing overcrowding and joblessness. The ex-Mayor's opponents labeled Degnan a "slumlord" , a charge which he rejected. Although he later hired a worker to fight the overcrowding, even Degnan's own supporters concede he did little to tackle the immigration issue.

 

Ball, fresh off a recent legislative victory to provide free college tuition to veterans of the Armed Forces, is known as " Albany 's most ardent supporter of legal immigration". He is a state chairman of Lawmakers for Legal Immigration , an immigration reform group, and achieved prominence for his work with 9/11 Families for a Secure America, enacting the 287(g) program to empower state law enforcement officers to act as ICE agents to crack down on crime and deport incarcerated illegal aliens , as well as a series of immigration bills that passed in the State Assembly to crack down on contractors breaking state labor laws. Illegal immigration costs New Yorkers more than $5.1 billion per year for education, medical care, and incarceration.

 

GET INVOLVED TODAY!!!

DONATE TODAY!!

www.SupportGreg.com

www.Ball4NY.com

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 5/11/2008

Calls on State Legislature to Enact “Charlemagne’s Law”

 

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) was joined by a variety of animal activists, organizations and concerned residents this week at the State Capitol to lobby for enactment of the Assemblyman’s landmark legislation to prohibit the sale or purchase of pets that are farmed at puppy or kitten mills.

 

“Pet stores are profiting from the sale of animals that are neither mentally or physically fit to be sold – in short, these animals spend their entire lives cooped up in cages, under horrific conditions that constitute animal cruelty.  This practice must be stopped immediately,” said Ball.

 

A lifelong pet owner, the Assemblyman originally contacted the Putnam County Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Westchester upon learning of the horrific conditions in pet mills.  Together, they created the legislation that would enact the law now known as “Charlemagne’s Law.”  The would-be law is named after the puppy given to Long Island resident Lorianne LaMarcha, which eventually needed to be euthanized due to illnesses as a result of being bred at a puppy mill. 

 

Charlemagne, purchased at a pet store, was a birthday present to LaMarcha from her husband.  Immediately, the LaMarchas noticed that the puppy had a severe cough, parasites, and an ulcer on his eye and took him to a vet.  Although the store assured LaMarcha that the puppy was fit for sale and its health had been cleared by a vet, the LaMarcha’s veterinarian said the puppy was clearly unfit for sale.  A year and thousands of dollars later, it was discovered that Charlemagne’s kidneys were not working.  Forced to make the heart wrenching decision to euthanize the puppy so it would no longer suffer, LaMarcha began an investigation into how something so horrible could happen to a creature so innocent.  It was uncovered that Charlemagne had been bred a pet mill that was breeding tens of thousands puppies every year.

 

Sadly, Charlemagne’s story is not unusual.  Studies have shown that only 1 in every 117 pet milled puppies, commonly sold in most pet stores, are healthy.  Additionally, animal advocacy groups estimate that at least 4 million puppies and kittens are bred in pet mills annually.  The same number of dogs die in shelters every year when their owners can no longer care for the pet.

 

LaMarcha, pictured above with the Assemblyman at a taping of his television show, “Assembly Calendar with Greg Ball,” helped organize the legislative lobby day, “Laws for Paws,” this week.  She stated, “The issue of pet mills is important to pass and long overdue.  This issue affects many – from the obvious suffering of the animals to the consumers who are suffering by doing everything they can to save the pet, from paying thousands of dollars for veterinary care to the inevitable heartbreak when their pet is put down.  Taxpayers are also suffering because they are paying the trickle down costs of euthanizing unwanted pets at shelters.  Pet stores are putting profits over the humane treatment of these suffering animals and deceiving the public into buying these animals.  This issue is not a partisan issue.  It is about what is right and what is wrong.  Pet mills are wrong and we need to stop it by enacting this legislation.”

