On Wednesday, the State Legislature gaveled in for the first time this year marking the start to the 2019 Legislative Session.  I look forward to this day.  It brings a renewed sense of hope and change for the upcoming year and allows for the opportunity to set priorities for this session with my colleagues.  I want to share some of those priorities this week.  These common-sense reforms, if enacted, would help restore public trust, bolster the economy, and overall, improve New York.

Reform the state’s approach to economic development:

• Provide tax and regulatory relief to small businesses.
• Provide oversight of lump-sum appropriations so that the comptroller and Attorney General are part of this process.
• Conduct independent audits of state economic development programs.

Restore Public Trust and Crack Down on Pay to Play Politics:

• Increase transparency and break up the consolidation of power that has led to corruption and poor public policy.
• Reform legislative grants to prevent conflicts of interest.
• Enact term limits for legislative leaders and committee chairs.
• Create a new crime for failure to report corruption.

Invest in Infrastructure:

• Increase state support for CHIPs (Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program).
• Use additional settlement dollars to improve roads, bridges, culverts and other critical infrastructure.
• Eliminate the 25% local match requirement under the Harmful Algae Blooms program so more communities can qualify for assistance.

Have State Takeover Cost of Medicaid and Reduce Property Taxes:

• Provide for the full takeover of Medicaid over a 10-year phase-in period.
• In tandem with the Medicaid takeover, freeze property taxes then assume the property tax growth of local governments or school districts that stay within the 2% tax cap.
• Create a Real Property Tax Redesign Team to reduce mandates and to find at least $500 million in annual recurring savings.

Keep Education a Priority in the Budget:

• Target school aid to low-wealth and high-needs districts.
• Continue to support and expand career-ready programs for high school students
• Ensure libraries are adequately funded to provide vital social and career connections for families and individuals.

Support low-income families by:

• Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Doubling the New York State Child and Dependent Care Credit
• Creating incentives for New Yorkers on unemployment to work part-time

Protect those with Developmental Disabilities by:

• Increasing funding for housing, respite, transportation, and employment opportunities.
• Ensure direct care workers receive a living wage.

We need to pass legislation that will move our state forward and help our Upstate economies flourish.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to get these changes enacted.  In addition to these reforms, I plan to push back on some of my downstate colleagues’ agendas that will harm Upstate and hurt small businesses.