Statement by Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos

I am glad to see that Speaker Silver and Senator Sampson agree with me that the Governor’s extender bill should include funding for highway construction projects that are already underway.  

I sent a letter to Governor Paterson earlier this week to say that these ongoing projects are important and he should not jeopardize thousands of jobs by withholding state funds for them.  In addition, the funding for these projects is there, it has already been appropriated and allows for them to be funded through September 15th.  

Governor Paterson should heed our call to allow funds for road projects to go forward.  However, the best response would be to get a budget adopted without further delay.

I hope Speaker Silver and Senator Sampson, who now agree with me on the construction project issue, will immediately comply with the budget reform law of 2007 and begin public budget negotiations and conference committees to get a budget adopted that does not increase spending or taxes.

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