Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I – Merrick) today released the following statement regarding the passage of a deficit reduction plan (DRP) through the Assembly this morning:

“Early this morning, while most of New York was just waking, the Assembly passed a DRP which provided $2.7 billion in cuts to the Fiscal Year 2009-10 budget. This plan is $500 million short of the necessary $3.2 billion in cuts the governor originally called for and uses spin-ups and one-shot revenues to close a budget deficit which will only make next year’s budget deficit even bigger.

“The legislative action taken today fails to lay out long-term budget solutions which will offer savings each year going forward. When the governor announced this budget deficit, my conference and I presented a plan which provided recurring savings while also cutting $3.2 billion in spending without impacting aid to municipalities, education or health care.

“Ultimately, due to the lack of annual recurring savings and the use of funds set aside for next year, I could not vote for this DRP with a clear conscience.”