Latest news with #GeorgeBorrello
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
New York lawmakers approve bill allowing medically assisted suicide for terminally ill people
Terminally ill New Yorkers would have the legal ability to end their own lives with pharmaceutical drugs under a bill passed Monday in the state Legislature. The proposal, which now moves to the governor's office, would allow a person with an incurable illness to be prescribed life-ending drugs if he or she requests the medication and gets approval from two physicians. A spokesperson for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would review the legislation. The New York Senate gave final approval to the bill Monday night after hours of debate during which supporters said it would let terminally ill people die on their own terms. "It's not about hastening death, but ending suffering," said state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat who sponsored the proposal. Opponents have argued the state should instead improve end-of-life medical care or have objected on religious grounds. "We should not be in the business of state-authorized suicide," said state Sen. George Borrello, a Republican. The state Assembly passed the measure in late April. Details of the medical aid in dying bill The proposal requires that a terminally ill person who is expected to die within six month make a written request for the drugs. Two witnesses would have sign the request to ensure that the patient is not being coerced. The request would then have to be approved by the person's attending physician as well as a consulting physician. The legislation was first introduced in 2016, Hoylman-Sigal said, though it has stalled year after year in the New York statehouse. Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, which has opposed the measure, said "This is a dark day for New York State." Eleven other states and Washington, D.C., have laws allowing medically assisted suicide, according to Compassion & Choices, an advocacy organization that backs the policy. Corinne Carey, the group's local campaign director, said lawmakers had "recognized how important it is to give terminally ill New Yorkers the autonomy they deserve over their own end-of-life experiences." "The option of medical aid in dying provides comfort, allowing those who are dying to live their time more fully and peacefully until the end," said Carey.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
New York lawmakers approve bill that would allow medically assisted suicide for the terminally ill
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Terminally ill New Yorkers would have the legal ability to end their own lives with pharmaceutical drugs under a bill passed Monday in the state Legislature. The proposal, which now moves to the governor's office, would allow a person with an incurable illness to be prescribed life-ending drugs if he or she requests the medication and gets approval from two physicians. A spokesperson for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would review the legislation. The New York Senate gave final approval to the bill Monday night after hours of debate during which supporters said it would let terminally ill people die on their own terms. 'It's not about hastening death, but ending suffering,' said state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat who sponsored the proposal. Opponents have argued the state should instead improve end-of-life medical care or have objected on religious grounds. 'We should not be in the business of state-authorized suicide,' said state Sen. George Borrello, a Republican. The state Assembly passed the measure in late April. The proposal requires that a terminally ill person who is expected to die within six month make a written request for the drugs. Two witnesses would have sign the request to ensure that the patient is not being coerced. The request would then have to be approved by the person's attending physician as well as a consulting physician. The legislation was first introduced in 2016, Hoylman-Sigal said, though it has stalled year after year in the New York statehouse. Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, which has opposed the measure, said 'This is a dark day for New York State.' Eleven other states and Washington, D.C., have laws allowing medically assisted suicide, according to Compassion & Choices, an advocacy organization that backs the policy. Corinne Carey, the group's local campaign director, said lawmakers had 'recognized how important it is to give terminally ill New Yorkers the autonomy they deserve over their own end-of-life experiences.' 'The option of medical aid in dying provides comfort, allowing those who are dying to live their time more fully and peacefully until the end,' said Carey.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New bill to sell wine in grocery stores sparks debate
EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — New York grocery stores may soon be offering a new item on their shelves — wine. The state Senate recently proposed a new bill that could soon allow for the sale of wine in grocery stores across New York. Under current law, the sale of wine in grocery stores is prohibited. The bill, introduced by State Senator George Borrello (R-57), will allow for wine to be sold in grocery stores, but there is one catch. The bill calls to allow only wines that have been produced in the state or made with ingredients produced or grown in New York. Metallica brings in friends and fans from across North America to Westcott Theater's pop-up Syracuse Crunch playoff series set with Rochester Americans New bill to sell wine in grocery stores sparks debate Metallica fans ready to rock at the dome Ex-Cuomo aide settles with New York State 19 years of fermenting the perfect bottle right in house, Lakeland Winery owner, Andrew Watkins, has mastered 50 different wines in his small facility. However, Watkins says this new bill has him worried because he has 450 other competitors that could be fighting for a spot on the shelves. 'How many different wineries can a grocery store handle with the shelf space? Probably only the biggest wineries could be sold in those grocery stores, I definitely won't be allowed in,' Watkins said. Already running a very thin margin, Watkins said he believes if this bill is passed, it could put small wineries and liquor stores like his underwater. 'They're not going to go to our winery to buy it. They are not going to go to the liquor store to buy it. They're going to buy it there because it is the most convenient way to purchase it,' Watkins said. 'Even I got Thousand Islands, you'll see a lot more of just those ones in grocery stores, compared to seeing a couple more of the oddball tinier wineries and it might even hurt them and we might end up having less wineries in New York State,' Noah Curtis, manager at Pascale's Liquor Square said. With the possibility of a slim selection, some are arguing that this might not be as convenient as you think. Maybe not what you're looking for, so you're still going to have to go to a second store either way and even that there, as of right now, there are more liquor stores in the area than there are grocery stores. So if it causes other liquor stores to close, you'll see even less convenience,' Curtis said. The bill, as of Friday, is still in the State Senate committee. For the bill to pass, it would have to be passed by both the New York State Senate and the Assembly before heading to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New bill could allow for sale of wine at New York grocery stores
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A new bill recently introduced in the New York State Senate could soon allow for the sale of wine in grocery stores across New York State. The bill, introduced by State Senator George Borrello (R-57), states that wine can be sold in stores, but the wines would have to be produced in New York or made with ingredients produced or grown in the state. Under current law, the sale of wine in grocery stores is prohibited. Several different pieces of legislation have been proposed over the years, but none have passed. Liquor store owners have opposed the idea, fearing that it would hurt their businesses. 'To me, this is a compromise,' Borrello said. 'This is a compromise that recognizes the fact that we cannot hurt our small, independent retailers across New York state that would be devastated if all wines were sold in New York. At the same time, it will support New York-based wineries, and certainly our grape growers.' Tops supermarkets said that it would be in favor of the change, saying that it would 'further enhance [their] customers' shopping experience.' As of Thursday morning, the bill is still in the State Senate committee. It would have to be passed by both the New York State Senate and the Assembly before heading to Governor Kathy Hochul's desk to be signed into law. Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
