Senator Defrancisco Responds to Governor Paterson’s Belated Call for a State Spending Cap

Senator John A. DeFrancisco (R-I-C, Syracuse) today responded to Governor Paterson’s call for legislation that would cap the growth of state government spending – a measure Senate Republicans have already proposed and fought for during the budget process.

“Well before budget deliberations began, my Senate Republican colleagues and I called for the passage of a constitutional spending cap, which would have limited year-to-year state spending increases to no more than 4 percent,” said Senator DeFrancisco. “In fact, the Senate passed our bill back in March of 2008. We also introduced an amendment to the 2009-10 state budget for a spending cap, which was defeated when every Democrat in the Senate chamber voted against it. Although it is belated, I welcome Governor Paterson’s call for a state government spending cap.”

 “However, while I do support the Governor’s proposal, his credibility comes into question,” continued Senator DeFrancisco. “Just last month the Governor agreed with, and allowed, the Senate and Assembly Democrats to pass a state budget that increased spending by nearly 10 percent. The Governor could have easily rejected this substantial increase in spending.”

“Now, a month after signing into law the largest spending and tax increase in state history, the Governor is calling for a state spending cap that would limit State Operating Funds growth to the average rate of inflation from the previous three calendar years. If Governor Paterson truly believes in this proposal, why wouldn’t he have called for it during the budget process?”

 “I hope that the Governor is sincere in his proposal and that our state does enact a state government spending cap, as my Senate Republican Colleagues and I have been calling for for months. We are willing and eager to work with the Governor on putting a real spending cap in place to provide relief to our taxpayers,” concluded Senator DeFrancisco.