Niagara Gazette Bob Confer

CONFER: Time to end the NFL’s blackout rule

2012-02-06T21:41:36-05:00

Long ago, in a much simpler time, ticket sales accounted for the majority of revenues for professional football teams.

CONFER: Federal spending derailed by Amtrak

2012-01-30T23:38:40-05:00

We’ve been inundated with news reports about the fiscal woes of the U.S. Postal Service. Why is it that we never hear anything about another federal enterprise facing ongoing losses -- Amtrak?

CONFER: Sifting through the hydrofracking propaganda

2012-01-23T22:10:20-05:00

Hydrofracking ranks among the most contentious issues in New York. For each person clamoring for the jobs and economic development it will bring to the Empire State, there’s another who strongly opposes the method of natural gas extraction for its potential to damage the environment.

CONFER: Unexpected sights in the wilds of Niagara

2012-01-16T19:01:18-05:00

In recent years, local residents have had the chance to witness some interesting animals within our borders. Among those that generated the most press and most talk were the black bears that frequented the area for a couple of months.

CONFER: On 911, Upstate, payroll taxes

2011-12-27T00:21:40-05:00

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul’s ALERT ACT has been welcomed with open arms by many people in her district, including my friend Scott Leffler who addressed it in his column last week. He supports the Act in entirety. I, on the other hand, can’t do the same.

CONFER: Presenting an alternative to war

2011-12-13T00:02:41-05:00

Last week I was the guest on Don Griffin’s “Second Opinion” on KJSL in St. Louis. The topic of discussion was a 2009 column I wrote about a part of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal.

CONFER: Wage Theft Act: More paperwork for businesses

2011-11-29T00:03:01-05:00

Business owners and managers like to spend their time doing productive things that make them, their company, their co-workers and their clients better.

CONFER: Libya is no better off — maybe its worse

2011-11-15T00:04:39-05:00

All of the major news outlets, and therefore most U.S. citizens, were downright giddy over the uprising — and NATO intervention — in Libya. Thinking it was some sort of feel-good story, an extension of the Arab Spring, they reveled in the toppling of Gadhafi and threw unyielding support behind the rebel forces.

CONFER: Government encroaching on parental rights

2011-11-07T21:52:19-05:00

Once the government has its foot in the door through the federally sponsored Home Visiting Program, it will have carte blanche to manage all facets of child care.

Time to occupy Ralph Wilson Stadium

2011-10-24T22:56:15-04:00

Most Americans can identify, in part, with the ideals of the Occupy Wall Street movement. What probably resonates most with the majority, regardless of “right” or “left” tendencies, is the basic concept that our government should not be in the business of business.