With New York state lawmakers set to return to Albany next week, the leader of the Senate Republicans says he will not be on hand for the start of the session. In a statement Friday, Senator John Flanagan says he is seeking additional help to overcome a battle with alcohol dependency.
In 2017, Flanagan said he had completed a program to deal with the issue, which became a crutch to deal with pressure from his leadership role. Flanagan, of Long Island, led the Republican majority in the Senate, but Democrats wrested control from the GOP in November’s elections.
No man or woman is perfect, but it does not mean we all shouldn't strive for continuous and daily improvement," Flanagan said in the statement. "I will attempt to do that with every fiber in my body. I thank my friends and colleagues for their patience, for their love and for their understanding, and am very much looking forward to the upcoming legislative session. This brief period of time away is necessary for my overall well-being, but will in no way impact my ability to serve my conference or my constituents."
Flanagan says Deputy Minority Leader Joe Griffo will oversee the GOP conference in his absence.
