Because so many people registered to participate in its three virtual sessions, New York’s Department of Labor this week added an additional public hearing to its Farm Laborer Wage Board schedule for Friday, January 28, at 2 p.m.
The three-member board is considering the existing 60-hour-per-week overtime threshold for farm workers in New York State “and the extent to which the overtime work threshold may be lowered.” Some worker advocate groups want the threshold dropped to 40 hours per week; farm advocates are pushing back vigorously to keep the bar at its current 60 hours per week.
Otsego County farmers and their representatives wait anxiously as New York’s Department of Labor inches toward establishing its overtime work threshold for farm workers across the state — a decision that could come soon.
Assemblyman Chris Tague (R), whose district includes a broad swath of the county and a former dairy farmer himself, isn’t optimistic about the outcome.
“I was disappointed when I listened to Governor Hochul’s State of the State message last week,” he said. “When she started talking about increasing tax credits for farmers to offset operating costs, to me, that was a private message that the Wage Board will drop the overtime threshold.”
From left to right: Sen. Jamaal Bailey (SD-36), Sen. George Borrello (SD-57), New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Richard Ball, Sen. Michelle Hinchey (SD46), Assemblyman Chris Tague (R,C,I-Schoharie), Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (D-Queens), Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda (SD-32) and others gather for the signing of the Nourish New York bill into law.
Assemblyman Chris Tague joined Gov. Kathy Hochul, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Richard Ball, and a bipartisan group of legislators Saturday in Corona, Queens as the governor signed the Nourish New York bill into law. Nourish New York connects rural farmers with excess product to food banks in need throughout the state through a state-operated purchasing program, providing fresh foods from New York farms to families.
Assemblyman John Salka, R-121, brought his proposed bail-reform repeal plan to Otsego County this morning, with a press conference in the lobby of the county jail. His bill, introduced earlier this month, would repeal the Democratic majority’s controversial bail reforms of 2019. “This law set up a revolving door of justice,” he said. “But this bill doesn’t allow that to happen.” With him, from left, are Assemblyman Chris Tague, R-Schoharie, who represents the county’s eastern towns, Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr., and Republican 51st District state Senate candidate Peter Oberacker, Schenevus. Oberacker repeated that, if elected Nov. 3, he will introduce companion legislation in the state Senate on Jan. 1. (Libby Cudmore/AllOTSEGO.com)
A visibly pleased state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, above, who announced last week he will retire at the end of the year after 34 years representing Otsego County in Albany, receives a standing ovation from the 140 attendees at the Otsego Chamber’s State of the State Luncheon today at SUNY Oneonta’s Morris Hall. He is flanked by Congressman Antonio Delgado, D-19, right, and Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield. Insert, left, Assemblyman Chris Tague, R-Schoharie, gave a thundering address after soliciting from the audience three reasons why people are leaving Upstate New York: High taxes, over regulation and no jobs. “Let’s address these three issues and bring people back to New York State,” said Tague, a leading Republican prospect to succeed Seward; he would face Jim Barber, a Schoharie farmer, who has won Democratic backing. “I’d have big shoes to fill,” said Tague, then reported his shoe size as 14 1/2, triple E. Seward said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back next year.” He won’t be at the head table, he said, “I’ll be in the audience with you, asking tough questions.” Also speaking were Mayors Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch of Cooperstown and Gary Herzig of Oneonta. (Jim Kevin/AllOTSEGO.com)
SCHOHARIE – Chris Tague, Schoharie, 21-month assemblyman in the 102nd District, plans to decide by the end of the week whether he will seeking to succeed state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, in the 51st District.
Calling Seward “a dear friend,” he said he was “distressed by the news” that the 35-year senator has decided not to run again as he continues to recuperate from a cancer diagnosis.
“The most important thing right now is Senator Seward’s health,” he said. “People really know what a great senator he has been.”
Nonetheless, he said in an interview Tuesday, Jan. 21, that he’s “very humbled” by support he’s been receiving from county chairman in the nine-county district, and he is consulting with family and friends before making a final decision “late this week.”
Otsego County Republican chairman Vince Casale said he would support a Tague candidacy. “Chris bring enthusiasm, vigor, all the things you need to be a successful candidate – or representative,” he said.
If Tague decides not to go forward, Casale ticked off three potential candidates from the county board: chairman Dave Bliss, vice chairman Meg Kennedy and the Schenevus representative, Peter Oberacker. “All of them would be good candidates,” he said.
Amy Swan wasn’t immediately available on this matter, but Casale pointed out Oneonta’s Dan Buttermann is seeking an Assembly seat (vs. incumbent Republican John Salka) as a stepping stone to the Senate; perhaps he would go for it directly.
Other leading local Democrats who have the statue to run include two mayors, Oneonta’s Gary Herzig and Cooperstown’s Ellen Tillapaugh Kuch, as well as Tillapaugh’s predecessor, Jeff Katz. (In an email exchange, former Oneonta Mayor John Nader said he’s fully committed to his current position, president of SUNY Farmingdale on Long Island.)
A contested campaign would cost in the neighborhood of $1 million, Casale estimated. “It would be 10 years before it’s open again,” he said.
Tague, while not an Otsego County resident – Seward is a county native – represents four towns in the county: Cherry Valley, Roseboom, Decatur and Worcester.
The 51st District encompasses three counties – Otsego, Schoharie and Cortland – plus pieces of Tompkins, Herkimer, Chenango, Cayuga, Delaware and Ulster counties.
Chris Tague joined the Assembly after a special election April 24, 2018, succeeding Republican Pete Lopez, whom Donald Trump had appointed regional administrator of the EPA.
Elected to a full term that November, he created a bit of a splash New Year’s Day 2019 when he took two vows in SUNY Cobleskill’s Bouck Hall, the first as an assemblymen, than marriage vows with Dana Buzon of Schoharie, his significant other for eight years.
The biography on his website pledged Tague is focusing on “key issues that affect his constituents: access to broadband internet, reducing taxes, providing support for local farmers, and fixing Upstate’s failing infrastructure.”
On graduating in 1987 from Schoharie Central School, where he was student council president, he became a dairy farmer, growing his herd from 25 to 75 cows.
He sold the farm in 1992, joining Cobleskill Stone Products as a laborer, soon winning promotion to foreman, rising to general manager of the entire operation, where he worked until his election to the Assembly.
