New York State Assemblyman Keith P. Brown (R,C-Northport) recently sent a scathing statement regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s veto of a bill that would have created a task force to address the fentanyl crisis.
The bill (A09348), sponsored by Michael Cusick (D-Staten Island) and cosponsored by Rebecca Seawright (D-Manhattan), Judy Griffin (D-Rockville Centre), Michael Tannousis (R,C-Staten Island/Brooklyn), and Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens), would have established a 16-member fentanyl abuse and overdose prevention task force to conduct a comprehensive study on the epidemic and how to stop it. The task force would then report its findings and recommendations. A state Senate version of the bill (S08516) was sponsored by Diane Savino (D-IP, Staten Island).
“The state Legislature agreed to act in a bipartisan manner to pass an important bill that would point New York in the right direction by creating a task force on the dangers of fentanyl,” said Brown. “Gov. Hochul’s veto of this crucial legislation yet again proves Albany’s ineffective and incompetent way of governing. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to remain united and override her veto.”