Area Lawmakers React to State Budget Approval

With a minimum wage increase the focal point of the New York State budget, Governor Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers agreed on an annual spending plan against the March 31 deadline totaling $156 billion.

The agreement would raise the minimum wage to $15 in New York City by the end of 2018 and initiate slower increases moving north. Westchester County will not reach the $15 wage mark for about six years and in Putnam, it will only reach $12.50 by 2021. The wage threshold will raise 70 cents a year over the next five years before hitting 12.50 at the end of 2020.

Currently the minimum wage is $9 per hour. As part of the deal, state lawmakers also signed off on 12 weeks of paid leave from a job to care for a newborn, sick relative, or deal with a military deployment.

Locally, state Senators and Republicans Sue Serino and Terrence Murphy, both supported the budget and minimum wage increase. In the assembly, Democrat Sandy Galef threw support behind the proposal, while Republican Steve Katz did not.

Serino described the minimum wage increase as “the most contentious” part of the budget discussion. After meeting with business owners, community leaders and workers, Serino said the original proposal – an increase to $15 per hour within five years – would have resulted in job loss among workers in non-profits, schools, municipalities and local businesses.

Serino stated the deal strikes a good balance for businesses and workers. There are also safeguards in place to stop wages from increasing if the economy takes a downturn and a study done in 2019 would determine the affect the wage increase has had on economy in the region.

“By slowing down the increase, providing for a study at the three-year mark that would determine whether the increase is to continue, and acknowledging regional differences,” Serino said. “we have put forward a fiscally responsible compromise.”

Murphy, in a statement, said the budget strikes the right balance between protecting small business owners and providing responsible equity to employees. He considered this proposal better than allowing a wage board to implement a flat rate minimum wage.

“This sensible plan will usher in a fair income level that meets certain triggers and parameters to ensure our state and regional economies can support it,” Murphy stated. “Lifting people above the federal poverty level will greatly reduce the burden on taxpayers to fund social services, which in the end, help both taxpayers and employers.”

Galef said assembly Democrats have discussed minimum wage for several years and this year the Republican- controlled senate came to the table. She called it a “really important” piece of the budget agreement and slow, incremental increase would accommodate small businesses and give them an adjustment period.

“I think it’s important for people to make a wage that they are able to live on in our counties,” Galef said.

Assemblyman Steve Katz lambasted the minimum wage increase, stressing it would further destroy business in New York. Additionally, it’s going to deny teenagers the chance for their first job and hurt people with disabilities, he said. Katz called the senate GOP “cowardly” in voting to for the increase. (See more below)

Katz decried the budget process yet again. Despite the removal of both former assembly speaker Sheldon Silver and senate majority leader Dean Skelos for corruption, the same “disgraceful, irresponsible” process took place that should motivate voters to oust every lawmaker, he said.

Katz said the budget was not reviewed carefully by legislators because of the lack of time and slammed Cuomo for his “psychotic drive” to meet the March 31 deadline.

“This is a sham and disgrace for the people that are paying for this budget,” Katz said.

Other notable parts of the budget included an additional windfall of aid to local school districts across the region and the elimination of the Gap Elimination Adjustment. The total sum going toward education is $24.8 billion.

Murphy said the GEA elimination would put “real dollars in the classrooms of the Hudson Valley and Serino called it an “historic increase” for schools.

“The GEA was bad for taxpayers, it was bad for our schools, and worst of all it was bad for our kids,” Serino said.

Galef added, local schools would be “very pleased” in larger state aid increase, but did stress next year the state will need to focus on boosting foundation aid.

Lawmakers also touted tax cuts for middle class households, with Murphy noting it provides a 20 percent income tax rate cut for about 4 million families starting in 2018.

Galef pointed out a good chunk of money went into transportation infrastructure and environmental funds.

One piece missing was any type of real ethics reform, with Serino putting the blame on Cuomo who “absolutely dropped the ball.”

Katz said once again Cuomo has put a low priority on ethics reform and instead of cleaning up the capitol, he’s done nothing. He said he’s happy this is his last budget before retiring from the assembly because lawmakers aren’t actually doing substantive work on the budget.

“No changes, nothing,” Katz said. “Business as usual in Albany.”

Katz Slams Senate GOP in Blistering Attack 

New York State Assemblyman Steve Katz (R/Mohegan Lake) is usually outspoken and critical of Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo and his Democratic counterparts in the state assembly. But now, Katz, a Republican, is throwing fire at some lawmakers from his own political party.

Calling New York State GOP senators “cowardly Republicans,” Katz went into a tirade Friday during an interview, calling for the ouster of every GOP senator this year as election season rapidly approaches. The harsh words were the result of every Republican state senator voting to raise the minimum wage in New York.

“Those cowardly Republicans refused to stand fast and act like Republicans and conservatives are supposed to be and stop this in its track. They had the ability to do that but they did not,” Katz said of the minimum wage uptick. “They gave in. They collapsed like a cheap suit and every one of them deserves to be removed from office by voters.”

Katz, who is retiring after this term expires, said once this election is over, the Senate should instead be ruled by a Democratic majority “because at least there you know exactly what you get.”

Currently, the GOP holds a slim edge over Democrats in the state Senate with the Independent Democratic Conference caucusing with Republicans. Katz called the Republicans “pandering” to Governor Cuomo “disgraceful.”

“They have no ideology whatsoever driving them other than keep my position, save my skin,” Katz said emphatically.

“These Republicans vote like Democrats so I’d rather have a Democrat,” Katz said. “They don’t break your heart. You know what you get. These people are nothing but political doublespeak done to do nothing than save their skin.”

When asked specifically asked about State Senator Terrence Murphy (R/Yorktown), who voted for the minimum wage increase and shares Katz’s district, Katz’s reply: “There’s no senator in the Senate that showed one iota of leadership, one iota of ideology, one iota in belief in the fact that it is free enterprise and capitalism and less taxes that’s going to get our state out of this.”

“Not one of them,” Katz concluded. “I don’t need to name names.”