This weekend on In Focus, JoDee Kenney heads to the Rochester area and New York’s 25^th Congressional District to spend a day with Rep. Joe Morelle.

Before he was elected to succeed the late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter in 2018, Morelle served for nearly three decades in the New York State Assembly; his last five as leader of the Democratic Majority. Born in Utica, and growing up in Irondequoit, Morelle began his political career in the Monroe County Legislature.

JoDee sat down with Morelle at his district office in Rochester, for a wide-ranging interview on several topics at the local and national level. Morelle said working across the aisle to advance legislation is proving more difficult amid a deep political divide. The congressman also called into question what he called “awful” decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, including a ruling that expanded presidential immunity. Rep. Morelle said he supports an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to bring presidential power back in check. On President Joe Biden’s decision to not seek a second term, Morelle said the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris for president, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, has injected energy into the election.

Morelle discussed some of the policies he supports to boost economic growth in the Rochester area and across upstate New York. That includes the establishment of regional tech hubs, that Morelle hopes will bring additional federal and private investment. Just as important, he said, is an investment in families struggling to make ends meet. Morelle said controlling costs and inflation, providing for meal programs and career training, all combine to lift people out of poverty.

In 2017, Lauren Morelle died after an 18-month battle with advanced breast cancer, which she chronicled on social media using her platform to raise awareness. Congressman Morelle opened up about the loss of his daughter, and said her legacy drives his passion to support programs, policies and legislation aimed at controlling drug costs for all Americans and further the efforts of the Cancer Moonshot to find a cure.

JoDee Kenney joined Congressman Morelle as he made his way across the district, beginning with a stop at Joe Bean Coffee Roasters in Rochester. On a tour of the facility, co-founder Kathy Turiano explained not only the process involved in bringing beans to brew, but also shared some of the challenges the company faces as a small business. In addition to rising operational costs, Joe Bean also navigates a complex supply chain as it sources its coffee from across the globe. Morelle said he will continue to support legislation to help small businesses that he said take enormous risks to bring their products to the marketplace. Congressman Morelle then headed about 15 minutes south of the City of Rochester, to the Henrietta Senior Center. Those gathered for lunch, shared their opinions and concerns on everything from social security and taxes to medication pricing. Morelle said listening sessions, like this one, offer an opportunity to learn what’s most important to the people of the 25^th Congressional District as he works to support them on Capitol Hill.

You can watch the full interview in the video player above. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting upstate New York, on In Focus with JoDee Kenney every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.