Nick Langworthy

Congressman Nick Langworthy has introduced legislation to prevent New York State from clawing back federal funds meant for counties.

The “Protect Local Taxpayers Act” is in response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s Budget Proposal that would claw back $625 million in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funds that have been designated to counties since 2011. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) and Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22) are co-sponsors of this bill.

The act will prevent state governments from further shifting state Medicaid expenses onto local county governments.

New York’s per capita spending on Medicaid is the highest in the U.S. and more than double the national average. The county share of Medicaid is currently $7.6 billion per year and, if Hochul’s plan moves forward, Langworthy said counties in the 23rd congressional district will face a budget shortfall in the tens of millions. The impact to Chautauqua County would be $4 million.

Langworthy said in a statement, “These federal funds are dedicated specifically to help cover local government’s costs, not to be used for Kathy Hochul’s slush fund.” He added, “We need to stand up in Congress and tell the Governor she can’t raid these federal funds.”

Joe Sempolinski, Nick Langworthy

Congressman Joe Sempolinski said Nick Langworthy is a good fit for the new 23rd Congressional District.

Sempolinski said being a former Congressional District Director is the best preparation someone can have to becoming a member of Congress, “And one thing Mr. Langworthy and I have in common is he is a former Congressional District Director. He has worked in that capacity for previous members of Congress and I think that will put him into be doing a job that is focused on the people of the new 23rd district.”

Sempolinski, who is representing the current 23rd Congressional District, said he’s been in contact with two members-elect and the sitting member whose new districts overlap with the old 23rd district, “Nick (Langworthy) will be responsible for six of the counties that I currently represent. Claudia Tenney will be responsible for three of them and Marc Molinaro will be responsible for two. And these are all people I have a great relationship with. They’re all people I’ve know for years. They’re all people I have a good line of communication with and they’re all people we’ve been discussing constituent issues. We’ve been discussing transition issues.”

Sempolinski credited Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin‘s strong campaign as to why Republican Congressional candidates had success at the polls, leading to seven new representatives from the Republican party joining the four Republican incumbents who won re-election in New York State.

Tom Reed

Congressman Tom Reed has announced his resignation, effective immediately.

Reed made a statement on the House of Representatives floor Tuesday, saying, “After almost 12 years in Congress, today is my last day. It has been an honor to serve with you all from both parties. I love this institution as it still exemplifies what is best about our government, we are the People’s house. While I am proud that we put people before politics, there is much more to do. I am leaving to continue that work and hope to have a greater impact on our Country.”

Reed is taking a lobbying job at Prime Policy Group.

Under a state law that was enacted in 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul is now obligated to call special elections whenever a member of Congress leaves office before July 1 in an election year. She have 10 days to issue a proclamation calling a contest to be held 70 to 80 days later.

If Hochul receives formal notification of Reed’s departure on Wednesday, that would place the date for a special for his seat somewhere between July 20 and August 8. New York is currently slated to hold some of its primaries on June 28, and others – including those for 26 the yet-to-redrawn congressional seats — on August 23.

State Senator George Borrello confirmed he is exploring options on whether to run for the special election. Borrello was just one 25 Republican legislators in the nation just named part of the “2022 Class of Emerging Leaders” by the United States GOPAC.

Reed’s former staffer, Joe Sempolinski of Canisteo, has already put his name forward as a candidate for the special election.

Sempolinski is the current Chairman of the Steuben County Republican Committee. He also currently lives in the district unlike Representative Claudia Tenney who has submitted petitions to run for the Congressional seat. She currently lives in Utica. The Buffalo News reports Tenney and her aides have not commented about whether she would want to run in the special election in the 23rd district.

Brent Sheldon

The head of the Jamestown Republican Committee said he was “shocked” to hear the news Tom Reed was stepping down.

Jamestown City Council member and City GOP chairman Brent Sheldon said it was sad and disappointing to find out Reed would be leaving office sooner than expected, “Pretty close to Tom Reed. Good friends with him, I would say. I was shocked by the news that he was resigning and not going to be able to finish out his term which he said he would do. He had announced he wasn’t going to be running so he hadn’t circulated petitions to continue serving after the end of this year so it’s sad and disappointing that he won’t be there anymore.”

Sheldon also said he’s not certain now long the area will be without a representative in Washington, but feels there will be someone in place representing the current 23rd district prior to the November general elections, “It’s a sad situation that we won’t have a representative there. It is possible that the Governor will call a special election to fill the term through the end of the year that could be held on the primary date but the Congressional primaries have been pushed to August according to the judge so, I don’t know. A lot of unknowns at this point I guess.”

Sheldon added that he helped to circulate petitions for Claudia Tenney to get her name on the ballot under the district boundaries that were eventually declared unconstitutional by the court. He said until all candidates are known for a special election, he’ll hold off throwing his support behind anyone at the moment.

The endorsement was part of the committee’s endorsements for the November General Elections.
State Senator George Borrello received the endorsement to run for re-election in the 58th Senate District. Assemblyman Andy Goodell is the endorsed candidate for the 150th Assembly District. And Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone had been endorsed to run for re-election.

Jonathan Penhollow also was endorsed to run for County Legislative District 7. He is currently representing that district following the resignation of Mark Odell in July.