“It should come as no surprise that the budget which Governor Paterson, Speaker Silver and Senator Smith negotiated behind closed doors in total secrecy is not only the largest state budget on record, but also increases spending and raises taxes at a time when New York’s families are struggling and the economy has been crippled. The voices of millions of New Yorkers who have been affected by this current fiscal crisis fell on the deaf ears of the ‘Three Men in a Room.’ My minority colleagues and I will be voting against this budget and its wasteful spending, tax increases and lack of real tax relief for New York’s middle-class families and businesses. Shame on Governor Paterson, Speaker Silver and Senator Smith for this reckless budget and their secret negotiations.”