"As I sat for hours, all day, all night, for two days and nights, debated, listened and read the budget bills, I searched for common themes. Outside this Assembly chamber, the state is completely focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. Inside, we discuss public policy. This appears to be inherently tone-deaf and out of step with the outside world.

The common denominator here is a bold consolidation of power in the executive branch. The governor, popular now for perhaps the first time in his public life, has capitalized on that popularity, due to his skillful communication and leadership, and is reaching for more and more power and largely unchecked authority.

The relatively austere budget is appropriate in this uncertain time and financial crisis, as unacceptable as it has proven to be with the so-called "progressive" members of the Majority, who want more revenue through taxation of the wealthy (at least those remaining few who have not already left the state). Flat spending is the only real answer under these circumstances, and as a fiscally conservative member of this body, the absence of any true "revenue raisers" is one of the only silver linings of this budget.

I will remember this stranger-than-usual budget season for several reasons: the rules changes, which allowed for 50% less debate time, automatic "yes" voting and the Assembly's first foray into remote voting; the empty chamber and halls; and the lack of true connection with our colleagues, visitors to the Capitol who are not allowed and our constituents. I will also remember something much more lasting: the unprecedented power conferred upon the governor, in the form of legislative contingency language. Our governor can act through the budget director to make quarterly "adjustments" in the enacted budget, and this power is largely unchecked, without any need to confer with the Legislature.

I am grateful for the bail and discovery reforms in the budget, even though they do not go far enough. I am also pleased that some sweeping policies, such as the legalization of marijuana, were shelved for another day.

The Medicaid cuts are tough, especially since one-third of our residents are using Medicaid. I do not believe the budget does much for individuals with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities --- or, for the families who are exhausted trying to care for them, or, for the direct-care professionals who could still make more flipping burgers than doing the hard work involved in caring for our most vulnerable New Yorkers. If our new state seal is to say, "E Pluribus Unum" -- out of many, one --- how can we justify treating people with these challenges so poorly? "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)

The next year is very uncertain --- I sincerely hope the governor will use his increased power wisely. I am saddened that the Legislature has allowed itself to become this weak, even as I remain determined to do the best job I can."