The Annual New York State Conservative Party Conference speaker line-up was packed to the brim on Day One. New York State Senator George Borrello (R,C-Batavia) and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C-Ballston) were featured in a session entitled ‘Surveying the Session: What Can New Yorkers Expect in 2025?’.
The host of the session opened up by mentioning how Sen. Borello and his family own businesses and he can provide “a different perspective to the legislature because he is the guy that has to write the checks and balance the books.”
Assemblywoman Walsh was described as “a different kind of attorney because she actually has common sense” adding that “ there is no issue that she's been unafraid to touch and to deal with, to take on.”
Borrello said “Our Conservative values are alive and well here in New York State. Let me start off by saying that I'm very proud that in this past election, we did break the supermajority in the New York State Senate. That's just the beginning and we hope to carry the momentum forward.”
When asked how NY’s far-left Democrats are dealing with the resounding victory of Donald Trump, Borrello said, “What you're going to see this year, and I think Mary Beth will agree with me, is a toxic level of Trump Derangement Syndrome in the state. It's already happening.”
Borrello and Walsh both see the disbelief of the election results as an opportunity for Republicans and Conservatives. Borello said, “This is our opportunity because they are looking to stand in the way of deporting criminals. They refuse to see what regular people are concerned about. People are committing crimes against the people of New York. Democrats in the legislature are committed to stopping the arrest and deportation of violent criminals. That is our opportunity.”
Walsh agreed saying, “I truly believe from everything we've seen so far, they're going to try to Trump-proof New York. What that really means is they are going to try to stop Trump and the federal government from doing things that are good for New Yorkers - like making New York safer. That is going to be the theme we see throughout this.”
Walsh spoke about how some democrats have said, “they are not going have a big hissy fit over every single thing that Donald Trump comes out with, but they can't help themselves. They're in a twist over every single thing. We're going to hear that on the floor as we debate bills and as we see legislation coming forward.”
Illegal immigration and the expense and dangers associated with that are a big issue. “If you're a citizen and you collect welfare benefits, there are extra restrictions, but if you're an illegal immigrant, you get basically carte blanche - whatever you want,” says Borrello. “They're opening up new migrant shelters, one for single men. There are over a thousand single men that are illegally going to be housed in one facility. What can possibly go wrong there?”
Budget issues also came up. The proposed NYS budget is $252 billion - up $8.6 billion just from last year. A little over five years ago it was at $175 Billion. The escalation in spending is unimaginable. Borrello says that since the Democrats control both houses and the Governor’s office the people’s checkbook has been overused.
Walsh and Borrello both spoke about the NY Republican agenda ‘Liberate New York’.
They will push as many things as possible to make New York better, safer, and more affordable. Walsh said, “that's the key, to making sure that people want to stay here, raise a family here, operate a business here.’
Whether it be public health, cell phone bans in schools, or education in general, both Borrello and Walsh expressed support for more local control as opposed to top down, one size fits all state control.