“I agree with the governor that this will be a difficult budget. However, simply blaming the federal government for our challenges fails to address the long-term structural problems we face as a state.

“The governor has to take some responsibility for the environment he has failed to correct. For example, by the governor's own admission, New Yorkers face the highest combined state and local tax burden in the country. Our business climate has been ranked either 49th or 50th in the country for as long as I can remember. We have seen an outmigration of more than one million people from our state since 2010, the year the governor was elected. These problems were here long before the federal government passed its tax relief plan in December.

“I have said it before and I will say it again, if we are serious about improving our business climate and fostering an environment which encourages private-sector investment, economic development and job creation, then we must take decisive action. We must prioritize bold, broad and aggressive tax, regulatory and unfunded mandate relief. That’s how we’ll relieve the crippling economic burden shouldered by small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, seniors and families. This will grow our economy by creating more opportunities and jobs for our young people to stay and raise a family here. It’s how we’ll generate more tax revenue to fund our state's schools, libraries and local roads and bridges. It’s how we’ll invest in important human services, like caring for the developmentally disabled, the most vulnerable New Yorkers. It’s how we’ll combat the growing and devastating opioid and heroin epidemic. I will continue to fight for these important priorities and be a vocal advocate on behalf of the residents of the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes Region.