"The Governor's speech today allows us to look back on 2011 accomplishments and look forward to 2012 in the State Legislature. He's right in that we have accomplished more in the past year than we have in recent past by passing a property tax cap, ethics reform, middle-class tax cuts, as well as cut spending and provided an on-time budget.

"But this year, if we are to keep businesses and families in our great state, we need jobs. It remains to be seen if his job plan will work. We need to get out of the way of businesses and remove regulations to create jobs, and I'm not confident a large state investment like this will create jobs in the private sector. I look forward to seeing more details on the $25 billion investment he spoke of.

"I was pleased to hear Cuomo mention mandate relief. While passing a property tax cap was the first part to reducing taxes, mandate relief is necessary to take the burden off the localities. Unfunded state mandates continue to cripple the local governments and school districts. We also need a more equitable school aid formula, and I hope that is part of the education reform he mentioned today."

"I also was pleased to hear how he plans to have more coordination among state authorities and agencies, especially concerning capital plans on construction projects. I also was pleased to hear talk of reinvestment in our parks, to turn our natural assets into a way we can further capitalize on in Upstate New York. I look forward to learning more in detail when his budget is presented to the Legislature in February."