 

In addition to LaMarcha, a number of national and regional animal advocacy groups came to Albany to lobby for “Laws for Paws,” including Puppymill Rescue, the Beverly Animal Shelter (from Waterloo, NY), Chihuahua Rescue and Transport, Papillon 911 Rescue and Adoption, East Coast Asian Rescue, and the Humane Society of the United States, Yates County Chapter (pictured directly below).

   

Members of the Mohawk and Hudson Humane Society also joined Assemblyman Ball and Assembly Republican Leader James N. Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga) at a hearing sponsored by the Assemblyman and CBS News Channel 6 (Schenectady) to discuss Ball’s legislation.  The meeting was also attended by the ASPCA and law enforcement representatives that have direct experience working on cases involving animal cruelty.

 

Leader Tedisco has been a driving force behind the State’s animal cruelty laws.  The author of the original Buster’s Law, Tedisco has long supported legislation that prevents cruelty to animals.  In fact, he has authored and introduced Buster’s Bill II, a measure that would strengthen the provisions of the original Buster’s Law and make the current law easier to prosecute. 

 

“There's no question that so-called ‘Puppy Mills’ are terrible, deplorable places where innocent animals are often abused and maltreated.  As the sponsor of Buster’s Law, I have made the championing of animal welfare and the prevention of cruelty to animals one of my top legislative priorities.  Assemblyman Ball’s legislation is further proof of the positive difference he is working for, and making, toward a more humane place for all God’s creatures.  Greg Ball continues to keep his promise to bring real change to Albany for a safer, better, stronger state and I credit him for his sponsorship of this worthwhile initiative," said Leader Tedisco.

 

            “Pet shops promote impulse shopping for pets.  Most pets sold in pet stores come from pet mills.  They need to be stopped.  This is simply a matter of animal cruelty.  I encourage every pet owner or prospective pet owner to not purchase their pets from pet stores.  Adopt a dog or cat from a shelter or animal rescue organization.  I also hope that by hearing directly from the many animal organizations that came to Albany this week, my colleagues in the State Legislature will put partisanship aside and enact this important animal and consumer protection bill,” stated Ball.

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 5/6/2008

Meets with Students to Discuss Legislative Process

 

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) welcomed to Albany students from The Montfort Academy, a Roman Catholic classical high school located in Katonah.  Nine students from the school’s Pro Causa Vitae Club traveled to Albany to meet with State Legislators for Lobby for Life Day at the Capitol.

The Assemblyman met with the students to hear their concerns about various pieces of legislation, including measures to promote stem-cell research and reproductive rights as well as creation of a “Choose Life” State License Plate.  Pictured above with Ball (far left) are students Bridget Skidd and Jose Castro.

 

The MontfortAcademy is a relatively new high school, which is currently in its fifth year, the school recently has become co-institutional.  The Pro Causa Vitae Club, started by Assistant Principal of the Girls Division, Concetta Pilsner, and named by the students, is involved in lobbying for pro-life legislation and has participated in a number of pro-life events, including the March for Life.  Additionally, the Assemblyman participated as a judge in the student’s debate, held today at the school, on pro-life issues.

   


Leading the students, pictured below, is Concetta Pilsner (far left) and Director of Admissions, Christopher Bratt (far right).  Pictured from left to right are Paul Juhasz, Kateri Duffey, Brandon Conley, Jose Castro, Daniel Genn, Assemblyman Ball, Bridget Skidd, Stephen Herman, Callaghan Bradley, and Paul Barnard.

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 5/1/2008

 

  Calls on State to Remove Its Taxes on Gasoline During Summer Months  

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) held a press conference today in Albany to call on the State Legislature to immediately enact a comprehensive plan to embrace renewable energy technologies, expand the use of nuclear power and create an immediate plan to cut taxes on New YorkState motorists this summer to spur the local economies.  Specifically, the plan would provide motorists with a savings of at least 32 cents per gallon on gasoline (35 cents on diesel fuel).

