A statement from Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski) following the passage of the 2019-20 state budget

“Overall, this year's behemoth $175.5 billion budget lacks fiscal responsibility. The presumption that New York can keep taking on more debt and instituting policies that create more taxes and spending is a disservice to our generation and future generations. The budget puts more mandates on local government and taxpayers, adds state policies that deserved their own debate, and defers to more commissions and authorities on decisions that should be decided by the State Legislature.

"The spending priorities in this plan are grievously misplaced. For one example, it authorizes a commission to develop how our state will publicly finance political campaigns. In empowering this commission, there are few limits on how far our state will go to support political candidates running for public office. In addition, I was disturbed by the budget process and the closed door negotiations that left almost all state representatives in the dark until the last possible minute. It was clear after the bills were printed, that the Majority essentially rubber-stamped the Governor's proposed budget with few exceptions."