On Wednesday, the Assembly Majority passed its one-house budget, and to say that it was unfavorable to our district and the whole of the Mohawk Valley and North Country would be an understatement. While there were a few positives to take away from the Majority’s budget, I could not in good faith vote for a budget that provides free college tuition and health care to illegal immigrants, raises taxes by $7 billion and cuts aid to the local agriculture industry by $6 million.

I also could not vote in favor of a proposed budget that would break the governor’s self-imposed two-percent spending cap. In the Assembly’s one-house budget, spending would increase to upwards of three percent, and place an additional financial strain on the taxpayers of New York State.

While the Assembly one-house budget is more of a politically-charged statement than an actual proposed spending plan, it can be useful for those who wish to see where their representatives’ allegiances lie. I approve of the increased commitment to college affordability, tax cuts for small businesses across the state, school aid and infrastructure funding, however, these items should be dealt with separately from the more political items. In the final state budget, we will see a breakup of the spending plan into various sections, which will allow legislators more flexibility to approve of items that better represent the needs of their specific districts.

Last week, I released my budget priorities for this year’s state budget, which addresses issues that have the most impact on our community. It will be paramount that these issues are included in the final state budget and the voices in our district are heard.

From my years of experience in state government, I plan to see a vastly different spending plan at the end of this budget process, and will continue to advocate on behalf of our district to ensure we craft a budget that more accurately represents our district’s values.

I want to hear your thoughts on the various proposed state budgets, the state budgeting process as a whole, and any other legislative matters that come to mind. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@nyassembly.gov or calling my office at 493-3909.