Statement by Senator Carlucci Regarding Governor Cuomo's Budget Address

Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Orange) today offered the following statement regarding Governor Cuomo’s budget address to the state legislature:

“I applaud Governor Cuomo for offering a blueprint that will reform New York State government, make it leaner, more cost-efficient and put us on the right track for decades to come.  His 2012-2013 Executive Budget and Reform Plan is fiscally responsible, does not offer any new taxes or fees, and ends the old way of doing business in Albany by ending one-shot gimmicks and borrowing for operating expenses. 

While this budget does indeed control spending, it also makes much-needed investments in our infrastructure, particularly when it comes to rebuilding our roads and bridges.  Rebuilding infrastructure means rebuilding our economy, plain and simple. It offers $1.16 billion in new funding under the New York Works program that will  put people to work.  An important priority of mine is to rebuild the Tappan Zee Bridge, a project that has been long overdue.  I look forward to working with the Governor to make the Tappan Zee Bridge an example of infrastructure Hudson Valley residents can be proud of for generations to come.

The Governor was also right to speak of the need to tackle Mandate Relief, which poses an undue burden on our local governments.  One of the ways we can provide relief is to have the state take over the growth in the local share of Medicaid over a three-year period, as the Governor alluded to in his speech. 

As Chairman of the Administrative Regulations and Review Commission, I am delighted to also have heard the Governor talk about how we can make government work for the people, not just grow bureaucracy.  Through redesigning state government, we can help consolidate functions and lessen duplicative services.

I look forward to a productive legislative session and partnering with Governor Cuomo to move New York forward.”