News from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Office:
933 Legislative Office Building • Albany, NY 12248 • (518) 455-3751
District Offices:
607 West Washington Street • Suite 2 • Geneva, NY 14456 • (315) 781-2030
E-mail:

For Release: IMMEDIATELY, May 31, 2013
Contact: Doug Finch, (315) 781-2030
Feedback From The Finger Lakes
Helps Guide My End Of Session To-Do List
Legislative column from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua)

As part of my ongoing commitment to representing the residents of the 131st Assembly District, I asked New Yorkers to share their thoughts and opinions on state government - men and women from families just like yours. First and foremost, I would like to offer a big Thank You to all who participated in my survey. With hundreds of responses, it was gratifying to see how many of my neighbors are truly interested in making our community and state a better place. I received a lot of inspiration and great ideas from the survey participants and I have spent this legislative session advocating for the issues that are most important to our area and the entire Finger Lakes region.

TOP ISSUES FOR FINGER LAKES RESIDENTS: CUTTING SPENDING, REDUCING COSTS AND GOVERNMENT REFORM

One of my survey questions was, 'What Matters to You?' I asked New Yorkers, including residents in the Finger Lakes region, to identify and share the public policy issues that are most relevant to them and their families. The top three issues on the minds of New Yorkers are: cutting wasteful spending, reducing costs on hard-working families and reforming government.

Though they live hours away from the Capitol building, Finger Lakes residents certainly have the right prescription for fixing Albany. That's why I have developed legislation that addresses those concerns.

My "Taxpayer Protection and Mandate Relief Act" (A.6546, Kolb) focuses on cutting wasteful spending by enacting a state spending cap and reduces costs by prohibiting any new, expensive unfunded mandates, freezing county Medicaid costs at their current level and providing counties with financial flexibility by allowing them to opt out of optional Medicaid services.

ELIMINATING UNFUNDED MANDATES IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR LOCAL TAXPAYERS

New Yorkers also spoke out loud and clear on the issue of unfunded mandates. In the survey, more than eight times as many respondents supported the elimination of all unfunded mandates imposed by Albany than believed that local governments should be stuck paying the bill on these state government expenses.

Reducing unfunded mandates - the practice of Albany creating a program or service and requiring local governments or school districts to pick up the tab for its implementation - is at the heart of additional legislation I have proposed.

Another measure that would provide relief from unfunded mandates and enable our school districts to use tax dollars wisely is my "New York State Mandate Relief for School Districts Act" (A.4972, Kolb). This legislation would reform government by providing comprehensive mandate relief for school districts, ensuring the retention of quality teachers and enabling school districts to better use their limited resources.

THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY AUTHORITY - POSTER CHILD FOR A STATE GOVERNMENT IN NEED OF REFORM

After reducing taxes and eliminating nuisance fees and surcharges, stopping the proposed Thruway Authority toll hike was listed by survey participants as one of the best ways to make our state a more affordable place for families. I was proud to join with farmers, small business owners and folks from around the state last year to stand against this job-killing toll increase. After months of our phone calls, letters and emails, the toll hike was taken off of the table, but quite frankly, the Thruway Authority is still broken. My "Thruway Authority Accountability Act" (A.2088, Kolb) would restore accountability, increase efficiency and save taxpayer dollars by making structural reforms and statutory changes to the Thruway Authority.

BOTTOM LINE - IT IS TIME TO REFORM NEW YORK

I agree with families in my district, the key to keeping New Yorkers from leaving the state is to lower their taxes by capping state spending, reforming our government and putting a stop to unfunded mandates from Albany. Taking these actions to reform state government will result in a fair tax rate on upstate homeowners and small businesses.

Another one of my priorities - an issue on the minds of New Yorkers - is eliminating corruption. Taxpayers deserve integrity, accountability and greater transparency from their elected officials in state government. I am proud that the Minority Conference has unanimously sponsored the "Public Officers Accountability Act of 2013" (A.5172A. 7393, Kolb), which proposes a number of new crimes, penalties and measures to restore the confidence of people in their government. Only a few weeks of session remain. Lawmakers in Albany must work together to end corruption and pass these common-sense measures to make our state a better place to work, live and raise a family.

What do you think? I want to hear from you. Send me your feedback, suggestions and ideas regarding this or any other issue facing New York State. You can always contact my district office at (315) 781-2030 or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us.