 

“The state government should not benefit from our misery. We better wake up as a state and as a nation and realize that our global enemies have us over a barrel, literally. It is within our strategic national interest to begin developing and using renewable resources and technologies for our energy consumption. If developing nations like Brazil can become energy independent and liberal nations like France can become net exporters of energy via nuclear technology, than the United States of America, the greatest nation in the world can get it’s act together and throw off the chains we bear that have been built and weighted by the powerful oil companies and all associated interests, economic and political. I have never been comfortable with the current Administration’s connection to the wealthiest of Middle Eastern oil barrens. Middle class New Yorkers are being squeezed from absolutely every angle and now our food and oil costs are presenting a double squeeze! Every New Yorker should get on the phone and send letters to their representatives at all levels because it is predicted that gasoline prices may raise to as much as $5 per gallon this summer.  New Yorkers need relief from these ridiculous taxes.  Corporate oil companies are pulling in record profits and so is New YorkState.  New York’s government should not benefit from our gas tax misery!” said Ball.

New York State is the most expensive state in the Northeast to purchase motor fuels.  Already the cost of gasoline in the state has exceeded $4 per gallon.  This is due to, in large part, the numerous taxes that the State collects.  At a minimum, Ball feels that these tax revenues should be lockboxed and utilized directly to develop alternative means of renewable energy and technologies. Ball’s plan would temporarily stop the collection of three of these taxes between Memorial and Labor Days -- the sales tax (8 cents), the motor fuel tax (8 cents) and the Petroleum Business Tax (16 cents) – for a combined savings of 32 cents per gallon.

 

The plan is supported by the entire Assembly Republican Conference as well as the National Federation of Independent Business, our state’s leading small business advocacy organization.  The organization’s New York State Director joined Ball and the Assembly Republicans at today’s press conference and joined their call that the state immediately enacts this important tax-saving plan.

        

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 5/1/2008

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

   

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) is hosting a Senior Issues Public Forum this Saturday in Somers.  The event is co-hosted by Mary Beth Murphy, Supervisor of the Town of Somers.

The purpose of the forum is to identify how state and local government can work together to create a better quality of life, that is more affordable, for seniors.  Areas of specific concern include transportation, healthcare, and continuing education. 

All members of the press and public are invited and the Assemblyman encourages seniors, or relatives of seniors, to attend and share their concerns and ideas on how to improve the quality of life for seniors.

 

WHO:               Assemblyman Greg Ball

Mary Beth Murphy, Supervisor of the Town of Somers

 

                        WHAT:Senior Issues Public Forum

 

                        WHEN:Saturday, May 3, 2008

                                                    10 am to 1 pm

 

                        WHERE:           SomersTown Hall

                                                335 Route 202 in Somers

 

CONTACT:        Assemblyman Ball’s District Office

(845) 279-5301

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 5/1/2008

 

While Assembly Democrats Vote Down Pro-Veterans Legislation,

Ball Stands Up and Demands the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee Take Action

      

As Ranking Republican Member of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee and former Air Force Captain, Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) once again proved that he is the strongest advocate for New YorkState veterans in Albany.  During a meeting of the Veterans Affairs Committee today, the Assemblyman was appalled that every Republican sponsored bill was voted down and called out the Democratic members of the committee for blocking passage of these important bills.

 

“If the taxpayers of this state knew the extent to which the Assembly Democrats block and gridlock common-sense legislation, they would be as outraged as I am today.  Our conference has been leading the fight to deliver for veterans – from getting the Veterans Tuition Remission program enacted to restarting the idle Veterans Affairs Caucus – and the actions the Veterans Affairs Committee made today were nothing short of shameful.  It is absolutely immoral that Chairman Espailliat and the rest of the Democrats on this committee would put partisan politics before doing the right thing for the thousands of men and women who have selfless served our nation and our state,” stated Ball.

 

Out of the thirteen bills that were on the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee agenda today, eight bills were sponsored by Republicans.  All eight bills were voted down.  The remaining five Democrat-sponsored bills were all moved through the Committee to be brought before the full Assembly for vote. 

