The budget bills that went before the Assembly today were just an extension of the misguided and narrow policies of the Governor and majority. Throughout the closed-door budget process, legislative leaders have told us that this budget would reduce the state’s $9.2 billion deficit. However, we have completed nearly 68 percent of the budget and only $2-$4 billion has been addressed thus far. This makes me doubt that the rest of the budget gap will be addressed as today’s bills show little regard for New York’s grave fiscal situation. Further, the reduction of funds dedicated to economic development from $650 million to $250 million puts New York’s economic future at risk.

Not only am I disappointed with the contents of these bills, but the process that led us to this point. A more open process would have resulted in a better budget. Unfortunately, from the beginning, this budget was crafted without any input from the other 200 members of the legislature.

As the Ranking Minority Member on the Committee for Transportation, the only bright spot that I found in these poorly thought out bills is that funding finally will be made available to continue infrastructure projects and get New York construction workers back on the job. However, this is not enough and more needs to be done in order to get New York back on the path to fiscal solvency.