As the state’s budget deadline looms less than a month away, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I – Corning) today criticized Albany’s priorities as new legislation was introduced which would place excessive and unnecessary fees on New York’s bicycle owners.

If passed, the legislation would impose a $25 license plate fee for all recreational bike owners, with a $5 annual renewal fee.

April 1st is the deadline for an on-time budget, and pushing through “cash grab” legislation such as this serves only to draw attention away from the matter at hand – adopting a fiscally responsible budget, noted Palmesano.

“New York is facing a $10 billion budget deficit, we have more than 800,000 unemployed New Yorkers and New York State ranks 50th in business climate. We have serious problems to address,” said Palmesano. “Albany needs to focus its time on transforming our state government into one that is fiscally responsible and fosters a more business- and family-friendly economy that creates private sector jobs.”

“Instead, we see onerous legislation, such as this bill, that is wasting our time and continues to pass the buck onto taxpayers; this is clearly a misplaced priority,” Palmesano concluded.