Area Elected Officials React to Cuomo’s Proposed State Budget
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo put forth a budget plan demanding more money toward schools and roads, as well as stronger ethics laws after a year that was rocked by scandal at the state capitol.
The Democratic governor proposed a $145 billion spending plan last week during his annual State of the State address. The fiscal plan for 2016-17 commits a 4.3 percent increase to school aid, equating to $24.2 billion and $22 billion over five years for upstate roads and bridges. Additionally, $300 million would go toward small business cuts and invest $125 million in state parks.
There is also a $20 million consolidation competition for local municipalities, Cuomo’s budget noted, and he vowed to put back $443 million in school aid that was cut during the recession over a two-year span.
Concerning tougher ethics laws for state lawmakers, Cuomo wants to cap how much a state legislator can earn outside the job. He proposed limiting a lawmaker’s outside income to 15 percent of their base salary, which is $79,500 each year. He also wants to end loopholes that let corporations get around campaign finance laws.
State lawmakers need to sign off on the budget by March 30.
New York State Assemblywoman Sandy Galef (D/Ossining) called Cuomo’s plan “ambitious” and was happy to hear about his investment in infrastructure and an increase of almost $1 billion in education aid. Cuomo’s focus on tourism also piqued Galef’s interest.
“I thought it was a good and very progressive and ambitious agenda,” Galef said.
But Galef thought the 15 percent pay cap connected to ethics laws was too limited for lawmakers to earn, noting congressmen also have that 15 percent pay cap, but make more than money. Galef, a full-time lawmaker, thinks that proposal will have a hard time passing.
“We need to do a lot of different things up in Albany,” Galef said. “Some of it is transparency so people know what’s happening and through transparency you can stop bad things.”
In stark contrast, New York State Assemblyman Steve Katz (R/Mohegan Lake) blasted Cuomo’s speech, calling the State of the State “nothing more than a political laundry list of things they’d like to do.”
Katz said once again the most important aspect missing, especially at the local level, was unfunded mandate relief. He was “disgusted” by the proposals put forth and said it was “business as usual.”
While Cuomo presented tougher ethics reform, Katz doubts it’ll ever get passed and anything that does would be “toothless” and full of loopholes so legislators could continue corruption at the capitol.
“He did not put a big emphasis on ethics reform because he is not an ethical man, why would he do that,” Katz said. “That’s not a high priority for him.”
Although big money is being thrown at New York City and upstate areas like Buffalo, Katz said the Hudson Valley continues to be shortchanged.
He said the budget would remain how it usually does because it lacks innovative means of bringing in revenue. Katz stressed the only way to increase funding in New York is by raising taxes, fees on businesses, and higher penalties.
“He wants to spend to show that he’s true to his ultra-liberal tax and spend roots,” Katz said. “Make the state great with other people’s money.”
In a statement, State Senator Terrence Murphy (R/Yorktown) said he wants to see “critical dollars” delivered to local schools and restore Gap Elimination Adjustment cuts this legislative session. He also called for “real incentives” to create jobs in the state.
“Whether through needed infrastructure projects, such as the Governor’s proposed redesign and reconstruction of portions of the Saw Mill Parkway,” Murphy stated, “or easing the regulatory burdens on small businesses, it is time we open New York’s doors to business.”
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who was defeated by Cuomo in 2014, contended the governor was “playing disingenuous games with proposals he knows will never happen.”
“If they did, the state would be bankrupted,” Astorino remarked. “It’s sad to say, but this is no longer a serious governor.”