 

The Republican-sponsored legislation included measures to: create and operate a State Veterans’ Cemetery; help veterans and their families afford funeral costs; allow veterans to use State parks and recreational facilities free of charge; allow utility companies to offer the same rates to not-for-profit veterans groups as other non-veterans groups are currently offered; create State medals to honor veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan; and designate the periods of the Iranian Hostage Crisis as a “time of war” for purposes of awarding civil service credits.

 

Assemblyman Ball encourages members of the public and veterans organizations to write to the Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Adriano Espailliat, to express your concerns on how he is allowing, and encouraging, pro-veterans legislation to be ignored because of a partisanship vendetta.  You can write to Assemblyman Espailliat at the LegislativeOfficeBuilding, Room 841, Albany, NY12248 or call him at (518) 455-5089.

 

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above, Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) joins Donna Parlow, the Master of Ceremonies and member of the Ladies Auxillary, and Harvey Strode, VFW Commander of Putnam Lake Post 9275, at the celebration for the PutnamLakeVFW’s 60^th Anniversary and honors the veterans group for their on-going contribution to our community.

 

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 5/1/2008

Editors:

As a people, we are a blend of the world and throughout our history a
healthy immigration policy, largely open, yet tightly regulated, has ensured
a constant flow of new faces, bright minds, talented souls and strong backs
into the mainstream of our population. Indeed, most historians would agree
that America is a great nation not in spite of her large immigrant
population, but because of it.

As such, the fierce debate on illegal immigration that rages across the
nation may seem disquieting at times, but is entirely necessary. We must
decide as a nation where we want to go and how we intend to get there. In my
opinion, forming a secure border and fair immigration policy are the two
most important steps we can take as a country.

But until our national leaders take action, state leaders like myself are
forced to deal with the structural realities of a flawed federal policy. It
seems quite evident that the driving force in the HudsonValley hoping to
turn a debate about immigration, security and law enforcement into one about
race is the Editorial Staff of the Journal News. Indeed, your reporting of
the 287G program, a law enforcement program that combats criminal illegal
alien crime, and creates a more cooperative relationship between the state
and federal government, and targets criminals, not immigrants, is shameful.

Evidently, on paid staff at the Journal News, is a group of Editors content
with half truths and lackadaisical reporting, even on an important issue
like 287G, a program that has either been embraced or adopted by several
states and dozens of municipalities including Florida , Arizona and Rhode
Island. Your paper has bastardized this issue in the name of selling papers
and refused to address the real crux of the issue which is the deportation
of criminal, yes criminal, illegal aliens.

Today in New York , tens of thousands of illegal alien criminals abscond back
into the larger New York community after serving their time, and are given
another opportunity to strike again. New York is not working properly with
the federal government, thereby allowing criminal illegal aliens of all
ethnicities, religions, criminal levels and backgrounds to slip through the
cracks, and that is what, among other benefits, a tightly crafted, statewide
287G bill would solve. Those are the facts.

Would the Journal News rather these sick criminals remain in the Hudson
Valley, to strike again? A 287G agreement between the state and the federal
government will help local law enforcement confirm the identity of rapists,
murders and child predators, among others, and begin deportation
proceedings. And it ensures that criminal illegal aliens, that serve their
time, are then deported back to their nation of origin - be it Ireland ,
Russia or Mexico .

Another inconvenient fact is that upwards of 10%, or more, of our state and
local prisons and 30% of our federal prisons are comprised of criminal
illegal aliens and cost taxpayers billions nationally and hundreds of
millions statewide. A 287G agreement will save New York taxpayers millions
every year and force the federal government to take a more proactive, rather
than reactive, role in New York by working directly with New York 's local
and state law enforcement via a formalized agreement.

My role as an elected official and legislator is to get involved and try to
make the world a better place where possible. As such, trying to foster
communication and create an environment where we can learn from our mistakes
is an important part of my job. To simply point the finger at the federal
government and whine about broken policy may be therapeutic for some, but is
irresponsible, and largely unproductive. Some elected officials turn the
other way when confronted with a tough issue; I just roll up my sleeves.

