The Albany Update

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

There is a reason why some Albany insiders refer to JCOPE (the state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics) as “J-Joke”. What happened last week regarding former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $5 Million book deal is only the most recent example of why no one takes this ethics commission seriously.

Speaking of ethics, many are calling into question a Virginia campaign ad with Vice President Kamala Harris promoting the Democratic candidate for governor in hundreds of predominantly African American churches.

On the endorsement front, Governor Kathy Hochul has picked up the support of another major pro-abortion political player.

Then, we’ll look at the rise of authoritarian government demonstrated by the continuing COVID mandates.

Finally, we’ll update you on the latest regarding efforts to redistrict our state ahead of next year’s elections.

Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

On today’s program, we’ll look at the Biden Administration’s plan to rescind something referred to as the Protect Life Rule.

Elsewhere across the nation, a federal court has again allowed the Texas Heartbeat Law to stand. This lifesaving law is likely heading to the United State Supreme Court to determine its constitutionality, but even now it continues to save lives.

Here in our home state, there is an update on vaccine mandates for health care workers and its good news for those seeking a religious exemption from the mandate.

Then something that we haven’t discussed in quite some time is the status of fantasy sports betting in the state. Oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of the Legislature’s action were recently heard and a decision is expected soon.

Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

On November 2, 2021, New York voters will elect candidates to various judgeships and local offices, including Mayor of New York City. They will also vote on five proposed amendments to the New York State Constitution. While these five ballot measures may not receive as much media attention as political campaigns do, they may have a greater impact on the future of the Empire State. This week's program will provide an overview of the five proposed amendments.

Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

This week, in national news, we’re noting that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a radical abortion bill, scarily similar to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2019 Abortion Expansion Act. We’ll look at its likely fate in the U.S. Senate.

Then, at the state level, Health Commissioner Howard Zucker is out—or at least soon will be—and Gov. Kathy Hochul has named her pick for his position.

Speaking of Gov. Hochul, she made some odd and what some have billed as blasphemous statements while speaking at a church service last weekend.

Hochul was also in the headlines as news broke that she is considering legalizing prostitution.

The Governor is clearly lurching left to secure the Democratic nomination in next year’s elections, but it may not be enough. Progressive Democrats are starting to make some noise about a primary challenge to the sitting governor.

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

This week the Supreme Court of the United States announced that in December oral arguments will be heard in a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade.

Speaking of the courts, a Christian adoption and foster care agency in Central New York finds itself defending its right to serve children in need and their families in a manner consistent with the ministry’s faith. We’ll have more details a little later in today’s program.

Next up, Governor Kathy Hochul continues to make appointments to her administration and one with strong ties to Planned Parenthood is raising eyebrows in the pro-life community.

Then, the presumptive Republican and Conservative Party candidate for New York State Governor in 2022, Lee Zeldin, disclosed that he has been diagnosed with cancer, but thankfully he also announced that he is in full remission.

Last, there is a troubling story out of the Finger Lakes Region. There, a fertility doctor was allegedly and fraudulently serving as the sperm donor for women seeking assisted reproductive services. It’s still the wild west in many ways when it comes to these types of services and at the very least the state needs to start reining in some of these rogue individuals.

Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

Gov. Kathy Hochul came out swinging against Texas’ new abortion bill. In doing so, she made it clear that she is fully committed to the same abortion-expanding agenda as her predecessor, Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Then, in a cost-saving initiative, the state is considering forcing parents of some special needs adults to make a difficult decision—move your kids to a fenced-in, isolated facility in the northern part of the state or lose funding for their care.

Third, in today’s program we’ll provide an update on recent legal action regarding state vaccine and mask mandates.

Finally, state Senator George Borrello is asking the state to offer localities more time to opt out of allowing marijuana dispensaries in their neighborhoods.

Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

While a Texas pro-life bill dominated much of the news last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is promising a vote on a pro-abortion bill when Congress returns from its break. Today, we’ll tell you more about that legislation.

Then, the New York State Department of Health took an action last week that means private businesses will be implementing stronger COVID protocols in their places of employment. It doesn’t seem like we’ll be putting those face masks away anytime soon.

Continuing on the theme of COVID mandates, the beginning of the new school year meant new mandates for schools—and one Western New York school is pushing back.

Speaking of back to school, we’ll tell you about a resource that will help families protect their children from false ideologies and worldviews that are not consistent with a family’s faith.

Finally, the November General Election isn’t that far off. Most aren’t aware, but there will be five proposed amendments on the 2021 ballot. We’ll provide some information on those proposals.

Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

God bless, Texas! A new law in that state outlawed abortion after a baby’s beating heart can be detected. As the left loses its collective mind over the matter, the politics of abortion has moved front and center again.

Then, last week Albany held an extraordinary session of the State Legislature, that is a session of the Legislature called by the Governor that falls outside of the Legislature’s regularly scheduled legislative session. We’ll tell you what happened.

Following that, we need to speak of the many new vaccine mandates that have arisen over the last several days and a few bills that have dramatically different approaches to personal liberty when it comes to vaccination.

Next, it’s September—which means the kids are back to school. For many, it’s the first time they’ve been back in the classroom in a year and a half. Let’s remember to pray for our students and their schools, as well as several other requests we’ll share in today’s program.

For us, a limited number of in-person events resume this month. We’ll be in Buffalo, Rochester, and Oneonta. In today’s program, we’ll tell you how you can reserve a seat.

Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

It was a busy week in Albany as Gov. Kathy Hochul took the helm, delivered her first address as Governor, and named State Senator Brian Benjamin (D-Manhattan) as her pick for Lt. Governor. In today’s program we’ll tell you more about both our new Governor and Lt. Governor and discuss the priorities of the new administration.

Then, there are indications that Gov. Hochul will be pushing for a one-size-fits-all approach to school re-openings. Reportedly, this will include universal masking requirements, vaccinations for faculty and staff as soon as she has the authority to legally require it and more COVID testing. We had hoped for local control over these matters. At the time of this recording, the final details are not out, but the outline of her plan is taking shape.

Lastly, our organization has some in-person events starting next month. I’ll be in Buffalo, Rochester, and Oneonta. In today’s program, I’ll tell you how you can reserve a seat.

Let’s get started.

Thank you for joining this week’s edition of the Albany Update.

You’re probably noticing the prominence of transgender ideology in our culture. You’re also no doubt wondering where it’s coming from and why we’re hearing so much more about it. Are there root causes? We’ll discuss.

Then, the NYCLU is demanding that a proposed New York Catholic hospital perform abortions. I thought this branch of the ACLU was supposed to defend liberty, but they conveniently forget that pro-life people have liberties that need protecting as well—namely religious liberty.

In an update from the State Capitol, the state has a new human trafficking law. We’ll tell you how it helps trafficking victims and puts traffickers on notice.

Finally, back in March the state legalized and commercialized marijuana in New York, but localities only have until the end of the year to block sales in their town, and some already are.

Let’s get started.