December 4, 2009
Dear Editor:
Across New York, taxpayers are angry like never before because state government is not working for
them. In light of the state's $3.2 billion budget deficit, 26-year high unemployment and
deteriorating fiscal condition, taxpayers should be angry at Albany's broken status quo.
Our Assembly Minority Conference has repeatedly sounded an alarm bell about the coming fiscal
tsunami that has swamped state finances. Every Member of our Conference voted against the 2009-10
State Budget, which contained $8.2 billion in job-killing tax and fee hikes, along with a reckless
hike in government spending of nearly 10 percent. We said then, and were proven correct, that a
bad budget would explode the state's deficit.
Governor Paterson called the state Legislature back into special session on November 9 to address
this shortfall. Unfortunately, political infighting between the Governor and the Majorities in the
Assembly and Senate forced legislators to sit idle for the better part of four weeks as gridlock
ruled and no Deficit Reduction Plan (DRP) received an up or down vote. A great deal of time and,
more importantly, taxpayer money was wasted until the gridlock was broken Wednesday and a DRP
finally enacted.
The DRP was long overdue and, frankly, could have been done months ago. The DRP's cost-savings did
not go far enough and it was $500 million short of the state's $3.2 billion budget deficit.
Especially troubling was the DRP's reliance of federal school aid funds that were supposed to be
utilized next year. Sadly, this is just the latest in a long line of Albany's fiscal shell games.
Without question, more must be done to restore New York's fiscal health. We still need real,
substantive spending reductions including state agency consolidations, a ban on unfunded mandates
and lifting the crushing financial burden on localities and school districts. New York still needs
a property tax cap and state spending cap, and further Medicaid reform to protect taxpayers. Our
Conference has led the fight on these issues and will continue working to reform our state so it's
the more affordable place to live, work and raise a family that New Yorkers deserve.
Sincerely,
Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Minority Leader
REPLY TO:
Room 933, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248, (518) 455-3751, Fax (518) 455-3750
District Office: 607 W. Washington St, Suite #2, Geneva, NY 14456, (315) 781-2030, Fax (315) 781-1746
