As the budget negotiations concluded, one thing became abundantly clear: the absolute need for ethics reforms and transparency in government operations. Through this entire process the legislature was kept completely in the dark. This is not how a democracy is meant to work.

From the start of the budget process, my colleagues in the Assembly Minority Conference and I made it very clear what our objectives were: lowering taxes, state aid for family farms, securing the school funding we deserve and ensuring upstate transportation funding is on par with downstate. Unfortunately, we found ourselves having to combat a new mandate on already-struggling small businesses and an arbitrary increase in the minimum wage. These downstate agendas are why the state is in such poor shape.

The entire budget is controlled by three men – the governor, the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Majority Leader. These three men control the purse strings of the entire state. What they do inside the privacy of the negotiation room stays there and the rest of us are left to debate the deal put in front of us. I understand we should avoid having “too many cooks in the kitchen,” but it is better for all New Yorkers if representatives from each conference are included in negotiating the state budget. The policies these men are pursuing are destroying upstate and its economy one day at a time.

Members of our conference and I have made efforts to make New Yorkers more aware of what goes on in Albany, but we are continually pushed aside, not only by the Assembly leadership, but by rank-and-file members of the majority. The old saying is you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped. I fear that someone is the state Assembly and no matter how much we want to help cure the infectious corruption and secrecy, it just won’t allow us too.

Bringing transparency to the legislative process has always been a priority of mine. The Assembly Minority Conference wants to properly represent its constituents, but the door has been shut in our faces. We know how fed up everyday New Yorkers are with this entire process and I wanted to let you know, we are too.

I welcome your thoughts on this or any other legislative matter. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling my office at 315-493-3909.