On Tuesday, Assemblyman Angelo J. Morinello (R,C,I,Ref-Niagara Falls) joined the governor and his Assembly colleagues to rally for the inclusion of increased funding in the 2017-2018 New York State Budget for the state’s direct-care workers. The Assembly and Senate have both included $45 million in funding for direct-care workers of the state to fairly reflect the importance of the duties associated with their profession. At the event, Gov. Andrew Cuomo made an unanticipated announcement, proposing a further $10 million commitment to direct-care over the next two years.

“The announcement by the governor was a welcome surprise, and demonstrates a unified recognition of the incredible importance in the work that direct-care workers do,” said Morinello. “The previous legislature’s increase in the minimum wage created several unintended consequences for various occupations in this state, and I am pleased that we are on the right track toward correcting this oversight. Providing the funding necessary to accurately represent the work our state’s direct-care workers do is a priority for this year’s budget.”