D Sen. Andrew Gounardes
Key Issues
From committee hearings, floor debate, and bill sponsorship.
Legislative Activity (2025–2026)
Based on complete Senate roll call records.
Top Co-Sponsors
District 26 Profile
Voter Registration
Demographics
Voting Record
From 1,443 recorded floor votes via OpenLeg API. Dissenting votes grouped by law section to reveal policy patterns.
Floor Speeches: In Support (11)
Commended the sponsor and noted that 75 percent of people with suspended licenses continue driving, making suspension alone insufficient to deter reckless behavior. He praised the bill as an example of families turning their loss into purpose through the Safe Streets movement.
Argued that rider representatives deserve full voting privileges to represent transit-dependent New Yorkers and that adding a disability community seat addresses critical accessibility challenges in the MTA system.
The sponsor argued the speed-limiting device requirement would save lives by preventing reckless drivers from speeding, citing the March death of Natasha Saada and her two daughters caused by a driver with 90 violations. He stated this approach is more effective than license suspension or fines.
Argued that frontier AI development poses significant risks that require government-mandated safety plans and guardrails. Cited leading AI scientists and company executives, including a recent op-ed from an Anthropic CEO, supporting the need for regulatory requirements and contingency plans to ensure the technology is used for public good rather than harmful purposes.
The loan is emergency assistance needed to prevent the City of Dunkirk from defaulting on $12 million in debt due in three weeks, which would be catastrophic for the region and state. The 7.5 percent interest rate is competitive given the city's poor financial condition and lack of bond rating; no private lender would offer better terms. The legislation includes oversight requirements tied to the Fiscal Recovery Act and allows interest rate reduction as the city improves.
Committee Hearing Engagement (3)
| Date | Committee | Engagement | Stance | Focus Areas | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-27 | Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee (Joint) | high | skeptical | IDA sales tax exemption reporting Tax expenditure analysis and evaluation Gold bullion exemption Charitable contribution deductions College credit and mortgage interest deductions Federal tax policy impacts Tax giveaways and revenue reclamation Capital gains taxation | Sen. Gounardes demonstrated deep engagement with tax policy details, questioning the necessity of IDA reporting requirements and exploring the rationale for various tax expenditures. He identified the gold bullion exemption ($600+ million) as a significant tax giveaway and sought data on who benefits from itemized deductions. He advocated for examining tax breaks as revenue sources and supported capital gains taxation proposals. |
| 2025-02-26 | New York State Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee | moderate | neutral | Brooklyn Marine Terminal redevelopment unspent economic development funds | Sen. Gounardes sought clarification on ESD's involvement with the Brooklyn Marine Terminal project and requested information on cumulative unspent economic development funds that could be repurposed. |
| 2025-02-25 | Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee (Joint) | moderate | skeptical | Opportunity Promise eligibility gaps Downstate Medical timeline CUNY transfer initiative | Sen. Gounardes expressed skepticism about the April 1st Downstate timeline and questioned whether all associate degree programs are eligible for the Opportunity Promise. |