U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik speaks Thursday at the Dulles State Office Building in Watertown at a roundtable discussion about the state of broadband internet in the North Country. (Photo provided — Watertown Daily Times)

WATERTOWN — U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik said Thursday she has not decided whether she would support fellow Republican Rep. Christopher Collins’ bill to void the state’s SAFE Act restrictions on semiautomatic rifles and shotguns.

The bill does not address handgun restrictions, however. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has threatened to sue the federal government if the western New York congressman’s bill gets signed into law.

Stefanik, of Willsboro, is against the SAFE Act but said she will review the bill before making a decision in September.

“At first glance, I would support it, but I want to take the time to read the technical bill and the language,” she said.

On health care reform, Stefanik said she was disappointed the Senate GOP’s health care bill was voted down last month but is looking forward to a more bipartisan effort to fix the Affordable Care Act when lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., in September.

“In September you’re going to start seeing a coalition come together to go in a bipartisan direction because Democrats understand that this law is not working, that it’s collapsing on itself, and I just think we need to move the process forward,” she said.

Stefanik spoke on these topics while joining local officials in a roundtable discussion at the Dulles State Office Building in Watertown to talk about the state of broadband internet in the North Country.

[Editor’s note: Four daily newspapers in the North Country — the Enterprise, Post-Star of Glens Falls, Watertown Daily Times and Press-Republican of Plattsburgh — are sharing content to better cover New York’s 21st Congressional District.]