As I sat through my second budget as an Assemblyman, I found myself under-whelmed and frustrated by another budget that spends too much, prioritizes downstate, and does not go far enough addressing the core needs of our state. From education, to the SAFE Act, to our economic climate, this budget is a disaster.

Plain and simple: this budget did not do enough to address this state’s education policy. This past weekend, I held an open Common Core forum and heard the horror stories from children, parents, teachers, and administrators on just how this social experiment in education has adversely affected our children. After that testimony, there was no way I could vote for this education plan. All Gov. Cuomo has done is put a band-aid on a gash. He needs to start taking education seriously. The Gap Elimination Adjustment isn’t fully restored. Common Core is largely left untouched. We need a moratorium on Common Core, and we need it now. States are running away from this program, but we are doubling down on it. Gov. Cuomo wants to have a 1984-esque education system, where one central government controls every child’s classroom. Then, I learned that out of the $340 million put aside for Pre-K, $300 million is heading to Mayor de Blasio and New York City. After all of the testimony we’ve heard across the state, the governor is slapping Upstate across the face when it comes to education.

This budget has $27 million tucked away for the ammunition database for the enforcement of the SAFE Act. This law has led to protests around the state and is currently working its way through our court system to determine its constitutionality. This governor is running roughshod over taxpayers and the United States Constitution. The only thing transparent about this governor is his egotistical drive to rip firearms out of the hands of honest New Yorkers.

As the Ranking Minority Member of the Small Business Committee and as a small-businessman, Gov. Cuomo’s consistent nonchalance toward our state’s economic climate troubles me. We’re still dead last in business climate, and New Yorkers are voting with their feet by traveling to friendlier tax climates. He’s done nothing to improve the cost of living in this state. Isn’t it time he focused his attention on real tax relief?

We witnessed the Assembly Majority strike down real common sense welfare reform by voting down a measure that would have penalized those using welfare dollars on casinos and strip clubs. Welfare abuse hurts every New York family, and we must fight it on every front.

When it comes to our farming communities, we won several victories today. I would express caution moving forward as we have not been given assurances regarding the future. The threat of farm unionization and the incorporation of the 40-hour work week are still on the horizon. Until we have been given the guarantee that these bills are off the table, I will continue to fight until they are.

One of the few bright spots in this budget is an increase in funding to repair our roads. As a member of the Transportation Committee, I fought for and won funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs). The CHIPs funding will be increased by $40 million to compensate for the winter damage.

If you would like to discuss the budget, or have any other local concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my district office. The office is located at 411 Main Street, East Aurora, and can be reached either by phone, 716-655-0951, or by email, DiPietroD@assembly.state.ny.us.