Senator Golden: Governor Cuomo’s Vision Is Strong for New York

Disappointed in Lack of Focus on Public Safety and Ridding System of Fraud and Abuse

Albany – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) has issued the following statement in response to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2012 State of State address delivered this afternoon in Empire State Plaza Convention Center:

“Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke of some of the success of the last legislative session while creating a bold vision for the New York of the future. I look forward to working with the Governor and my colleagues in the New York State Legislature to create jobs, pass an on-time budget that closes our deficit without raising taxes, attract business to our State, improve our public education system, and reduce state spending and state bureaucracy.

New Yorkers want to get back to work, New Yorkers want a more efficient government that works for them, and the residents want to afford to call the Empire State home. Our citizens want to revel in the fact that they live and love New York.

However, as a former New York City Police Officer, I am disappointed by the Governor’s failure to focus on an agenda to keep New York’s citizens and families safe. One of the most basic fundamentals New Yorkers must enjoy is a safe State in which to live, work and raise a family. We can’t ignore the fact that there are areas of criminal justice that must be addressed.

The Governor also failed to mention efforts to eliminate Medicaid and auto insurance fraud in our State. The longer we allow such acts of fraud to continue, the longer we will suffer financially as a government and as consumers. This must be the year that we bring about changes that reduce opportunities for fraud and abuse at these levels, and others.

I look forward to all that we can accomplish this year so that we can continue to make an even greater New York.”