Senate Passes Bipartisan Deficit Reduction Plan

ALBANY, N.Y.—State Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) applauded the Senate’s vote to adopt a bipartisan deficit reduction program to help close the state’s mid-year deficit without increasing taxes and fees.
 
“This deficit reduction program represents real and recurring cuts to state spending and did not merely shift the burden to local municipalities, property taxpayers and families,” said Senator Valesky, Vice President Pro-Tempore of the Senate.
 
The DRP included a total of $2.8 billion in cuts and reductions including more than $485 million from state agencies and $107 in health care.
 
The package rejected mid-year cuts to local school aid and contained no new taxes and fees.
 
“We are not out of the woods yet—New York State still faces serious economic issues which will need to be dealt with in the upcoming weeks and months,” Senator Valesky said. “I will continue to look at long-term solutions to reining in state spending to ensure New York State comes out of the recession in solid economic standing and to help ease the tax burden on citizens and businesses.”
 
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