As a pro-immigrant state legislator I will continue to lobby for efforts
that will expand and streamline opportunities for legal immigration, and I
welcome you to those causes. What I, along with tens of millions of
Americans do not support, is the current failed federal policy that coddles
criminal illegal aliens and entices 4 million illegal alien day laborers to
cross our border every year while millions of legal immigrants wait in line.
This is a federal policy that relies upon the exploitation of millions of
illegal aliens currently living in nothing less than indentured servitude
and while my campaign signs which read, "Illegal Immigration is Illegal" may
have ruffled some feathers, including yours, I stand by those words.

Greg Ball
Member of Assembly
99th Assembly District
(917) 681-9302

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 4/28/2008

  Assemblyman Greg Ball's Re-Election Mascot Officially Chosen to be Hannah!   

-Hannah

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 4/21/2008

Amid former President Jimmy Carter's much-publicized trip to visit with Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, Assemblyman Greg Ball today criticized the former president's actions to broker a Middle East peace negotiation with the group, which is listed as a terrorist organization by both Washington , D.C. and the European Union.

Ball said, "As a New Yorker, I am personally sickened by Carter's actions.  New York 's security is more than a state issue, it is a national security issue and now is not the time for the former President to be attending garden parties with terrorists.  President Carter's trip goes beyond simple political disagreement, and possesses the possibility of creating havoc for our national security.  There is no negotiating with Hamas, they are terrorists and their hands are stained with the blood of innocent women and children. Simply put, they need to be surgically removed and pressured into irrelevancy." 

The former president has been widely criticized for his actions and statements regarding Hamas over recent years, most especially his comment that there was "a good chance" Hamas would become nonviolent.  However, despite the former president's attempts, in 2006 the United States Senate passed a resolution stating that no aid should be provided to the Palestinian Authority "if a ruling majority party within the Palestinian Parliament maintains a position calling for the destruction of Israel ."

This resolution has not stopped Carter, who has since continued unilaterally with his plans to meet with Hamas leaders in Syria .  Additionally, the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, has objected to Carter's actions, and the Department of State has twice contacted the former president, expressing their objections and concerns.

Nor has Hamas heeded the international plea for peace.  In fact, last year they forcibly expanded their control on the Gaza Strip and the group has ignored the actions of other terrorist organizations, such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as they shot rockets into southern Israel .  Hamas itself is believed to be behind a number of deadly suicide bomber attacks on Israel as well.

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 4/17/2008

Statewide bill targets criminal illegal aliens

 

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) is hosting an interstate law enforcement conference regarding 287(G) funding this Saturday in Mahopac.  The event is co-hosted by 9/11 Families for a Secure America, a national homeland security organization, and will feature an impressive list of guest presenters and attendees.

 
Assemblyman Ball has introduced a new bill that will create the most effective 287(G) agreement in the nation.  Provisions of the legislation will create a seamless web of law enforcement in New YorkState, and protect taxpayers from unscrupulous vendors doing business with the State.  The bill also prohibits so-called “sanctuary cities” within the State of New York and mandates that deportable criminal aliens held in prisons throughout the state are only released into the custody of federal authorities.

 

Following a closed-door, invitation only meeting for law enforcement and interested elected officials, Assemblyman Ball will be holding a press conference to announce his legislation to implement his 287(G) statewide initiative.  The Assemblyman will be taking questions from the media regarding the legislation and his initiative.

 

After the press conference, Ball will be hosting an open public forum regarding his 287(G) legislation and initiative.  A detailed presentation will be made by the Assemblyman, among others, in regards to innovative state and local solutions to the problem of illegal immigration.

 
In recent news, Rhode Island, citing the growing threat of criminal illegal aliens, and the soaring costs associated with them, Governor Donald L. Carcieri recently issued an Executive Order that will give State Police new tools to combat crime in the OceanState.  Rhode Island is not the first state to take such action, and Assemblyman Ball is working hard to make sure that it will not be the last.

 

 The Assemblyman encourages all members of the press and members of the public to attend the event this Saturday. 

