“While Gov. Cuomo touted his plan to help small businesses today, the fact is that the Assembly Minority has been calling for small business tax cuts and regulatory reform for years. As a small-business owner for over four decades, I know that creating jobs and growing our economy starts with curbing New York’s tax structure, which has continuously been ranked worst in the nation.

“The governor’s proposal outlines a great deal of spending, particularly downstate. It is misguided and destructive to neglect our failing upstate roads and bridges. Projects like the Tappan Zee rebuild, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Long Island Rail Road should not take precedence over Western New York bridges, roads and highways, which are literally crumbling in some cases.

“Rather than trying to limit outside income as the governor proposed, the legislature should have a tighter schedule, stricter deadlines and cut salaries so that citizens become involved in politics for the right reasons. Many legislators used to be farmers, as the governor mentioned, so maybe we should actually work like farmers.”