Albany, NY - NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement in response to Democrat Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s comment that “I just don’t believe raising penalties is ever a deterrent on crime:”

“Carl Heastie’s comments illustrate the Democrats’ moral rot.

“A brave NYPD officer was just murdered in cold blood by a repeat felon previously arrested for gun possession. He should have been in jail and that officer and young father should still be alive. He would be if not for Democrats’ lenient bail and parole policies.”