 

 

-MORE-

 

 

 

WHAT:                   Greg Ball’s 287(G) Law Enforcement Summit, including a press conference announcing his legislation and an open public forum regarding his 287(G) initiative.

 

                WHO:                     Assemblyman Greg Ball

                                                Ed Kowalski, Director of 9/11 Families

                                                Peter Gadiel, Founder and Acting President of 9/11 Families

                                                Jim Staudenraus, Advisor to 9/11 Families

                                                Dutchess County Deputy Sheriff Kirk Imperati

                                                Putnam County Under-Sheriff Peter Convery

                                                Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois

                                                New York City Sheriff Lindsay Eason

                                                Under-Sheriff Bob Najmulski, AllenCounty, Ohio

                                                Clark Osborn, Chief of Suffern Police Department

                                                John Keegan, Mayor of Suffern, New York

                                                Steven C. Mannion, Town Attorney of Morristown, New Jersey

                                                Suffolk County Sheriff Department

                                                Peter Harckam, WestchesterCounty Legislator

                                                Mike Cutler, immigration expert

                                                Members of Assemblyman Ball’s Task Force on Immigration

 

                WHEN:   THIS SATURDAY

                                                April 19, 2008

 

                DETAILS:               PRESS CONFERENCE

                                                12:30 PM

                                                Mahopac (Location to be determined)

 

                                                PUBLIC FORUM

                                                1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

                                                Mahopac Library

 

                CONTACT:             Assemblyman Ball’s District Office

                                                (845) 279-5301

 

***ALL MEDIA & MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INVITED

AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND***

 

***PHOTO OPPORTUNITY***

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 4/17/2008

 

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) held two press conferences today in the 99^th Assembly District to announce that his landmark program to create a tuition remission program for veterans has been included in the 2008-09 State Budget.  The budget was passed by both houses earlier this week. 

     

 

(Assemblyman Ball is joined by Putnam County American Legion Commander Ted Martine, Yorktown American Legion Commander Bill Lewis, Mahopac VFW Commander Charles Monte, Mahopac Ladies Auxiliary President Mary Monte, Mahopac American Legion Commander Joe Honisberg, St. Johns CWV Post 1928 Commander and former Mahopac VFW Commander Richard DiRusso, Past Mahopac VFW Commander Tony Volucci, Past Mahopac VFW Commander Bill Deschanik, Brewster VFW Vice Jr. Commander William Mangieri, Yorktown Resident and retired Army 53' Gel Kaufman, Yorktown resident Nick Ditamaso retired Army 54', Yorktown resident retired Air force 56', and several members of the Mahopac Ladies Auxiliary. )

“This program is very good news for our veterans, especially the young men and women who are, right now, returning from overseas.  It is important that we remember that there is a war going on in which these brave soldiers are defending our freedoms – when they get home, we should thank and honor them for protecting our quality of life and do everything we can to ensure they have the best possible future.  Passage of this important program is a great step in the right direction of honoring the present and future of our troops,” stated Ball, who, as a former Air Force Captain, is especially vigilant in fighting for legislation that will help veterans.

 
In fact, Ball serves as Ranking Republican Member of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee and is a leader in Albany for the enactment of bills that improve the quality of life for all veterans.  Since coming into office, one of his priorities has been the enactment of a program to create a tuition remission program specifically for veterans.  After introducing legislation, his bill was supported by the entire Assembly Republican Conference and made part of their 2008 legislative agenda, ReNew New York.  Supported by a variety of veterans’ advocacy organizations, including the New York State Council of Veterans Organizations, Ball’s landmark program was included in the Executive Budget proposal, as well as in the budget plans submitted by both houses of the Legislature.

 

The 2008-09 State Budget includes $2 million in state funding to create Ball’s tuition remission program for combat veterans.  New YorkState veterans who served in the hostilities of Vietnam, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf will be eligible for tuition assistance benefits equal to the cost of SUNY undergraduate tuition, or the equivalent at any other New YorkState higher education institution.

