Paid For By Rensselaer County Republican Committee
P.O. Box 686 | Troy, NY 12181
Phone: 518-272-2111| Email: mail@rengop.com
P.O. Box 686 | Troy, NY 12181
Phone: 518-272-2111| Email: mail@rengop.com
Rensselaer County turns to the future—computer technology.
As a legislative priority, he has highlighted the state's economy and has concentrated his efforts on ways to stimulate economic development, make New York more competitive with other states and create jobs, particularly in the areas of high technology and biotechnology.
Working with Governor George Pataki, Senator Bruno has helped lead the effort to cut state taxes and to boost the state's investment in economic development and job creation.
In 2002, Senator Bruno created the Gen*NY*sis program that invested more than $225 million in capital funds in biotechnology research and development. Gen*NY*sis represents the most significant investment in biotechnology in the state's history. Working with world-class research institutions, hospitals and universities, Gen*NY*sis provided funding to build state of the art research and development facilities and leverage additional federal and private investments of more than $1 billion and create thousands of new high-skilled and high-wage jobs throughout the state.
Senator Bruno also created the $20 million JOBS NOW fund to help make New York more economically competitive with other states. This fund targets financial assistance to those companies that commit to creating at least 300 new jobs. He also initiated the state's Jobs 2000 or "J2K" plan to encourage new high technology research and development in New York to build the foundation for the state's high tech economy in the new century.
Senator Bruno has also lead the fight to reform the state budget process in an effort to end late state budgets. Under his leadership, the Senate has passed comprehensive budget reform measures for over a decade and pushed to get the Assembly to pass budget reform legislation that would fix the process and ensure that a new budget is in place on time, every year.
Under Senator Bruno's leadership, New York State enacted the Senate-sponsored College Savings Program in 1997 to help families save for higher education. The program has become one of the most popular college savings programs in the nation. In addition, Senator Bruno successfully fought for "College Bound." College Bound made New York one of the first states in the nation to allow for the deduction of tuition expenses from state taxes.
Senator Bruno also led the effort to expand and improve the state's EPIC program to enable more senior citizens to save money on prescription medications. When the expanded eligibility and benefits were implemented, applications for the program quadrupled.
While calling for an increase in personal responsibility, Senator Bruno worked with Governor Pataki on historic welfare reforms including the establishment of learnfare and workfare programs which emphasize people leaving welfare for work. Since these reforms have been in place, the state's welfare rolls have decreased dramatically, reaching the lowest level in thirty years.
Senator Bruno has also put in place many legislative reforms including the creation of joint legislative conference committees which have successfully resolved issues such as small cities school district budget voting, the creation of a pesticide use registry for breast cancer research and requiring insurance coverage for a 48 hour hospital stay for maternity. In addition, he instituted the practice of publicly releasing legislative expenditure reports which detail legislative spending and placing the audio and video broadcast of Senate sessions on the Internet, as well as on cable television. Senator Bruno, along with other members of the Majority Conference have also worked to institute legislative reforms to open up the legislative process and make it more efficient.
In addition to initiating statewide programs and legislation, Senator Bruno has been instrumental in securing more than a quarter of a billion dollars in state investment for the Capital Region. This includes funding for the renovation and expansion of the Albany International Airport, the Rensselaer train station, the Albany Institute of History and Art, the revitalization of historical buildings in Troy, improvements at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, as well as many other programs related to economic development, education, the arts, culture and recreation and health care.
In 1977, Senator Bruno was appointed Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on the Impact of Taxes on Small Business. The subcommittee held several hearings in various parts of the state, and received input from numerous small business operators who were struggling to fight inflationary times-both as business people and as residents of New York State. Subsequently, Senator Bruno introduced a number of bills which directly affected various aspects of New York's Tax Laws.
In 1978, Senator Bruno was named Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Consumer Protection. The Committee not only produces legislation designed to protect consumers from fraudulent business practices, but strives to untangle and eliminate costly government overregulation which increases the cost of products and services for New Yorkers. Some of the most important measures to come out of the Committee under Senator Bruno's leadership have included the Motor Vehicle Warranty Replacement or Refund Act, commonly referred to as the "Lemon Law," and the "private right of action" legislation authorizing private citizens to file suit against any firm engaged in false advertising or deceptive business practices.
In 1984, Senator Bruno was named Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Insurance. Senator Bruno's first year as Chairman saw New York in the grips of the "Liability Insurance Crisis." Little Leagues and horse races were canceled and many schools, companies, cities, towns, and villages were forced to curtail activities because of the crisis. Senator Bruno drafted legislation that, among other things, prohibits mid-term cancellations, requires a 60-day notice of non-renewal, and provides that a judge may fine a plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney if they proceed with a suit that has been deemed frivolous.
In 1986, Senator Bruno was named Vice Chairman of the Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Management. As Vice Chairman Senator Bruno proposed several pieces of legislation to help communities across the state deal with the ever-increasing problem of solid waste disposal. He was instrumental in developing "The Solid Waste Management Act of 1988," which lays the groundwork for state and local government and private industry efforts to institute a waste management approach that emphasizes reduction, recycling and reuse, followed by environmentally sound disposal programs.
In 1989, Senator Bruno was named Chairman of the Legislative Commission on Public-Private Cooperation. As Chairman, he was a leader in the fight to control government costs, increase government accountability, reduce costly state mandates, open up the budget process, end rent-regulation subsidies for the wealthy, increase New York's energy independence, and preserve the multi-billion dollar tax cut adopted in 1987.
In 1989, Senator Bruno was named Chairman of the Senate Elections Committee. In that capacity, he was instrumental in the 1991 passage of state election law reform legislation that expanded avenues for voter registration and relieved localities of some of the mandated duties and associated costs involved in the administration of the electoral process. Senator Bruno also sponsored the "Election Reform Act of 1992," which contained provisions to make it easier for New York State citizens to register to vote and run for public office.
In 1993, Senator Bruno was appointed Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee. As Chairman, he initiated and sponsored legislation that became the centerpiece of the Senate's 1994 business tax-cut package. In recognition of his efforts to enhance the state's business climate, Senator Bruno was named the first recipient of the "Champion for Industry Award" by the Upstate New York Roundtable on Manufacturing.
Senator Bruno, a businessman, was born in Glens Falls, N.Y., on April 8, 1929, and is a graduate of St. Mary's Academy in that city. The Senator holds a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Skidmore College and served in the Korean conflict as an infantry sergeant. Since 1964, he has been listed in the publication "Who's Who for Young Men in America," has served as Vice-President of the New York State Jaycees, and in 1964 was named by that organization as one of the five "Outstanding Young Men of the State." He is currently listed in "Who's Who in American Politics."
In 1966, Mr. Bruno was on the campaign staff of Governor Nelson Rockefeller and from 1969 to 1974 he served as Special Assistant to Speaker of the Assembly Perry B. Duryea. From 1968 to 1969, he was President of the New York State Association of Young Republicans. He also served as Chairman of the Rensselaer County Republican Committee from 1974 to 1977.
Senator Bruno and his wife, the former Barbara Frasier, have four children, Joseph, Susan, Kenneth and Catherine, and reside in the Town of Brunswick in Rensselaer County.
As the Temporary President of the Senate, Senator Bruno is Chairman of the Rules Committee and an ex officio member of all Senate standing committees and statutory commissions.