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
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For Release: IMMEDIATELY, , January 10, 2014
Contact: Emily Palumbos, (315) 781-2030
Missing The Mark On Mandates
Legislative column from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua)

The Governor delivered his 2014 State of the State Address on Wednesday, one where he spent substantial time noting accomplishments of the past. What you didn't hear, however, was much attention given to the present reality that must be dealt with: New Yorkers pay the highest taxes in the nation, our businesses operate in America's most oppressive tax and regulatory environment, and we continue to lose more of our population to states that offer a clearer path to prosperity.

NEW YORK'S 2014 AGENDA MUST INCLUDE MANDATE RELIEF

Putting more money into the pockets of taxpayers, allowing local governments to provide high-quality services, and improving the overall health of our communities must start with reducing expenditures at the local level. When costs are forced on a municipality, residents pay the price in escalating property taxes.

Consider: Since 2001, the Assembly has passed 140 unfunded mandates totaling $93.7 billion. As a result, property taxes per household have increased by an average of 73 percent (or $2,114) in the past 10 years. It's time to end the cycle.

The Governor got it wrong to suggest it is the number of governments that drive up property taxes. In reality, it's the amount of money they're being forced to spend on Albany's mandates. I will continue to fight for these mandate relief solutions in the upcoming session:

  • "Taxpayer Protection and Mandate Relief Act" (A.6546, Kolb) prohibits any new unfunded mandates; freezes county Medicaid costs at their current level; allows counties to opt out of optional Medicaid services; caps state spending; and
  • "New York State Mandate Relief for School Districts Act" (A.4972, Kolb) provides comprehensive mandate relief for school districts; ensures the retention of quality teachers; disciplines tenured teachers; reviews special education requirements.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to not recognizing the mandate relief issue, the Governor also failed to address two of the largest policy debates the state is facing - the Common Core testing standards and hydrofracking in the Southern Tier.

The Common Core standards, subsequent curriculum based on them, and their implementation has raised the alarm of countless parents, teachers, administrators, education advocates and elected officials, yet the Governor offered no plan to address their shortcomings. Assembly Minority members held 11 public forums in every region of the state to hear concerns associated with the standards, and there was no shortage of opinion or emotion on student data mining, over-testing and the flawed implementation of Common Core. It is irresponsible to set this year's agenda without this in mind.

It's hard to imagine a new economic agenda for Upstate New York without a reference to hydrofracking in the Southern Tier, but that's what was delivered this week. Years have passed debating the merits of hydrofracking, and the Governor has taken a bob-and-weave approach to making a decision. Residents, businesses and stakeholders deserve more than empty statements about a process. They need a leader who will provide them with a plan and direction. Right now, New Yorkers have neither.

As we look forward to the New Year, I urge the Governor, and all elected officials, to take a people-centered approach. If we work together and focus on reducing the cost of living and working in New York, we all win.

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 email me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us.