    

(Assemblyman Ball Joined by Pawling VFW Commander Jerry Christiansen, Patterson American Legion Commander Harvey Strode, Pawling Mayor Robert Liffland & other members of the Pawling VFW post)

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 4/11/2008

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) will be holding a press conference tomorrow, April 11 in Yorktown, to announce that the Assemblyman’s landmark legislation to create a tuition remission program for veterans was passed by the State Legislature as part of the 2008-09 State Budget.

               
Joining the Assemblyman are members of the American Legion of Yorktown, the Mahopac VFW, the Mahopac American Legion, Ladies Auxiliary of Mahopac, Brewster VFW, PutnamCountyVFW, and many other veterans and members of the community. 

               

The media and members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend.

WHO:  Assemblyman Greg Ball William Lewis, Commander of the Yorktown American Legion
Charles Monte, Commander of the Mahopac VFW
Ken Carroll, Vice Commander of the Mahopac American Legion
Mary Monte, Ladies Auxiliary of Mahopac
Edward Donovan, Retired Air Force Veteran
William Mangieri, Commander of Brewster VFW

 

  WHAT:   Press Conference Announcing Veterans’ Tuition Coverage Program

  WHEN:   Friday, April 10, 2008 1 pm

  WHERE: Yorktown Town Hall
363 Underhill Rd. Yorktown, NY 10598

 

CONTACT:             Assemblyman Ball’s District Office (845) 279-5301

 

***ALL MEDIA INVITED & ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND***

 

***PHOTO OPPORTUNITY***

 

Posted by gb in Ball Announces Empire Zone on 4/10/2008

Ball: “Hey Gov! Stop cracking jokes…crack some heads.”

 

Albany ’s leading advocate for reform, transparency and accountable and open government Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) has repeatedly called on state lawmakers to rein in spending and hold true to the budget reforms enacted last year. Ball believes those reforms were just a first-step toward a better, more efficient and effective state government. Unfortunately, as the final budget bills were printed, Ball was appalled and dismayed in his final analysis of this year’s budget process.

“Not only is this budget based on funny numbers, bad math and ridiculous tax hikes, it was cooked up behind closed doors by Albany’s ‘3 men.’  To be honest, I don’t even think it was three men.  There is a new steamroller in town and his name is Sheldon Silver, the dark hand of Albany, and this Governor folded like a cheap suit under the powers of the Speaker.  As the last budget bills came to the floor, many of the democratic members spent more time flattering the Speaker and thanking him for his ‘leadership’ than debating the actual budget bills.  This process was a disgrace and rank-and-file members, while they may not publicly admit it, were absolutely excluded yet kept their mouths shut in exchange for member items and even more expensive budget line item handouts. This was another sad day in New YorkState and if we are going to make any progress this session, this Governor needs to gain the upper hand, an advantage he never had, and refuse to become another prop for the Speaker.”

“Let me be very, very clear. There was no transparency and no accountability in this budget process.  Period.  Because of this horribly dysfunctional process, every budget bill has increased spending and, in addition, the bills I voted against yesterday increased taxes by $1 billion!  We are on the cusp, nationally and statewide, of economic disaster yet the entrenched interests of Albany, Inc. have responded with $1 billion dollars of new tax increases.  Disgustingly, these backroom deal bills also included serious cuts for special education programs and the STAR program.  We should be expanding the STAR program and demanding even greater tax relief for seniors, working families and small business owners considering these tough economic times.  During this time, when our country is literally bordering on economic crisis, it is simply disgusting that Albany would dare to dump their burdensome addiction to spending onto the backs of New York’s hardworking and beleaguered taxpayers,” stated Ball.

In addition to creating $1 billion in new taxes and withholding increases in the Middle-Class STAR rebate program, the State Budget also takes on a huge amount of state debt.  In fact, the Upstate Revitalization Program promised by former Governor Spitzer is being funded completely through taking on additional state debt.  Experts analyzing the budget in the halls of the State Capitol today commented that in addition to increasing state debt, this year’s budget is going to result in future budgetary shortfalls.  S