New York State Assembly

For too long, financial and regulatory pressures on New York's families and businesses have driven people out of the state and stifled job creation. The right approach in the 2014-2015 budget process can help us create jobs, put more money into the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers, bolster our education and healthcare systems, and build a better New York.

As we move forward in budget deliberations, we will take a long look at the proposals offered today and discuss additional measures that can provide sustained economic benefits across the state.

• Unfunded mandates drive up local property taxes, and it's time to end Albany's pattern of forcing expenses on municipalities without offering a financial remedy. We need sweeping legislation that eliminates any new mandates.
• We need to consider measures that go further than the proposals offered by the Pataki/McCall Tax Relief Commission, including making permanent the Middle Class Income Tax Cut.
• Education reform is critical, but in addition to re-evaluating the Common Core Standards, we must substantially restore the Gap Elimination Adjustment to provide critical financial assistance to school districts that annually face teacher layoffs and program cuts.
• Establishing taxpayer-funded financing of campaigns does nothing to stop corruption, as we have seen repeatedly in New York City. The public's money should not be used to subsidize a political welfare program.

The Governor outlined a number of general themes in his Executive Budget Proposal that should appeal to New Yorkers, including: property tax relief, increased education aid, and a re-evaluation of Common Core. But the devil is in the details. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in the Assembly to enact a responsible, on-time budget that alleviates the financial burdens on New York State's families and businesses.